|
|
|
|
|
Message from the Chair
Colleagues, US ISPO has continued to gain momentum through a variety of activities and communication tools. This newsletter is sandwiched between the success of recent events and the anticipation of some great ones to come. US ISPO's second Reaching Beyond Our Borders 2007 (RBOB 07) Caribbean Rim conference in Cancun, Mexico far exceeded everyone's expectations. The conference was a partnership between the US and Latin America with over 140 participants representing Mexico, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Guatemala and the U.S. Special thanks to John Craig, CPO for arranging a program that set the bar quite high for quality. If you missed this conference, it is understandable that you may be disappointed but fret not. As a result of the success of this meeting and the feedback received from participants, we plan to host Caribbean Rim meetings every two years in order to offer quality educational activities accessible to our colleagues in Latin America while simultaneously providing US ISPO members continuing education in attractive locations. Creating the opportunity for ISPO Members to share with and learn from our colleagues in Latin America and the Caribbean is focal to elevating the quality and level of P&O rehabilitation services throughout the Western Hemisphere. The next Caribbean Rim meeting will be held in the Dominican Republic in January 2009. The dates and location are very soon to be confirmed. Looking west to the Pacific Rim conference 2008 (PacRim 08), the date is set for January 27-30 in pictorial Maui. US ISPO is thrilled to be able to continue the legacy that is the PacRim Conference. Mark the dates on your calendar. And yet, before we can consider the Luaus of Hawaii in 08 and the Meringue rhythms of the Dominican Republic in 09, we must first peer North. For the BIGGEST and BEST conference in P&O rehabilitation in the WORLD is coming to Vancouver, Canada on July 28 - August 3, 2007. The XII World Congress of ISPO will be a week packed with the best ISPO has to offer. Since it only happens every three years, anticipation for the ISPO World Congress is high. Those who are able to attend a World Congress will never be disappointed. While we certainly have been busy with all this activity surrounding conferences, over the last four months I have had the privilege to present to and meet with hundreds of P&O rehabilitation colleagues from across the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean. The goal of this research was to better understand their situations, to find out what they have to give, and what they need and want most. Believe it or not, the results are in. After talking with so many people, it turns out that absolutely everyone has something to give. Furthermore everyone has needs and wants as well. So our next task has been to match what is being offered with the needs and wants. While it is preliminary to present the outcome of these activities, you should know that the framework has been laid for an initiative designed to strengthen and unite the varied components of international P&O rehabilitation outreach activities in our region. The goal is to construct a network that:
The enthusiastic formative dialogues that have taken place as this project has taken form and grown have lead it to now be know as the Prosthetic & Orthotic Initiative for Networking, Training & Service project or POINTS for short. Much more about that is soon to follow but for now, enjoy the Newsletter and consider: What is it that you have to give and what are your needs and wants? US ISPO would like to know. With warm regards,
|
 |
|
