You're probably aware that your APTA membership could entitle you to savings on your auto, homeowners, renters, condominium, and boater's insurance from GEICO. But did you know that your auto insurance is actually 7 coverages rolled into a single policy? Most of these coverages are required by state law or loan agreements. GEICO explains:

1. Bodily injury liability provides protection if you injure or kill someone while operating your car. It also provides for a legal defense if another party in the accident files a lawsuit against you. In the event of a serious accident, you want enough insurance to cover a judgment against you in a lawsuit, without jeopardizing your personal assets. Bodily injury liability covers injury to people, not your vehicle, and is required by state law.
2. Medical payments, no-fault, or personal injury protection coverage usually pays for the medical expenses of the injured driver and passengers in your car. There may also be coverage if you are injured by a vehicle as a pedestrian. It is required in some states.
3. Uninsured motorists coverage pays for your injuries caused by an uninsured driver or, in some states, a hit-and-run driver. In some states there is also uninsured motorist coverage for damage to your vehicle. It is required only in some states, but given the large number of uninsured motorists, this coverage is important, even in states with no-fault insurance.
4. Comprehensive physical damage coverage pays for losses resulting from incidents other than collision. For example, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car if it is stolen or damaged by flood, fire, or animals. A high deductible for this coverage will help keep premiums low. Auto loan agreements typically require comprehensive coverage.
5. Collision coverage pays for damage to your car when your car hits, or is hit by, another vehicle or other object. A high deductible for this coverage, too, will help keep premiums low. For older cars, consider dropping this coverage, since it normally is limited to the cash value of the car. Auto loan agreements typically require collision coverage.
6. Property damage liability protects you if your car damages someone else's property. It also provides you with legal defense if another party files a lawsuit against you. It is required by state law.
7. Rental reimbursement coverage pays for a rental vehicle (usually up to $25 a day) when your vehicle is out of commission as a result of a loss covered under comprehensive or collision coverage.

Here is your chance to roll up your sleeves and contribute to the future of PTA education. The Educational Programs for the PTA Task Force is ready to enlist volunteers with knowledge and experience in education, the scope of work of the physical therapist assistant (PTA), and data review and synthesis. This new task force continues the work of the PTA Education Feasibility Study Work Group, specifically in the area of data collection and collation.

Interested members should respond to the call by completing a volunteer interest profile found on the Volunteer Interest Pool webpage. Once your profile is complete, click on the Apply for Current Opportunities button and select Educational Programs for the PTA Task Force.

The deadline to apply for a position on this task force is October 9.

Minutes of the 2013 House of Delegates (House) have been posted on the House webpage and within the 2013 Archive folder of the online House community. The minutes provide information on how the House revised and voted on all motions and bylaw amendments brought forward this year.

Newly adopted or amended House policies, standing rules, and bylaws will be posted to the Policies and Bylaws area of the APTA website by October 11.

The archived livestream broadcast of the entire 2013 House is still available for viewing by APTA members.

Physiotherapy Canada is seeking submissions for a special series of journal articles that will consider transitions for youth with chronic conditions or disabilities. Children with disabilities and chronic conditions are living longer, and there is increased interest in designing interventions that will help youth transition to adulthood. Key transitions include not only the move from pediatric to adult health care services but also gradual changes in social roles and activities, such as completing high school, leaving the family home, and working.

Topics of most interest for the series, which will run over the next 2 years, include:

• Empirical evaluation of transitions models, programs, and services
• Youth and family experiences of transitions
• Critical engagement with transition theory
• Analyses of transition policies
• Global perspectives on transitions

Qualitative or quantitative empirical studies are preferred, but high-quality commentaries or reviews will be considered.

Find author and submission guidelines on the "For Authors and Reviewers" page at www.utpjournals.com/ptc. Direct any questions you have to guest editor Shauna Kingsnorth, PhD, at skingsnorth@hollandbloorview.ca or 416/425-6220, ext. 3547.

Longtime supporters of the Foundation for Physical Therapy Nancy Byl, PT, PhD, FAPTA, and her husband Fred Byl, MD, of Oakland, California, have challenged other individual donors to match their $50,000 gift in support of the Center of Excellence (COE) for Health Services/Health Policy Research.

Donors who contribute at least $10,000 within 2013 (including first payments on multiyear pledges to the campaign) will be recognized as part of the Byl Matching Gift Challenge in Foundation publications and donor recognition events. Donors should reference "Byl Matching Gift Challenge" on their donation correspondence, or contact Foundation Executive Director Barbara Malm for more information.

The Foundation recently surpassed the $2 million benchmark, raising more than two-thirds of the $3 million in funds needed to launch the nation's first center dedicated to expanding the number of physical therapy scientists in the field of health services and health policy.

Read the Foundation's press release for comments from Nancy Byl and Foundation President William G. Boissonnault, PT, DPT, DHSc, FAPTA, FAAOMPT, about the challenge and the COE initiative.

APTA partners with or cosponsors these upcoming events that physical therapists and physical therapist assistants should consider attending. Visit the websites for registration information.

World Parkinson Congress, October 1-4 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Terry Ellis, PT, PhD, NCS, a member of the programming committee, will participate in a preconference session, host a roundtable, and lead workshops.

US Bone and Joint Initiative Musculoskeletal Summit, November 18-19 in Washington, DC

Add your input from a physical therapy perspective to this interdisciplinary meeting. Maura Daly Iverson, PT, DPT, MPH, ScD, will help facilitate the session "How can the patient obtain best practices?"

Member teams that want to apply for financial support from APTA to develop clinical practice guidelines and clinical practice appraisals are reminded that the deadline for applications is next week, September 15.

Proposals for CPG/CPA development must focus on clinical practice areas that are important and relevant to the practice of physical therapy. The proposal must be supported and submitted by an APTA section. Each proposal will be considered individually and will be awarded in part or in full depending on the priorities of the association and the strength of the proposal.

For more information or for a copy of the proposal submission document, contact Anita Bemis-Dougherty, director, Practice Department, at anitabemis-dougherty@apta.org or 800/999-2782, ext. 3176.

There are only 2 weeks left to submit abstracts for poster presentations for APTA's NEXT Conference, to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, June 11-14. The following types of presentations are being sought:

• Research reports: presentations of original scientific data collected by the author(s)
• Special interest reports: presentations of innovative concepts, ideas, devices, or products developed to meet the special needs of patients and clients
• Theory reports: presentations of a theory, idea, concept, or model that describes a foundation for the practice of physical therapy
• Multimedia technology programs: presentations that include demonstrations of computer software and/or web-based programs for instruction, research, and management

Individuals may submit up to 2 abstracts as the presenting author; unlimited submissions are allowed as a secondary author. The deadline is September 23, 2013.

For further information and to access the online submission site, visit www.apta.org/Conference/Submissions.

Physical therapists (PTs) worked with many survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing in the days and weeks following the April attack. Read about their experiences and the myriad ways they helped the injured in September's PT in Motion. Many of the runners and spectators still need physical therapy; some will for years to come. This remarkable feature story recounts not only the immediate experiences of those PTs but also presents valuable information for other PTs on topics ranging from acute care to wound care.

In case you missed the announcement a few weeks ago, APTA’s MoveForwardPT.com consumer website wants your help in 2 areas:

• If any current or former patients are willing to share their physical therapy success stories, Move Forward Radio may want to interview them in upcoming episodes.
• Two vacant Editorial Board positions are waiting to be filled by members with strong clinical backgrounds, proven writing skills, and interest in developing evidence-based, consumer-friendly content.

Follow the links above for details.