Day # 1 ATRA 2011 & Josh Bleill

I arrived in Indianapolis, Indiana for the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA conference today.

I made it in good time driving from Huntington, West Virginia.

However, once I was in town my GPS said that my approximate arrival time would be in 3-minutes. I thought sweet!

However, that 3-minute trip took me 2 hours and 20 minutes!

Why did it take so long once I was in town?

The Indiana Colts/ Cleveland Browns game had just ended and traffic was crazy. There were tons of people walking across the streets.

I had never seen so much blue and white in my life. Well, the Colts had lost to Cleveland. The final score was 27-19.

Every time I tried to make a turn the police had roadblocks in place that prevented me from turning the direction I needed. The GPS recalculated and I hit another road block (laugh aloud). It was an adventure. I drove by the state capitol building once. It is a big capitol.

I arrive and discover that I was scheduled to arrive yesterday and that I lost my room because I didn’t register yesterday. I felt angry because I had paid for the room. They worked with me and got me a new room on the first floor. Thank goodness. I get there and my room key didn’t work. I sighed because I knew the opening ATRA session had started. I just ran to it instead and unpacked my stuff after that.

I didn’t a notebook to write down important messages that I wanted to post at my blog here for the readers.

I did see the ATRA board and heard the announcement for the Presidential Award. I saw many leaders in the profession.

I was fortunate that I had the opportunity to hear Josh Bleill speak. I felt he was very inspirational. I didn’t have my camera. I forgot it in the rush so I didn’t get any pictures.

Here is an older youtube video of him speaking:


Here is the link for his book on Amazon, which I hope to eventually read: