"Obesity Epidemic" Getting Worse

A story on MedpageToday.com reports researchers are projecting that half of Americans will be obese by 2030. This would have the impact of more people with diabetes, heart disease and stroke, and cancer.

It seems like the time has come for RTs to become much more concerned about the problem of obesity -- and to develop programs to combat it.

Register for ATRA by Friday to Save

Registration rates will increase by as much as $51 after Friday, August 26, 2011. Please take a moment to register online or print your registration form.

In addition, the specially negotiated room rates are only good through 5PM this Friday. Call (317) 631-2221 and mention ATRA to make reservations.

For detailed information on our 2011 Annual Conference, visit the ATRA website.

AJRT Lessons Learned Book Review

I'm anxious to know what was written in the book review of my new book Lessons Learned: An Open Letter to Recreational Therapy Students and Practitioners in the recent issue of the American Journal of Recretion Therapy. If you see the book review and can pass it on to me I'll really appreciate it.

IU's Distance Learning Program Recommended

It was good to see these two endorsements of Indiana University's graduate-level distance learning program - both appeared on Facebook:

Trish McCrory Evans11:17pm Aug 23
I am finishing up at IU and recommend it!

Jackie Reiners8:27pm Aug 23
Indiana University offers a masters in TR as distance ed. I'm just completing the degree - a few bits and bobs to finish up. It has been a great experience and it can all be completed through distance ed (which is a good thing sinse I live close to Vancouver, Canada). But a word of advice - It's a lot easier to do distance ed if you have a study mate to do it with - talk someone else into doing the degree with you! If you want any info, message me!

Get Your Hotel Room for ATRA in Indy

I just heard that the hotel rooms are filling up fast for ATRA in Indy -- so get in your reservation soon if you haven't done so. The Crowne Plaza downtown is the conference hotel.

Pittsburg State University May Have Opening

I just read a post on ATRAnet from Chuck Killingsworth who is a professor at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. Chuck indicated that he is planning to retire soon and that he anticipates there will be a faculty opening at PSU.

IU has long offered RT distance learning program

Someone just asked about the availability of graduate programs in RT via distance learning on the TR Directory on Facebook. I replied that Indiana University has offered an M.S. degree in RT via distance learning since the 1980s.

That prompted me to prepare this post for the RT Blog. I also sent out info to those on ATRAnet.

More than 75 individuals have received their masters’ degrees through IU’s distance learning program – from all over the United States and Canada. 100s of individuals have taken courses to update their skills or meet NCTRC requirements (as students can take up to 12 semester hours as “nondegree students” without applying for admission).

Professor Marieke VanPuymbroeck is the RT Coordinator at Indiana University. She may be contacted at mvp@indiana.edu

Below I’ve copied and pasted information from an IU website that describes the M.S. program in recreational therapy (IU has recently changed the name of its program from TR to RT).

Therapeutic Recreation
The purpose of the Master's program in Therapeutic Recreation is to prepare students to become practitioners in this field. This includes the provisions of interventions that promote the health and well-being of people with disabilities through the use of recreational programming. All students pursuing a master's degree complete 35 graduate credit hours, including core courses and 18 graduate credit hours within their area of specialization. All master's candidates complete a capstone experience - either an intensive master's project that summarizes the knowledge and skills obtained from coursework, a master's thesis based on research related to the specialty area, or a graduate internship. The student's area of specialization determines which capstone experience is pursued.

Part-time RT Position Open in Evansville

This moring Jessica Decker Puntney sent this Facebook message:

Just in case you didn't see it on the website, I wanted to let everyone know that there is a part-time job available in Evansville working with adults in mental health. It would be Mon.-Fri. from approx. 9-2. Please let me know if anyone is interested!

Unfortunately, she didn't supply her contact information but hopefully those from the area will know Jessica.

Exercise Important to a Long Life

Recent research has shown that exercise is a key factor to living a longer life. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health indicates people who practiced 4 low-risk behaviors lived longer -- those 4 were: not smoking, eating healthy, getting enouugh exercise, and drinking alcohol moderately. This, along with much other evidence, begs for RT professional preparation programs to provide students with training in conducting physical activities and in providing leisure counseling (to help clients choose healthy lifestyles). How well do you think our universities are doing in providing students with this training?

RT Blog Over 1,500 Posts

Since its inception, in 2006, the RT Blog has more than 1,500 posts.

RT Foundation "Friend Raiser" During ATRA in Indy

Over the ATRAnet Listserv Dr. Linda L. Buettner today announced the following “Friend Raiser” to be held in Indy during ATRA:

A Friend Raiser Event will take place Monday, September 19th from 7:30-9:30 at the nearby Ram Restaurant. This is a short walk from the conference and sure to be fun!

Great food and prizes will all be available for the $10 admission. Please stop by our booth at the conference and join us at the Friend Raiser Monday night.

See our website:
http://recreationaltherapyfoundation.org/Upcoming_Events.html

Tenure Track Position at St. Joseph's College

Tenure Track
Recreation and Leisure Studies
The Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies of St. Joseph’s College invites applications for a Tenure-Track position in Recreation and Leisure Studies to begin Spring 2012, Patchogue Campus. Ph.D. preferred, ABD and Masters considered, C.T.R.S. required.
Please send Curriculum Vitae & supporting materials to: Karen Cahill, St. Joseph’s College, 155 W. Roe Blvd., Patchogue, NY 11772
For more information go to www.sjcny.edu

23 RT Videos Available Free via Streaming

As the fall term approaches, just a quick reminder that Indiana University has made the entire collection of 23 videos produced by the Recreation Therapy Video (RTV) Project available via streaming so they may be viewed by students on their home computers, in university classrooms and by recreational therapists in healthcare centers.

To view any of the 23 RTV videos viewers use the link https://scholarworks.iu.edu/dspace/handle/2022/3378

NART Founding Associate Fellows

The other day I listed the Founding Fellows of the National Academy of Recreational Therapists (NART). Below appear the names of those who are Founding Associate Fellows of NART.

Missy Armstrong
Candace Ashton
Teresa Beck
Linda Buettner
Kathy Coyle
Michael Crawford
Jennifer Hinton
Terry Kinney
Youngkhill Lee
Bryan McCormick
Tim Passmore
Vicki Scott
Marieke Van Puymbroeck
Jeff Witman
Heewon Yang
Ramon B. Zabriskie

TR Conference at Sea

Allyson Dedic, CTRS, has asked me to post the web address for the Therapeutic Recreation Conference at Sea taking place October 17 - 21, 2011. I like Allyson's innovative approach to doing a conference on a cruise ship and I'm glad to share the web address.

The web address for the TR Conference at Sea is www.whitehallboca.com/conference.html

Slippery Noodle & Other Info about Indy

On Facebook, people were discussing the ATRA Annual Conference being in Indianapolis next month. Someone asked what Indy had going for it. I thought I’d post on the RT Blog what I said on Facebook. Here it is:

Indy is the 12th largest city in the USA. Fantastic downtown in Indy with White River State Park that includes the Indianapolis Zoo, NCAA Hall of Fame, Indiana State Museum, and Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art. Zoo and Eiteljorg are "world class." Also downtown is the Circle Center Mall with many stores and lots of great restaurants. Not far away are the Children's Museum (largest in the world!) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway (with its museum). Indy is the home to the 2012 Super Bowl and regularly hosts the "Final Four." In short, Indy is a wonderful city to live in or to visit.

In a separate post I also mentioned the Slippery Noodle Inn, which is in the downtown area. It is the oldest continuously operating bar in Indiana – and features great blues music.

New Academy for RT Announces Founding Fellows

The National Academy of Recreational Therapists (NART) has published its first newsletter. In the NART Newsletter are listed the Founding Fellows of NART. They are:

David Austin
Frank Basile
Leandra Bedini
Marcia Carter
Peg Connolly
Joanne Finegan
Mary Ann Keogh Hoss
Linda Hutchinson-Troyer
John Jacobson
Ann James
Jerry Jordan
Nancy Navar
Sandy Negley
Sharon Nichols
Bob Riley
Carmen Russoniello
John Shank
Thom Skalko
Norma Stumbo
Glen Van Andel
Ray West
Pamela Wilson

Still Hot - Protect Yourself & Your Clients

Suggestions from the CDC to deal with the heat:

•Stop all activity and go to a cool environment at the first signs of faintness or weakness
•Limit outdoor activity, especially midday when the sun is hottest
•Start slowly and gradually increase the pace of physical activity
•Drink more water than usual and start hydrating before the onset of thirst
•Have a workout partner and monitor each other's condition
•Wear loose, light-weight, light-colored clothing
•Seek medical care immediately if symptoms of heat-related illness arise

AJRT to be Out Soon

I understand that printing problems that slowed down the release of the 2nd issue of the American Journal of Recreation Therapy have been solved and AJRT will be out soon.

Get ATRA Newsletter Items In

Jean Folkerth has indicated that news items for the next ATRA Newsletter should be submitted by August 15th.

ATRA Election Draws Attention

There seems to be a lot of interest in the race for ATRA President between Diane Skalko and Nancy Richeson. I sure hope all ATRA members who are elegible to vote do so.

Good Quote

Another good quote from Disability.gov

"Always remember that the future comes one day at a time."
Dean Acheson

No Luck Finding Lessons Learned Review

I stopped by the HPER Library yesterday only to learn that the library had not yet received the latest issue of the American Journal of Recreation Therapy in which my new book, Lessons Learned, is reviewed. I'll plan to keep checking on AJRT and when it comes in I'll read the review and post my reaction to it.

Lessons Learned Reviewed in AJRT

It has been brought to my attention that my new book, Lessons Learned: An Open Letter to Recreational Therapy Students and Practitioners, was reviewed in the last issue of the American Journal of Recreation Therapy. I haven't seen the review but am looking forward to reading it -- and will pass on portions of it on the RT Blog once I get a copy of the review.

Good Quote

From this morning's Disability.gov posts comes this quote:

"Good listeners, like precious gems, are to be treasured."
Walter Anderson