It is SWATA Week!

Ladies and gentlemen I have happy to say that it is finally SWATA week! The 56th Annual SWATA Meeting and Clinical Symposium is upon us and all roads lead to Arlington, Texas.

Program chair Tina Bonci has put together a remarkable program and if you haven't already registered make plans to attend because you won't want to miss it. She has secured nationally renowned speakers who are experts on a variety of subjects. For a look at the program and speaker list you can visit the SWATA Program here.

Your executive board will also be meeting during the week as well. All executive board meetings are open to the public. The meeting times for the EB are Tuesday evening 7 pm - 8:30 pm, Wednesday all day beginning at 7:30 am, and Saturday afternoon at 1 pm. This is in addition to the SWATA EB meeting that will conclude this year's symposium which will be held Saturday morning. All EB meetings (except Saturday morning's meeting in the lecture hall) will be held in the Wimbledon room at the Arlington Sheraton.

The SWATA golf tournament will tee off at 11 am on Wednesday at the Ditto Golf Club in Arlington. Wednesday afternoon at 4 pm will be the committee chairs meeting. At 5 pm all pre registered attendees are invited to a special packet pick up reception in the exhibit hall. All exhibitors will be there. We will pay our respects to longtime SWATA friend Frank Freeman as Cramer has sponsored this special night. Finally on Wednesday all SWATA committees will meet.

The educational portion of the annual meeting begins Thursday morning at 8 am. If you haven't registered yet don't worry we have streamlined the registration process and you should be able to register in no time at all. Please make time to attend the SWATA Town Hall meeting on Thursday afternoon so that you the member can ask questions to your SWATA leadership about all things SWATA. Thursday night our welcome reception is at the Ballpark as the first place Rangers take on the Angels.

Friday is a special day for the association. We have changed the honors and awards banquet to a luncheon. Please come and honor your fellow athletic trainers who are being recognized for their sacrifices to the profession. Melinda Terry and Dr. Frank Walters will be inducted as the newest hall of fame members. After the luncheon all members are in for a special treat as NATA Hall of Fame member Dr. David Perrin is the keynote address. Dr. Perrin has given much to the profession. He is currently the provost of the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. Friday night is set aside for alumni gatherings and fellowship time with your friends that you may only get to see once a year.

Finally on Saturday in addition to the educational sessions there is also the NATA forum, a special video put together by the SWATA EDAC commemerating the 10th anniversary of the John Harvey Award and the SWATA Business meeting.

I look forward to seeing each of you in Arlington!

Mike Carroll
SWATA President