Kansas Emergency Nurses Association

State Council Meeting

June 12, 2009

 

Attendance: Carol Kappelman, Kelly Hewins, Aggie Weigel, Gwen Phillbrook, Brian Selig, Stella Riney, Mitch Jewett, Jane Ross, Darlene Whitlock, Elaine Swisher, Cindy Reazin, Susan McDaniel, Denise Spaeth, Deb Veatch, Charla Holman, Joyce Radke, Lynette Kornelson, Jenny McCracken

 

Call to Order:  Meeting was called to order by the State President, Carol Kappelman at 10:30am.  Introductions were made.

 

Agenda: Motion made to approve the agenda.  Seconded.  Motion carried.

 

Minutes: Motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes with the following corrections: On page 3 of the minutes, there are two item ‘12’ listed.  The second item will be changed to ‘13’ and all subsequent numbers will be adjusted accordingly.  Motion carried.

 

President’s Report:

·         Carol Kappelman commented on the discussion from the previous meeting where it was determined that $1000 would be distributed to each of the seven trauma regions in the state to provide funding for additional trauma courses.  Carol will be sending a letter to each of the state regions informing them of the decision and the process for retrieving their funding.

·         Carol reported that Fundraising Spaces were going to be available at the General Assembly in Baltimore, MD.  The council has until Sept 10, 2009 to determine if they would like space.  The space would be provided free of charge, but the council would have to rent any necessary equipment, which would cost approximately $200.  The council discussed the issue and the only items we would sell were pins.  It was determined that this was not a worthwhile venture at this time.  The Fundraising Committee will review this issue and report back at the next meeting.

·         Carol reported that there was discussion at the national level regarding retooling of the General Assembly delegates.  She received an email from the Massachusetts council asking the Kansas council to sign on as a sponsor of their amendment to change the national bylaws.  Carol passed around the amendment.  The Bylaws change would set national delegates at 700, with 2 per state guaranteed, and the rest determined by percentage of the overall membership population.  She is expecting additional amendments to be submitted in the near future.

·         Carol discussed the delegates for the General Assembly.  She is working on an orientation program for delegates from the Kansas Council to help them prepare for the General Assembly.

·         Carol discussed the EN 411 program.  The Kansas Council is still looking for members to respond to work in the 2nd and 3rd districts.  Kelly Hewins has volunteered to help where needed.  Jenny McCracken will become Senator Brownback’s EN 411 and Carol will become Senator Roberts’.  Carol is working on finishing the nominees and submitting their names to National.

 

President-Elect’s Report:

·         Darlene Whitlock was asked to sit in on the President’s conference call on May 21, 2009.  She reported the following from that call:

o       ENA membership is up by 2% overall

o       CEN certification is increasing

o       Casablanca has been chosen as the theme for the President’s Party at the General Assembly

o       National is discussing the redistribution of state delegates and will have a determination as to how many each state gets by June 19

o       There are 5 Bylaws changes up for discussion currently.  All are organizational and have little to no content changes

o       It was reported that 920 people have voted to date in the national elections for ENA.  This represents 6%.  Elections close today.

o       There was a discussion with the Nominations Committee regarding the national elections.  Two concerns arose which were discussed.  One was a corporate sponsor potentially supporting a candidate.  The other was a potential violation where an email was sent out by a State Council president endorsing a particular candidate.  After review, both of these issues were unfounded. 

o       National is working on upgrading their IT department which will dramatically enhance the national and state ability to use online options in their work.

o       Nurse Jackie – A new television show on Showtime where the main character is an ER nurse, but is portrayed in a negative light.  Mitch Jewett motioned that the Kansas Council draft a letter to the network expressing that this was a negative portrayal of nurses.  The motion was seconded.  Motion carried.  Carol will draft a letter.

 

Board Liaison’s Report:

·         Mitch Jewett commented on the economic challenges being faced at the current time.  The Board has determined that it will cut back on some face to face meetings in order to save cost. 

 

Treasurer’s Report:

·         Lynette Kornelson reported that the Kansas Council continues to have good financial performance and is running in the black.

·         Taxes were completed on schedule.  The accountant has recommended that the state council insure/bond its assets up to $100,000.  The cost would be $130 annually.  A discussion was held and the state council needs to check to see whether the insurance it already has would cover this situation.  A motion was entered to have Lynette investigate this.  If it is discovered that additional coverage is needed, the state council would immediately purchase the coverage suggested by the accountant.  Motion was seconded.  Motion carried.

·         CD #4 matures in June.  Current balance of that CD is $6112.91.  Motion was entered to roll over this CD into another 14 month term.  Motion seconded.  Motion carried.

·         Motion entered to accept the Treasurer’s Report as presented.  Motion seconded.  Motion carried.

 

Secretary’s Report:  No report

 

Committee Reports:

 

1.      Communication:

a.       Stella Riney reported that she is working on continuing to have the website updated.

2.      Strategic Plan:

a.       Denise Spaeth handed out the first draft of the revised Kansas Council Strategic Plan.  The committee will meet before the next meeting to revise it again.  Denise would appreciate any feedback regarding this plan before the next meeting.  IT will be posted on the website for review. 

b.      This plan will be placed on the agenda for approval at the September meeting.

3.      Bylaws Committee:

a.       The Bylaws Committee has reorganized our existing bylaws to be more in compliance with the format suggested by National.  It will be separated into Bylaws and Policy & Procedure documents.

b.      The Bylaws are “what” the council will be doing

c.       The Policies & Procedures are “how” the bylaws will be carried out.

d.      Bylaws require a vote at the annual meeting to be changed.  Policies & Procedures can be amended by a simple vote at any state meeting.  This will allow the council much more flexibility for amending processes in the future.

e.       The draft of this change will be posted on the website for review.  Please send any feedback to Susan McDaniel. 

f.       This plan will be placed on the agenda for approval at the September meeting.

4.      Education Committee:

a.       Jane Ross reported that she would like the council to consider bringing in 2 national speakers for a Fall Education Seminar.

                                                              i.      She suggests that the council bring in Terry Foster and Edie Brous, who will present on documentation during a 1-day event.  Estimated cost for the speakers is $3000 plus expenses. 

                                                            ii.      A motion was entered to approve this plan.  Motion seconded.  Motion carried.

b.      Darlene Whitlock reported on the Trauma Summit

                                                              i.      Darlene handed out the final version of the brochure for any final changes and revisions.  KSNA will print and mail the brochures.

                                                            ii.      All contracts are signed and the Summit is ready to go

                                                          iii.      All speakers need to send their CV to Darlene immediately.

c.       The council discussed the opportunity to hold a CEN 2-day review course in an effort to get more Kansas nurses CEN certified. 

                                                              i.      Jeff Solheim would be able to come in and do the course.

                                                            ii.      It was suggested that KNEA could cover costs and expenses

                                                          iii.      A motion was made for the approval of necessary funds for this course and for the Education Committee to begin working on this project.  Motion seconded.  Motion carried.

5.      General Assembly/Nominating Committee:

a.       Gwen Phillbrook reported that the committee is having difficulty confirming attendance at the State Council meeting in August 2008.  The committee needs this information to determine delegate point totals for the General Assembly.

b.      A motion was made to eliminate the August 2008 attendance list from consideration for all delegate point counts for this year only.  The motion was seconded.  Motion carried.

c.       Gwen announced the order of points for people who had submitted an application to be a delegate (highest to lowest):

                                                              i.      Carol

                                                            ii.      Jane

                                                          iii.      Lynnette

                                                          iv.      Darlene

                                                            v.      Denise

                                                          vi.      Deb

                                                        vii.      Jenny

                                                      viii.      Charla

                                                          ix.      Marcina

d.      Once the National Board determines each State’s delegate totals, Gwen will announce who from the Kansas Council will be attending as a delegate.

e.       Gwen discussed the nominations for Kansas State Council Officers for 2010. 

                                                              i.      There are 3 State Board Member positions that will become available in 2010.  Other offices available for candidates include Secretary, Treasurer, and President-Elect.

                                                            ii.      Gwen passed around a sign-up sheet for anyone interested in running for one of these offices.  You may also contact her directly before July 1, 2009 if you are interested in being on the ballot.

                                                          iii.      All members interested in running for office must submit a Bio to Gwen no later than July 1, 2009. 

                                                          iv.      Ballots will be mailed to members on July 17, 2009.

6.      Government Affairs Committee:

a.       Jenny McCracken provided handouts and held a discussion of items that were of interested on the National ENA website relating to government affairs.  There is a list of all potential legislation that ENA has interest in, as well as any position statements. 

b.      Jenny reported that Senator Brownback will be running for Governor of Kansas in 2010.  She will be his EN411 until that time.

7.      Fundraising Committee:

a.       The Purple Bag was passed in an effort to add funds to the Kansas Council contribution for the ENAF, which provides scholarships and grants for nursing education and for research.  $62.00 was collected and added to the Fund.  Darlene reported that she has written recommendations for two people who have applied to receive these funds

8.      Membership Committee:

a.       Kansas now has 295 active members.

9.      Certifications:

a.       No report

10.  Media Relations:

a.       No report.

11.  Student Nurse Relations:

a.       Kelly reported that she is looking at how well equipped new graduate nurses are when they join the ED upon graduation.  She has developed a core curriculum that will create an elective course option for senior nursing students that will focus on the ED. She is looking for feedback. 

12.  Trauma/ENPC:

a.       Darlene reported that TNCC numbers have increased.  CATN is getting ready to revise many of their administrative procedures.

b.      20% of TNCC students are failing the course.  Instructors need to be reminding them of how difficult the course can be and that completing the pre-test is very helpful.

c.       Darlene reported that Hays, Wesley, Via Christy, Topeka, CKMC, Stephens County, KU, Lawrence, and Hutchinson have all provided TNCC courses since our last meeting.  There will be an upcoming CATN meeting at KU in September.  Hutchinson has an ENPC course coming soon.

d.      Darlene reported that the fee increases for book have gone into effect:  TNCC from $45-$50, and for ENPC from $35-$40.

13.  Safe Kids/ACT/EMSC:

a.       Darlene reported that the Director of Safe Kids Kansas is retiring after the July meeting.  A replacement has been named. Darlene shared the Safe Kids’ Strategic Plan with the council.

b.      ACT - $1000 has been approved by the State Council to be distributed to each of the 7 trauma regions for ongoing Trauma Education courses.  Lynette will be mailing each of the regions their funding

c.       Darlene opened a discussion regarding the move of EMS agencies to electronic documentation and problems agencies are encountering with obtaining run-sheets in a timely fashion.  She is having ongoing discussions with the Board of EMS regarding this issue.

d.      The primary seatbelt law was defeated by 10 votes.  KDOT is developing a State Safety Committee and Darlene has been asked to sit on that group.

e.       Call for authors: ENA wants to help aspiring authors and help people learn how to publish.  Contact Darlene if interested.

14.  Injury Prevention Committee:

a.       No official report. 

b.      Cindy Reazin reported that she had completed 2 fall prevention courses with a total attendance of approximately 70 people.  She has also purchased all of the new injury prevention program materials if anyone would like to borrow them.

c.       Carol commented that she was preparing letters for all seven regions informing them of their $1000 funding disbursement.

d.      There are currently no applicants for the Kansas State Council scholarship fund.

 

Chapter Reports:

·       EKENA – Elaine Swisher reported that the next meeting will be held July 8 at St. Francis in Topeka.  Darlene will be presenting and officer elections will be held.

·       ENACK – Reported that the chapter met on May 18, and is planning their swimming party for July 27.  The chapter reported that overall membership is down 1 member this year.

 

Old Business:  No report.

 

New Business:

·         Carol reported that the Kansas State Council Secretary has officially resigned their office effective May 2009.  Brian Selig has offered to complete the remaining term of Secretary for 2009.  Carol has informed the Board of this, and is waiting for a vote.

 

Next Meeting:

·         The next meeting of the Kansas State Council will be on August 14, 2009 in Hoisington, KS.  This will be the annual meeting of the Council.


Respectfully Submitted,

 

Brian Selig