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Convention 2009 - Highlights: Saturday/Sunday, October 10 & 11

Related: Convention 2009 - Highlights, Thursday, October 8
Related: Convention 2009 - Highlights, Friday, October 9

Saturday, Oct. 10

The annual Fun Run/Walk netted more than $2,000 for Nurses House, a charity that assists nurses in need across the nation.
At the morning’s Practice Focus Group sessions and forum, the issue of mandatory flu vaccinations dominated discussion. It became apparent that the mandate was being handled differently from one facility to another.
The exhibit hall attracted a large crowd to view the products and services promoted at nearly 100 booths. NYSNA staff provided advice at a booth dedicated to questions about influenza and the state’s mandatory vaccination program.
The afternoon Voting Body session saw the introduction of several bylaws amendments. The following were approved by the Voting Body:
- The Congress of Bargaining Unit Leaders was incorporated into the bylaws as an official NYSNA organizational unit.
- Term limits for delegates to the ANA House of Delegates were removed from the bylaws. Delegates had been limited to four consecutive terms.
- The advance time for submitting amendments to the bylaws was extended to 75 days prior to the annual membership meeting to allow time for the bylaws committee to review them and for publication in New York Nurse.
Voting Body approved a main motion put forward by the Board of Directors setting a dues rate of $100 per year for retired nurses.
As always, the Awards Ceremony was an inspirational event. The Honorary Recognition Award was presented to Nettie Birnbach, former president of NYSNA and nationally recognized nurse educator and researcher.
The dinner following the ceremony was well-attended, with participants enjoying good food and lively dancing.

Sunday, Oct. 11

The last day of convention began with a performance by actress Pippa White, who assumed the personae of Florence Nightingale, Clara Barton, and Dorothea Dix to convey the indomitable spirit of nursing’s foremothers.
As Voting Body convened, other bylaws proposals were postponed indefinitely to allow further legal review and discussion. The Voting Body approved several main motions, including:
- That NYSNA establish a clearinghouse of information on how various facilities are implementing the state requirement that all healthcare personnel receive the flu vaccine.
- That the NYSNA Board of Directors be requested to investigate seeking an injunction against the mandate recently imposed by the NYS Department of Health requiring healthcare workers to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine by November 30, 2009.
- That NYSNA be present at legal proceedings initiated by individual nurses regarding the flu/H1N1 vaccine.
- That NYSNA support and prepare a strategy to maintain Continuing Day Treatment Programs (CDTP’s) as a viable treatment option for the severely psychiatric mentally ill (SPMI) population.
- That the NYSNA Board, Finance Committee, Membership Committee, and Strategic Planning Committee investigate the possibility of offering a half-price dues payment for new RN graduates during their first year of practice.
The results of the 2009 NYSNA elections were announced

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The New York State Nurses Association is the voice for nursing in the Empire State. With more than 37,000 members, it is the state's largest union and professional association for registered nurses. It supports nurses and nursing practice through education, research, legislative advocacy, and collective bargaining.