Region IV’s Taking the Next Step
At a recent MASPAN(Massachusetts) board of directors (BOD) meeting that I attended, there was a lengthy discussion on the need for recruitment and perservation at the board level. I know in my home component of MASPAN many of the positions have circulated around to each of us on the current board. I myself have served as Fundraising chair, Treasurer, President-Elect, President. I'm currently serving as the Secretary/Historian. I am not at all dissatisfied with the history of my involvement, but I find myself asking why would an active member not want to get involved? Why is it so difficult to recruit members to a BOD position?
My home component is fairing well in membership growth despite the economy. We have great mem-bers, many of whom attend every conference we plan, write for our newsletter, and attend the national confer-ence. Like any components, we know many of our members by name and face. I know many component BOD routinely spend time going around talking to members at their education offerings about "what is happening?" at their institution, in their prac-tice. We ask how they are personally. I know mem-bers are approached directly and asked to think about becoming a member of the BOD. In many of the component newsletters and websites the schedule of BOD meetings are listed, and the meetings are open to members. Willingness to serve forms are sent out yearly to members in a letter and to all new members. The dilemma, how do we as standing BOD, plant the seed in our membership to "take the next step"?
Many times we see members who show some real interest and excitement in their practice and perianes-thesia nursing, but when asked to think about joining a board often times we get a response similar to "what's in it for me?" When I hear these responses I start thinking, what is in it for any member of a BOD or a member? ASPAN and the components' are part of a large volunteer organization. To volunteer is defined as somebody who works without being paid, somebody who labors for nothing; but do we as BOD work for nothing? What do we give back to "our volunteers" who take time out of their busy day to attend board meetings?
Many components provide free contact hours to
BOD, food and lodging are occasionally provided, credit for CPAN/CAPA recertification are offered just for being a member of component BOD. Would the BOD continue to volunteer without these incentives? I believe the answer is yes they would.
A couple of years ago, an ASPAN/MASPAN member, Kathleen DeLeskey MSN RN CAPA, explored factors affecting the membership decisions of nurses practicing in the perianesthesia setting. The title of her research was Factors affecting nurses' decisions to join and maintain membership in professional associations (1). In Kathy's research The variables most strongly influencing members and non-members to join ASPAN were self-improvement, education, new ideas, programs, improvement of my work, and maintenance of professional standards (2). I read her results and thought could her findings be similar factors as to a members decision to join and maintain a position on a components' BOD. I believe the reasons for why we as a BOD took the next step are the same reasons as to why we became members; we wanted to become a part of influencing our profession of perianesthesia nursing.
I believe there are many members with so much to offer. I see your names on rosters of Specialty Practice Groups and ASPAN committees, I read your articles in your home component newsletters, I see you attending local and the national conference. The amount of knowledge and excitement is out there and we need you to capture it. Think about "taking the next step", I promise you will have no regrets. To be part of something as special as ASPAN is yours for the taking.
ASPAN President Lois Schick's theme of "Dreams-...Creating a Lasting Legacy" is so true for our future. Dreaming of you, the ASPAN members taking the next step to self-improvement, with the goal of educating others, creating new ideas, participating in programs, having your ideas validated and promoting profess-ionalism in perianesthesia nursing by maintaining our professional standards. When you are asked to "step up" think of the reasons you became a member. Make your dream of perianesthesia nursing a lasting legacy.
(references noted in original script)
Posted 10/14/2008 |
