SWATA Competency Workshop was a huge success

This past weekend in the Metroplex SWATA hosted a competency workshop to help collegiate athletic training students prepare for the BOC and also state licensing exams. The workshop was attended by over 70 athletic training students from schools in Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. While SWATA hosted the workshop many kudos should be given to workshop chair Dr. Gretchen Oliver of the University of Arkansas and her committee. They have worked tirelessly in the planning and excution of this workshop for the past year.

You might ask "Why would SWATA host such a workshop?" I can tell you that when the idea was proposed two years ago to the executive board we felt that such a workshop would be beneficial for several reasons. As an association we feel that we need to address the needs of all of our members and that includes the student members. One of the most important things that an athletic training student can do is prepare for and pass their BOC and state licensure exams. If we as an association can host an event that helps them do that then it would most definitely be a member service for them. Another reason that we wanted to host this workshop was to make the athletic training student more aware of SWATA and hopefully because of that they will become and stay a professional member. We on the executive board feel that it is much easier to get a young athletic trainer to become and remain a member throughout their career than it is to try and get a more experienced athletic trainer who has never been a member to join. We feel like once someone becomes a member of the NATA/SWATA they will realise that their best interests are being looked out for and membership has tremendous benefits regardless of the setting that the athletic trainer works in for their job.

Once again thanks to Dr. Oliver, her committee, and everyone that helped put on this workshop. The students of SWATA and the association in general are better off because of it.

Regional Association Spotlight : CTATS

It is the mission of the Central Texas Athletic Trainers' Society (CTATS) to promote Athletic Training in and around Central Texas. CTATS will provide continuing education hours and training to Athletic Trainers in order to enhance appropriate, quality services to our athletes and patients. Creating an atmosphere conducive for the free exchange of ideas and methods for the best practice of Athletic Training is a goal for all CTATS members. CTATS is also dedicated to the future of Athletic Training by providing hands on training and fellowship for students interested in the field of Athletic Training.

CTATS was established in 2008 to serve the athletic trainers in the Central Texas Region. Many of the initial events that CTATS put together were designed to build its membership and establish the organization in a positive light to its members. The 2009 Student and Professional Workshop, held at Georgetown High School attracted over 100 students and 30 professionals.

The CTATS Board consists of:
President – Joe Gonzalez
Vice-President – Elizabeth Maybin
Secretary – Trevor Swift
Treasurer – Jessica Beeman
Regional Representatives – Andy Wilson, Chelsea Frashure, Diana Operhall, Keith Patterson and Allen Mays

CTATS also held its first social event at the 2009 SWATA Symposium in Arlington. The social was held at the Blackfinn American Saloon and an outstanding time was had by all who attended.

CTATS members Diana Operhall, Mark Salter, Nikki Vincent and Joe Gonzalez provided athletic training services to participants in the “Stiletto Stampede for the Cure” in August. The excitement of watching current and former breast cancer patients compete to raise money for research made a lasting impact on the workers.

The 3rd Annual CTATS Workshop will be held this Saturday, January 30, 2010, at the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor. For more information about this wonderful workshop check out the CTATS website, www.ctats.org and click on the workshop link for all the details.

Regional Association Spotlight : GHATS

The Greater Houston Athletic Trainers’ Society was established in 1988 with the intention of improving the communication, continuing education, and organization of the greater Houston Athletic Training community, and to the furtherance, promotion, improvement and enhancement of the Athletic Training profession. Year in and year out GHATS has strived to serve the athletic trainers in the Houston area, culminating in one of the largest student athletic trainer workshops in the nation.

The GHATS Student Athletic Training Workshop was held at Manvel High School on January 9th. Over 950 student athletic trainers attended, along with their supervising athletic trainers, college level athletic training students, various colleges and vendors from around the state. The high school students (and some of the professionals) went to various lectures and labs ranging from a basic beginner’s taping and splinting lab to an advanced kinesiotaping lecture and lab. The GHATS Board would like to thank everyone who participated in this year’s workshop. They would also like to thank Mark and Monica at Manvel High School for doing a wonderful job coordinating all the events and providing a wide range of current topics for the student athletic trainers in attendance.

At the 2009 Student Athletic Trainer Workshop at Cinco Ranch High School, GHATS voted to expand their membership to include college athletic training students. Carolee John of Houston Baptist University (HBU) offered to helm the College Student base. The College Student membership dues are $5.00 for the year. The benefits include accessing the newsletter, educational opportunities throughout the year as well as networking opportunities. If you are interested in joining, please contact Carolee John at cjohn@hbu.edu.

Each year GHATS presents three scholarships for use by a graduating high school student athletic trainer to further their college education, regardless of major. Information and details can be found on the GHATS website. All nominations must be postmarked by April 17, 2010.

For any additional information on GHATS, including history, award information as well as an online story with GHATS merchandise, please check the website, www.ghats.org.

Regional Associations Spotlight

It was the spring of 2001, and my wife and I were in our first year of employment in the North Texas area. We were approached by some folks asking if we would like to help with an upcoming student athletic trainer symposium called NTATS. I did not know what NTATS was nor did I have any idea about its history or what it did for the athletic trainers in the North Texas region. We went to the meeting and saw up close what it was all about – professionals socializing and sharing ideas, student athletic trainers learning new information and developing interest in the profession and a wonderful event that left everyone excited about the years to come. While that was my first experience of volunteering with a professional organization, it has led to a terrific appreciation for regional organizations and what they mean to SWATA and the field of athletic training.

I am fully convinced that regional associations one of the driving force of SWATA and the camaraderie that our colleagues share with each other. Before the Christmas holidays I attempted to make contact with the numerous regional associations throughout District 6. I made contact with a few and tried to get some details and things within their organization that they are excited about. Over the next few weeks, I am going to try and spotlight some of these organizations. If you are a member of the Executive Board of a regional association and I did not make contact with you, I am extremely interested in getting some information from you – please email me at david.traylor@kellerisd.net.

Some crazy rescheduling of events (thanks to ice) forced me to miss the trip south this past weekend to attend this meeting, but I would like to start this brief series by highlighting GHATS and the great things happening in the Houston area. Check back soon for the first installment.

Happy New Year! Many exciting events in the upcoming weeks.

I trust by now that everyone is back to work after the holidays, or very close to doing so. I wanted to say Happy New Year to all SWATA members and wish for you to have a happy and prosperous 2010.

In the next month there are a great many opportunities for you to get out and fellowship and learn from your fellow athletic trainers and also to be able to meet and discuss the current issues in athletic training with SWATA Executive Board members. Tomorrow (January 9) at Manvel HS GHATS will host their annual student trainer workshop. I plan on being there and I know that several other Executive Board members and also SWATA Committee chairs will as well. I will be giving a NATA and SWATA update during the business meeting at lunch. I hope to see you there.

In the upcoming weeks the Central Texas Athletic Trainers' Society will be hosting their student workshop as well. It will be January 30th on the University of Mary Hardin Baylor campus in Belton. For more information go to www.ctats.org

That same weekend (January 29 & 30)SWATA will be sponsoring a competency workshop for collegiate athletic training students. We on the executive board believe that the students are the future of the association and we want to do everything that we can to help them as they transition into the profession. The workshop will be held at the Wyndham DFW North in Irving. For more information or to register please go to https://www.signup4.net/Public/ap.aspx?EID=SWAT20E

Finally on the weekend of February 6 & 7 the SWATA Executive Board will have their mid winter meeting. In an ongoing effort to move the mid winter meeting around to all parts of the district we will be traveling El Paso. There will be a member reception on Saturday February 6th at the Radisson Airport in El Paso. All interested members are encouraged to attend so that you can meet your leadership.

Once again let me say Happy New Year and hopefully I'll be able to see you at an event in the near future.

Mike Carroll
SWATA President