INSGNA NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2009
IN THE SCOPE OF THINGS VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1
President’s Message: Dianna Burns RN BS CGRN
As it begins to become cooler, the holidays approach, and we count the number of days until Christmas-I as well count the number of days until the end of my Presidency. I look back over the past two years and wonder where they went. Some of the accomplishments of the Board over the past two years include:
· Continued offering of outstanding educational programs focusing on GI-specific content
· Stabilizing membership
· Scholarship winners to attend the SGNA Annual Course and Multi-Regional Course
· Ongoing improvements to the website
· Setting up an INSGNA membership database for email blasts and INSGNA newsletters
· Successful re-chartering annually with SGNA
· Planning of a 25th Anniversary celebration for the time of INSGNA becoming chartered with SGNA
· Revision of the INSGNA Policy & Procedure Manual
· Increasing committee involvement
Now it is time to introduce your new 2010-2012 President, Lea Anne Myers. She should not be a stranger to anyone. Lea Anne became a member of the Board in 2004 as the treasurer to fill a vacancy and has stayed on board ever since. In 2006-2007 she was elected treasurer and 2008-2009 President-elect. Lea Anne again has stepped in to fill a vacancy for 2008-2009 as interim treasurer. She has initiated a workable financial format for ease in transition for the incoming treasurer. Lea Anne has also accepted the challenge to refine information on the website and make sure it is current.
I would like to thank you as well as the INSGNA Board for your continued support of myself and the organization, and hope that we continue to see INSGNA grow. We have an awesome Board that could use your support on committees to help guide them into the future. Please consider volunteering.
We are looking for another exciting year of progress and will begin the year in celebration of our 25th anniversary since chartering with SGNA. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend on March 13, 2010. Also-mark your calendars for May 7-11, 2011 when the SGNA Annual Course comes to Indianapolis. For the first time ever we will be the host of the annual course!
Begin budgeting now and plan to attend!
Treasurer Report: Lea Anne Myers RN BS CGRN
I can hardly believe that as I write this it is the last day of November. While Christmas is a busy time of year for everyone, December and January are busy times for the board as we wrap up 2009 and plan for 2010. This is the time that we submit required information to SGNA headquarters regarding our finances, educational offerings for the past year, etc. This information is required to re-charter so that INSGNA can continue to exist. The past couple of years have been financially challenging for individuals as well as for organizations such as ours.
Many regions are struggling financially. There has been a noticeable decline in attendance at the Annual Course over the past two years, which affects SGNA’s financial resources. While I do not have the final numbers for 2009, I am happy to say that INSGNA is financially sound. Our current account balances are:
· General Operating Fund: (checking account) $15,185.77
· Educational Fund: (savings account) $4,637.17
· Emergency Fund: $11,573.97
Over the course of 2008-2009, the INSGNA Board has evaluated our “normal way of doing things” to see if there were ways we could reduce expenses without reducing benefits and educational events to our members. One way we have reduced expenses is in how we deliver the newsletter to our members. We no longer mail newsletters but keep our membership informed by emailing the newsletter. The newsletter is also posted on our website www.insgna.org. This saves us printing and postage expenses. In 2009 the Board decided not to send a representative to the yearly SGNA Leadership Conference. This was not an easy decision because attendees receive an abundance of useful information, deeper insight into the organization as a whole, networking, etc. Dianna Burns, INSGNA President, also serves as President of the ABCGN, and was at the Leadership Conference representing ABCGN. INSGNA was able to receive written information and other feedback from the conference without incurring any expense. While it may not seem like much, it is decisions like these that have kept INSGNA financially solvent through difficult economic times. We have been able to continue to provide great educational courses for our members, scholarships to members, etc. at a time when at least one region has had to disband. You can rest assured that your Board of Directors is cautious in spending funds. I am not sure what 2010 holds. Without a doubt there will still be financial challenges. You may see additional changes that help us reduce expenses, but our goal remains providing continuing education to our members at the most reasonable cost possible.
2010 is an exciting year for us at INSGNA! We will be celebrating our 25th Anniversary as an organization! That is a lot of time devoted to GI education. I look forward to our Spring Conference in Indianapolis. We are planning some special things and you won’t want to miss it!
Newly elected Board Members will take office January 1st. I am ending my 6th year as treasurer and I have learned so much over those years. I have enjoyed this role, but am excited to be turning over the reins to Suzanne Buchanan. I know she will do an awesome job! I have the privilege of representing you as President for the next two years. I am a little apprehensive about taking over the role, but look forward to serving in this capacity. Dianna Burns will be serving as Immediate Past President. Jackie Crawford will become President-elect. Susan Selking will serve another term as Secretary. Each of these Board Members holds a wealth of experience in GI and leadership, and I am fortunate to be able to serve with them.
If you have not yet renewed your SGNA membership, I strongly encourage you to do so. Many people do not understand the benefits of membership; it just seems like an unnecessary expense. But there are benefits. Membership costs $105.00 of which our region receives $15.00. As a member you can save $20.00 in registration fees for the spring and fall Conferences. That is a $40.00 savings! As a member you are eligible to apply for scholarships for the annual SGNA course, and if you do not win, you are able to take advantage of the membership discount for the course. We have offered special drawings at past INSGNA conferences to cover the registration expenses for the annual course as well as the multi-regional. You receive discounts on items purchased through SGNA. You receive the GI Journal. You receive a discount on the certification exam as well as recertification. The list goes on and on. So while $105.00 seems like a lot of money, especially at this time of the year, it is quite a bargain.
Well…I have gone on long enough. I do not want to run out of things to say for future newsletters. I expect 2010 to be an exciting year and I truly hope you will be a part of it!
Secretary/Newsletter Report: Susan Selking BSN RN CGRN
The newsletter is distributed three times per year in April, August, and December via email. Please feel free to send me items or pictures of events that you would like to share with our membership concerning INSGNA, SGNA, or journal club events. Please send all items to me via email at aselking@aol.com. Also, if you change your email address please let me know so that I can update the distribution list for the newsletter.
Program Committee: Ann Minnicus RN
The fall conference in Valparaiso was a great program. Ann Kikkert and her staff at Endolabs did an amazing job. The evaluations for the program were very positive.
The holidays are fast approaching and before we know it the Spring Conference will be here. 2010 is a momentous occasion for INSGNA. We will be celebrating our 25th anniversary! Joyce Flueckiger with Clarian Health Partners has graciously offered to host the Spring Educational conference in Indianapolis. LeaRae Herron-Rice will be assisting with the program planning. I was very pleased to see several attendees from the Fall Conference offer to assist on committees. After the holidays we will be contacting several of you who volunteered for the program committee to assist with this special Silver Anniversary of INSGNA.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 13, 2010 for the INSGNA Spring Educational Conference!
We are still in need of hosts for the fall conference in 2010. If you are considering hosting the fall 2010 conference or even a conference in 2011, please let the program committee know!
Membership Committee: Diane Thomas RN
We currently have 132 members.
Scholarship Committee: Donita Scott RN CGRN
The scholarship committee continues to serve you with available funding. Funds are available not only to attend Spring, Fall, Multi-regional, and Annual Courses, but for certification and re-certification reimbursement as well. Criteria for eligibility shall be limited to INSGNA/SGNA members in good standing for a minimum of one year. Applications will be available through me or the website. The 50/50 raffle is one resource used to provide us with the scholarship funds to give to you. I would like to say thank you, to all those who participated in any of this year’s raffles. The year has proven to be a success. Scholarship applications will be completed and forwarded to me prior to the deadline.
Scholarship deadlines:
December 1st- Certification and Re-certification reimbursement after successfully passing the exam
February 1st – SGNA Annual Education course
February 15th- Spring INSGNA Education Course
August 15th – Fall and Multi-Regional Education Course
