Dear Fellow Rehabilitation Professionals:
I look forward to meeting and working with you
throughout 2007-2008 as the incoming president of VARP!
We share a common bound through our Certified
Rehabilitation Counseling (CRC)—or credentials of other rehabilitation fields ,
yet together we utilize our skills in many different ways to help
people throughout the Virginia area and beyond. I work at National
Rehabilitation Hospital as a Case Manager on the Spinal Cord Injury
Unit. I have had the pleasure of assisting many patients and
families make the most of the rehabilitation experience. Throughout
this year, I hope we can share and benefit from the collective
knowledge and experience of our membership. By sharing our
experience and knowledge within our membership and beyond, VARP will
grow in both numbers of members and depth of experience.
In addition, the regional representatives of
VARP have been working on developing valuable educational
conferences that will occur throughout the year. I hope that each of
you will have a chance to attend one of these conferences not only
for the educational value, but to also foster networking and
camaraderie with fellow rehabilitation counselors.
This year we have a unique opportunity to
participate in a Philanthropic endeavor with IARP: “The Suits for
Soldiers Campaign.” VARP wishes to collect new or gently used suits
to donate to our troops. Many soldiers return from Iraq in need of
medical attention and rehabilitation. By collecting suits, we are
able to donate them to soldiers who may be entering or re-entering
the work force. For many of these young men and women, it is the
first time they have ever owned a suit or been dressed up for any
occasion. With our donations we can give back to our troops by
giving them a sense of pride and confidence that will boost their
self-esteem during a job interview. It is a simple way we can give
back! For more information about the “The Suits for Soldiers
Campaign,” please go to
www.rehabpro.org. and click on “IARP is collecting suits for
Soldiers” at the lower right of the page.
http://www.rehabpro.org/news/iarp-is-collecting-suits-for-soldiers/
If you are interested in getting more actively
involved with VARP, please feel free to contact me or any of our
current board members. We welcome the opportunity to work with you
and we are constantly striving to make the most of this
organization.
Wishing you all a successful year!
Sincerely,
Ashley Harmon
