CONFERENCE TIME IS NEAR –
PACK YOUR BAGS AND JOIN THE CELEBRATION
By Mary Pat Mueller President - Elect
ByAs counselors we have much to celebrate this year. After three years of the South Dakota Counseling Association working collaboratively with the Board of Counselor Examiners and the South Dakota Department of Human Services, HB 1056, the bill that protects consumers from people who practice as counselors without proper education and licensure has passed both the Senate and House and awaits signage into law by the Governor.
ByAlso, after years of lobbying by the American Counseling Association and the American Mental Health Counselors Association LPC's are now eligible for jobs comparative to other mental health professionals within the Department of Veterans Affairs. Big victories like the ones above do not happen without a concentrated effort of association members, professional counselors, lobbyists, and a grassroots effort. How have you supported the evolution of your profession in the last year? Are you a member of your professional organizations? Perhaps you are a member of your local chapter or a specialty group. Maybe you are even involved in a leadership role. Whatever you can do, do it. Our profession does not move forward without leadership by its professionals.
ByWhich reminds me, April 12th -14th is the date for the SDCA annual convention. Your leaders have been working hard to make this a great conference for you. One in which you can learn new things, have fun, see old and make some new friends. Convention time is also a time to gather together as a profession to collectively and collaboratively move our profession forward. As a profession we have had to work hard to gain the recognition that we deserve but we are not there yet. There is still lots of work left to do.
BySo make your motel reservations, send in your conference registrations, and pack your bags. Oh, and bring along a friend. We all know people out there who are counselors but have never become members of SDCA. Invite those people to participate in a professionally rewarding experience. See you in April.
ByMary Pat Mueller
President - Elect