Winter Issue

March 2003, Volume 5, No. 2

From the Desk of the President

Tyra R. Hawkins, President

 

Greetings NAMRC Members and Supporters!

 

Springtime is just around the corner, and so is our 11^th annual NAMRC conference.  The conference committee under the leadership of Ms. Sherry Billings and Dr. Brenda Cartwright are diligently at work in preparation of this year’s conference in New Orleans, July 23-27, 2003.

 

UPDATE ON NRA RESTRUCTURING

 

During the delegate assembly meeting at the National NRA Conference in 1999 members were informed that the voting delegates (who cast their votes by mail) had approved the restructuring of the organization.  NRA restructuring began in 2000 with a three-year transition period, with December 31, 2003 marking the end of the transition. Like the NAMRC Board, I am sure that you have a myriad of unanswered questions regarding the restructuring of NRA.  Please allow me to bring you up to date with the latest information that the NAMRC Board has received from NRA:

The restructuring of NRA was assigned to the NRA One Committee. To date this committee has shared very little information with divisions and the members of NRA.

 

·     The Constitution and By-Laws Committee informed NRA divisions that, under the new NRA organization divisions would no longer need a constitution.  Instead, divisions would operate under the guidelines of the NRA constitution, with each division allowed to have By-Laws that conform to the guidelines adopted by the Constitution and By-Laws Committee and approved by the NRA Board of Directors.

 

·         Under the restructuring plan, divisions whose membership is below 500 on December 31, 2003 would not be allowed to retain its seat on the NRA Board (please bear in mind that if you are not present in the boardroom you have no VOICE).

 

·         All divisional finances must be turned over to NRA. To date, NRA has not delineated what administrative costs will be associated with their maintaining divisional accounts.

 

·    Divisions were strongly encouraged to submit information to showcase their divisions in each issue of the Contemporary Rehab. Last month divisions were notified that the rebates from divisional membership dues were being reduced by $1.00 to offset the cost of the publishing of the NRA Contemporary Rehab magazine, effective February 15, 2003. This process was characterized, and I quote, “an interim step as we work toward identification of the foundation services to be offered to all divisions.”

 

Continued on Pg 2

 

 

From the Desk of the President

Continued from Pg 1

· It is not yet known if there will be additional dues increases in dues for members of NRA.

 

· NRA has not provide divisions with an all-inclusive copy of its transition plan as part of the restructuring.

 

At our annual conference in Little Rock NAMRC members were informed, during the membership meeting, of the proposed restructuring of NRA. NAMRC members expressed concerns and voiced opposition to the restructuring of NRA. The goal of the NAMRC Board is to keep its members informed and up to date on all issues.  My question to you is what direction and/or position do you want NAMRC to take? Now is the time to VOICE your opinion to the NAMRC Board of Directors.

 

As always please feel free to contact me at the following telephone numbers, (256) 231-1025 office and (256) 358-4097 home, or by email tjr111855@aol.com.

 

NAMRC leaders and members will be in attendance at the annual Governmental Affairs Conference in Alexandria, VA in March. One of my goals as President is to assure NAMRC has a presence at all NRA sponsored training conferences.

 

Student Representative Report

By Silvio Sean Reyes

 

Good day to everyone! I would first like to begin with acknowledgement of the numerous Black History Month events in your community and campuses that I hope many of you participated in during February.  Secondly, I want to follow up on my initial piece in the NAMRC Cultural Network Newsletter. In that first newsletter report, I offered my opinion of potential nepotism and its impact on minority professionals, but I neglected to include any information regarding my educational and professional experiences.

 

I received both my Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice degree and Master’s of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling degree from the esteemed historically black college/university (HBCU) South Carolina State University… GO BULLDOGS!!! I currently attend Southern Illinois University at Carbondale where I’ve recently (December) become a doctoral candidate within the Rehabilitation Institute. I am a member of the National Rehabilitation Association (NRA), Illinois Rehabilitation Association (IRA), International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals (IARP), and National Council of Rehabilitation Educators (NCRE). Finally, and one of the most important, is my membership in the National Association of Multicultural Rehabilitation Concerns (NAMRC), where I am the Board Student Representative as well as the Student Outreach Committee Chair.

 

In closing, I encourage student members and nonmembers (after becoming members), to participate in the upcoming NAMRC conference in New Orleans, LA in July.  Also, please feel free to contact me at sreyes40@hotmail.com or (618) 453-8295 with issues and concerns you’d like me to bring to the NAMRC Board.

 

Call for Volunteers for NAMRC Conference

This is a call for volunteers to assist the Conference Registration Committee at the upcoming Summer Training Conference in New Orleans. Each volunteer is being asked to serve a minimum of one (1) hour. This is our Conference and we can all help make it a success by donating time and service to the Association and attendees. Any individuals serving two or more hours will be recognized and receive a "Certificate for Service."

Volunteers will be needed (e.g., 1 to 2 hours periods) from 12-6 pm on Thursday, 8-4 pm on Friday and 8-12 on Saturday.

As co-chairs of the Conference Volunteer Committee, we thank you in advance for your commitment to the Association. Please contact either Eddie Glenn at eeglenn@compuzone.net, or Gail Faulkner at gfaulkner@cacdhh.org, if you will be available to volunteer. 

 

NAMRC Board Representative Report

 

The NRA Board recently approved a document in support of reauthorization of the Rehabilitation Act.  This was the culmination of many months of work by the Rehabilitation Act Reauthorization Task Force, chaired by Harry Smith (MI), Susan Sherman (GA) and Kathleen Wilson (NJ). Carolyn Rollins, from NAMRC, also served on the committee.

 

As reported in the last newsletter, and more recently in the February edition of Contemporary Rehab, Michelle Vaughn is leaving her position as NRA Executive Director after ten years of service.  The effort to find a replacement, (i.e., initiate a search) for Ms. Vaughn has began to take shape. Search Committee Chair John Lui is working with Ms. Vaughn to detail the key areas that should be emphasized as part of a new position description.  The search committee members will be meeting with Dr. Lui during the upcoming Governmental Affairs Conference to review and decide on next steps. The goal is still to have a new executive director at the helm by the end of summer.  Again, NAMRC members are encouraged to check the NARMC website at http://www.rcepv.siu.edu/namrc for updates on the search, including a position description (for any interested members) as it becomes available.

 

In other news,

·         The NRA Board has agreed to revisit the 500-member requirement for continued representation on the Board under the current restructuring process (see President Hawkins’ update). A proposal to lower the requirement for maintenance of Board seats has been submitted to the Board. The proposal is to lower the requirement from 500 to 400. The NRA Board will consider adopting this proposal, or some alternative at its March Board meeting, prior to the Governmental Affairs Conference. 

 

·         The NAMRC Constitution Committee continues work on revising/rewriting the constitution/by-laws in efforts to comply with the NRA Constitution Committee directive changing from a division with a constitution to one with by-laws.  Dr. Eddie Glenn is taking the lead in this effort. Dr. Glenn reports that she hopes that a draft will be available at our National Conference in July for membership review and input, prior to submission to the NRA Board.

 

·         The 2003 NRA National Conference is set for October 2-5 in Nashville, TN. The call for proposals for that conference is in the Contemporary Rehab. I hope that NAMRC members will consider submitting proposals for presentation in Nashville and that NAMRC has a solid representation at the Conference.

 

·         I hope to see many of your at the Governmental Affairs Conference this month, as we meet and plan visits with our legislators as part of the Visits to the Hill Day.

Carl Flowers

NAMRC Representative to the NRA

 

2003 Conference Update

 

The Annual Training Conference is fast approaching and Program Chairs Drs. Chandra Donnell and Yolanda Edwards report that they have received a plethora of proposals for the conference.  The Program Committee has begun the daunting task of assessing and selecting proposals for the concurrent and poster sessions which are most consistent with the conference theme: Enhancing Competencies: Cultural Diversity in Rehabilitation Research and Practice.

 

As a reminder, the downloadable registration form for the 11^th Annual conference is now available at the NAMRC website: http://www.rcepv.siu.edu/namrc. Persons interested in the pre-conference sessions on grant writing, CRC exam preparation and NIDRR research may also register for those, using the registration form on the website.  It is also anticipated that a mini-schedule (with session descriptions) of conference workshops will be available in the next newsletter and on the website.  Check the site for Early–bird registration deadlines and other important information for conference attendees.

 

Reservations at the W New Orleans Hotel, official conference hotel, at 333 Poydras St. in New Orleans, by calling (800) 522-6963 or (504) 525-9444.

 

If you attended the 2002 conference, you will recall the video of the first ten-years (in pictures and music). That video is now available, for viewing, with Quick-Time Player and/or Real Media Player, on the NAMRC Website. Check it 0ut!

 

Additionally, NAMRC Awards Chair Troy Cobb has reissued the call for nominations for the NARMC Awards. The Awards will be presented at the conference in New Orleans. The award categories and criterion are on the website (http://www.rcepv.siu.edu/namrc) and are also included in this newsletter.

 

Call for NAMRC Awards Nominations

 

A brief synopsis of the awards and criteria is provided below. More detailed information is available at the NAMRC website at NAMRC.org.

 

Joyce Keener Meritorious Award

The criteria on which the recipient will be selected includes nominee’s years of faithfulness, loyalty, and commitment to the mission and agenda of NAMRC

 

Bobbie Atkins Research Award

The criteria on which the award winner will be selected include the extent to which nominee’s publications significantly contribute to the quality of services and lives of persons of color with disabilities

 

Sylvia Walker Education Award

The criteria on which the award recipient will be selected include the extent to which the nominee’s impact in teaching students about multicultural issues in rehabilitation and involvement in the lives of students of color with disabilities

T.K. Bridges Practitioner Award

The criteria on which the recipient will be selected are based on the extent to which the nominee has been a significant contributor to the development or implementation of a service program that has demonstrated value to persons of color with disabilities. Additionally, the extent to which the nominee demonstrates the mission and action oriented agenda of NAMRC and enhances the multicultural rehabilitation profession will also be considered.

Organizational Award

The criteria on which the recipient will be selected for this award includes organization’s record of quality services to persons of color with disabilities, and has contributed to the well being of persons of color with disabilities, both past and present, at the local, state, regional and/or national levels

 

For additional information, contact

Troy Cobb at troy.cobb@dwd.state.wi.us

 

Nomination deadline April 5, 2003

 

 

Mark your calendars and

make plans today

to meet in the

BIG EASY

For the

NAMRC 11^th Annual Conference

W New Orleans Hotel

New Orleans, LA

For Reservation, call

(800) 522-6963

(504) 525-9444

 

 

 

NAMRC Mission Statement NAMRC is a diverse group whose mission is to advocate for the rehabilitation needs of multicultural persons with disabilities; ensure the provision of quality and equitable services; and enhance the development of multicultural rehabilitation professionals.

 

  NAMRC Announces Guidelines for Scholarship Award

 

The NAMRC Board has established a Student Scholarship Award.  The purpose is of the award is to support and encourage minority students who are pursuing careers in rehabilitation.

 

Eligible applicants:

1.       NAMRC members

2.       Racial/ethnic minority students who are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs in rehabilitation at

3.       Core accredited HBCU and minority institutions of higher education, and any other institution of higher education offering a core accredited program

 

Selection criteria:

1.       Persons attaining a minimum GPA of 3.3 or above on a 4.0 scale at the graduate level, or a 2.8 GPA level or above at the undergraduate level;

2.        A completed, 3-5 page essay, on a question/issue related to multicultural issues, developed by the Scholarship Committee;

3.       Three letters of reference:

a) Educator in rehabilitation or a related area,

b) A community sponsor who is knowledgeable about the student from work as an employee or volunteer in human services, and

c) Other (non-relative) of applicant’s choosing;

4.       An agreement, as an award winner, to attend and present a paper at the annual NAMRC conference.

 

Amount of award:  Two awards will be given annually: an undergraduate award of $1,500 and a graduate award of $2,000.

 

Process:  Applications will (a) be available on the NAMRC Website after March 15, and (b) will be accepted between March 16 and May 30.  Applicants must complete a scholarship application, including a statement of current grants, scholarships and financial aid, an official transcript, a response to the essay question and (3) letters of recommendation.

 

The NAMRC Scholarship Committee will evaluate applications and awards will be formally presented at the annual NAMRC training conference.

WINSTON SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY

Notice of Vacancy

 

POSITION TITLE: Assistant Professor

(One Year Appointment)

 

RESPONSIBLE TO: Chairperson of Human Performance and Sports Science

 

QUALIFICATIONS

Candidate for this position should have a

 

Ph.D. in Rehabilitation, Counseling or related fields;

·Experience in teaching rehabilitation studies at the college level

·Experience working with students from diverse backgrounds

·Evidence of teaching effectiveness and ability to elicit critical thinking in students

·Research experience

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

·Teach Rehabilitation Studies courses

·Participate in scholarly activities and research

·Participate on departmental and university committees

·Participate in curriculum development

 

SALARY

Competitive; commensurate with experience and credentials

APPLICATION

Applications will be accepted until position is filled

 

DEADLINE

Review will begin February 15, 2003

  APPOINTMENT DATE:  August 1, 2003

 

APPLICATION: Please send a letter of application stating the position for which you are applying, transcripts, and three current letters of recommendation to:

Dr. Cynthia D. Williams

Department of Human Performance and Sports Science

Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27110