PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
What a great SVN 28th Annual Convention in N'awlin! It was wonderful seeing old friends and making new friends. Let me share with you some of the highlights.
This year we introduced two new pre-convention workshops, Pharmacotherapeutics for the Vascular Nurse and Diagnosis and Management of Vascular Wounds. It was well attended and participants came away with valuable information to enhance their practice. We are interested in your feedback - should we continue these in the future? Any other topic suggestions? Wednesday evening, we had a great Welcome Reception where we caught up with all the friends we’ve made throughout the years.
Thursday started with a wonderful keynote address by Stephanie Woods, PhD, RN, titled The Future for SVN Will Arrive by UPS Today. Dr. Woods was also a consultant to the Board as we met months ahead to revisit and reinvigorate the SVN Strategic Plan. We are grateful for the leadership and counsel she gave us during this process and introducing the Board to “Good to Great” by Jim Collins. Dr. Woods also presented at the Leadership Luncheon as she told us about an adventure she had with two friends searching for the best bluebonnet field in Texas (state flower) and how they re-engineered their path to reach their mission. Of course, there were many well presented and informative presentations throughout the day with information that all of us could take home to improve our care of patients with vascular disease.
The proposed revitalized Strategic Plan for 2010-2015 was introduced by Rita Clark during the Member Business Meeting Friday morning. It was another day of great presentations and the Silent Auction was opened with many beautiful items available on which to bid. The Presidents’ Luncheon was highlighted with the presentation of one of SVN’s new award, the Emeritus Membership Award. A lifetime membership was presented to Jeanne Doyle, one of our founding members and first president of the Society. Since Jeanne was not able to be with us this year, one of the very few times she has not attended, she joined us by the power of a speaker cell phone. We all got to hear her surprise and tears of joy in receiving this award. We also awarded the Jeanne Doyle award to Carolyn Robinson. Rita shared with us her thoughts during the process of strategic planning, presenting As the Flywheel Turns which inspired us to move into the future by continuing to turn the Flywheel. If you are wondering “What is a flywheel?” I invite you to revisit Rita’s President’s Message in the last two issues of our newsletter, SVN…prn. Friday led into the Fun Night at Mardi Gras World. A great time was had by all as we toured the many costumes and float characters and danced to the music of many generations.
Saturday morning started with the brave ones that took advantage of the 6 am Fun Run for some invigorating exercise. More great presentations awaited us all and we ended the convention with an enlightening presentation on Brain Health by one of our Past Presidents, Pat Matula. Her message was one that all of us could take home to improve ourselves and our family. The Best of Convention Presenter Awards were awarded which is sponsored by Osborn Medical and a lucky person took home extra cash in the 50/50 raffle.
Many more persons and companies helped to make this Convention a GREAT Convention. The Convention Planning Committee, Chaired by Kris Hallisley, did a beautiful job! The roaming reporter, Anita Artery, (AKA: Karen Groller) was back again along with her new reporting cohort, Carry Endarterectomy (AKA: Terry DeVeaux). This year, we had a new photographer, Claude A. Cajun (AKA: Jim Clark, also known as Rita’s husband for the past 32 years). Watch for the highlights. In recognizing the success of the convention, we must also give our appreciation to the staff of Administrare’, Angela and Jill and those back in the office. Their quick response to any need or issue was invaluable.
There is someone else that I want to recognize, our industry colleagues that helped support this educational venue through grants: ZymoGenetics (Gold Supporter); and Abbott Vascular, American College of Cardiology Foundation, Hanger Orthopedic Group, Inc and Sanofi-Aventis (Bronze Supporters). I would also like to thank the many companies that exhibited at the Convention.
If you were unable to be there, don’t miss next year when we will be in Nashville, Tennessee for the SVN 29th Annual convention on May 4-7, 2011.
STRATEGIC PLAN
I want to shift gears somewhat and ask you to take a look at the proposed Strategic Plan printed in this issue. You will see that the Mission Statement, “To provide a professional community for vascular nursing” has been expanded to include our external focus of “patients living with vascular disease through excellence in clinical practice, education, and research.” This external thread was woven in many other statements as well. Allison and Kaye (2005) propose the mission statement to be not only inspiring and simple, but suggest that it communicate to external as well as internal stakeholders (our patients and collaborating organizations).
Something else, you will see is a Vision Statement. SVN has not had a Vision Statement in the past. The SVN Board wanted a vision that would be the window for SVN to move into the future. Allison and Kaye (2005) illustrate the importance of a vision, a “guiding image of success,” through the words of Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” These authors describe the mission statement as a “blueprint for an organization’s work” and the vision statement as the “artist’s rendering of the realization of that mission.” Again, this should include the external focus of our activities. The SVN Board feels that the Vision Statement of “SVN will be the premier vascular nursing organization whose members are improving outcomes for persons living with vascular disease” does just that.
Lastly, you will see a proposed change in the Core Values. Previous core values focused on professionalism and excellence in practice, respect for individual values and perspectives, and commitment to knowledge and science. Although these are great core values, the SVN Board felt that some values were missing. Given this, the Board proposes the core values to focus on EXCELLENCE in practice through innovation, research, and education, RESPECT for the individual’s contribution, and ADVOCACY for nurses and persons living with vascular disease. The board felt that these core values encompass the previous ones, but also include additional important core values.
The SVN Board also wanted to keep the Strategic Plan short and manageable which was emphasized by our consultant. There are three Strategic Priorities from which goals and objectives have been identified. From these, new committees and task forces were developed that will accomplish the goals and objectives and, thus, our strategic priorities. Some committees and task forces have been left intact, while you will also note new committees and task forces. These will develop strategies and tactics to accomplish the goals and objectives.
Soon you will have the opportunity to vote on bylaw changes regarding these proposed changes. Please look at them carefully. Do they encompass who we are, what we do, and what success will look like?
Phyllis Gordon, MSN, ACNS, BC
REFERENCE
Collins, J. (2005). Good to great and the social sectors. Boulder, CO: Jim Collins
Allison, M & Kaye, J.(2005). Strategic planning for nonprofit organizations (2nd ed). Hoboken, NJ:John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
