National Association of Rehabilitation Secretaries.

It is an exciting and challenging time to be in the field of rehabilitation. We have seen the power of the rehabilitation community during the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Now we are in the midst of the changes being wrought by the 1992 Amendments to the Rehabilitation Act. It's a great time to be a member of the rehab team!

We have come a long way from the "office girl" of old. We are professionals contributing to the team in our chosen professions. The rehabilitation team has three core members: first, the client, without whom, where would we be; second, the rehabilitation counselor or case manager, the coordinator of services; and thirdly, the technical office professional (TOP) staff. The TOP staff bridge the gaps between clients and counselors, between counselors and vendors, and between clients and service providers. It is an awesome team. It is a team that works for a common goal -- to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities by providing quality services. While the TOP staff have skills and talents, much of it has yet to be tapped.

It is our responsibility to remain qualified rehabilitation professionals. To this end, the National Rehabilitation Association provides us with the opportunity to participate in a professional organization.

History

In April 1971, an Ad Hoc committee was established to determine the interest in organizing a new Division within the National Rehabilitation Association, to be known as the National Association of Rehabilitation Secretaries (NARS). The interest was there! The Illinois secretaries were the first of many units to organize. They spearheaded the movement. And thus, NARS was conceived.

On October 13, 1973, the NRA Board of Directors (NRA Conference in Chicago) was presented with a "Petition for Provisional Status as a Division" by the National Association of Rehabilitation Secretaries. The Division's membership fee was set at $5. The NRA Board approved the provisional status, where-upon NARS was born.

Ms. Alice Mae Peacock, IL, served from 1971 and 1972 as our first president.

Ms. Gwen Countryman, AR, completed the 1972-73 term of office as President when Ms. Peacock resigned to accept a job with the NRA office in Washington, D.C.

On October 31, 1975, NARS submitted their petition to the NRA Board (NRA Conference in New Jersey) for full divisional status. The Board approved it. At that time, the NRA Executive Director, Mr. E. B. Whitten, stated, "NARS is an extremely important addition to the organizational structure of the Association and wishes for it much success in the future."

Membership

Membership in the Division is available to all members of the Association. Our membership fee is now just $10 in addition to the NRA dues. Current members have many different job titles that encompass the numerous and varied duties required in a rehabilitation setting. Many of our "bosses" have also joined our ranks to show their support for our organization. All NRA members are encouraged to join us and provide that often needed support.

Purpose

The purpose of NARS is to foster, promote, and participate in activities designed to:

1. Instruct and develop the capabilities of NARS membership and the public on subjects useful to the individual members and beneficial to the community.

2. Increase public understanding of the social and economic gains to individuals through providing opportunities for all persons with disabilities to become self-sufficient, self-supporting, and contributing members of society.

3. Providing training opportunities, through conferences and forums, to increase the members understanding of the total rehabilitation process, the interdisciplinary approach to the problems of rehabilitation and resultant benefits to individuals and communities.

4. Determine and analyze the unique skills and knowledge needed by Technical Office Professional Staff (TOPS) in a rehabilitation setting, and devise appropriate training.

5. Provide the highest ethical conduct and practices in respecting the dignity, rights and uniqueness of individuals served, and in maintaining confidentiality of information and records.

6. Initiate and encourage the recruitment of qualified persons for Technical Office Professional Staff in the field of rehabilitation.

Organizational Structure

As a division of NRA, NARS developed our Constitution and By-Laws to meet the approval of NRA. The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the membership voting either by mail, as approved by the Board, or at the annual business meeting if notice of such amendment has been circulated in writing to the membership thirty (30) days in advance of voting.

Our top position is President, assisted by the President-Elect. The executive committee includes the President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past President, Membership Chair and the NARS Representative to the NRA Board. Our Board of Directors consists of the executive committee and Regional Representatives from the seven geographical regions. Members of the Board are elected (except the Membership Chair) by a majority vote of the general membership. Voting takes place by mail. Our terms coincide with the calendar year.

An annual meeting is held in conjunction with NRA's annual training conference. All other meetings are called as the majority of the Board deems necessary. "Robert's Rules of Order" govern the operation of the organization.

NARS units are chartered by the Division for operation on the regional and state levels. These regional and state units are governed by a Board of Directors and their organizational structure is the same as that of the National Division. Regional and state units' constitution and by-laws must be in compliance with the national guidelines. They also must be recommended for approval by the NARS Constitution and By-Laws Committee, who submits them to the Division's Board of Directors for final approval.

Program

Our job titles, our office responsibility and our role on the rehab team have changed drastically over the years. Our titles are as varied as the different functions we perform. The level of responsibility has increased as the duties have become more complex. The role of the technical office professional has gained respect. And, so our participation in our professional organization plays a vital role in our personal as well as our career development.

Professional development activities are conducted on all levels -- national, regional and state. Since a few of our states have extremely large memberships, they also operate with sub-chapters to ease the management duties and to enhance communication. Newsletters are published. Training seminars cover a wide range of topics, i.e., specific disability information, job upskilling, and personal development.

Service projects are also sponsored across the country. These have included:

* donations to non-profit organizations, e.g., Dogs for the Deaf, Seeing-eye Dogs for the Blind, Hand to Hand for Quads, etc.

* visits to nursing homes, hospital wards, rehabilitation centers, etc.;

* participation in various community organizations, i.e., with the VFW, MDA, AHA, etc.;

* collections of food, clothing and toys for individuals with disabilities who are in need;

* special events to meet candidates to learn their views on disability issues and to educate them on the needs of individuals with disabilities; and, many, many more worthy activities.

Benefits

Benefits of membership vary from member to member. However, the comments I have most often heard are: you get out of the organization what you put into it; the more involved you become, the more you value your membership. At a 1994 regional conference -- an outgoing officer said she wished she had gotten more involved much sooner. She can't believe how much she has gained from being a member and from serving as an officer throughout 1993 -- friendships, business contacts, job related skills, also the personal development and growth! She will be volunteering to do more in the future. If anyone had doubts about renewing their memberships, she would sit with them and discuss it thoroughly. It is no longer a matter of can I afford it. It's AM I WORTH IT? When someone asks, `Why should I join?' She can honestly answer them with many, many reasons but often she simply asks them, "ARE YOU WORTH IT?" What price are you willing to pay for "YOU" -- for your personal development? for professional development, for a national network, for resources to assist you accomplish your goals.

Some of the many benefits of membership are: Professional growth, Career development, Personal growth, Technology updates, Idea exchange, Legislative Advocacy, Networking, Involvement, Friendship, Satisfaction, Recognition, Enjoyment!

The NARS Annual Service Award is a prestigious award, one that is a real feather in one's cap. It is something to work toward. It is an honor that we can bestow on those that give so much to our organization. The honoree also gives much to the success of rehabilitation programming through their personal efforts. Our winners are role models for us to emulate.

The Past, Present, and Future

Remember when the office staff consisted of a boss, the secretary, a bookkeeper and possibly a file clerk. Some offices did have stenographers but usually this was just one of the secretary's many duties. We had manual typewriters, mimeograph machines, carbon paper, and of course, a rotary dial telephone. Don't you miss the good old days? Things will never be that simple (or difficult) again.

Just as our job titles and responsibilities have changed, so has our equipment. We've traded in our manual typewriters for electric ones, and some have traded typewriters for computers. Computers also gave us electronic mail systems. This has certainly encouraged the post office and the telephone company to keep pace. They have given us new technological inventions. We have overnight package delivery and express mail supplementing the traditional registered, certified and first-class mail service. And Alexander Graham Bell would agree that the phone is an absolute necessity in completing the communication circle. He would, however, be surprised to learn that we no longer just talk on the phone. We use it to send messages across the state or across the country using the facsimile machine (Just FAX It!). Of course, we have an answering machine but add to that voice mail! Technology is certainly changing the way we do our jobs. With this technology comes the need to learn, learn, and learn. We must be willing to constantly learn to stay on top of these changes. The '90s buzz word for this is "upskilling." NARS will continue to provide activities that will enhance our skills and provide us with the professional and-personal growth we need.

The future is not always easy to predict. However, with a long-range plan in place, we will eliminate some of our stumbling blocks. We will have the needed resources for the consistent provision of services to our members. And, we will grow.

If you have any questions about our organization, feel free to call the NRA office. They will have a list of current officers for you to contact.

Anna M. Renault is the 1994 President of The National Association of Rehabilitation Secretaries (NARS). Ms. Renault has been a NARS member since 1972; and, an NRA member since 1970. She has been very active on the state, regional and national levels -- holding various offices along the way. Ms. Renault has been a technical office professional with the Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) since 1970. She began her career as a secretary in a small field office, moving on to a regional office, and then to the Maryland Rehabilitation Center before advancing to the DORS Administrative Offices in 1992.

Ms. Renault's other affiliations include: The Friends of the Maryland Rehabilitation Center; serving on the Board of Directors since 1986; The Maryland Classified Employees Association; serving on statewide committees as well as all positions on the local chapter Board of Directors; The National Association of Educational Office Professionals; served on the 1994 Spring Conference Committee; as well as several church, civic and community associations.