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rolling with a great Council of Schools in Austin, followed by our State Convention in Galveston next February, and for those attending, the National Convention is in Anaheim, California next April. There are some things that you as members can do to add to the dynamics of these conventions. I want to encourage you to be involved in writing resolutions to be discussed in the House of Delegates, to start working on submissions for the contests and awards, and to begin contemplating potential candidates for state office. I am extremely honored to be presiding over such a revered organization. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your State President. I look forward to seeing you all at Council of Schools. |
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President’s Perspective (continued from page 1) |
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because the committee didn’t have any other applicants? That isn’t the way we wanted it. We like to see what all the chapters are doing and to win only if we are really the best.” “Heck, I don’t even know what a lot of the awards are about, and our chapter isn’t very active. We are all real busy with school.” “Yeah we are busy too, that is why it is important to keep a camera handy and look for opportunities for your chapter to shine. One of the awards we received, the committee chair said, was because our project was presented better, not that the project itself was better than the competition. Photos or very brief videos are really good documentation. As are letters of recommendation and media stuff like newspaper clippings. Then there is the letter from the chapter advisor or instructor. These can make or break your chances of winning.” “Ok, Ok, I get that part but what are the individual awards really about? I mean how do you decide which award category a certain project or activity fits into? “Some of the awards are pretty self-explanatory. For instance the Community Service Award is for any project or activity that enhances or aids the community.” “Which community?” Whiner asks, “The student nursing community?” “It can be any community.” Shiner explains, “The elderly, or the little kids, or the school, or the sports, or the college, or all of the people in the area.” “Really? For instance?” “Like a project giving sports equipment to a kids club is a community service project. Do you see what I mean?” “Ok, I see that, but how about Breakthrough to Nursing and Political Action and Image of Nursing?” “Breakthrough to Nursing is for any project that has to do with recruitment and retention of nursing students and nurses, especially for underrepresented groups, like men, minority races, unconventional students, (like second career or physically challenged students). Got it?” “Yeah, and Image?” “Image is for any project that has to do with how nursing is perceived by society. For instance, one year the winning chapter had written letters of complaint and letters of appreciation to television producers and network executives about how nursing was presented on television in shows like MASH and ER.” “Oh, now I see. I never could see much difference in those two and now I see that it is like black and white. Wow! Now Political Action?” “That is really simple. Anything that affects nursing in politics. One year it was another letter writing campaign, only the letters were to congressmen about the nursing shortage, and certain legislation that was being reviewed that could have affected nurses moving to Texas. Anything else?” “Well some are really easy, like the Scrapbook Award and the Save the Quarters Award. I think I get it now. Now how about strategies to win the awards?” “Simple really, just fill out the forms and get them sent it with the requested documentation, and make it neat and attractive; oh, the earlier the better. Most applications are due in January. Follow the directions and keep it brief, remember that the Board of Officers has to review all of the entries, set up and present the convention all in the same week so they are really busy. We try to keep our videos under two minutes and to present paper documentation, with a snap shot or two, to review so that the Board doesn’t have to keep re-watching the tape. A picture can be worth a thousand words but a thousand pictures are way too much to review.” Shiner smiles at Whiner, “Got it?” “Yes, I see. Are the scholarships from applications, too?” “Yes.” “Due in January, too?” “Yessirree Bob, You’ve got it!” “Huh? No, my name is Whiner. Whiner Late from Under Dog U, remember?” Whiner thinks, ‘Gee! He can’t even recall my name and he got a scholarship, bet I can get one next year’. “Hey man, thanks for the info”, he says with a knowing grin. |
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TNSA Awards (cont.) |
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Western Region News Yvette Beltran Western Regional Director Hello to all West Texas nursing students! Welcome and congratulations to all new students entering nursing school. To those returning for the next semester of nursing school, we are almost done. Now that the summer is over we need to focus on school and the upcoming events for TNSA. During the month of September we will have our annual Council of Schools which will be held in Austin, Texas. The theme for this year will be TNSA: Leading the Way. I encourage all nursing students to lead the way. The keynote speaker will be Clair Jordan, Executive Director for TNA. There will be several workshops throughout the day to help you grow as a student and your organization grow as a whole. I hope to see all of the schools from the western region and can’t wait to meet you all. Council of Schools is right around the corner, so I encourage you to act quickly. School budgets might be low now that school has begun; I recommend some quick fundraising ideas such as selling t-shirts. T-shirts make a great profit and it also helps if they are sold to the pre-nursing students. Make sure to ask permission before placing your school logo on the shirts. If planning to sell t-shirts at state or national convention think of a generic t-shirt with catchy phrases. Other fundraising ideas include CPR training, raffles and garage sales. If anyone needs more fundraising ideas please feel free to contact me. I would be glad to help. As the school year continues, if you have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to contact me. I will do anything possible to help you in whichever way I can. Contact information: tnsadirectorwest@hotmail.com |
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TNSA Pins! TNSA, Inc.
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September 2006 Vol. 57 No. 1 |
