This was the first year that eChapter has had a visit by a National Board Member. Only ten visits are budgeted each year. However, since the ‘”visit” to eChapter is by conference call, there are no expenses or travel involved. Hopefully, this can become an annual event for eChapter.
David’s presentation focused on three main topics:
- Changes for Congress 2010
- Financial status of the organization
- Strategic Planning
Changes for Congress 2010
- Saturday: all day “intensive” workshops
- Sunday:
- the Candidates Session is at 1000-1230
- Opening Session is at 1500-1630
- Keynote Speaker is at 1630-1730
- Awards will be presented during Opening Session; there will not be a separate Awards dinner
- Informal Meet the Candidates will be at the AORN Booth
- Monday:
- all day Education Sessions
- Jerry G Peers Session in the afternoon
- Exhibits will open Monday evening with a reception
- Tuesday:
- VIP Exhibit hours (not just managers!)
- First House of Delegates
- Foundation Event
- Wednesday:
- Forum (the one and only Forum)
- Evening events
- Thursday:
- House of Delegates is at 1230 – 1430
- No Exhibits on Thursday
Contact Hours:
- Delegates = 16
- Non Delegates = 20.5
- Additional contacts hours on exhibit floor
Tours: Ski trips to Colorado high country ski areas; Headquarters tour
Status of AORN
A unique aspect of AORN as a professional association is the direct input and participation of membership (such as Guidance Statements and RPS)
Constant assessment of what are members’ needs and if being met
What are the current and future services needed
One size fits all regarding membership is no longer enough
- eChapter is an excellent example of meeting the needs of particular members in how contact and participate in the organization
OR Nurse Link will improve “social networking:” through enhanced COPS, Member Talk
Financial
- current economy has had impact on AORN as well
- January 2009 BOD decisions
- converted current investments to more secure funds
- no merit increases/no matching to 401L
- delayed capital projects
- reduced travel for BOD/staff/Committees/single vendor
airline
- reduced marketing expenses
- Congress no longer major revenue source (200K shortfall 2009)
- reduced attendance
- reduced bookstore sales (50% off from 2008)
- 2009 first time no show vendors at exhibits
- Meeting attendance down
- Overall, projected 1.2milion shortfall in revenue for 2009
- Actions by Headquarters
- as above
- staff identified 1 million in opportunity for cost reductions
and 150K opportunity for increased revenue
- first time ever for reduction in force (12 FTE reduced)
Membership: - approximately 41,000 members
- Current dues do not cover the cost of services to members
- Proposal for dues increasing by $20 to meet the deficit
- Effective July 1, 2010
Strategic Planning
Organizational Structure
- Focus on service lines (vs. products and departments)
- Three Segments:
- Membership: members / Tool Kits / face to face meetings / COP, etc
- Facilities: hospitals / institutions / (Periop 101, etc)
- Industry: exhibits / sponsorships /
- Enlarge membership base – expand to facilities that can benefit by membership
Membership
Access to the organization must change
- open
- cutting edge (social networking / OR Nurse Link – interactive with others)
- membership tiered by different types of members
eChapter = strong place in future of AORN
- exciting example of membership
- new ways to access organization
- networking
- meeting needs of members
Profile of new members to AORN
- younger
- difficult to reach
- use newer methods for networking and accessing benefits of association
Delegate Topics
- Membership Dues increase to cover deficit of cost of service to members
- Member representation: from traditional delegate model to one member one vote
