he national Membership Committee is the lifeline from AORN Headquarters to T local chapters. Its goal is to establish

communication to assist chapters with growth, problems, and answers to the many questions arising from the day-to-day functioning of the local organization. The national membership effort is apportioned into eight regions. Each region is assigned two committee members. An even geographical distribution is aimed for on the Committee, depending on willingness to serve and availabilitv.

Committee members are responsible for developing and maintaining communication with every chapter in their area. They start by Mem be rsh i p writing to each chapter president in their area

request a response. This first letter usually asks for the name of the chairman of the chap-

cation is needed for there to be a strong link between local and national levels of the Asso- ciation.

The more contact national Committee members have with chapters, the more ideas they have because each chapter offers new suggestions. One chapter's novel solution to a problem may be just what will work for another. Also, feedback from chapter to Committee member can help the Committee member to be more useful in her region.

Unfortunately, many chapters do not re- spond. This is discouraging to the national committee member and thwarts development of a productive relationship. Chapters dis- banded for lack of interest over the past few

Corn m ittee is chapter lifeline

to introduce themselves and, more important,

ter's membership committee. This communi-

Chairman: Reg I: Maine. Vermont, Olive M Mack New Hampshire, Rhode 80 Constance Dr Island, Connecticut, Manchester, Conn Massachusetts 06040 Mary Ellen LaBarge

7 Roland St Waterville, Me 04901

AORN Journal, November 1978, Vol28, No 5 925

(not pictured) Reg I: New York Anne S Hoffman 34 Timber Lane Avon, Conn 06001

Reg 11: Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina Josephine Barr 1131 Bedford St Cumberland, Md 21 502

Reg 11: Virginia, South Carolina, District of Columbia Jane M Grayson 10425 Courthoitse Dr Faiffax, Va 22030

Reg 111: Florida, Georgia Candace R Moore 1100 S Delaney Ave #F205 Orlando. Fla 32806

Reg 111: Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama,

Louisiana, Arkansas, Puerto Rico

Camille L Oliver 146 Fern Valley Rd

Brandon. Miss 39042

Reg IV: Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio

Mary Ann Adarns 31 11 Wooded Way

Jeffersonville, Ind 47130

Reg IV: New Jersey, Pennsylvania

Currently vacant

years have almost invariably been those that had no communication with Headquarters or national Committee members. Generally, these chapters have ignored or not answered all communications for one or two years. When the flow of life blood is cut off, nutrition ends, and a slow death ensues.

All chapter bylaws require a membership committee, so every chapter should respond with the name of the committee chair. Then, it is the chapter president’s duty to make sure the membership commiItee chairman remains in contact with the regional representative. If you are a membership chairman who does not know your regional representative, look at these photos, pick out your rep, and write her now. If your chapter has a newsletter, put her on your mailing list.

Regional membership representatives are also responsible for helping new chapters. When requests are received at Headquarters for information about starting a new chapter, materials about chapter formation are sent. The name and address of the contact are sent to the regional representative, and follow-up begins. The representative offers to meet with the potential chapter group after their first or second meeting, giving them time to answer questions arising from the Headquarters mate- rials and to establish a group process. The objective of the visit is not to organize the group but to assist in answering how-to ques- tions.

The national Committee also reminds chap- ter presidents when election results are due at Headquarters, that rebate checks must be de- posited promptly, when the submission dead- line for chapter delegates to Congress is ap- proaching, about national seminars in the area, and about all other deadlines.

In addition to their year-round work at home, the Committee is also busy during Congress. They man two membership booths, an infor- mation booth in the registration area, and a display at the AORN booth in the exhibit area. In the registration area, the national Member- ship Committee and local members meet members face to face and help Headquarters staff to process new members who join during Congress. All the membership materials avail- able to chapters are displayed there. At the AORN booth in the exhibit area are materials to help chapters function efficiently. During exhibit hours a national Committee member is

AORN Journal, November 1978, Vol28, No 5 927

there to provide information about member- ship problems.

The national Membership Committee

Don’t let their efforts be in vain. Develop com- munication, and keep the life blood flowing.

spends many hours writing to the chapters in their regions. What hurts most isno response.

Caroline Rogers, RN Director of membership

Reg V: Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota Edith A Berry 8595 Crane Rd Milan. Mich 48160

Reg VI: Kansas, Nebraska, North

Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma

Edith M Chapman PO Box 1054, 216 W 18th St

Grand Island, Neb 68801

Reg VII: Utah, Montana, Wyoming Marjorie Kimes 2728 E 4510 S Salt Lake Cify, Utah 84117

Reg VIII: Idaho, Neveda, Alaska, Hawaii Gloria C Hill 5322 Briercrest Ave Lakewood, Calif 90713

Reg V: Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin JoAnn Uteg 3021 Jamestown Ct Streamwood, 111 601 03

Reg VI: Texas Carolyn Langston

3990 North St Beaumont, Tex 77706

Reg Vll: Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona Carolyn McMahon 3720 Glen Canyon Rd NE Albuquerque, NM 871 11

Reg VIII: Oregon, Washington Lorraine Tatton 620 Nello Dr #4 Campbell, Calif 95008

928 AORN Journal, November 1978, Vol28, No 5