MEMBERSHIP
Q: How can I join APO or find out about membership options?
Visit our membership page for details on membership options, benefits, regions, and more. A membership brochure and application form are available for download on this page as well. Should you have questions, please consult our contact page for information on reaching APO.
Q: I submitted a membership application (or renewal) and have not received any confirmation from APO. What’s happening?
Please allow two to three weeks for processing. In general, membership applications and renewals are processed within a few days of being received at the APO Head Office. However, the processing time may be longer in some instances, particularly in cases where documents are incomplete or missing.
To ensure timely processing of membership applications/renewals, please ensure that documents are complete and that payment is included with your membership documents. As well, in cases where your head office is paying for you, we recommend you check that your office includes a copy of your membership documents (or at least your name when documents are being sent separately) and submits payment to the correct address for the APO Head Office. This can be found on the contact and front pages of this website.
Should have any any questions about the processing of a membership application/renewal, please contact us.
Q: Is APO membership held by individuals or employers?
Memberships are held by individuals, even if an employer pays for the membership. Memberships are non-transferable, so even if you leave your current place of employment, your membership will stay with you wherever you go.
Q: What happens with an APO membership for a member who takes maternity leave?
In order for an individual to retain active member status in APO, the membership needs to be renewed each year. Memberships are not transferable to/from a person who replaces the activity professional on maternity leave, even in cases where the facility pays for membership. It is advisable to use your home address as you primary point of contact to ensure you receive all APO mailings, including newsletters and announcements. By maintaining your membership while on maternity leave, you will continue to receive all membership benefits, continue to accrue uninterrupted professional standing, and continue to keep abreast of happenings within the organization and in the profession.
Q: Are discounts available for companies that pay the membership fees for multiple individuals within a facility (or among several facilities)?
Although discounts for multiple memberships sounds like a great way to increase our membership base, it goes against the instructions sent forth by the Systems Funding Review of 2010. As with any professional membership, the membership should, and usually is, held by the individual; therefore, it should be paid by the individual, not by their facility. The APO President sent a letter in 2010 to current members addressing this issue, as many members, upon hearing their memberships would no longer be paid by their facilities, sent e-mails expressing their concern. Membership to any professional organization is owned by the individual whether in the Recreation field or in Nursing or Occupational Therapy (as examples). The membership fees paid finance what the organization advocates on your behalf, provide reduced rates at the annual convention and for workshops, cover the production of newsletters and maintenance of the website, and pay for administration contractors and other services. We continue to be the most economical membership organization for Recreation providers in Ontario.
Since we are striving to be recognized as professionals, it is our belief that owning one’s membership reinforces the value of the organization to the individual, especially in consideration of the new regulations and educational requirements of Activity personnel. Some facilities, in light of these changes, have mandated membership with APO as a job requirement for new employees, including this on their job postings and thus avoiding the concern over who should pay.
At this time it is not viable for APO to consider a request for discounts as we are working diligently to have our members understand that membership is owned by them as per the policies of this organization.
Q: I don’t know what region I am in. How do I find out?
Regions are designated by location of your workplace and not by your place of residence. For a map of the APO regions, visit our Membership Information page.
Q: When is the annual renewal date for APO membership?
All renewals must be into the head office by April 1. Starting in February, renewal notices are sent out to the address you provided as your primary point of contact. It is advisable to have this as your home address.
Q: At what point during the year can someone join APO or renew membership?
Individuals can join Activity Professionals of Ontario as a member (or renew membership) at any point during the year. However, please note that regardless of the date of joining (or renewing), the membership will remain valid through to March 31 of the following year.
Example 1: A new member joins APO in January 2010. The membership will be valid until March 31, 2011.
Example 2: An individual renews membership with APO in July of 2011. The membership will be valid until March 31, 2012.
Q: My membership has expired, and I would like to re-join APO. Am I considered a renewing member?
The short answer is no. Once an individual’s membership with APO lapses, she/he is considered a non-member. Thus, the early-bird renewal rate and other benefits of continuous membership are not available, and the individual would need to sign up as a new member. There is an allowance, however, of leeway for three months following membership expiration. During this time, membership can still be renewed, though the full rate applies.
Example 1: An active member does not renew by the early-bird deadline of March 31 (also the expiration of the membership year) and decides in May that she/he would like to continue as a member of APO. This individual would pay the full membership rate for the year (since the early-bird renewal rate is no longer available), and membership would be considered continuous as we do allow up to three months of leeway beyond March 31.
Example 2: An individual allowed her/his membership to expire more than three months ago. In this case, the individual would need to re-join APO and register as a new member. As well, the individual’s membership start date would be reset to the date of re-joining since membership has not been maintained continuously.
If you are going on extended leave, such as for maternity, you might consider maintaining your membership with APO as an associate member. In this way, you stay professionally connected to your organization, and you maintain continuous membership status.
For further details on membership categories, please see the membership page of our website.
Q: What is contained in the members-only area of the APO website, and how do I log in?
The members-only area of the APO website contains resources that are exclusive for the use of members. The section includes recreation activities, past newsletters, professional resources and APO documents, and archived material. Access to the members-only area is provided to members upon registration or renewal, and an individual is granted access as long as she/he remains an active member with APO. Should you have difficulties logging in, try our REQUEST NEW PASSWORD tool or contact the APO office for assistance.
JOBS POSTING SERVICE
Q: How can I post a job on the APO website?
Agencies post jobs directly to the APO website as a service to recreation professionals looking for work. To post a job, your agency needs to first register for an account. (For members, access to the jobs posting service is added to the member account upon request) There is no cost for posting jobs on our website. Please contact us for an application form. VIEW CURRENT JOB LISTINGS.
Q: Why are some listed jobs for other positions, not just activation?
APO does not edit job submissions. Agencies register for a jobs posting account and are free to post any jobs they feel may be on interest to recreation professionals. It is our belief that while activation jobs are likely to garner the most interest, other positions may also be of interest, particularly for some job seekers looking for additional work or part-time supplemental income.
Q: Why can’t I post a job?
To post a job to the APO jobs posting service, you or your agency needs an account. Once your account is created, enter your credentials into the fields in the Member Log-in panel. You will then have access to a new link, POST A JOB OPENING, in the left navigation panel. Note, you may need to scroll down to see this option.
Should you wish to edit (or remove) a current posting, log in and then select the VIEW CURRENT JOB LISTINGS link. An EDIT | DELETE link will appear above each of your job postings.
If you are unable to log in, try using our REQUEST NEW PASSWORD tool. For further assistance, please contact us.
CONTACTING APO
Q: I have e-mailed APO, but have not received a reply. What’s going on?
If after contacting us via e-mail you have not received a reply within a few days, please try again. Unfortuntely due to the proliferation of spam, some legitimate messages may get filtered out. It is also possible that an APO reply to you was filtered as well, so please add the “activitypro.ca” domain to your safe or white list if you are having problems receiving e-mail from APO. Alternately, you may try one of the other means of contact available to you. Please refer to our contact page for details.
Q: I left a voicemail message on the APO telephone system, but have not been called back. Why not?
The APO Head Office aims to reply to voicemail messages as quickly as possible, usually within a day or two. However, in some cases it may take longer due to holidays or the nature of your enquiry. As well, we may have tried to reach you, but been unsuccessful, or we may have attempted to contact you by other means such as e-mail. Further, depending on the what your voicemail message was about, it may have been forwarded to one of the volunteer members of the executive for a reply.
Should you not receive a timely reply or be concerned that we missed your message, please do try contacting us again, either by calling our telephone voicemail system, e-mail, or one of the other options available on our contact page.
Q: I have moved. How can I update my contact details with the APO office?
Please keep us up-to-date so we can ensure you receive all membership mailings, including the quarterly newsletter, Notes and News. Send any membership updates to us at the APO office through one of the means on our contact page.
Q: I have something to share with the APO executive. How can I reach someone?
Visit our contact page to submit your comments or enquiry through the APO office. If you wish to speak with a specific executive member, contact information for each is listed on the “Meet the APO Executive” page.
PROFESSIONAL MATTERS
Q: How can I get a copy of the APO best practices manual?
The “Best Practice for Assessment in Recreation in Long Term Care” document is available for purchase. Please visit the APO Store page for more information.
Best Practices Manuals can also be purchased at various education functions throughout the year (workshops, convention etc) or by contacting the APO Office.
Q: What professional standards does APO set for executive members and the general membership?
In the resources section of our website (member log-in required for access), members can view the organization’s Code of Conduct, Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice, and operational bylaws.
Q: What is the difference between Activity Professionals of Ontario (APO) and Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (TRO)?
Activity Professionals of Ontario (APO) has a primary focus on activation and leisure services for seniors in healthcare settings. Therapeutic Recreation Ontario (TRO) has a primary focus on therapeutic recreation services for all age groups across diverse delivery settings. Both offer networking, education and resources as well as an annual convention.
Q: How can I get involved with APO as a regional representative or member of the executive?
Regional reps are nominated positions whereas executive positions are appointed through the APO board and executive. Regional rep terms are a 4 year duration and the board meets quarterly whereas the executive positions are a 2 year duration which meets monthly. All board and executive members are a volunteer position held by recreation professionals employed in the field. It is through their dedication and vision for professionalism in the field that they form a cohesive group that works to improve networking, education and promotion of the recreation/activation profession for all members.
If you or someone you know wish to pursue a position on the APO board or executive, please contact us for further information.
Q: What are the minimum qualifications to code in section P1bf in MDS?
CIHI has outlined specific qualification for Recreational Therapists in order to code for Section P1bf in MDS. The services must be provided by or directly supervised by a University or College graduate of a Recreation & Leisure studies, with a minimum of three therapeutic recreation courses OR a University or College graduate in an allied discipline AND holds a membership in a national or provincial membership in a therapeutic recreation organization, and/or a membership in a similar organization for Activity Program Directors and/or a current certification through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification as a TR Specialist.
Recreation assistants may also provide therapeutic services and document under P1b, so long as they are directly supervised by someone who meets one of the above criteria. Therapeutic Recreation programs must meet special criteria to be acceptable for the coding in this section. There is a maximum ration of 1:8 in therapeutic recreation programs. If the ratio is higher than 1:8, you must divide the number of participants by the total time for the program.
It is important to keep up-to-date with the latest changes in our profession for both the development of ourselves and to be able to move forward with the changes in healthcare and demands of Long Term Care. If you are worried about not meeting the qualifications for MDS coding, it is recommended that you look into your education.
Many colleges and universities over time have changed their course and program titles to include “therapeutic recreation”. There is no harm to inquiring if your past education meets the qualifications of a Recreation & Leisure studies program and includes three therapeutic recreation courses.
If you have education from an allied discipline, you meet the qualification by continuing your membership with a professional organization such as Activity Professionals of Ontario. Either way, continuing your education and staying current with the changes in the profession is important.
Going forward is not meant to be overwhelming or scary. Over the next few years, APO will be working hard to build strong relationships with CIHI, the Ministry of Health and our colleges and universities to provide support and proper education on our profession. Please join us and unite together and be strong in our profession of Activity Professionals.
Q: What activity ideas and other professional resources does APO have available?
APO provides the following professional resources:
- Notes and News Newsletter — delivered quarterly to all members
- APO Website — includes job postings, links to resources and professional organizations, as well as a members-only section including a forum, professional development opportunities, activity library, and membership list
- Best Practice for Recreation in Assessment in Long Term Care Manual
- Annual Convention and workshops
- Activity Professionals Awareness Week resource package
- Promotional and professional items available for purchase through the APO Store
THE APO ONLINE STORE
Q: How do I use the APO online store?
Please review the ordering information available on the APO Storefront page. Should you have questions before or after your order, contact the APO Head Office. The store help page is available here.
THE WEBSITE
Q: How can I submit a photo from our facility for use on the APO website?
We encourage APO members to submit photos to be featured on one of the pages of the APO website; however, APO needs to have a completed photo release form on file to protect the individuals visible in the photograph(s). Click here to download the APO photo consent form. Complete the form, and send it, along with the photo(s), to APO. Then watch for your photo online soon. Thank you for your contribution to the APO website.
Q: I found a mistake or out-of-date information on the website. How can I tell APO about this? How can I make a suggestion?
Please visit the APO contact page to let us know. Thank you.
Q: How do I access the members-only section of the APO website?
The members-only section of the APO website is available to each Active Member whose membership is current. Access requires logging into the service. Log-in information is provided at the time of joining APO and remains in effect as long as an individual remains a current Active Member. Should you ever forget your password, you can reset it automatically my using the request new password tool. Should you have any difficulties or need further information, contact the APO office for assistance.