QAP Straight Talk

A Thank You to Our Members

by Chuck Hardy

NMEDA DIRECTOR OF QUALITY ASSURANCE & COMPLIANCE

Ihave been writing articles in the

Circuit Breaker for many years.

My goal has always been to help explain QAP Rules in detail and give some insight as to why each rule is important, why we have it, or what it means. I hope you find the information in these articles helpful and that the explanations answer questions you may have about the rules and the QAP program. I will continue to do this moving forward and welcome your input on any topic you would like to know more about. But for this article I wanted to do something a little different. I want to send a message of thanks to all our members from dealers and technicians, to manufacturers, to all the industry professionals that make up NMEDA. Author’s note: I started writing this article shortly after the NMEDA conference in the first week of March, since then I think you all know what happened with the COVID-19 outbreak and so I wanted to mention that. I have not changed my article significantly, but thought it was important to mention how things have changed so quickly for so many of us, regardless of our work or what industries we work in. This pandemic is not over as I am writing this and our whole Tampa office is now working from home. I can only imagine at the time you are reading this, how much more has changed. Our staff has been working tirelessly to do whatever we can to assist our members in this unpreceded time. I hope, I really do, that by the time this magazine is published, and you are reading, that we are on the other side of the “curve.” I guess you know the answer, I am still in the past and only have hope. I pray all our members stay safe and can weather this pandemic. There is no question in my mind that you are doing everything you can to support your clients and customers. Because that’s what we do, we care about the people behind the wheel, we always have, and we always will. Now back to my article. from Tampa, but to come to the conference and be able to gather and meet with all of you in-person, without a headset mounted to our ears, is priceless. I can’t tell you how much it means to all of us. Not a conference goes by that we all don’t get re-energized by the comradery and experiences shared every day. Personally, one of my favorite parts of the conference is the awards banquet. Having not grown up in the industry as so many of you have, I especially love to hear the stories when the Hall of Fame inductees come up for their well-deserved honor. I learn so much, not only about the person, but also about their achievements

I have never worked in an industry where it doesn’t matter if you are business competitors, that the goal was more important, and that everyone worked together, shared ideas, and found solutions for its customers. ”

“I was inspired to write this article after coming back from our annual conference in Daytona Beach. What a conference! I hope you were all there to take part in this year’s event. It’s such a special time for all of us here on staff who sit in our office chairs and do everything we can to assist our members and partners and how they made a difference in advancing the mobility industry. It is so impressive beyond words for me to hear these stories and then to think that I am (we are) all part of this phenomenal industry dedicated to helping bring mobility solutions to so many. I think Dave Hubbard said it best when he was introducing this

year’s Hall of Fame inductees and said (I am going from memory here) that there were so many in the room today as he looked out at the crowd that could be nominated to the Hall of Fame, probably one or more at each table. You know what, I think he is right. Our association is made up of so many great people, innovators, inventors, champions, and pioneers of the mobility industry. I stand in awe of what they have accomplished. Moments like these, you can only appreciate when you come to the conference. I plead with you, if you haven’t come to a conference, or maybe not in a while, to come and experience this for yourself. If you’re anything like me, you will walk away re-energized and with some good memories. Trust me on this.

I could never do justice in this article giving the praise you all deserve for your work with NMEDA. Whether you are an occupational therapist, physical therapist, DRS, or CDRS. Whether you work for a department of rehabilitation, VR, or the VA. Whether you’re a dealer, business owner, technician, service, sales, or general manager, administrative assistant, or work in any capacity for a dealer. Whether you work for an insurance company, test company, training company, audit company, marketing company, distributor, or provide a product or service to anyone in NMEDA. Whether you manufacture, install, sell, or design mobility equipment. Or whether you’re retired from, married to, the daughter or son of someone working in our industry. You are all my heroes because every one, and I am not joking here, every one of our members I have met in my just over six years with NMEDA share one thing in common, passion. Passion to provide safe and reliable mobility solutions for people with disabilities. Passion to improve. Passion to do what’s right. Passion for what we do at NMEDA, and most importantly, passion for the person behind the wheel.

I have worked in many industries in my years and I have never worked in an industry where I have seen so much passion for helping people and each other. I have never worked in an industry where it doesn’t matter if you are business competitors, that the goal was more important, and that everyone worked together, shared ideas, and found solutions for its customers. I know I am not the first one to realize

this, but I feel I needed to share that with you.

That is really all I wanted to say. We are going through some unprecedented times right now with this pandemic. But I know you are giving it your all, every day, every minute, to do whatever you can for your customers. We (NMEDA) could never be who we are without all of you. And yes, I promise to get back to more insightful, remarkably intelligent, sometimes snarky (and hopefully not boring) topics related to QAP soon. But until then, and from the bottom of my heart...to all of you, for all you do.... THANK YOU!