Northeast Wisconsin District Nurses Association

General Membership Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Eagles Nest Supper Club

Presiding: Carol Morris

Recording: Jane Delveaux

Present: Helen Smits, Joyce McCallem, Sharon Harder, Brenda Tyczkowski, Carol Morris, Bonnie Groessl, Tracy Slater, Leona Warsksa, Barbara Bauer, Flo Trondson, Jane Delveaux

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 1830 by President Carol Morris. Printed handouts were distributed to the membership and included: Agenda for the meeting, the 2003-2004 Annual Report to WNA, General Membership Meeting Minutes for 09/21/04 and 11/16/04, copies of Treasurer’s Report, Revised list of 2004-2005 NEWDNA Officers and Board of Directors, list of 2004-2005 Committee Members, Revised Position Descriptions for Immediate Past President and Webmaster, copies of the Policies and Procedures for Filling Vacant Officer/Board of Director/Committee Positions, for the Bylaws Committee, and for the Membership and Public Relations Committee.

Minutes: Minutes for the September 21 and for November 16, 2004 meetings were approved by consensus with two corrections. The names of Sharon Harder and Leona Warsksa had been misspelled.

Treasurer’s Report: Printed reports for 11/01/04 through 12/31/04 and 01/01/05 through 01/31/05 were distributed and approved by consensus.

WNA/Region #3 Update: Sharon Harder indicated that Goals and Guidelines would be set at the December 3rd meeting. Julie Zeeman has agreed to represent NEWDNA.

Legislative: The next Legislative Breakfast will be held at the Midway Motor Lodge on Holmgren Way on April 25, 2005. Members are encouraged to attend and bring significant WNA issues to the attention of the legislators.

Program: Bonnie Groessl will contact a speaker for the May 17th meeting. Speakers being considered for future meetings are: Helena Nelson who could speak on Budget Issues, Attorney Louise Trubeck, who could speak on Civil Rights and Access to Health Care, and Jay Hack who has written a series of articles for Nursing Matters .

At the request of Joyce McCullem, a discussion was held in which the membership approved changing the location for the May 17th meeting. The Holiday Inn and Brown County Library are being considered. The final location will be posted to the NEWDNA website and in the newsletter. Plans are being made to invite other organizations within the NEWNDA network to attend.

Membership/PR: Bonnie Groessl stated that a new application has been received from Beth Meisner, RN. Those past members who have not renewed their memberships will be contacted per phone and encouraged to renew.

Nominations: Flo Trondson requested that the spelling of her name be corrected on the published list of committee members. She also reports having had great difficulty reaching everyone on her call list to ask them if they would accept a nomination on the May ballot. Katie Dykes, Jane Delveaux, and Sharon McNulty have agreed to be placed on the ballot for the Board of Directors. Leda Jahnke and Karen Day have agreed to be on the ballot for Nominating Committee. There is no one on the ballot for the Vice President or for the Secretary positions. A discussion was held by the Membership on what steps could be taken to get more participation from district members and how to increase membership. Some ideas expressed:

  1. Work with Student Nurses Association to transition one of their graduating officers into a NEWDNA officer’s position with the gift of the first year’s membership.
  2. Each member in attendance make a point of contacting another RN for prospective membership.
  3. Contact past active members and encourage them to participate.

Bylaws: The revised Bylaws were reviewed by the Membership. Typo’s were corrected. Joyce McCullem made the motion to accept the corrected Bylaws. Helen Smits seconded the motion. The Bylaws were approved unanimously.

Awards: Barb Bauer announced that nomination letters were due by April 1, 2005. None have been received yet.

Nurses Day: This annual event will be held on May 10th at the DePere Community Center and will be promoted as a Spa Day. Ideas for special events are welcome.

PRN: The newsletter is printed by Judy Friederichs. It is being mailed with First Class Postage. A discussion was held regarding the most cost effective method to deliver the newsletter. Suggestions for cost savings included checking with WNA for a mass e-mail list.

Website: Brenda Tyczkowski has been entering information to the NEWDNA website as soon as she receives it from the officers. The officers are committed to getting articles to Brenda as soon as possible following meetings.

Community Service: Barbara Bauer has been approached by Mary Blokenheim of the Brown County Coalition for Affordable Housing for the Homeless. She has requested that the NEWDNA consider presenting head lice kits to be used by clients who have a need. Tracy Slater stated she would check with a local pharmacist to see what kind of price break/bargain is possible. Information and a request for donations will be given to Judy Friederichs for the publication in the newsletter. Cash donations may be sent to Brenda Tyczkowski for routing to the organization.

Position Descriptions: This agenda item was deferred to the next General Meeting to be held April 19, 2005.

Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 2030.

Respectfully Submitted:

Jane Delveaux

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