Communications Committee Report 2002-2003

The third meeting of the Communications Committee took place in Hecla Island, Manitoba in June 2002. This was attended by three members: myself, Dr. Nora Cullen and Dr. Tim Deutscher. We discussed numerous issues including Tim’s project of Virtual Rehabilitation Hallways. These continue to be used by the CAPM&R membership although only a small number seem to have much active traffic. Those currently in use have received excellent feedback.

Nora resigned her position as Editor of the newsletter last year and I agreed to take on this role as well. Since then there have been three issues of the newsletter published and the transition appears to have gone reasonably well. To try and find a bit of a middle ground between the previous print and current web-based formats of the newsletter we are now publishing it in PDF format which will make it more easily readable and also make it much easier to print out and read in hard copy. Hopefully feedback on this will be positive.

The other major project undertaken this year by the Committee has been the revamping of the CAPM&R website. This is still a project in evolution but the final version is expected to be completed fairly soon and will have a few new features, including an easier-to-navigate format and more information on the CAPM&R itself, including historical background.

 Plans for the next year include further refining of the website, some new features for the newsletter and improved coordination with other CAPM&R committees to help optimize convergence opportunities (for example, working with the Research Committee on members’ publication lists).

 At this point in time no extra resources or members are required for the Committee. Secretariat support over the past year has met the Committee’s requirements.

Jeff Blackmer
Chair, Communications Committee