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Dear ALATA Membership and Visiting Guests,

I just wanted to write a brief note to thank those of you who attended the 2007 Annual Alabama Athletic Trainer’s Association meeting in Destin.  It certainly was good to visit with each of you of whom I do not get to see often.  For many of us the state meeting is our only form of communication throughout the year.  It was certainly a great meeting and a good time was had by all.  I would like to also thank those individuals who visited from other states to our meeting and hope to see you at future meetings.

For those of you who have expressed interest and willingness to serve on various committees, I thank you and we will be contacting you in the near future as we solidify these vacant committees and communicate with you regarding your responsibilities.

I certainly hope that each and every one of you has a safe and wonderful summer.  May each of you get the “break” you so deserve to get ready for yet another grueling season.  Please remember to cast your votes to Ms. Leah Taylor at the Alabama Board of Athletic Trainer’s office for your leadership.  Her contact information should be included in this newsletter.

Sincerely,

Heloise Belarmino Jones, MAE, ATC
President

Special Recognition goes to Sherry Kimbro from the University of Alabama.  Sherry will be inducted into the ALATA Hall of Fame at the 2008 meeting.  Join us then and now in recognizing Sherry for her service and excellence in the profession.

Those ATC/LATs already in the field also continue to shine.  The following athletic trainers and those who support our profession were recognized in San Destin.

• Corporate Award from Pfizer -  Bill Maschmeier
• Clinical Athletic Trainer Award winner  from DCH - Sheryl Hendrix
• High School Athletic Trainer Award winner of Central High School in Florence, AL - Paul Crawford
• ALATA Service Award from the Columbus Cottonmouths Hockey Organization from Auburn, AL - Jamie Gamber
• College Athletic Trainer Award Winner of Samford University -Michelle Johnson
• Award of Merit from The University of West Alabama - Brad Montgomery
• Sports Medicine Person of the Year from Southern Bone & Joint Specialists - Bruce Hall, MD

ALATA congratulates the award winners and their respective schools/companies!  Also, thanks to you the membership for sending in nominations.  Please recognize an ATC/LAT who goes above and beyond my nominating them for a 2008 award.  Visit www.alata.org to contact the award committee.

The 2007 ALATA Scholarship Winners are:

• Jessica Dysart is a Graduate student at the University of Alabama at Birmingham ad working as a Graduate Assistant at Samford University.
• Chuan Wang is an undergraduate student at Troy University.

Join ALATA and athletic trainers across the state in congratulating these students.  Please encourage the students of the profession you know to apply for the 2008 awards!

New Faces to the Board

At this year’s annual meeting, an election was held to fill the positions of ATC At Large (formerly held by Wayne Kendrick) and PT/ATC.  By support of the members, Brad Montgomery of the University of West Alabama will take over the role of ATC At Large and Alan Spooner of the University of Alabama at Birmingham will serve another term at the position of PT/ATC.  We welcome them to the Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers and look forward to their leadership.  ALATA would like to thank everyone who nominated and who ran in the election as it was a close one – THANKS FOR BEING INVOLVED!

Facts and Reminders……

• The Alabama Board of Athletic Trainers is a separate entity than ALATA (Alabama Athletic Trainers Association)
• Please keep your e-mail and postal address current with NATA so you are sure to receive all future e-blasts and mailing.  Sandy Ward can be contacted at sandyw@nata.org
• The 2007 ALATA Annual Meeting had 180 registrants – thanks to all who attended and participated to make the meeting sure a great success!  We are already looking forward to next year.
• We will be returning to Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort, Sandestin, FL for the 2008 ALATA Meeting, May 16-18.
• Please vote with the attached ballot for new faces in ALATA!  http://www.seata.org/alata/ALATABallot2.pdf by August 3, 2007.