Greater Kansas City Chapter AACN Members:

This is a great transitional year for the Greater Kansas City Chapter of AACN!!  The current President of the National AACN, Mary Stahl, is from our very own chapter, which I believe necessitates that we seriously consider how we can more effectively stand together and make a stronger and bolder presence in our local and global communities as critical care nurses. 

The new board has been actively planning chapter activities and educational offerings for the upcoming year, which began with a Strategic Planning meeting at the "New Board Transition" meeting and an informal networking meeting with our current Hospital Representatives preceding the September board meeting.   Akiko Kubo's message outlines many of the accomplishments the Chapter has already accomplished and plans for the near future based on our Membership Needs Survey. Please be sure to take a moment to read this report in its entirety! 

Just a reminder that as of July 1, 2011, we are now implementing a nominal annual membership fee and will continue with the membership cards and monthly email updates. Please keep your email updated on the National AACN website so we caneasily access your information and continue to send you local chapter updates. As stated by our previous Chapter President, Laura Sanders, "it is our hope that we will be able to serve our chapter members in a more responsive and informative manner."  If you would like to renew your GKC AACN chapter membership and/or receive a membership card, please send us your name and email address to aacn.gkcc@gmail.com.  One of the biggest advantages of being a local member of the chapter is that it allows you to receive discounts on local educational offerings, including our annual two-day symposium, VISIONS.

One focus of the Chapter Newsletter that we would like to continue this year is to feature one of our chapter members who has played an active role in the AACN organization, either at the local and/or national level. It seems very befitting that we continue this tradition by featuring Mary Stahl as our first highlighted chapter member.  (See entry on Mary Stahl).
In conclusion, Mary Stahl's AACN theme of "Together, Bolder, Stronger" is one that we fully plan to incorporate throughout our chapter programs and activities in the year to come!! I look forward to serving as your Chapter President for a second time in several years. Please let me know if and how we can meet your professional and/or learning needs by contacting me, or any one of the current board members, through our website: www.aacngkcc.org


Thank you!
Kay Luft
2011-2012 President