President's Message for December 2008

Tis the season of hustle and bustle-presents to purchase, wrap, and mail; homes to decorate; menus to plan, etc. etc. With all this activity around us, we often forget to be thankful for our good health, our families, our gainful employment as perioperative nurses, and our professional colleagues that support and encourage us on a daily basis. During this season, we often remember colleagues from the past that loved this holiday season and thus gave special meaning to our holidays. So take a few moments to remember them and give thanks for their presence, however fleeting, in your lives, as these are the things that make the Holiday Season joyful. As perioperative nurses, we have encountered many professional colleagues and patients throughout our careers and each has contributed to our growth as professional nurses. Learn something from everyone you encounter-this is what makes life interesting and fulfilling.

As 2008 draws to a close, we begin to think about making changes, changes for the better, for 2009. One of those changes can be to take a more active part in your professional organization-to contribute in a meaningful way to the improvement of your AORN Chapter. It is never to complete the Chapter survey and thereby, provide information to chapter leaders to influence positive changes for your benefit.

At the January 17th meeting, we will be selecting delegates to AORN Congress to be held in Chicago, March 15-19th. Our Chapter is authorized 4 delegates and 4 alternates. The Chapter pays for registration and a small portion of other expenses (airfare, hotel, etc.) If you are planning to attend and wish to serve as a delegate, please complete a "willingness-to-serve" form (located in this newsletter). But remember, you must be an active member and have attended at least 50% of the meetings in the previous year in order to serve as a delegate. Mobile Instruments also provides a $1000 "first time attendee" scholarship to a Chapter member. The application from is located on the Chapter website (www.aorn3201nm.org.). You may also apply for an AORN Foundation grant to attend (www.aorn.org/Congress select "Special Events, then AORN Foundation). REMEMBER EARLY CONGRESS REGISTRATION ENDS JANUARY 26TH -SAVE $125. (http://www.aorn.org/Congress and select "Register Today") This year AORN is going paperless- no Congress handouts, no Congress Resources book (educational session overviews and objectives, poster abstracts, etc.)

Happy Holidays, Happy New Year to all. See you at the January Meeting.
Jan Baca
President AORN of Central New Mexico