- Email: [email protected]
Pacific Coast Region
JWOCN Volume 27, Number 1
Regional Presidents' Communications 7
Poc f c Coost Beg Mary W. Sears, RN, BA, CETN ast year I explained some of the chalenges in developing a sense of community for all m e m b e r s within our region. Our colleagues from Hawaii have chosen to apply for and have been granted affiliate status. They will proceed independently with the d e v e l o p m e n t of the goals defined for their regionally distant group. We truly will miss them and wish them continued success as they focus on issues most relevant to members there. Before the national conference I learned that a n u m b e r of nurses from the Rocky M o u n t a i n Region w o u l d like to begin working w i t h our region. One m e m b e r from that group a t t e n d e d our regional meeting in Minneapolis and indicated that the information I had received was accurate. Thus we now have an additional 15 persons to participate in the excitement occurring within the Pacific Coast Region. We welcome each of you, and I personally look forward to your i n v o l v e m e n t with our group. I h a v e s p e n t several h o u r s r e v i e w i n g the " p a s t " of our region in p r e p a r a t i o n for an u p c o m i n g p r e s e n t a t i o n to our members. As I have closely examined our g r o w t h a n d d e v e l o p m e n t , I am once again r e m i n d e d of the energy, enthusiastic leadership, and, yes, e v e n sacrifices m a d e b y m a n y of our m e m b e r s to a d v a n c e o u r regional organization. Alt h o u g h our original members were only 14 in n u m b e r , their c o m m i t m e n t to addressing the needs of ostomy patients through ostomy education programs for nurses established the basis for our present organization. N o w 397 m e m b e r s strong, we c o n t i n u e to strive to b e t t e r serve our patients through the collective e n d e a v o r s of our regional m e m b e r s h i p . Believing that the increase in our n u m b e r of m e m b e r s alone will ensure the continued wellness of our organization would be s h o r t sighted. H a v i n g a n increased n u m b e r of m e m b e r s does not necessarily imply an easy road ahead. In the world today, each of us is faced w i t h m a n y decisions. Frequently m e m bers m u s t m a k e choices r e g a r d i n g the best way to "balance" family, education, a n d i n v o l v e m e n t in professional organizations. As each of us is called u p o n to contribute, we m u s t face the fact that
each day contains only "24 little hours." Mandatory attendance and participation is not an option in a voluntary organization. We must once again count on those priceless h u m a n beings k n o w n as "volu n t e e r s " to s p e a r h e a d committees, r u n for office, or to p h o n e fellow m e m b e r s regarding vital issues. Appropriately, this past April the WOCN leadership recognized these volunteers for the contributions they m a d e on behalf of the entire organization. Presently we are e x a m i n i n g ways in w h i c h we can better prepare our m e m bers to serve. Additional ways to enhance c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n the present Board of Directors and newly elected officers are being scrutinized, and changes will be m a d e as indicated. Our goal in this process is to create a system in which service as a regional leader is less threate n i n g and more a p p e a l i n g to all of our members. An ongoing program to assist these new leaders in learning the duties and responsibilities of their office is in the d e v e l o p m e n t stages. Teleconferencing a n d more frequent Board of Directors meetings are u n d e r consideration for the next 2 years. All these measures are being considered to i m p r o v e c o m m u n i c a t i o n and secure increased c o m m i t m e n t from our members. The focus of our region continues to be to provide education a n d n e t w o r k i n g opportunities for each person in our membership. Every attempt is made to provide education directed at the full scope of WOC specialty nursing practice. A continued effort is made to provide material that will be meaningful to novices as well as more advanced practitioners. As President, m y vision for our future has not changed. My wish is that, in our organization, each member can participate and we can collectively work to ensure an e n v i r o n m e n t that nurtures each individual. Creating such an e n v i r o n m e n t will promote our future g r o w t h as a strong, influential organization a n d will truly build on the c o m m i t m e n t held b y those early members w h o gave us a purpose. To each of them we express our thanks and gratitude for the sacrifices and time spent so that we may enjoy this gratifying professional organization.
Regional Presidents' Communications 7
Poc f c Coost Beg Mary W. Sears, RN, BA, CETN ast year I explained some of the chalenges in developing a sense of community for all m e m b e r s within our region. Our colleagues from Hawaii have chosen to apply for and have been granted affiliate status. They will proceed independently with the d e v e l o p m e n t of the goals defined for their regionally distant group. We truly will miss them and wish them continued success as they focus on issues most relevant to members there. Before the national conference I learned that a n u m b e r of nurses from the Rocky M o u n t a i n Region w o u l d like to begin working w i t h our region. One m e m b e r from that group a t t e n d e d our regional meeting in Minneapolis and indicated that the information I had received was accurate. Thus we now have an additional 15 persons to participate in the excitement occurring within the Pacific Coast Region. We welcome each of you, and I personally look forward to your i n v o l v e m e n t with our group. I h a v e s p e n t several h o u r s r e v i e w i n g the " p a s t " of our region in p r e p a r a t i o n for an u p c o m i n g p r e s e n t a t i o n to our members. As I have closely examined our g r o w t h a n d d e v e l o p m e n t , I am once again r e m i n d e d of the energy, enthusiastic leadership, and, yes, e v e n sacrifices m a d e b y m a n y of our m e m b e r s to a d v a n c e o u r regional organization. Alt h o u g h our original members were only 14 in n u m b e r , their c o m m i t m e n t to addressing the needs of ostomy patients through ostomy education programs for nurses established the basis for our present organization. N o w 397 m e m b e r s strong, we c o n t i n u e to strive to b e t t e r serve our patients through the collective e n d e a v o r s of our regional m e m b e r s h i p . Believing that the increase in our n u m b e r of m e m b e r s alone will ensure the continued wellness of our organization would be s h o r t sighted. H a v i n g a n increased n u m b e r of m e m b e r s does not necessarily imply an easy road ahead. In the world today, each of us is faced w i t h m a n y decisions. Frequently m e m bers m u s t m a k e choices r e g a r d i n g the best way to "balance" family, education, a n d i n v o l v e m e n t in professional organizations. As each of us is called u p o n to contribute, we m u s t face the fact that
each day contains only "24 little hours." Mandatory attendance and participation is not an option in a voluntary organization. We must once again count on those priceless h u m a n beings k n o w n as "volu n t e e r s " to s p e a r h e a d committees, r u n for office, or to p h o n e fellow m e m b e r s regarding vital issues. Appropriately, this past April the WOCN leadership recognized these volunteers for the contributions they m a d e on behalf of the entire organization. Presently we are e x a m i n i n g ways in w h i c h we can better prepare our m e m bers to serve. Additional ways to enhance c o m m u n i c a t i o n b e t w e e n the present Board of Directors and newly elected officers are being scrutinized, and changes will be m a d e as indicated. Our goal in this process is to create a system in which service as a regional leader is less threate n i n g and more a p p e a l i n g to all of our members. An ongoing program to assist these new leaders in learning the duties and responsibilities of their office is in the d e v e l o p m e n t stages. Teleconferencing a n d more frequent Board of Directors meetings are u n d e r consideration for the next 2 years. All these measures are being considered to i m p r o v e c o m m u n i c a t i o n and secure increased c o m m i t m e n t from our members. The focus of our region continues to be to provide education a n d n e t w o r k i n g opportunities for each person in our membership. Every attempt is made to provide education directed at the full scope of WOC specialty nursing practice. A continued effort is made to provide material that will be meaningful to novices as well as more advanced practitioners. As President, m y vision for our future has not changed. My wish is that, in our organization, each member can participate and we can collectively work to ensure an e n v i r o n m e n t that nurtures each individual. Creating such an e n v i r o n m e n t will promote our future g r o w t h as a strong, influential organization a n d will truly build on the c o m m i t m e n t held b y those early members w h o gave us a purpose. To each of them we express our thanks and gratitude for the sacrifices and time spent so that we may enjoy this gratifying professional organization.