President's Column

South Carolina Nurse, The,  Apr-Jun 2008  by Davis, Gwen

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Spring is in the air! I know I always look forward to all the new beginnings with spring.

This spring has added meaning of new beginnings and changes as we anticipate the many changes that are being suggested by our American Nurses Association. I wanted to be sure that each and every one of you is aware of these potential changes and what they may mean for SCNA.

The ANA has recently informed all of the member states that the current contracts held by ANA with the United American Nurses and the Center for American Nurses will not be renewed in June 2008. This decision has then created a whirlwind of activity to revamp our ANA by-laws. There are many changes being considered but nothing will be decided until the 2008 House of Delegates.

Some of the by-law changes that are on the table include:

1. Allow individual members to join ANA or their state organization directly. This would mean you could be an ANA member only or a SCNA member only.

2. Provide Organizational Affiliate status for LPN/LVN organizations and individual membership for LPNs/LVNs at the state level.

3. Establish a new category for Labor Organizations representing RN's/LPN's/LVN's called a LABOR AFFILIATE. This Labor Affiliates will have vote only on nursing issues, not on dues/bylaws or officers/directors. Also, if affiliate has no RN representative, and only have voice, but no vote at House of Delegates. The Labor Affiliate must select member of ANA to serve as liaison to ANA Board for open sessions discussing nursing issues;

4. Establish a new category for WORKFORCE ADVOCACY AFFILIATE with same parameters as the Labor Affiliate.

These are major changes. Your elected delegates have already begun to discuss and dissect these by-law changes but we do need to hear from you.

Your delegates are Judy Alexander, Susan Clark, Priscilla Carver Davis, Peggy Dulaney, Ellen Riddle, Vicki Green and me. Please contact your delegates to learn more about these changes. Share your thoughts and concerns with us so that we can be informed of the impact of these changes on our state.

Gwen Davis, RN, President SCNA

Copyright South Carolina Nurses' Association Apr-Jun 2008
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