|
ORCA Members Approve Organizational Changes to Merge with OMHCA |
|
It’s official!
- PASSED: 99% voted in favor of adopting ORCA’s new bylaws and articles of incorporation.
- PASSED: 97% voted in favor of adopting bylaws and articles of incorporation for the newly established Oregon Counseling Foundation.
- PASSED: 99% voted in favor of re-confirming the officers of ORCA.
Resolutions were recently passed with almost identical approval rates by OMHCA Members. The voting participation and approval rates by both organization memberships make the support and enthusiasm for this merger unequivocally clear.
Thank you to all who voted, and to the leaders who worked tirelessly to make this possible.
The changes will go into effect on May 1, 2013. On that date, OMHCA (Oregon Mental Health Counselors Association) will cease to exist, and the membership of OMHCA and ORCA will be joined into a single professional association - the new ORCA. The political and private practice experience of OMHCA will be joined with the strengths ORCA brings in communications, networking, student outreach, and social media. We will all be safer and stronger because of this.
We will now have all professional counselors (LPCs and those working towards LPC licensure) represented by a single organization. Our new 501 (c) (6) tax status means that with our combined membership and financial resources, we will be a stronger force for advocacy and public policy for counselors, joining with Oregon's Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists through our COPACT partnership for an even stronger voice in the legislative arena. For too long, LPCs and LMFTs have missed out on important legislation that benefits other credentialed professionals in our field. We are now on the path to changing this.
Congratulations to the OMHCA and ORCA boards who have provided enthusiastic support for this process in a wonderful spirit of collaboration and partnership, to the OMHCA/ORCA Merger Task Force which has worked tirelessly through the complex process of merging two associations, and to all our members who have supported us wholeheartedly in this endeavor. It is with great pride and excitement that we look forward to this new phase for our profession in Oregon.
With best wishes to you all in the wonderful work you do helping others,
Dominick Robertson, LPC, MS
ORCA President |
|
|
Save the date! Our conference heads to Eugene November 7-9, 2013. We've lined up a pre-conference workshop that includes 6 CE hours of Ethics, with presentations by Douglas Querin, JD, LPC, CADC I and Michael Kahn, JD, LPC. We'll also be featuring keynote speakers that will discuss important legislative issues, health care policy changes and counseling alternatives for over-medicated clients. REGISTRATION IS OPEN - GET UP TO 19 CEs - visit our conference page to learn more! |
|
Join our ORCA member e-mail listserve to get timely updates on legislation and serious issues for counselors. Others utilize it for casual professional consultation. Click here to join now. You must be an ORCA member to join. |
|
|
Veterans Project Needs Volunteers |
|
Returning Veterans Project is a nonprofit that asks licensed and insured LPCs, LMFTs and LCSWs in Oregon and southwest Washington to donate a pro-bono slot in their practice. Visit www.returningveterans.org/for-providers for more information. |
|
|
