Have You Registered?

Have You Registered?

The RFW/WRA Rehab & Transition Conference is coming up on March 24 – 26, 2010 at the beautiful American Club in Kohler, WI.  This year’s theme is “Today’s Challenges, Tomorrow’s Choices”.  http://www.rfw.org/

Early bird RFW / WRA members: Full conference $248 | two days $205 | one day $151 Early bird non-members: Full conference $270 | two days $221 | one day $162 | Students $135

Hotel reservations: Mention RFW conference for special rates: The American Club, Kohler, Wis. $119 per night The American Club | $68 per night Inn on Woodlake

Conference Highlights:
Aging & Disability Policy Forum:  Meet the 2010 Gubernatorial candidates (invited)
Opening Keynote:  Dennis Harkins, “Why Family Care and IRIS Must Succeed”
Thursday Keynote:  Chad Crittenden, Survivor Contestant, “Discover the Will to Survive”
Friday Closing:  Monkey Business Comedy Improv Troupe

CRCs and CEUs are available.

WRA Seeking Scholarship Applicants
WRA is now offering student scholarships to its annual RFW/WRA Rehab & Transition conference being held Wednesday, March 24th to Friday, March 26th at the American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin. These scholarships are intended for students, consumers and other individuals in the rehabilitation field with financial need.  We would also like to encourage interested applicants to become members of NRA/WRA, and to get involved in our professional organization.   Scholarship includes a full conference registration, two night stay at Inn on Wood Lake and a small stipend to offset food and transportation costs.  Scholarship winners are expected to attend the whole 3 day conference.

Scholarship applications are due by 4:00 pm on February 22nd.  Applicants will be contacted by email or phone by March 8th about the Scholarship Selection Committee decision.

Please share with any students you may work with.  For application materials, please contact Anna Eggebrecht at anna.eggebrecht@wisconsin.gov.   

Interested in Getting Involved…..We Need You…..
WRA has several committees that members are welcome and encouraged to take part in.  If you would like more information or would like to sign up for a committee, please contact the chair for more information.   

Nominations and Awards – Recruit and select students to receive a scholarship to attend the RFW/WRA Rehab & Transition Conference.
Chair:  Susie Eberhard (eberhards@uwstout.edu)

Program – Help plan the RFW/WRA Rehab & Transition Conference as well as other professional development activities (eg. Ethics Teleconference)
Chair:  Dennis Carriere (carriere.linda@yahoo.com)

Legislative – Keep WRA members up-to-date with the latest legislative happenings.
Co-chairs:  Allison Lourash (alourash@gmail.com)/Tim Carey (tcarey@athenet.net)

Public Information – Keep the WRA members informed through the WRA Newsletter!
Chair:  Jenny Neugart (Jennifer.neugart@wisconsin.gov)

Membership – Think of creative ways to expand our membership and make our organization stronger.
Co-Chairs:  Susie Eberhard (eberhards@uwstout.edu)/Holly Rogers (holly@toddsteven.com)

WRA 2010 Goals!!!

• Add an intern/consultant position to increase our membership by personally welcoming new members, contacting lapsed members, sending out a survey, and adding a member spotlight to the newsletter. 
• Request abstracts from graduate students’ rehabilitation papers to include in the newsletter.
• Explore APSE conference partnership.
• Set up a Facebook page.
• Develop a teleconference on ethics with CRC credit approval for WRA members (at a reduced rate) and DVR counselors.  Continue offering professional development opportunities to members if the first teleconference is well received.

In addition to the new goals identified in 2010, WRA looks forward to our continued efforts including…

• Sponsorship of the 2009 Rehabilitation and Transition Conference. 
• Offering student scholarships to attend the annual conference.
• Supporting and informing the UW Stout Rehabilitation Club.
• Cooperative planning with the WARPPS Seminars.
• Providing 3-4 newsletters a year to keep you informed and entertained.
• Legislative Advocacy in Washington D.C. at the NRA Government Affairs Summit as well as providing legislative updates to the membership.
• Offering CRC and LPC credits at various conferences and trainings.

Calendar of Events

Calendar of Events

Wisconsin Transition Conference.  Feb 18 & 19 @ Kalahari Resort, WI Dells, WI.  This conference includes state and national speakers presenting cutting edge strategies to help make the transition from school to adult life as smooth as possible.  This year’s conference features a keynote by Dr. Temple Grandin.  More information at www.wsti.org

WI APSE – Providing Vocational Services to people with Criminal Histories.  March 11 & 12, 2010.  Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton, WI.   This training with include information about current programs in our state from Mary Day Kollat, and a full day on employment strategies with national trainer, Maria Anderson.  More information at  www.wiapse.org.

National Rehabilitation Association Governmental Affairs Summit. March 14-16, 2010, Alexandria, VA.  For the past 28 years, NRA has hosted the annual Governmental Affairs Summit in the Washington D.C. area, and it continues to attract the best and brightest in the field of vocational rehabilitation.  The summit offers members the opportunity to participate meaningfully in shaping vocational rehabilitation policy at the State and Federal levels. More information at www.nationalrehab.org.

WARPS Spring Seminar. April 23, 2010.  Vocational and medical program tracks.  Milwaukee – exact location and agenda to be announced.