2 Quarter 2024 Newsletter 
President's Report
Happy Spring! (I think!)
We hope your Spring seasons are off to a good start, whatever your setting may be. And for those in the traditional setting, wishing you the best of luck in the ongoing changes that our Midwest Mother Nature throws at us!
This will be my last message to our members as your President, and I would like to share it has been a humbling experience and honor to serve the members of the WATA and the athletic training profession.
During my tenure I’ve learned there are so many aspects to not only the WATA that require your attention, but also the various issues that come beyond the association which impact our association and the profession of athletic training. Many which require tough decisions and thought into a solution, a response…or…no response. From legal matters, other associations which impact our association and our profession and just general questions from both the membership and non-members. And in that time, I quickly learned that our association has some amazing individuals who have been willing to volunteer their time to serve our association and the profession of athletic training as board members, committee chairs and members who are great resources and colleagues to draw from to help meet these various needs. Both current, previous, and newly elected board members are some extremely dedicated individuals who I personally appreciate and have enjoyed greatly serving with.
As I reflect on my term as President one area of frustration at times has been the slow progression of our legislative efforts, and our inability to get AB311 passed during this session. While I’m a bit frustrated this won’t occur prior to leaving office, being in this “seat” and working with our lobbyist, the WATA Governmental Affairs Committee, as well as our bill authors I quickly became aware and proud of the fact that we have a voice in Madison! We are a voice that is heard and respected among legislatures, and this is due to the hard work of our lobbyist, but more importantly those who came before us and fought these battles.
While we may not have been able to get AB 311 passed during my time as President, I’m also encouraged at the progress we’ve made, and continue to make. But there is still work to be done! We continue to need the help, the voices, involvement, and actions of you our members as we continue this battle. Please continue to share your story, sharing who we are and why the changes we are pursuing are important to our profession. And how they can help to put us on a level playing field with other healthcare professions and continue to advance athletic training. All with the goal of providing the best care for those we serve and making quality healthcare available to all. Please keep a close watch on your emails, eblast updates as well as our social media outlets of legislative updates as we progress through these legislative efforts and how you can help. We do and will always need your help!
For us to advance our efforts as a profession, as an association, and as individuals there truly is validity in the phrase “strength in numbers!” Whether in legislative efforts or discussions with other professional organizations be it in healthcare such as insurance payors, or beyond healthcare such as athletic administrators or other such as the WIAA. Our voice is best heard and respected as a group! But for us to continue our history of advancing our profession it takes everyone’s involvement. In particular I am referring to professional involvement in the association, which is obtained by being a member.
In full transparency the last few years we have seen a significant decrease in membership at the State level and the National level. This lack of membership greatly impacts our efforts as an association. Which in turn has required the BOD to make tough decisions relative to financial commitments, involvement and how to best reach our goals while continuing to advance our profession and athletic trainers across the state. Your NATA membership greatly impacts us as a portion of your national dues are in fact returned to the State level. Further, a lack of membership greatly impacts the support we receive from the NATA, and has! Due to this “national” theme of decrease in membership numbers at the NATA level, we have had to absorb many cost that were supported by NATA grants. All of which have been frozen since prior to COVID and continue to be. I cannot stress enough how much your membership, or lack of membership impacts us here at the State level. Every member is valued and appreciated, and when those members leave it is felt, by all of us. If you are reading this message and you ARE a member…THANK YOU! Thank you for your continued support of our association and our goals of continuing to advance our profession in Wisconsin. If you are a not a member of WATA and are seeing this message through some outlet or resource such as a colleague, I encourage you to become a member! If you’re a member, we as an association encourage you to share with your non-member colleagues about the importance of being a member. Help us support you and other athletic trainers here in our State. There TRULY is “strength in numbers”.
In closing I want to share we are excited for our upcoming annual Spring symposium and business meeting which will be held in Oshkosh April 25th and 26th. We’re excited for a new venue and the new two-day format. A two day format and up to 11 CEU’s to help you get a jump start on a new reporting cycle! Our continuing education committee has put together what I feel is an excellent educational program! More information is available on the WATA website and the events page.
And if you don’t follow us on our social media outlets please do!
Here’s to a great Spring season! And we hope to see you all in Oshkosh in April!
Best,
Keith Owsley
WATA President
[email protected]
Board of Directors Election
The Wisconsin Athletic Trainers’ Association recently concluded its board elections. The announcement, made during the Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association meeting, revealed the newly elected members: Lacey Runyon as Secretary, Tadd Turnquist as Northwest Representative, and Steve Staab as Southeast Representative. These individuals bring years of experience and dedication to their roles. As the association looks ahead, we encourage members to participate actively in future elections to continue fostering growth and success. Keep an eye out for additional updates coming soon!
GLATA and NATA Award Winners
During the GLATA Annual Meeting and Symposium in March 2024, Wisconsin members made a significant impact through their active participation and achievements.
Notable recipients of GLATA awards include Holly Schmies, PhD, ATC, who received the Outstanding Educator Award, and Michael Moll, MEd, ATC, honored with the Dedicated Service Award. Sydney Szalinski from University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh was recognized with the Best Original Research Poster award, showcasing Wisconsin's reputation as a leader in athletic training higher education and academic learning.
Additionally, Wisconsin members Michael Moll, MEd, ATC, Robert Sipes EdD, ATC, and Kenneth Wilka, MEd, LAT, received the prestigious Athletic Training Service Award from NATA, while Joe La Mere, LAT was honored with the NATA SSATC Servant's Heart Award further highlighting their careers at a national level.
These awards not only celebrate individual accomplishments but also demonstrates Wisconsin's depth of talent and dedication to advancing athletic training.
Awards and Scholarships
We're thrilled to announce the outstanding individuals who've earned recognition in our 2024 Awards! Join us in celebrating the Hall of Fame inductee, Kurt Fielding, LAT, ATC, Distinguished Service Awardees Jim Shlimovitz, MS, LAT and Jennifer Thorpe, PhD, LAT, and Outstanding Educators Kari Emineth, PhD, LAT, April Gotzler, PhD, LAT, and Tadd Turnquist, MS, LAT!
Mark your calendars for April 25th as we gather in Oshkosh for a grand Awards Reception during our upcoming symposium! Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to honor these remarkable achievers and be part of our esteemed community. Register now to secure your spot and join us in applauding their exceptional contributions!
WATA Annual Meeting and Symposium
Registration is now open!
JUST A DRIVE AWAY. MEET US ON THE WATERFRONT IN APRIL.
From Wausau an hour and forty minutes to Oshkosh.
From Eau Claire a three-hour drive to Oshkosh.
From Janesville at two-hour drive to Oshkosh.
From Milwaukee an hour and twenty minutes to Oshkosh
Here is what you will learn from us:
and cervical spine management during our learning lab.
Don't forget to upgrade your symposium experience by including the PAC Fundraiser event ticket in your registration! Your participation in the PAC Fundraiser significantly supports our Governmental Affairs Committee's efforts to bolster legislative initiatives. Last year's PAC Fundraiser saw a strong turnout, contributing to its success. Join us in maintaining this momentum as we strive to achieve our legislative goals for 2024!
Job Fair at Annual Meeting & Symposium
Check it out on April 26th, 2024.
Employers seeking athletic trainers for their vacant positions are invited to participate in the job fair. This provides an excellent opportunity for job seekers to connect with potential employers and inquire about job opportunities.
The workshop, focusing on resumes and cover letters, is for symposium attendees.
Recognizing the challenge for both employers and job seekers to connect, we see the job fair and workshop as a vital bridge—a combination—bringing together the needs of both parties. The workshop is complimentary for symposium attendees, included with their registration.
Employers interested in meeting job seekers can secure a table by registering on the event page of our website during the symposium.
Secondary School Committee Re-Launch
In December, the WATA Board of Directors approved the re-launch of the WATA Secondary Schools AT Committee. The board acknowledges the importance of our members in secondary school settings. After approving the committee's revival, Roland Schmidt, LAT, ATC, was appointed as the Committee Chair. The committee aims to have representation from athletic trainers in secondary schools across Wisconsin within the WATA.
Currently, WATA is looking for one volunteer from each WATA region to join and contribute to the relaunch of our Secondary School AT committee. If you're interested, feel free to step forward and get involved!
