(May 2024)

Nominations Deadline is EXTENDED to June 30, 2024!

We are excited to announce that four ILOTA Executive Board positions are open for nominations. The Illinois Occupational Therapy Association (ILOTA) Board wants and needs your active involvement.  Voting will occur this summer for positions which begin September 1, 2024. The four positions are:

• Secretary
• Director of Communications
• Director of Membership
• Director of Finance-Elect

The current Board Members have shared some information below about the positions.  We encourage anyone who would like to be involved to consider nominating yourself or others for one of these Executive Board positions. Please send nominations or questions to Hannah Kaytonah, OTR/L, ILOTA Nominations Coordinator. She can be contacted through the ILOTA office at [email protected]. Nominations are due by June 30, 2024. All nominees should provide a Position Statement. The Position Descriptions for the open positions can be accessed below or requested from the ILOTA Executive Director or Nominations Coordinator. It may also be useful to view the ILOTA Organizational Chart here.

Submits formal notes from all organizational meetings. Oversees the Archives Coordinator, Board Recruitment Coordinator, Nominations Coordinator, and Awards Coordinator. View Position Description here.

"In the role of Secretary, you are responsible for tracking the actions of the Association's Executive Board and Full Board so that they can be reported out to the membership as well as record decisions so that they can be tracked and action can be implemented in a timely manner. In addition, you are responsible for the oversight of some of the organization's other committees in order to ensure that they have a voice at the table and are contributing to the organization's strategic plan. Serving as a member of the Executive Board provides an opportunity to engage with a wide variety of OTPs and others who are engaged with ILOTA and the profession. It is a rewarding experience that requires good organizational skills and the ability to multi-task during meetings. Being engaged in this manner enables you to remain current with the important issues facing our profession and Association. I strongly encourage interested persons to seek out opportunities to serve in a leadership role with ILOTA.

Robin A. Jones, COTA/L, ROH"

Oversees all communication methods provided by the organization including The Communiqué newsletter, social media, and the website. Oversees the Newsletter Coordinator, Website Coordinator, Blog Coordinator, and Social Media Coordinator. View Position Description here.

"I have enjoyed being the Director of Communications for the past two years. I was able to use skills of strategic planning, creativity, and connecting with other professionals in the field. I enjoyed the opportunity to write annual board reports, attend executive meetings, quarterly board meetings, organize coordinator meetings, and attend committee meetings as needed. Assisting with overseeing the newsletter and supporting the newsletter coordinator has been interesting and thought-provoking. It is a great way to use a passion for technology while overseeing the website, blog, and supporting social media.  The role requires a keen eye for editing and knowledge of ILOTA and its members in order to highlight the accomplishments in all aspects of OT.

Michelle Hanawalt, OTR/L"

Addresses ways to increase and retain membership in order to safeguard the practice of Occupational Therapy in Illinois. Oversees the Professional Development Coordinator, Retention Coordinator, Networking Coordinator, and Leadership Development Coordinator. View Position Description here.

"In my role as Director of Membership, I’ve had the opportunity to implement initiatives to increase membership rates, improve membership benefits, and explore opportunities for member engagement. I’ve appreciated working with a variety of members to help plan educational, networking, and advocacy opportunities for the association. The person in this role works closely with other members of the Executive Board, the recruitment coordinator, professional development coordinator, networking coordinator, special interest sections and liaisons, and the Leadership Development Program coordinator. Some skills that facilitate success in this role include organization, collaboration, innovative and creative thinking, and communication.

Anne Kiraly-Alvarez, OTD, OTR/L, SCSS"

Organizes and manages budgetary information (manages accounting system, including but not limited to account coding, labeling of line items and proper assignment of debits and credits). The Director of Finance oversees the CE Coordinator, Conference Coordinator, Student Conclave Coordinator, and CE Approval Coordinator. View Position Description here.

"As the Director of Finance for ILOTA, I support the planning of our state conference and student conclave and collaborate with the CEU committee in the planning and execution of continuing education events. Other responsibilities include managing financial records and accounts, processing monthly payments, and reconciling budget accounts before each board meeting. Skills in spreadsheet usage, budget creation, and financial management are recommended. This position allows for active contribution to the association's growth and enhances member services while safeguarding the organization's economic well-being.

Dalmina Arias, OTD, OTR/L"

Please send nominations or questions to Hannah Kaytonah, OTR/L, ILOTA Nominations Coordinator. She can be contacted through the ILOTA office at [email protected]. Nominations are due by June 30, 2024.