AORN eChapter—year one - Brief Article

AORN Journal, August, 2001 by Jane Ringler, Kendra Keene

In July 2000, AORN's Membership Committee launched eChapter, an online forum designed to provide an opportunity for AORN members who are unable to attend chapter meetings to participate more fully in AORN activities by being a member of a virtual chapter. The online chapter initiative was approved by the AORN Board of Directors in February 2000 as a one-year pilot project.

During this pilot period, the main goal of eChapter volunteers was to determine which online components would best fit the needs of eChapter members and to develop content for those components. Twenty-two AORN member volunteers were instrumental in determining the needs of eChapter members.

Volunteers determined that eChapter should have

* a chat room,

* a bulletin board section with preselected topics,

* an online newsletter, and

* an online directory of virtual chapter members.

Volunteers also decided that eChapter should focus on a different theme each month to capture the variety of issues that relate to perioperative nursing and participating in AORN. The topics ranged from "Effective lobbying," and "Getting the most out of Congress," to "Perioperative nursing and the Internet." For each topic, eChapter provided real-time chats and bulletin board discussions, along with pertinent newsletter articles. As expected, some chat topics and bulletin board discussions generated greater interest and attendance than others. The topic "Billing issues for RN first assistants" was the most well received.

MEMBERSHIP

As volunteers continued to develop the focus of eChapter, membership began to grow. At the beginning of the pilot project, eChapter had approximately 50 members, including the 22 eChapter volunteers. By June 2001, eChapter boasted approximately 800 members from many countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and Finland. When asked on the eChapter registration form on AORN Online why members elected to join eChapter, the top responses included

* convenience (eg, ability to network from home),

* accessibility (eg, no local chapter, member-at-large designation), and

* enjoy using technology to network.

ADDITIONAL TECHNOLOGY

With eChapter's increasing membership, the need for a more efficient method for members to communicate arose. For this, eChapter volunteers decided an eChapter discussion list similar to AORN's MemberTalk should be developed. The discussion list allows eChapter members to chat with other members via e-mail, and it has the ability to handle a large volume of messages. The discussion list also eliminates the need for eChapter members to wait for other members to "meet" in the chat room for a discussion. With this technology, members can send questions or comments to the e-mail list, and messages then are conveyed instantly to all members of the discussion group.

APPROVED MOTIONS

During eChapter's first year, staff members in AORN's Center for Member Services placed several recommendations regarding the future of eChapter before the AORN Board of Directors for consideration. In February 2001, the Board approved two motions:

* eChapter shall remain a primary choice for chapter designation and

* eChapter members must follow standard chapter formation procedures, including developing bylaws, electing officers, attaining tax-exempt status, and seating delegates at Congress.

The Board concluded that these procedures must be followed for eChapter members to be eligible for the rights and privileges that accompany formal chapter designation.

NEXT STEPS

Based on the Board's motions, eChapter members began the formal chapter formation process in April 2001. In May, Center for Member Services staff members facilitated elections for positions on the eChapter leadership group. The leadership group's charge is to coordinate chapter formation and develop a plan for chapter management and activities. This was the first time that AORN attempted online voting, and the technology was a resounding success.

On May 14, 2001, the following members of the 2001-2002 eChapter leadership group were elected:

* President--Howard Shelley, RN, MBA;

* President-elect--Susan Renee Guerra, RN, MN, CNOR, CNAA;

* Vice President--Jan Buker, RN, MSN, CNOR;

* Secretary--Constance Brandes, RN;

* Treasurer--Karen Hausteen, RN, CNOR; and

* Board of Directors--Becky Birchfield, RN, CNOR; Carole Mayes, RN, CNOR; Sueanne Cantamessa, RN, CNOR; and Pat Mews, RN, MA, CNOR.

The eChapter leadership group held its first meeting on June 8, 2001. Group members have begun addressing several issues, including developing bylaws, assessing dues structure, and forming a strategic plan. The eChapter pilot has had an exciting year, and the leadership group has a great deal of work to complete. When assessing all the goals that originally were envisioned for eChapter--to develop an online community, provide convenience, and eliminate barriers to networking for members with no chapter--the Membership Committee is proud to see that the most important goal--to give all members a vehicle for participation--has been attained.