Kansas State Nurses Association annual reports 2003

Kansas Nurse, Sep 2003 by Johnson, Terri, Barrett, Patricia Kohls, Putnam, Julie, Ternus, Jean, Et al

Legislative issues were shared with members via email and newsletter. At the second annual recognition meeting in May we recognized all members present with door prizes and entertainment. We also gave Nurse of the Year and Outstanding Leadership awards as recognition.

Patricia Kohls Barren, Past President

Julie Putnam, President

District 2

KSNA District 2 has been able to offer CNE's at two meetings this year. This spring we co-sponsored a meeting with District 2 MONA in which graduating students were invited to attend a dinner and a panel discussion on various topics of interest to these future nurses. This event was well attended. Plans are underway to again co-sponsor an event with District 2 MONA this fall. We continue to evaluate how we can be more effective and elicit more participation in the organization.

We were able to contribute money to the KSNA District 2 Endowed Fund in Kansas Nurses Foundation so that a scholarship can be awarded this year. Respectively Submitted,

Jean Ternus, President District 2

District 5

Sharon Herrington, Lois Holt, Janice Spikes, and Roberta Thiry served as members of the Membership and Public Relations Committee. Two meetings were held on September 12, 2003, and April 10, 2003. Other business was conducted by the members available either in person or by phone. To promote recruitment of new members each of the committee members agreed to solicit two or more prospective members. Packets of recruitment materials were obtained fromKSNA which were circulated to committee members with the addition of a sample district newsletter and a large brown envelope for distribution. Members were to prepare their own cover letters. Letters were written to lapsed members who remained in the District encouraging them to rejoin. Others were contacted by phone or mail to verify that they had joined another district or moved out of state. New members were welcomed to District V by a letter explaining the usual time and place of meetings, other activities sponsored by the District, and copies of officer, board member, and committee list as well as current bylaws. They were then contacted by phone to obtain biographical information to be used as printed introduction in the newsletter.

The committee submitted nominees to KSNA for various awards in June 2002. As a result Connie Scheffer received Honorary Recognition and Marlene White received the Volunteer of the Year Award at the KSNA convention. Each was presented with a crystal vase from the District in recognition of their achievements. An article about Marlene While appeared in the Neighbors section of The Salina Journal which mentioned her award, so the committee did not submit a news item. However, a picture and write-up about Connie Scheffcr was submitted and appeared in the same publication. The District 5 nominee had been selected for the 2003 KSNA Honorary Recognition Award and the nomination had been submitted.

During 2002-2003 several nurses were highlighted in The Salina Journal "Neighbors"section. The articles gave a very positive view of nurses and the profession. The writer, Michael Strand, is being nominated for the 2003 KSNA Media Award. Committee members obtained partial funding and prepared three baskets for sale at the Kansas Nurses Foundations silent auction held during the KSNA Convention, October 10-11, 2002.