 Why should Activity and Recreation Professions Advocate? The following are just some of the reasons.
- There is a lack of understanding of what type of service we provide.
- We don’t speak out enough as a profession or as a professional.
- As a profession and as individual professionals, we need to market ourselves and our profession more.
- There’s great need to educate others about the importance of therapeutic activities.
- Activity Directors losing their positions and/or responsibility changes.
- Decrease in quality activity programming.
- Cancellation of activity programming..
- It’s our civic responsibility. We are not just advocating for ourselves and our profession, but for the resdients and clients we serve!
Create Personal Branding Statement
Some tips include:
- Develop a brief introduction about yourself.
- Not just your title.
- What it is that you DO? (a tag-line).
- 6 seconds or less.
- Then if the party is interested, you can go into your elevator pitch.
Sample personal branding statement:
"
I am Lisa Williams, Recreation Director. I ensure that every individual has the opportunity to enjoy meaningful recreational connections in our Home and in our community."
Elevator Pitch
An elevator pitch is an overview of an idea for a product, service, or project.
It is about 30 seconds or less.
Sample Elevator Pitches
- I am Lisa Williams, Recreation Director of the NJ Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland. I ensure that individuals at our Home know that living here is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of a new and exciting adventure! Life in our Home consists of countless opportunities to enjoy meaningful recreational moments. I also serve as Dream Weaver for our Home. I make every effort to see that the dreams of my residents become a priceless reality in their life. Whether it is to fly in a plane or to reconnect with an old friend, I’ll work to make it happen!
- I plan, initiate, and promote personalized activities to enhance the quality of life of each individual. I base each activity calendar on the needs, desires and strengths of each individual. I train, mentor, supervise staff and volunteers. I am a partner with individuals families to provide the best physical, mental, emotional well being to their loved ones and work as a mentor to families. I am the residents advocate! Michele Henifin, Activity Director, Horizon Health.
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