The 2010 MOTA conference will be held on November 5 and 6, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza in Timonium, MD. MOTA is excited to announce the keynote speaker for the 2010 MOTA conference will be:

Karen Jacobs, Ed.D., OTR/L, CPE, FAOTA

Dr. Jacobs is former president of AOTA and currently Program Director for the Distance Education Post-Professional Occupational Therapy Programs and Clinical Professor at Boston University College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College. Dr. Jacob's research focuses on increased risk of functional limitations in university and middle school students from the use of computers, backpacks and gaming systems. Dr. Jacobs is an exciting, powerful speaker that will leave you powered up for OT and the new decade. This will be a conference that you will not want to miss!

The theme for the conference will be "POWER UP! For the new decade!" The committee is now accepting papers and poster presentations for conference. The Call for Presentations Application is enclosed in the current newsletter, and is also available here online:

• 2010 Call for Presentations (MS Word Format)

• 2010 Call for Presentations (Adobe Acrobat Format)

Do you know someone who is a wealth of knowledge and you feel has exciting information that others would like to hear? If so, email the conference committee the name and contact information of the individual and MOTA will send them a personal invitation and application to present at conference. Email the information to: conference@mota.org. Remember that presenting is another great way to earn contact hours and power up your fellow therapist for the new decade. This year the committee will be accepting applications submitted via email as well as postal mail. Please note that the deadline for the Call for Papers will be May 1, 2010.

The committee is in the process of seeking sponsors and exhibitors for conference. The committee would like to increase the number of non-facility exhibitors at conference to provide attendees with information of OT related supplies. If your facility would like to be an exhibitor/sponsor or you know of a company that may be beneficial to have as exhibitor, please email conference@mdota.org. There will again offer incentives for attendees to visit with the exhibitors. You will have to attend conference to find out what the incentives will be.

One of the biggest changes you will note this year at conference is the format. Attendees will no longer have to choose which sessions they want to attend upon registering; all sessions will be open and be first come, first serve seating. Finally, we are excited to announce that prices for conference attendance will not increase for 2010!!

The committee is continually looking for people to volunteer and help out with conference. If you have some free time and would like to assist with the annual MOTA conference, please email conference@mdota.org.

Stay tuned to future newsletters for updates and exciting news about the 2010 MOTA Conference!

- Katie Cooper, 2010 Conference Co-Chairperson