ANNUAL MEETING PLANNING COMMITTEE
The Annual Meeting continues to provide outstanding continuing education opportunities for ATs in the state of Virginia.
Program Committee: The Program planning committee is committed to providing quality continuing education opportunities for its members to advance knowledge, share ideas, and socialize athletic trainers in Virginia during the annual conference. The committee strives to provide members education about the best practices in the field and the latest evidence-based information. The committee also facilitates networking and socialization opportunities during the annual conference.
The programming committee reports to the president.
Educational Programming Committee:
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Acts as Annual Committee Chair as directed or needed
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Responsible for the content, educational competencies, and educational content of the annual meeting
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Assists in developing schedule, theme, and overall idea of annual meeting
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Coordinates issue and development of continuing education requirements for BOC or other credentialing agencies
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Assists and liaison with speaker for registration, AV requirements, and needs
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Assigns and coordinates room moderators
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Reviews, selects, and edits programming submissions
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Maintains and develops speaker exchange program
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Assists with receiving handouts, documents, or files for attendees to Registration Coordinator
Hotel Liaison Chair:
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Coordinates necessary space and room requirements of meeting site
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Assists with room management on site
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Ensures meals or associated hotel services are met
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Liaison with hotel staff and hotel event coordinator
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Reviews contracts and requirements of meeting site
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Visits meeting site as needed prior to event
Registration Coordinator:
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Responsible for pre-registration and on-site registration desk
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Oversight of registration of members, speakers, and guests
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Prints registration materials and associated documents
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Develops tasks and instructions for registration volunteers and VATA EC
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Compiles necessary documents, files, or materials for attendees
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Reports numbers of registrants
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Works closely with the webmaster to set up Annual Meeting Registration
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With assistance of Treasurer, collects and maintains registration fees
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Work with Membership Committee for staffing Annual Meeting check in.
Vendor Coordinator:
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Responsible for recruiting, maintaining, and enhancing a presence of vendors at the annual meeting
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Assists with developing sponsorships, grants, or fundraising goals
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Primary contact with vendors and corporations
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Pre and post meeting follow up with vendors to annual meeting
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Coordinates vendor needs with annual meeting committee
ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING PLANNING COMMITTEE
Chair
Sara Pittelkau, MA, LAT, ATC
Sara Pittelkau is currently a student at Eastern Virginia Medical School studying to be a physician assistant. She graduated from East Carolina University in 2004 with a B.S. in Athletic Training and in 2007 with a M.A. in Health Education. Sara worked as an athletic trainer at Children's Hospital at The King's Daughters working in an orthopedic office setting and as the clinical call center manager from March 2016 through December 2024. She has experience teaching 9th grade health and physical education as well as athletic injuries to juniors and seniors at Woodbridge Senior High School (VA) for 4.5 years as well as teaching health occupations in Pitt County Schools (NC). Sara has athletic training experience at the JUCO, DII, and DIII collegiate levels as well as various size high schools in Virginia and eastern North Carolina. She is currently the VATA’s Annual Meeting Committee Chair, the MAATA's Scholarship Committee Chair, a member of the VATA Scholarship Committee, and a member of the MAATA ATs Care Committee. A native of Centreville, VA she currently resides in Chesapeake, VA.
EC Co-Chair - Mike Kotelnicki
Annual Meeting Co-Chair/Hotel Liaison - Meghan Shifflet
Vendor Coordinator - Scott Powers
Committee Members:
Jenn Cuchna - VATA Student Affairs Chair - member
Jess Kotelnicki - VATA Honor/Awards Chair - member
Lauren Sander - VATA Honor/Awards Chair - member
Erin Moore - member