NEW YORK NURSE: December 2008

Leading voices

The importance of showing up

by Linda O’Brien, MS, RN, President, NYSNA

A few months ago, in this column, I asked you to join me at our 2008 Annual Business Meeting in Rye Brook, N.Y. to carry out the business of the association. Unfortunately, we were unable to do that.

According to our bylaws, “Five members of the Board of Directors, one of whom shall be the president or president-elect, and not less than 200 members representative of designated geographic areas shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any annual membership meeting of this association.”

Regrettably, fewer than 200 non-board members were present and the business of the association could not be transacted at this meeting.

The 2008-2009 Legislative Program could not be voted on by the membership.
A bylaws proposal to increase the time frame for submission of bylaws proposals to the board secretary could not be voted on by membership.
A bylaws amendment regarding term limits for NYSNA Delegates to the ANA could not be voted on by membership.
Any main motions that might have come forth from meetings of the newly formed Practice Focus Groups or from individual members could not be voted on to provide for action by the board of directors.

Both bylaws proposals have to be referred back to Bylaws Committee for reconsideration by the Voting Body at the 2009 Convention in Saratoga Springs on Oct. 9-12.

It saddens me to think that NYSNA, the oldest and largest state nurses association, with a membership of 36,000, cannot conduct business at its annual membership meeting.

Membership has its privileges, but it also has its responsibilities. One of the responsibilities of membership is active participation. Attendance at an annual meeting is an activity in which all members can participate, at whatever level they choose – either to listen to discussion so that they can make informed decisions when voting on issues – or to actively contribute to the discussion.

Someone once said (I don’t remember who), “The world is run by those who show up!”

Mark your calendar right now to attend Convention next year. But in the meantime, you can exercise your rights and responsibilities as a NYSNA member in another way. On page 17 of this issue of New York Nurse, you will find a nomination form. It represents an opportunity for you to step up your involvement and participation.

Because the term limit changes were not voted on at the business meeting, more than one third of the current NYSNA delegation to the ANA House of Delegates will not be eligible to run next year. Serving as a delegate is a great way to “get your feet wet” as an active NYSNA member.

We need the participation of all members if we are to move forward in our mission of “Advocating for patients. Advancing the profession.”