Spring, Forum and Transitions

We are nearing our annual Forum start date in early April at the Palmer Hotel in Chicago. I hope you will take advantage of the offerings our Forum Committee has worked so diligently on, for your benefit! Are you new to the field and want to just sit down and and talk to someone more experienced? There is no better selection of networking opportunities than here. The President's reception is open to ALL attendees to met the leadership and fellow participants on Thursday night. I am completing my two year term and look forward to meeting you as I transition to the past president role. Have you checked the Friday lunch network event? Later that evening is our optional event-10 minutes from our hotel. Tavern on the Park will be a causal, relaxed time to meet and greet, perhaps consider a volunteer role and make those connections. Thank you to the Forum committee and the efforts each of them has lent to our organization! The Forum is only one of the areas we are working on currently. Your BOD (board of directors) will have their meeting Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning with a diverse amount of topics discussed including social media, our Journal, educational updates from our Director of Programs, as well as a review of our strategic plan and financial update. All this before the Forum begins! Our organization is in a healthy place and is a direct result of the strategic decisions made by the board you elected and our partnership with SmithBucklin-our management team. Thank you to David Schmahl, Kevin, Kristin and the rest of our SB team. We have succeeded in reaching many accomplishments this year a few of which include ANCC accreditation, a strong partnership with the AALNCB (the certification board) and revising our committee structure. I must also thank Karen Huff our past president and Marianne Hallas our DAL. Both agreed to stay in their positions and extra year to assist us with transitioning our BOD. They deserve recognition for sharing their skill set with us, just a little longer. I will share more in my talk on site and hope to post it here as well for those of you unable to attend. I look forward to Chicago and hope you feel this BOD have been the good stewards you expected for YOUR organization. Thank you for reading and let me know if you have any questions. Sharon  smcquown@flbranson.com.