Dear Valued OPHA Member:
OPHA has made significant strides in shifting its focus to ensuring greater value for your membership. A number of new membership features were introduced late last fiscal year 2011-12, and will continue in 2012-13.
OPHA Membership Can Support Your Professional and Career Development and Growth and Provide Networking Opportunities for You.
Monthly webinars were made available for free for OPHA members and for a nominal fee for non-members in 2011-12. Participation numbers were very good (e.g., Results Based Accountability, Youth Engagement Initiative Evaluation, Built Environment). We plan to provide this same offering to our membership in 2012-13. This line-up will prove to be even more interesting and will include):
- Investigation on the Marketing of Sugary Drinks – Pan-Canadian Initiative;
- Engaging a Priority Population in Breast Screening Utilizing a Number of Effective Approach and Evidence Informed Approaches;
- Public Health System in Connecticut (pending);
- Healthy Eating Web Sub-Series, including Food Policy;
- Built Environment Web Sub-Series; and
- Health Equity
The OPHA mentorship program will be fully implemented in 2012-13. We are still looking for OPHA mentors and mentees. If you are interested, please register and complete your profile. The intention of this program is to foster leadership amongst new professionals, support professional development and provide an opportunity for experienced professionals to exchange knowledge and experience.
Another new feature that will be offered to OPHA members is our Group Leadership Mentoring Series. These are group mentoring sessions to be presented by a number of OPHA seasoned and experienced public health leaders. The 2012-2013 preliminary line-up includes: Ms. Carol Timmings, Ms. Sandra Lacle, Dr. John Garcia and Dr. David Mowat.
We will be offering a line-up of KE/KT and competency-based events / workshops at a discount for our members. Plans are underway for “E-health Innovations in Public Health” (a collaborative initiative with PHO, CMOH, MOHLTC, Algoma Public Health Unit and Guelph Public Health Unit). This will be the focus of the 2012 OPHA Fall Forum scheduled for October 23, 2012 so mark your calendars.
OPHA Allows you to Engage in Advocacy on a Number of Provincial and National Public Health Issues.
OPHA members are welcome to join OPHA-only work groups.
The goals of these work groups are to:
- Identify key and emerging issues;
- Assist OPHA to advance advocacy priorities;
- Undertake knowledge exchange and transfer; and
- Assist in building capacity in Ontario.
We currently have 8 work groups: Built Environment, Food Security, Environmental Health, Reproductive Health, Breastfeeding, Violence Prevention, Injury Prevention, Alcohol Prevention and Health Equity (jointly hosted with alPHa).
Two other work groups that will be established in 2012-13 will be: Chronic Disease Prevention and Communicable Diseases (pending).
OPHA members also have the privilege of participating in a number of OPHA advisory groups, board committees and knowledge exchange and transfer networks.
If you are interested in joining the Audit Committee, the Advocacy Committee or the Professional Development Advisory Committee, please send a letter of interest expressing your interest and how you would be able to contribute to admin@opha.on.ca.
Lastly, as an OPHA member, you have the privilege of being able to serve on the board. We are seeking nominees for two vacancies this year. All eligible members may apply. To learn more please send an email to admin@opha.on.ca.
Members can also participate in province-wide advocacy and public health policy development work. Anticipated initiatives for 2012-2013 include: Provincial Policy Statement, Childhood Obesity, Healthy Babies Healthy Children, and Public Health System Design.
The 2012-13 Membership Drive starts now. This year’s membership will start on April 1, 2012 and end on March 31, 2013. Membership is considered valid when membership fees are paid in full. Please note that, as part of the by-law changes introduced, an administrative late fee of 5% will be charged for anyone renewing their membership after June 30, 2012. Membership fees will not be pro-rated for the month that memberships are renewed.
As outlined in the November 2011 Annual General Meeting Membership Fees are increasing this year. The fees are as follows:
Individual Membership
| $135 |
Constituent Society (If you are member of the following: RNAO, HPO, ASPHIO, OAPHD, OPHLA, OSNPPH, ANDSOOHA, AOHC) Membership Discount
| $90 |
Student (full-time and submit proof) or Retired Membership
| $75 |
Organizational Class (for-profit, non-profit, Board of Health)
| $1500 |
If you experience any problems with registration, please don't hesitate to contact OPHA directly at admin@opha.on.ca.
We look forward to your continued membership in OPHA.
Sincerely,
Ontario Public Health Association
