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Find Ideas for Your Chapter at NTI 2003
Are you looking for ideas that will enhance your
chapter's success? Then, you will want to attend the educational sessions that
are specifically geared to chapters at AACN's 2003 National Teaching Institute
and Critical Care Exposition. Scheduled are:
From Ripples to Waves: Establishing and
Revitalizing an AACN Chapter
As 2001 honorable mention recipients of the
President's Award for Chapters, Greater Akron (Ohio) Chapter representatives JoAnn Panno, RNC, MSN; Michele Manning, RN, MSN, CCNS, CCRN, chapter president;
and Jackie Gurnick, RN, MSN, CCRN, CS, chapter treasurer, will share the
strategies and skills that have been used effectively to bring structure,
recruitment, inspiration, motivation, networking opportunities, quality
educational programming and community service activities to their once defunct
but now growing and viable chapter.
Leadership Lessons: Board Learning Partners
The presenters, from the West Michigan Chapter,
Grand Rapids, are Barb Rogers, RN, BSN; Sue Ward, RN, BSN, CCRN; and Julene
Kruithof, RN, MSN, CCRN, chapter president. They will discuss the Board Learning
Partner Program their chapter implemented to encourage and prepare future
leaders.
The Art of Creating an Exemplar: Becoming a Part
of AACN's Circle of Excellence
Lorena E. Beeman, RNC, BSN, MS, CCVT, a member of
the Albuquerque (N.M.) Chapter will offer ideas and sources to assist chapters
in writing a successful exemplar to submit to the AACN Circle of Excellence
recognition program. Several members of the chapter have been recipients of
these awards.
Making Your Chapter's Voice Bold, Fearless and
Essential!
From the Atlanta (Ga.) Area Chapter, the presenters
are Nancy King, RN, MSN, CCRN, ANP, chapter president-elect, and Kathleen Kline
Peavy, RN, MS, CCRN, chapter president. They will present strategies and lessons
learned in promoting their chapter's success. As recipients of the 2002 Chapter
Pioneering Spirit Award, the Chapter CCRN Recruitment Award and the Critical
Links membership recruitment campaign, these Atlanta Area Chapter leaders will
share the methods they used to rebuild and revitalize their chapter.
Preventing Generational Collisions
Vicki S. Good, RN, MSN, CCNS, CCRN, of the Greater
Fort Worth (Texas) Chapter will examine the historical influences, key
characteristics, motivation, training and development issues, and recruitment
and retention of the veteran, baby boomer and Generation X generations that are
currently working together, as well as the upcoming 'generation nexter."
Integration and Inclusion of Progressive Care
into Mainstream AACN
Juan Ray Quintero, RN, MSN, CCRN, president-elect of
the Greater Richmond (Va.) Area Chapter, will discuss the key role chapters can
play in helping AACN meet the needs of progressive care and progressive care
nurses.
Survivor: San Antonio�A Chapter Experience
The presenters are Greater Evansville (Ind.) Chapter
representatives Kathy Burton, RN, BSN, president, and Lynn Smith Schnautz, RN,
MSN, CCRN, CCNS, who will identify the keys to building a successful,
award-winning chapter.
NTI 2003 is scheduled for May 17 through 22 in San
Antonio, Texas. For more information or to register visit the NTI Web site or
call (800) 899-2226.
Chapters Recruit 132 New Members in Critical
Links Campaign in December
A total of 35 AACN chapters recruited 132 new
members during December in AACN's Critical Links membership drive, which ends
April 30. The chapter participation helped boost the total recruitment number to
2,730 since the campaign began May 1. (See page 8 for results of individual
recruitment campaign.)
The chapters reporting the largest increase in
membership numbers and the largest percentage increase when the campaign ends
will receive a $250 gift certificate toward the purchase of AACN resources and
receive special recognition at NTI 2003 in San Antonio, Texas.
Each month, chapters that recruit new members are
entered into a drawing for a complimentary registration for NTI 2003. The
Greater Evansville Chapter won the complimentary NTI 2003 registration in the
drawing for December.
Following are the results of the Critical Links
chapter recruitment campaign as of Dec. 31.
Greater Evansville Chapter 13
Peninsula Chapter 13
Greater Joliet Area Chapter 11
Triangle Chapter 11
Chattanooga - Scenic City Chapter 10
Northeastern Wisconsin Chapter 9
Albemarle Area Chapter 7
Siouxland Chapter 7
Heartland Chapter 6
Greater Raleigh Area Chapter 5
Greater St. Louis Chapter 5
South Central Kentucky Chapter 5
Greater Birmingham Chapter 4
Minot Roughrider Chapter 4
Southern Arizona Chapter 2
Three Rivers Chapter 2
The following chapters have each recruited one new
member:
Atlanta Area Chapter, Big Bend Chapter, Broward
County Chapter, Central Louisiana Chapter, Central Minnesota Area Chapter,
Central Savannah River Chapter, Dallas County Chapter, Greater Fredericksburg
Area Chapter, Greater Twin Cities Area Chapter, Heart of the Piedmont Chapter,
Montana Big Sky Chapter, Palm Beach County Chapter, San Francisco Chapter,
Southeast Michigan Chapter, Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter, Southern Maine
Chapter, Suncoast Chapter, Volusia Flagler Chapter
What's on Tap
Region 3 Chapters
The Three Rivers Chapter will host the AACN Region 3
meeting for critical care nurses in Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania on
March 8 in Pittsburgh. For more information, contact Janice Wojcik at
janice.wojcik2@verizon.net.
California
The South Bay Chapter will cosponsor with the
Stanford Hospital & Clinics Center for Education a program titled 'From the
Endothelium to the Environment: How Critical Care Is Changing" on April 28 in
Stanford. For more information, call (650) 723-6366, option 2; e-mail,
cecenter@medcenter.stanford.edu;
Web site,
http://www.cecenter.stanfordhospital.com.
Illinois
The Northwest Chicago Area Chapter will present its
29th Annual Midwest Conference March 9 through 11 in Arlington Heights. For more
information, contact Joy Speciale at (630) 766-1596;
Maryland
The Chesapeake Bay Chapter will present an Adult
CCRN Review Course and a Pediatric CCRN Review Course, both March 11 through 13
in Elicot City. For more information on the adult review course, e-mail Kathy
Gundzik at kathyg@ccgh.com. For more information on the pediatric review course,
e-mail Shari Desome at sderengo@aol.com.
The Chesapeake Bay Chapter will present its 14th
annual 'The Future Is Now Symposium" on March 12 and 13 in Elicot City. For more
information, e-mail Kathy Gundzik at
kathyg@ccgh.com.
Mississippi
The Gulf Coast Magnolia Chapter will present a
program featuring AACN President Connie Barden, RN, MSN, CCNS, CCRN, on March 7
in Gulfport. For more information, contact Tina Covington at (800) 394-5995,
ext. 8812; e-mail, Region12@aacn.org.
Missouri
The Greater St. Louis Chapter will present its 21st
annual 'Critical Care Symposium" on March 13 and 14 in St. Louis. For more
information, contact Karen Zahn at (314) 843-5045; e-mail,President@AACNSTL.org.
Virginia
The Greater Richmond Area Chapter will cosponsor a
one-day teaching institute on March 11 with the Education & Professional
Development Department at Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond. For more
information, contact Paul Swadley at (804) 0418; e-mail,
pswadley@mcvh-vcu.edu;
Web site.
Is your chapter planning a program or special event?
Send the information to AACN News, 101 Columbia, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656; fax,
(949) 362-2049; e-mail, aacnnews@aacn.org.
In the Circle: Award Recognizes Chapter
Communications Systems
Editor's note: The Circle of Excellence
Outstanding Chapter Communications System Award recognizes chapters that
exemplify effective communication and promote AACN's messages in the chapter or
the community. Following are excerpts from exemplars submitted in connection
with this award for 2002.
White River Chapter
Muncie, Ind.
The board of the newly founded White River Chapter
envisioned a communication bridge to connect potential, nonparticipating members
to the chapter's active members and events. In addition to developing a Web site
and a newsletter, a chapter liaison program was started with major acute care
facilities in our area. The contractor of the communication bridge was this
chapter liaison, a board position designed to oversee connectedness. To satisfy
a need for subcontractors, facility liaison positions were developed and filled
by chapter members from area institutions.
The liaison network functioned like a bridge with
two-way traffic. Facility liaisons kept the chapter liaison informed about local
information needs. The chapter liaison channeled news to facility liaisons
regarding membership and events. The facility liaisons then passed news along
the bridge to nurses at their institutions.
Processes for distributing information varied. Some
facility liaisons created colorful announcements; some made phone calls to
nurses; some sent messages by e-mail; and some visited staff meetings.
Communication boards, which displayed chapter information, were strategically
posted in critical care units in each facility. Facility liaisons also supported
the bridge by giving information packets to newly hired nurses and students. At
chapter events, the chapter liaison and facility liaisons helped with on-site
arrangements, greeted attendees and integrated visitors into discussions.
As the liaison roles evolved, the board recognized
their value, presenting them with personalized name badges in a ceremony that
recognized their commitment. Early trends indicated an increased awareness about
the new chapter and increased attendance at events. In addition, facility
liaisons have demonstrated enhanced communication and leadership skills, as well
as a commitment to AACN's vision. Soon all counties in the target area will have
a facility liaison.
Smoky Mountain Chapter
Knoxville, Tenn.
Continuing a tradition established by its past
leadership, the president-elect of the Smoky Mountain Chapter mails packets on a
monthly basis to our hospital and community liaisons, who place notices of
meetings and AACN membership information in their units. In addition, the
chapter has a Web site that is linked to the national AACN Web site and that
includes our officers, activities and an electronic copy of our quarterly
newsletter.
When we became aware of the initiative to designate
October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Oct. 11 as Health
Cares About Domestic Violence Day, we secured the donation of a billboard from
Lamar Advertising and adapted the 'When Did It Stop Being Your Dream House?"
public service announcement. Our president-elect, Ronna Carlton, was also
interviewed on radio the morning of Oct. 11 about nursing's role in assisting
victims of domestic violence.
In January 2001, we hosted a joint meeting with the
Emergency Nurses Association to learn about new ACLS guidelines. This meeting
marked our largest attendance to date (more than 75) and led to the
establishment of a small, but growing alliance. In the spring, AACN was invited
to occupy a booth at ENA's ETEMS Workshop and AACN extended a return invitation
to ENA at our annual Spring Workshop.
In recent years, a Critical Care Coalition was
established in Knoxville to develop and present critical care courses. This has
given our members a forum to promote CCRN certification as well as to provide
information on AACN membership.
New York City Chapter
New York, N.Y.
Disseminating information about programs and events
in a timely manner and establishing visibility on the Internet has long been a
goal of the NYC Chapter. Three years ago, the chapter forged ahead with its plan
to create a Web site that was easy to navigate and full of information,
resulting in the launch of www.nycaacn.org. In addition, the chapter created two
e-mail accounts that allow chapter members to contact the president directly and
receive expedient replies to written requests.
The New York City Chapter also publishes a
membership newsletter, the Critical Connection, with members encouraged to
submit articles. Achievements by members are featured in the 'Members in the
News" section, and a calendar of events announces upcoming activities. The
chapter also relies heavily upon mailed reminders in the form of postcards and
brochures.
In addition to communicating our services and
activities to our members, the NYC Chapter promotes healthy lifestyles to the
community. The chapter has sponsored local health fairs, which have been
successful in drawing women from within the community and in strengthening the
image of nurses to the community. Our chapter focuses on supporting the needs of
those who are underserved, particularly around the holidays, by sponsoring
needed items for families. We have also offered services to our community and
members following the 9/11 tragedy.
Spreading the Word
As part of an effort to promote AACN,
members of the Denver Chapter delivered
more than 100 cans of Halloween popcorn
to critical care units in the Denver area.
The deliveries included national and chapter
membership materials, as well as CCRN-c
ertification information. Pictured are
(from left, front row) Fran Musgrove and
Sharda Fornnarini and (from left, back row)
Vicki Custer, Cathie Owens, Tracy Albright
and Sara Clark.
Nominations Are Due March 1 for the
President's Award for Chapters
Remember. March 1 is the deadline to nominate your
chapter for the President's Award for Chapters, part of AACN's Circle of
Excellence recognition program.
The award is presented each year to the chapter or
chapters that have best exemplified the theme of the president of AACN. The
theme of 2002-03 President Connie Barden, RN, MSN, CCNS, CCRN, is 'Bold Voices:
Fearless & Essential." The recipients will be announced at NTI 2003, May 17
through 22 in San Antonio, Texas.
The application form is available online.
Feb. 28 Is Deadline to Apply for Leadership
Workshop
Don't miss out! Feb. 28 is the deadline to nominate
your president-elect or another chapter leader to attend the Chapter Leadership
Development Workshop on May 18 during AACN's National Teaching Institute and
Critical Care Exposition in San Antonio, Texas.
In keeping with the 'Bold Voices: Fearless &
Essential" NTI theme, which has been embraced by AACN President Connie Barden,
RN, MSN, CCNS, CCRN, throughout her presidential year, 'The Bold Voices in
Leadership" is the theme of this daylong workshop.
NTI 2003 is scheduled for May 17 through 22. For
more information or to register, visit the NTI Web site or call (800) 899-2226.
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