NEW YORK NURSE: September 2008
by Linda O'Brien, MS, RN, President, NYSNA
I hope that you had an enjoyable summer! I did – busy, but fun!
We are quickly approaching the time for the association’s annual business meeting. It will be held on Sept. 26 – 27 at the Hilton Rye Town, Rye Brook, N.Y.
This is a trial run for holding a Convention every other year with a business meeting on the alternate year. This would comply with NYSNA bylaws, which call for an annual business meeting, while reducing costs and encouraging increased attendance at both Conventions and business meetings.
Everyone is finding it more difficult to arrange for time away from work to attend a four-day Convention. Under this model, a biennial Convention would have all the trimmings – educational tracks, plenary and keynote sessions, voting body, awards banquet, exhibit hall, business meetings, and multiple networking opportunities with social and fundraising events.
The alternate year – this year – will focus on carrying out the business of the association. And, consequently, the commitment of time and money will be less. In addition, the Westchester County location is easily accessible for our many members in the Metro area and the Hudson Valley.
If you have not already reviewed the annual business meeting information, please do so. It is available at www.nysna.org and a brochure was mailed to every member in July. It outlines a two-day schedule that includes opportunities to earn continuing education contact hours, plus some networking and social opportunities.
Members of collective bargaining units are encouraged to attend the traditional “Labor Day” events on Friday, Sept. 26, including meetings of the Congress of Bargaining Unit Leaders and the Delegate Assembly. The awards brunch on that day is a ticketed event.
All members are invited to attend an informative plenary session on Friday afternoon and a social event on Friday evening. The next day will feature meetings of our new Practice Focus Groups and a keynote address, followed by the core of our activities: the NYSNA Voting Body.
Voting Body is the highest authority in the association. Unlike other organizations, where members elect delegates to serve on their governing body, NYSNA gives every member an opportunity to have a voice. Any registered nurse who belongs to NYSNA is able to attend Voting Body free of charge and vote on important issues that will chart the association’s direction in the coming year.
Full registration for both days (including the social event on Friday and breakfast and lunch on Saturday) is only $125. You may attend only the Friday events for $50 and Saturday only for $75. LBU members who attend both days can earn up to 13.5 contact hours and non-LBU members can earn 9.0 CH.
This business meeting has been designed to give you the opportunity to be an active participant in discussions and deliberations that affect NYSNA and the nursing profession.
Let’s do the business of the association together!