National Rehabilitation Association regions."Continuous improvement," a term more recently associated with the total quality management movement, was perhaps not foreign to the founding organizers and early members of the National Rehabilitation rehabilitation: see physical therapy. Association. A review of the early history of the Association reveals many changes occurred early on to improve its ability to meet the needs of members and to achieve the Association's mission. One such change occurred in 1948 when regions became the first sub-organizational units of the Association. Regions were established for the primary purpose of effecting greater membership participation in the affairs of the Association. The primary responsibilities of regions were originally and continue to be to conduct an annual conference and to elect representatives to the NRA NRA (National Rifle Association of America) organization that encourages sharpshooting and use of firearms for hunting. [Am. Pop. Culture: NCE, 1895] See : Hunting Board and national Nominating Committee A nominating committee is a group formed usually from inside the membership of an organization for the purpose of nominating candidates for office within the organization. It works similarly to an electoral college, the main difference being that the available candidates, either . Other activities are permissible, provided they are not in conflict with the purposes of the Association. (NRA Reference Manual, 1989) The NRA Board designates the regions and their boundaries. All members of the Association in the geographical area designated as a region are members of the regional organization. (Constitution, Article X Section 4, 1992) Regional organizations are administrative units Noun 1. administrative unit - a unit with administrative responsibilities administrative body Inland Revenue, IR - a board of the British government that administers and collects major direct taxes of the Association and subject to the control of the Board. (Constitution, Article X, Section 3, 1992) Current regions and their boundaries are as follows: (See Map on following page.) Southeast: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina North Carolina, state in the SE United States. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (E), South Carolina and Georgia (S), Tennessee (W), and Virginia (N). Facts and Figures Area, 52,586 sq mi (136,198 sq km). Pop. , South Carolina South Carolina, state of the SE United States. It is bordered by North Carolina (N), the Atlantic Ocean (SE), and Georgia (SW). Facts and Figures Area, 31,055 sq mi (80,432 sq km). Pop. (2000) 4,012,012, a 15. , Tennessee Mid-Atlantic: Delaware,District of Columbia District of Columbia, federal district (2000 pop. 572,059, a 5.7% decrease in population since the 1990 census), 69 sq mi (179 sq km), on the east bank of the Potomac River, coextensive with the city of Washington, D.C. (the capital of the United States). , Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia West Virginia, E central state of the United States. It is bordered by Pennsylvania and Maryland (N), Virginia (E and S), and Kentucky and, across the Ohio R., Ohio (W). Facts and Figures Area, 24,181 sq mi (62,629 sq km). Pop. Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island Rhode Island, island, United States Rhode Island, island, 15 mi (24 km) long and 5 mi (8 km) wide, S R.I., at the entrance to Narragansett Bay. It is the largest island in the state, with steep cliffs and excellent beaches. , Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (pwār`tō rē`kō), island (2005 est. pop. 3,917,000), 3,508 sq mi (9,086 sq km), West Indies, c.1,000 mi (1,610 km) SE of Miami, Fla. , Virgin Islands Great Lakes Great Lakes, group of five freshwater lakes, central North America, creating a natural border between the United States and Canada and forming the largest body of freshwater in the world, with a combined surface area of c.95,000 sq mi (246,050 sq km). : Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin Southwest: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico New Mexico, state in the SW United States. At its northwestern corner are the so-called Four Corners, where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet at right angles; New Mexico is also bordered by Oklahoma (NE), Texas (E, S), and Mexico (S). , Oklahoma, Texas Great Plains: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, Montana, North Dakota North Dakota, state in the N central United States. It is bordered by Minnesota, across the Red River of the North (E), South Dakota (S), Montana (W), and the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (N). , South Dakota South Dakota (dəkō`tə), state in the N central United States. It is bordered by North Dakota (N), Minnesota and Iowa (E), Nebraska (S), and Wyoming and Montana (W). , Utah, Wyoming Pacific: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington (NRA Bylaws The rules and regulations enacted by an association or a corporation to provide a framework for its operation and management. Bylaws may specify the qualifications, rights, and liabilities of membership, and the powers, duties, and grounds for the dissolution of an , Article VIII, Section 7, 1992) The Constitution delineates the responsibilities of the regional organization. Each region must conduct a conference at least once every two years. The bylaws of each regional organization declares whether its conference is held annually or biennially. (Constitution, Article X, Section 5, a. 1992) The Constitution further specifies that each region shall provide for the selection of one of its members to serve on the Board and it shall provide for one of its members to serve on the Nominating Committee. (Constitution, Article X, Section 5, c. 1992) Since regions are under the control of the board, (Constitution, Article X, Section 3, 1992) the selection of a regional member to serve on the Board is extremely important since the member is the key link to facilitate effective communication between the Board and the region. The region therefore communicates its concerns and opinions to the Board and the member has the responsibility to communicate the activities and actions of the Board to the region. The selection of a member to serve on the Nominating Committee is just as important. Through this member a region has the opportunity, in addition to the responsibility, to ensure the election of qualified national officers. Other activities are permissible within regions so long as they are not in conflict with the Constitution and/or Bylaws of the Association.( Bylaws, Article VIII, Section 4, 1992) Regions are encouraged to support the purposes of the Association through regional activities other than convening a conference. A review of current activities in regions reveals that they are as diverse as the membership within the region and as productive as the effectiveness of its leadership. Regional activities currently range from only conducting a conference to a multitude of projects, programs, and meetings. Since the purpose of regions is greater membership participation in the affairs of the Association, it stands to reason the more activities occurring in a region that promote membership participation the more effective it is if the activities support the mission of the Association and are not in conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws. Some regions are more active than others. Perhaps a review of activities that promote greater member participation and the achievement of the NRA mission would be of interest to the reader. These activities may or may not be occurring in regions at the current time. Legislative Networking: Regional organizations are ideal to facilitate legislative networking. The effective use of key individual members in a region as primary contacts enables every state and/or sub-chapter to be informed of important legislative issues on a timely basis. In addition, the regional contacts can and should be the facilitators for communicating legislative concerns from state and local chapters to the Board, and if appropriate, the National Office. Technical Assistance to Chapters at Risk: Since regions consist of geographically located state chapters the regional organization should be a nurturer to state chapters that are at risk of failure because of under or undevelopment. Professional Development: Annual conferences are not the only opportunity for professional development within regions. Regions sponsor training seminars for personal as well as professional development for its members. Training seminars are an excellent means to raise revenues to underwrite other activities within the region. Service Programs: Sponsorship of scholarship and other service programs that are in concert with the Association's mission is an excellent way to solicit membership participation. Comradeship com·rade n. 1. A person who shares one's interests or activities; a friend or companion. 2. often Comrade A fellow member of a group, especially a fellow member of the Communist Party. : Perhaps the most important activity that a regional organization provides is the opportunity to build camaraderie between and among its members. Since regional organizations are an extension of the national Association, every subunit sub·u·nit n. A subdivision of a larger unit. Noun 1. subunit - a monetary unit that is valued at a fraction (usually one hundredth) of the basic monetary unit fractional monetary unit of the Association is represented at the regional level. Chapters and divisions can build a solid foundation for communication and cooperation at the regional level that makes the Association stronger and better prepared to achieve its mission. No doubt many other activities are occurring in regions that are not mentioned here. Unfortunately, there may be regions where little activity is occurring. An organization is only as strong as its weakest link; therefore, it would behoove be·hoove v. be·hooved, be·hoov·ing, be·hooves v.tr. To be necessary or proper for: It behooves you at least to try. v.intr. To be necessary or proper. the Association to continue the tradition of our early founders and make our regions strong by expanding opportunities for greater membership participation. Summary Regions were the first sub-organizational units of the National Rehabilitation Association. Regions are extensions of the National Organization. Their purpose is to effect greater membership participation in the affairs of the Association. Regions conducting meaningful activities in concert with the Constitution and Bylaws strengthen the National Association. References National Rehabilitation Association Constitution and Bylaws; as Amended, 1992. National Rehabilitation Association Reference Manual; April 1989. J. Larry Johnson, B.S., M.A., is currently the Administrator of the Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center of Central Alabama Central Alabama is the region in the state of Alabama that stretches approximately 170 miles (270 km) from the western border with Mississippi to eastern border with Georgia and in Montgomery. He retired from the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services in April, 1995, after nearly 28 years of service as a rehabilitation professional. He began his career in 1967 as a business enterprise representative with the Randolph Sheppard Program in Alabama. He has been a rehabilitation counselor, supervisor, facility specialist and ten years prior to retirement was assistant commissioner for the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Service. Mr. Johnson has been President of the Alabama Rehabilitation Association, the NRA Southeast Region, and National Rehabilitation Association President in 1992. He also served as board member-at-large to the NRA board and chaired the Governmental Affairs Committee. He has served the association on numerous other committees over the years, and recently selected as a 1995 Switzer Scholar. |
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