March 2008

NARA - AGING GRACEFULLY, YET A YOUTHFUL 30!

Let’s go back to a time when gas was just 63 cents a gallon. The average household income in our country was $17,000.00. “Happy Days” was the most popular television show. “Saturday Night Fever” and “Grease” were playing at the box office. The first mobile phone was invented in Chicago. And, the National Association of Rehab Agencies, NARA, was formed. Yes, it was 1978; and, now, the grown up NARA is pleased and excited to be celebrating 30 years of it’s mission and success!

NARA initially focused on the support and advocacy of certified Medicare rehab agencies. NARA (recently transformed into the National Association of Rehabilitation Providers & Agencies) continues to support and advocate Medicare rehab agencies. Now, however, NARA more globally supports rehab providers by focusing in on the niche of the business of providing rehabilitation therapy services. Over these past 30 years NARA has evolved to become the unifying association within the rehab industry nationally.

Please join us this year by celebrating the tradition and tenure, current innovative resurgence, and future vision of our association. You can celebrate with us by attending events that will be presented through the remainder of this year. We’ll culminate at the NARA Fall Conference of 2008, hosted at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. We look forward to inviting back our past presidents and friends who have made our association what it is today. Our past presidents have helped weather the unique and ever changing climate within the rehabilitation therapy industry that I’m confident all of us have experienced.

Collectively, NARA now represents close to 70 organizations nationwide, employing greater than an estimated 12,000 professionals and individuals who provide vital skilled services to a staggering number of patients on a daily basis. As a result, in keeping with our tradition and moving towards the future, our strength is in our ability to network and unify our association mission and goals. In doing so, we now have a voice that is directed at the most pertinent issues that have and will affect our ability to maintain operations and practice.

I’m proud to be a part of NARA’s tradition and network, and am confident that I share the same sentiment as our past, current, and future Board and associated members. While we are in our prime as an association, we continue to exhibit a youthful innovative and dynamic association that will ensure the continuing success of our industry, as well as our second 30 year celebration in 2038! Simply refer to www.naranet.org and it will speak for itself!

Thank you for your support and participation in NARA. I look forward to seeing you in Washington, D.C. and Las Vegas!

In celebration,

Gregg J. Altobella, MS CCC-SLP
President
National Association of Rehab Providers & Agencies