ANACA The Nursing Voice Fall 2019

anacalifornia.org  .  5 Executive Director Welcome ANA\California in embarking on an exciting season of firsts! The ANA\C Board of Directors met for its first ‘Strategic Planning’ meeting in mid-August 2019 in our office in Sacramento, CA where they discussed long-term vision and goals for the organization. Moreover, the Board—next to updating ANA\C Vision—also decided to return to our original ANA\C Mission from February 1996 (see President’s Address by Dr. Anita Girard). While the proposed changes must be voted upon by you, the members, at the next General Assembly in April 2020, it was wonderful to see such vibrant and productive discussion among the ANA\C leadership. Following the Strategic Planning meeting, ANA\C held our second RN Day at the Capitol on Aug 19, 2019, an impressive first in the history of our organization. Even though we held the second lobby day during Summer vacations and school holidays, we were still able to attract 100 nurses and nursing students! This event brought our total number of nurses introduced to the State Capitol via ANA\C RN Day(s) to almost 330 in 2019 which is another first for us. During the Aug 2019 RN Day at the Capitol, we unveiled the ANA\C Advocacy Network through the Phone2Action (P2A) digital platform. Text ANACNURSES to 52886 , join our growing advocacy network, and receive periodical updates and calls to action for state-level advocacy engagement. Yes, another first for this organization. Next to ANA\C Advocacy Network, the August 2019 RN Day also served as our first-ever event where we used the Whova app, an event management mobile application that allowed us to have in-app registration, up-to-date agenda with attached materials, speakers bios, and attendees discussion boards on variety of questions, topics, and it even included shared photos from the event. We received nothing but glowing endorsements from RN Day Aug 2019 attendees on the use and the utilization of the app and we could not be happier with the result. My thanks go to Teresa Manquera at our office who was instrumental in the contract negotiations and purchase of the app and in the actual app event management. We are all grateful to you, Teresa! That leads me to another first for ANA\C: we are excited to announce that the joint event comprised of RN Day at the Capitol 2020 and the Annual Conference (General Assembly) 2020 held on April 20–21, 2020 in Sacramento, CA will also be managed through the Whova app. This is another first for ANA\C as the Board decided to hold our annual conference focused on the role of nurses in politics and policy development immediately after our most successful event, the RN Day at the Capitol. Phillip Bautista, ANA\C VP, and Dr. Janette Moreno, ANA\C Membership Director, are hard at work on the conference agenda, speakers, and topics for panel discussions. Another first for ANA\C is the Board’s decision to hold OPEN regional Board meetings in various regions of CA in order to bring A season of firsts. this organization closer to you, our members, to give us the opportunity to share our work with you, and to listen to your concerns. This Board of Directors is adamant in its efforts and sharp focus on member engagement after years of reorganization, restructuring, governance and operations overhaul, and complete financial transition. This Fall, we are holding our very first open regional Board meeting in San Diego on Saturday, Nov 9, 2019 between 1–3pm followed by the annual ANA\C Business Meeting between 3–5pm. This Board is also hosting a small networking event immediately after the conclusion of the Business meeting to give you the opportunity to meet the Board members and to network with colleagues from the SD region. We are working on open reginal Board meetings in Fresno, Los Angeles area, and the Bay area for next year. Fall 2019 is certainly shaping as the season of ‘firsts’ and I could not be prouder of the hard work this Board of Directors has already delivered in its first 3–6 months (they took over on May 18, 2019). The sky is the limit! As always, this organization is nothing without your support, engagement, and dedication as this is your ANA\C. Contact Marketa— ED@anacalifornia.org (916) 346-4590 Marketa Houskova, MAIA, BA, RN Executive Director, ANA\C Executive Director Reprinted with permission from ANA Enterprise’s Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation™