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Hello everyone,
As the harvest season has arrived and we can now reap the bounty of nature, WSGNA can also go into winter celebrating the fruits of labor of our membership. As you know, WSGNA for was recognized with the “Outstanding Regional Award” for 2011. Cathy Johnson, our incoming President 2012, deserves the credit and thanks for compiling the immense data necessary to complete the application. Her diligence and dedication made this award a reality for us. Her work documented the contributions our members made to further the mission of WSGNA and garner this award. Thank you Cathy, WSGNA will be in great hands under your leadership.
Congratulations are also extended to Susan Nuccio, selected for the 2011 SGNA Distinguished Service Award. As anyone who has had the opportunity to attend any of her educational sessions knows, she is an excellent, knowledgeable, and engaging speaker. She truly is outstanding in her field and we are fortunate to have her in our region. WSGNA is also fortunate to have the two Past Presidents of SGNA, Terry Vos and Peggy Gauthier, among our distinguished membership roster. Their inspiring leadership was certainly a positive force to help us achieve our recognition in Indianapolis.
The “Anchors Away: Smooth Sailing Through EnDOCKscopy” Spring Conference hosted by Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare in Franklin, was a perfect launch for our 2011 educational offerings. GI Jeopardy was a big hit and all of the speakers were very engaging and terrific. Sheila Gansemer, our current secretary, deserves our appreciation for chairing and spearheading this wonderful offering. Their facility with its spa-like beauty provided the perfect setting. Thank you Sheila and your hardworking staff for so willingly sharing their talents. The Multi-Regional “Moving Forward-Building New Bridges” in Waukesha was well attended. It provided another great opportunity for net-working, speaking with various vendors about the latest in technology and equipment, and an exceptional variety of medical and nursing faculty. Dr. Pat Raymond kept us all engaged with her “Divine Butt Meddler” presentation. Once again National level speakers at a reasonable price! Thanks to Nancy Gondzur, Cathy Johnson, and Mary Fiebelkorn for their hours of travel and service that assured another successful and excellent conference.
Stay tuned for upcoming WSGNA educational offerings in the works for 2012. Don’t forget to apply for the WSGNA educational scholarships available for members. Applications are online on the website to make it easy to apply. The SGNA course will be in Phoenix, May 18th-23rd, 2012. President Leslie Stewart’s theme “Finding the Leader in You” should offer another inspiring event in a welcoming warm climate after our Wisconsin winter.
I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the excellence of leadership, trailblazing ideas, and collective wisdom of my colleagues on the board. Cathy Johnson is well prepared and will do a superb job as leading us as President; Sheila Gansemer faithfully recorded and distributed our minutes; Casey Fisher did a wonderful job organizing scholarship records, tracking membership and preparing a slate of candidates for elections (and welcoming her darling son Lincoln too!); Deb Schmeling has continued to take the newsletter and website to new heights in her collaboration with Mary Garcia our webmaster; Mary Fiebelkorn has been attentive to the financial details and budget to ensure our Treasury remains an asset for us in these unstable financial times; Margaret Hauser-Ullman continued to lead with her involvement with CHOW, scholarship selection, photos, and various other assistance lent for the success of events in 2011. My sincere thanks to all of you; it was my good fortune to serve with you.
I wish all of you a magnificent holiday season and peaceful new year.
Lynn Miller, BSN, RN, CGRN
WSGNA President