MaAOHN

Present: Sheila Litchfield (President), Terry Donahue (Vice President), Stephanie Chalupka, (Secretary), Nancy Clover (Treasurer), Barbara Haswell (Director; W.Ma.President), Connie Surpitski (Director; N. of Boston President), Jeanne Donahue (Director; Greater Boston President), Arlene Sullivan (Governmental Affairs), Linda Allen (Membership), Susan Katz-Saliski, (Chair, Communications Committee), Nancy Clover, (Chair, Finance Committee), Milda Walkley (Nominating Committee), Anne Lafontaine, Helen Williams (AAOHN Director), Joan Balkus (Central MA Director), and Catherine O’Doherty (Central MA Vice-President)

The meeting was called to order at 8:35 AM by President Litchfield who distributed the revised agenda.

1. MaAOHN Professional Development Conference
    President Litchfield commended Susan Katz-Saliski and Nancy Clover
   for their efforts to organize the October 1, 2005 MaAOHN Professional
    Development Conference.

2. Treasurers Report on Finances
Nancy Clover reported that the organization would very likely break even on the MaAOHN Professional Development Conference. (See Attachment #1) Full Treasure’s Report follows in Section 5c.

3. Awards
a. Lifetime Achievement Award
President Litchfield asked the group for thoughts on nominating a candidate for a Lifetime Achievement Award. The consensus of the group was that there were several members who might be candidates based on past service to the organization. Nancy Clover made a motion that any member awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award have “honorary” status conferred on them and therefore be eligible to have MaAOHN dues waived. Motion/Second/Passed

b. Applying for AAOHN Award for Conference
The October 1, 2005 MaAOHN Professional Development Conference will not be eligible for consideration for the AAOHN Award for a One Day Conference because the CEUs were not awarded through AAOHN.
c. Nurse Excellence Award
All local Chapters are asked to submit nominees for Nurse Excellence Awards to Connie Surpitski by October 15, 2005. The awards will be presented at the Annual Meeting that occurs on December 1.

4. 2005 Goal Status Review

MaAOHN 2005 Goals and Required Actions

Target dates and GOALS with required actions:

ITEM	RESPONSIBILITY	TARGET DATE	STATUS as of 10/1/05
File taxes	Fin-Com /Treasurer – Nancy Clover	March 2005	Filed March 2005
Annual report form to State to confirm continuing status as a non-for-profit,	VP –Terry Donahue	due Nov 1 annually	Board decided this will be VP duty. Complete.
Hold successful elections in accordance with bylaws	Nominating Committee and BOD; Susan Katz-Sliski	Ballots postmarked by Oct.15, ’05. Ballots will be sent to to chair of tellers, postmarked by Nov. 10, ballots counted and results announced at annual meeting November 30, 05	Nominating committee determined dates and is seeking candidates for positions of Pres, VP, 2 Nom Com. members
Participate with NECOEM in Annual Conference	Conference Committee ( S. Litchfield, Carol Somers, B. Haswell, N. Clover); vendor chair person- D. Meisner, member participation	Conference is Dec 1 & 2, 2005	Agenda complete. Brochures printed, CEU’s applied for (Yolanda); promotion is ongoing to increase MaAOHN member participation. Darlene is vendor chair.
Attend NEAOHN Conference June 1-3, 2005 and pre and post NEAOHN Board meetings.	Pres is NEAOHN Board member, MaAOHN members are encouraged to attend.	Conference is June 1-3, 2005	Pres. and a few members attended.
Schedule and attend MaAOHN Board meetings	BOD; Susan Katz-Sliski	March 4, 2005, May 21, 2005; September TBD (in conjunction with PD conf); Nov 30, 2005 (in conjunction with NECOEM	Oct 1 and Nov 30 meetings are scheduled. Goal to also post the Board meetings on website?
MaAOHN Annual Meeting	BOD and all MaAOHN members	December 1, 2005 at Renaissance in Bedford	Plans are in process

Reinvest the CD	Fin-Com /Treasurer		FinCom still deliberating.
Incorporation Seal	BOD/Treasurer	ASAP	Nancy has ordered and received the seal.
Review and revised the bylaws annually	Board should read bylaws annually; Bylaws/Policy/Procedures Committee	12/1/05	2005 Bylaw review was completed.
Review/revise the Policies and Procedures Manual	Bylaws/Policy/Procedures Committee	TBD; complete by 12/31/05	Terry is chair, most material has been gathered. Terry has informed folks of what they need to send to her.
Maintain updated MaAOHN website	Communications Committee; Susan Katz-Sliski	Ongoing	Ongoing, Susan continues to be contact person. Open item to resolve is managing ads.
Support Chapters web site email info dissemination financial support scholarships for conference attendance educational meetings	BOD and various Committees	Ongoing	MaAOHN will continue to send $1000 to each local chapter is funds remain available. Web site updates are ongoing; emailing used and regular mailing used to reach members; scholarship development is a 2006 goal; educational programs across state are now advertised on website. Need to stay in touch with concerns of CMAOHN Chapter.
Send someone to COL?	BOD to discuss		Sent Jeanne Donahue, Sheila Litchfield, also several others attended.
Hold a State-Wide Professional Development Conference in Mass	Professional Affairs Committee/	September 17 or 24, 2005 TBD	Conference is scheduled for Oct 1, 2005
Establish a Scholarship Fund	FinCom	12/1/05	Becomes a 2006 goal
Gather and establish a process to maintain archives.	President and BOD	Ongoing	Records retention requirements reviewed by Board; to incorporate into Policy Manual; file system has been created; gathering required materials; this is an ongoing annual activity; archives will reside w/ Secretary.
Get AAOHN recognition for MaAOHN activities	Professional Affairs Committee?/BOD?	Ongoing	2005 Prof Dev Conference not eligible for recognition -CEU’s were not obtained through AAOHN; seek other recognition.
Make plans to hold 2006 MaAOHN Annual meeting at separate time and date other than at NECOEM Conference	BOD	Decide before 11/30/05 to announce at 05 annual meeting	Discussion still ongoing, considering a move to coincide w/National Occ. Health Nurses week.
Assess effectiveness of NECOEM Conference for MaAOHN members	BOD	12/1/05	Discussion continues.
Increase member participation at NECOEM and/or at MaAOHN Professional Development Conference.			51 persons attended the 2005 MaAOHN State conference but only about half were members. Outreach to non-members is planned to welcome them to membership

Bylaws: The bylaws were reviewed by Sue Fowler of AAOHN and were deemed correct and up to date.

Susan requested that materials submitted for the website should submit them in a carefully edited version. Current website advertising fee structure is $25,00 for a single ad and $50 for an ad for multiple vacancies. Nancy Clover reported that there have been problems with billing for the ads and there is a great deal of energy for very little revenue generated. After discussion Milda made a motion that the “job search” feature of the website be temporarily suspended. M/S/P This issue will be revisited at the next meeting.

Nancy reported that Dawna Berube, CPA has helped MaAOHN to come into compliance with state tax statutes. Nancy also reminded the Chapter Presidents that efforts to bring chapters into compliance with tax laws will count as required annual audit. The Finance Committee will have a conference call before the end of October.

Milda reported that election ballots will be out 40 days before the election, The Nominating Committee will require 3 tellers to tabulate election results. Bernie Health has agreed to be the Chair of Tellers, as was previous voted upon by the Board, Bernie will recruit 2 additional tellers.

Linda distributed membership information at the October 1, 2005 MaAOHN Professional Development Conference. In addition, a follow-up letter will be sent to all non-member conference participants three weeks after the conference to encouraging them to join MaAOHN

6. Request for Information from AAOHN Director, Helen Williams

Helen Williams in her capacity as an AAOHN Director presented Members Orientation to Policy Governance (See Attachment #3) The goals of Policy Governance area:

A. Providing increased opportunities to participate in high level governing
    process focusing on membership, operational performance, strategic
    policy, and the future of the profession;
B. Involving more members as resources in developing products and
    services;
C. Becoming more flexible, adapting and responsive organization to the
    dynamic external environment; and
D. Increasing efficiency, effectiveness, and cost saving in conducting
     business.

Helen further advised the Chapter Presidents that she will be collecting AAOHN survey data (See Attachment #4) from localchapters.

All Presidents reported similar difficulties with membership, attendance, and recruiting candidates to fill leadership positions. Central Massachusetts Chapter has struggled in particular with declining attendance at meetings. In an effort to facilitate the attendance of members at chapter programs other that the one to which they belong. members between A motion was made to amend the meeting schedule to stagger chapter program offerings as follows:
North of Boston-1st week of the month
Greater Boston-2nd week of the month
Western MA-3rd week of the month
Central MA -4th week of the month
President Litchfield reminded all Chapter Presidents that the Board stand ready to support chapters as requested.

Nancy Clover proposed to continue to pay conference fees for MaAOHN President and at least one other Board member in consideration of the many hours of volunteer service on behalf of MaAOHN. Motion/Second/Passed

President Litchfield reported that the MaAOHN must identify a representative to fill in for Irene Anderson. A motion was made to designate Milda Walkley. Seconded and vote unanimously to approve Milda in this new role. Sheila will inform the NEAOHN Board of Directors and the next meeting on October 13.

President Litchfield raised the question for discussion as to whether membership at the annual meeting might increase if the Annual Meeting was disaggregated from the NECOEM Conference. The possibility of a Spring meeting was discussed as was the possible conflict between the AAOHN Symposium and the proposed meeting date. It was decided that the issue should be tabled until a later meeting when more time for discussion was available.

Ballots will be mailed on October 15, 2005 and returned with postmark no later than November 10, 2005. The winners will be announced at the MaAOHN annual meeting at NECOEM.

13. Mileage Reimbursement
Nancy Clover made a motion that the MaAOHN mileage reimbursement rate be tied to the IRS mileage reimbursement rate. M/S/P.

14. Proposed Partnership with Vermont Public Health Nurses in Safe Home
Renovation Project
President Litchfield and Anne LaFontaine described a proposed project that grew out of the 3 day environmental health nursing conference that MaAOHN sponsored with the Harvard School of Public Health. The project would combine the public health outreach efforts of the public health nurses of the Vermont Health Department with the expertise of the MaAOHN. In an effort to address health and safety needs in the home renovation projects, the proposed project would adapt and/or develop a series of easy to read, culturally appropriate educational materials for the homeowner or renter undertaking home repairs. President Litchfield queried the Board about participation. Some concern was expressed about potential liability for any advice disseminated through this project. President Litchfield was of the opinion that materials developed would be based on accepted standards and should not therefore present such concerns. Other concerns were voiced regarding the existence of similar material already. Sheila and Anne continue to investigate.

Terry Donahue presented information on tobacco cessation programs offered through the Massachusetts Consortium for a Healthy Workforce training program offered for OHNs. President Litchfield requested that Terry obtain additional information. Terry also presented information about Health Disparities Summit: Voices for Healthier Lifestyles. (See Attachment # 4)

17. Other Business
None. There being no other business the meeting was adjourned at 4:00 p.m.