Address
It’s hard to believe I am writing my last address.
Where did the time go? I started to serve on the ILOTA
executive board nearly nine years ago – as Director of
Finance first, and then as President for the last four
years. What have I learned? What every other leader
learns – you can’t do anything alone. Throughout
those nine years I have had the pleasure of serving
with truly great occupational therapy practitioners,
and dedicated servant leaders who care about the
profession and our members. I often tell new board
members that when I started as Director of Finance
I dreaded those monthly meetings, not because they
were bad but because giving one Saturday a month to
ILOTA, given my very busy schedule, seemed like too
much. However, it wasn’t long before I started to look
forward to these meetings. Every Saturday was full of
brilliant conversation, problem solving, grand ideas,
laughter and genuine friendship. I am so thankful for
every one of the people I served with.
When I sat down to write this I took a moment to
look back at the very first presidential address I wrote.
We had so much to look forward to and I am very proud
of what my team accomplished. In the last four years
we welcomed people from all over the world during
the AOTA conference at McCormick Place. We had
an amazing event celebrating 100 years of occupational
therapy at Hull House in Chicago. We were able to
develop a new vision and mission and updated our
strategic plan. We also revamped the bylaws which had
been amended numerous times but hadn’t been redone
in years. Membership over the nine years I was on the
Lisa Mahaffey, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA
board went from around
300 at the lowest point,
to nearly 900 members
and for the last five years
we have gotten between
450 and 550 people at our
conferences each year. Are
you excited to be an OT? I
am.
On September first, I
will turn the reins over to
Jim Hill who will carry on the torch. I don’t plan to
go away – ILOTA is in my blood. I want to be a part
of our efforts to develop more leaders in the profession
and I want to support our efforts to become the ‘go-
to’ organization for valuable continuing education
opportunities. However, the quarterly reports that
I write will be much shorter, I will only have to
attend four meetings a year and I can wear jeans to
conference!
Thank you to my fellow executive and full board
members for all your hard work – together we did good.
Thank you to my coworkers and family for covering
for me when I was off doing ILOTA things. And
thank you to my fellow ILOTA members, colleagues
and friends for all the amazing support you have given
us during my tenure. It is because of you that we are
able to produce the great conference and newsletter
and be the great organization that we are.
Meet the Board: James Hill, ILOTA President
When did you join ILOTA?
I think about 1992.
What position do you hold on the ILOTA Board?
President Elect (President if publication is after September)
Tell us about your career as an OT practitioner.
I have worked in a variety of mental health settings from 1990-present. I have
specialized in the use of mindfulness-based approaches to promote occupational
engagement.
What motivated you to participate on the Board?
I have presented a number of times at the ILOTA conference and have appreciated the service the board
provides. I believe in the value of service. I see this as an opportunity to develop skills and relationships that
can help me grow personally and professionally. I believe that the kind of collaborative efforts supported by
organizations like ILOTA and AOTA are critical for advancing Occupational Therapy.
Page