Research
Awards/Lecture Exchange Program
– Douglas
J. Casa, PhD, ATC, will be the 2008 recipient of the Medal
for Distinguished Athletic Training Research, presented in
honor of Joseph Torg, MD, and sponsored by Riddell, Inc.
Tricia J. Hubbard, PhD, ATC, has been selected as recipient
of the 2008 New Investigator Award, presented in honor of
Freddie H. Fu, MD. The recipient of the Doctoral
Dissertation Award, presented in honor of David H. Perrin,
PhD, ATC, will be Christopher Mendias, PhD, ATC. These
distinguished researchers will receive their awards and
present lectures at the NATA Annual Meeting in St. Louis.
Agreements remain in place for continuing a lecture exchange
program with ACSM, AMSSM and AOSSM. Representatives of
these associations will present their research findings
during the NATA Annual Meeting and Clinical Symposia. Such
relationships foster and strengthen the mutually supportive
role that NATA and these organizations presently enjoy.
Funded
Research Presentations
– Another large group of applications for research grants
has been received this year. Eighteen of the Foundation’s
grant recipients are scheduled to present their research
findings at the 2008 NATA Annual Meeting. These
developments clearly indicate an increasing interest and
participation in meaningful research relative to the
athletic training profession. The Foundation board
authorized the inclusion of overhead costs (up to 15%) in
grant application budgets, beginning in 2005. This expanded
appeal has encouraged even more applicants. The
Foundation has surpassed the $2 million mark in total grants
awarded. This is a significant accomplishment in the
relatively short period of existence of the Foundation.
Research
Results
–
Seventy-four Grant Information Summaries are now available.
Each GIS provides summarized results of a research project
the Foundation has funded. The plan is to continue our
efforts to print several new summaries prior to each NATA
Annual Meeting. We have 9 new summaries this year, which
will be distributed from the Foundation booth and at all
Free Communications sessions. All completed summaries are
free to the membership upon request, and are included in
materials distributed at all NATA District Meetings. They
are also available on the Foundation web site at no cost.
We feel this program provides a more widespread
understanding among NATA members regarding the importance of
funded research to the athletic training profession and its
continued viability.
Free
Communications Program
– The Foundation received 380 abstracts for 2008. Once
again, this is another indication of continued widespread
interest and participation in research within the
profession, in spite of the $25.00 submission fee.
Recognition of outstanding student presentations is
accomplished through oral presentations as well as poster
presentations. Presenters are judged in their peer groups
as doctoral, master’s or undergraduate students. The
judging will be completed and the 2008 awards will be
presented on Thursday afternoon (June 19) during the
Distinguished Scholar Presentations Session. All of you are
cordially invited to attend the session, and join in
congratulating these developing leaders of scientific
investigation in support of future athletic training
professionals.
Scholarships
– This program continues to be a terrific success.
Seventy-seven (75) $2,000 scholarships will be presented to
recipients at the NATA Annual Meeting in Anaheim. Over 40
different organizations are involved in providing the
financial support to fund these awards. The Foundation
Scholarship Committee has done an outstanding job in
developing and maintaining these long-term relationships.
The Foundation is proud to announce that 1,051
scholarships totaling $1,903,500 have been awarded to date.
Scholarship Endowment Fund
– New partial and full endowment options have been offered
to all of our sponsors beginning in 2009. We were extremely
encouraged that several entities have made a commitment to
endow their scholarship sponsorships. The earnings from
these funds will enable us to fund these scholarship awards
in perpetuity. This is certainly a source of pride for our
board and committee members. It has also fostered an
energetic effort to endow as many Foundation programs and
activities as possible.
Annual
Fund
– The 2007 Building Our Foundation Annual Fund campaign
generated over $170,000 in gifts from NATA members and state
and district organizations. We are extremely grateful for
the support provided for instituting dedicated dues to
benefit the Foundation. Six of ten NATA districts have now
formally provided for automatic partial distribution of dues
income directly to the Foundation. These actions clearly
demonstrate widespread support of the Foundation and its
programs. Most significant is the fact that individual
member support of the Foundation has now grown to about
75%! A primary emphasis will be to continue to educate the
membership regarding the benefits of their Foundation
individually, and to the athletic training profession in
general. We project that continued energetic involvement by
our state and district representatives will increase member
giving each year.
Sponsorships –
Sponsorship of Foundation programs is an important aspect of
our overall annual campaign. The Foundation’s efforts in
this area are assisted by terrific support from the NATA
Marketing & Communications Department. We feel that our
coordinated effort to offer opportunities and associated
benefits to potential sponsors is a very effective
approach. Foundation leadership is especially appreciative
of this very productive team approach.
Foundation Golf Classic
– The 2008 golf outing will be held at Gateway National Golf
Links, about 15 miles east of St. Louis. The format was
changed somewhat last year, and worked well. We have a
single tee-time for all golfers, and the 19th
Hole Party will be held at the golf course upon conclusion
of the round of golf. Participants will continue to enjoy
an array of prizes and raffle items, as well as delicious
food and drink. The silent auction will be conducted at the
convention center, spanning three days, and will allow all
convention attendees an opportunity to participate. This
approach was adopted last year, and generated more interest
by more people over a longer period of time. The result was
a more popular event and more net income to the NATA
Foundation.
NATA
Night with the St. Louis Cardinals
– As you
know, professional baseball has always been an attractive
event for NATA members. The Kansas City Royals will visit
Busch Stadium to take on the St. Louis Cardinals on
Wednesday, June 18. This event will hopefully build upon
the theme of excitement initiated in Anaheim last year when
it was scheduled as a joint event with the NATA Welcome
Reception. This promises to be a most enjoyable evening for
NATA members and guests while cheering on two of Major
League Baseball’s more storied franchises. We look forward
to seeing you there.
NATA
Foundation Fun Run
– An
annually increasing number of participants sign up for this
popular activity. Representatives of local running groups
are joining NATA members in this year’s event in Forest Park
at 7:00 AM on Friday, June 20 - only a few miles from
downtown St. Louis. Efforts are under way to continue to
enhance the event’s popularity and increase member
participation.
New
Initiatives Task Force –
This
group continues to examine every current Foundation program
and activity, as well as the “untapped universe” of new and
different approaches. The intent is to determine which
existing activities should be maintained, curtailed, or
expanded, as well as identifying new ones to add. The next
challenge, of course, is to insure necessary resources are
in place to make that happen.
Committee
for Future Financial Growth –
This is a natural follow-on to the New Initiatives Task
Force. The Foundation has determined that it will be
necessary to solicit and secure significant endowment funds
to address the ever-increasing need for financial support to
expand current programs and activities as well as add new
ones. We have made a significant commitment to the initial
step in that process. A fundraising consultant was formally
commissioned to develop and conduct a Philanthropic Planning
Study to determine the efficacy of a significant endowment
campaign. Extensive interviews were conducted and analyzed,
and the study has been completed. Foundation leadership is
now involved in establishing the infrastructure of
volunteers needed to formally conduct the campaign. You
will be hearing more from us later in this regard.
Web Site
– As you know, NATA is currently conducting a major overhaul
of its web site. The Foundation web site undergoes
continuous review, in an effort to make certain that the
information included there is timely, informative and
complete. We are currently planning to redesign the entire
website, with a design similar to that of NATA. The URL is
www.natafoundation.org. Please take a look at your
convenience. We will appreciate your feedback and
constructive comments.
Outcomes
Research
– The Foundation sincerely appreciates the financial support
provided by NATA in presenting an important summit titled
“Advancing Outcomes of Care in Athletic Training: A Road Map
for the Future.”
This
high-profile conference took place last month in Dallas, and
was attended by approximately 40 high-profile researchers
from across the country. The purpose of the summit was to
serve as a catalyst for conducting athletic training
outcomes research in a systematic and directed manner. It
was thoroughly successful, and served as the “program
announcement” for the $1Million pledged by NATA, over a
three year period, to fund athletic training outcomes
research. This is yet another example of
professional teamwork, and sends a strong, positive message
to our constituents.
Financial
Support –
The
Foundation leadership, as well as the thousands of
Foundation program supporters and participants, remains most
grateful for the support demonstrated in so many ways by the
NATA Board of Directors. We are pleased to return the favor
through our own funding commitments in support of NATA
activities. We look forward to future opportunities for
progress through our joint efforts.
Fellows
Program
– The NATA and Foundation Boards of Directors formally
approved the Fellows Program. We eagerly anticipate the
induction of the first class of NATA Fellows during the
annual meeting in St. Louis. This is yet another example of
our joint efforts. The program offers a new form of
recognition for NATA members, and will encourage their
continued service to NATA and the NATA Foundation. An
increasing pool of highly qualified members who can be
called upon for special leadership roles as required from
time to time by the NATA and the NATA Foundation will be
created. We have appreciated the opportunity to be a part
of the process to develop this important aspect of what NATA
offers to its members.
Strategic
Planning
– The Foundation recognizes the importance of effective
planning. We have followed the fine example of the NATA BOD
and are continuing to develop and carry out strategic plans
for a number of different aspects of our overall mission.
This will help us to think strategically and act
strategically. We are fortunate to have a number of board
members in leadership roles who believe in this process, and
who have made significant personal commitments to the
success of these plans. The future remains bright.
Capital
Campaign
– The
Foundation leadership has devoted a great deal of time and
resources to developing a significant fundraising process to
provide for the future fiscal viability of the
organization. Many of you have been or will be called upon
to assist with your gifts. The NATA Foundation is most
grateful for the continuing support so strongly demonstrated
by each member of the NATA Board of Directors. We are proud
to be a part of the collective effort to insure that the
future of the athletic training profession is long and
productive.
