Convention Pulse 2013

Speed Connect: Like speed dating, only different

Today, over the noon hour, I had the privilege of facilitating STTI’s first-ever Speed Connect event. Speed connecting is like speed dating, but with the purpose of making professional connections. Although there were other activities available for members to choose from during the same time slot, and this was a first-ever event for an STTI biennial convention, it was great to see that there was barely an empty seat in the house.

This innovative way to meet people was attended by many long-standing convention attendees. I know that, for me, it gave me an opportunity to associate names and faces with people I have just smiled at in STTI convention halls over the years. And for the many new young faces present in the crowd, the event offered the advantage of interacting immediately with seasoned nurse leaders who, a few minutes before, may have been just names in a textbook.

Speed Connect links seasoned nurse leaders with new members.

One of those new faces belonged to the immediate past president of the New Jersey Student Nurses’ Association who found out just 15 minutes before the session that she had passed the NCLEX! I’m sure she will remember this event! You can also be sure she will remember nurse leaders she met today and will be inspired, as a member of STTI, to continue to lead.

I encourage those unable to attend today’s event or who didn’t realize it was happening to utilize The Circle to network electronically. And maybe I’ll see you at the next Speed Connect, to be held at the 43rd Biennial Convention in Las Vegas. Until then, keep connecting!

—Kenneth Dion, reporting for Reflections on Nursing Leadership.

[Editor’s note: Check out Ken’s new RNL blog, “Does this strike a chord?”]

Opening plenary

A flag processional that included flags from every country where Sigma Theta Tau International has chapter presence—the number has grown dramatically in recent years; a welcome from the mayor of Indianapolis; and an inspiring presentation and challenge from President Suzanne Prevost titled “Your gifts are moving us forward” marked today’s official opening of the 42nd Biennial Convention.

It’s difficult to watch flags carried by nurses representing nations from virtually all continents of the world—none were there from Antarctica—without being moved emotionally. At each biennial convention of STTI, the flag processional gives visual definition to the honor society’s vision statement: The vision of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International is to create a global community of nurses who lead in using knowledge, scholarship, service, and learning to improve the health of the world’s people. Traditionally, the flag processional has marked the opening of the convention’s House of Delegates. This year, it was moved to the opening plenary, to give more attendees the opportunity to enjoy it.

Twenty-six nation flags plus one for Sigma Theta Tau International. Impressive!

Greg Ballard, Lt. Col., U.S. Marines, retired; author of The Ballard Rules: Small Unit Leadership; and mayor of Indianapolis received enthusiastic applause from the audience when he observed, “I cannot think of anybody in the world who does not want to be next to a nurse!” And he garnered appreciative laughter when he declared, “I want you to walk away from here getting better at your jobs, and I hope you walk away from here having spent a lot of money in our city!”

It was a fitting day for the mayor of Indianapolis to greet the many nurse members of STTI who had gathered for the opening plenary at the JW Marriott because today also marked the opening of Eskenazi Health hospital, the first publicly owned “people’s hospital” to open in Indianapolis in the past 100 years. The new state-of-the-art hospital, which replaces the former Wishard Hospital, was paid for by a generous $40 million donation from Sid and Lois Eskenazi and $80 million from Indiana citizens, many of them residents of Marion County, with no increase in taxes. See video.

Mayor Greg Ballard praises nurses and thanks convention attendees for economic boost to city of Indianapolis.

Generosity in giving also marked President Suzanne Prevost’s presentation, “Your gifrs are moving us forward.” After recounting things for which she is especially thankful at this season of the year—faith, family, education, profession—Prevost shared a quote from William Ward who said, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” Noting that giving does not always involve money—it could also be wisdom, influence, time, talent, and other resources—Prevost challenged members to 1) create a legacy, 2) engage in collaboration, 3) respond to vulnerable populations, and 4) embrace technology.

With regard to responding to vulnerable populations, she encouraged members to consider donating to water.org, a humanitarian organization committed to building clean-water wells for those unable to access healthy water. She also encouraged members to support research by giving to the Sigma Theta Tau International Foundation for Nursing, which hopes to increase grants and subsidies 100 percent by 2020.

With city skyline as background, President Prevost commends members for their giving ways and challenges attendees to continue giving back to move forward.

Looking 10 years ahead

This evening, at the International Leadership Institute Celebration Dinner, presented in partnership with The Elsevier Foundation, The John A. Hartford Foundation, Johnson & Johnson Corporate Contributions, Hill-Rom, and The Retirement Research Foundation, Carol Huston, MSN, DPA, FAAN, director, California State University-Chico School of Nursing and past president of STTI (2007-09), functioned in the role of futurist as she discussed “Preparing nurses to lead in uncertain times.” In doing so, she identified six leadership competencies nurses will need 10 years from now, in 2023: 1) A global perspective or mindset; 2) skill and confidence in using emerging technologies; 3) creating organizational cultures that recognize quality health care and patient-worker safety as paramount; 4) highly developed collaborative and team building skills; 5) being visionary and proactive in response to a health care system increasingly characterized by rapid change and chaos; and 6) ensuring leadership succession.

Past President Carol Huston provides thought-provoking glimpse into a uncertain future that will include one constant for sure: change.

And more ...

Cynthia Vlasich, MBA, BSN, RN, and Tom Whitehead, EdD, introduce session attendees to the Center for Excellence in Nursing Education (CENE), a collaboration between Sigma Theta Tau International, and Chamberlain College of Nursing. Vlasich is the director of Education and Leadership and Whitehead is CENE program manager, both on staff at STTI.

President Prevost cuts ribbon to open Exhibit Hall as Tammy Diane Barbe, assistant professor, Georgia Baptist College of Nursing of Mercer University, and Kathy Bennison, senior corporate relations and communications officer, Sigma Theta Tau International Foundation for Nursing, admire her scissor-wielding skills.

Meet Charity Campbell and Anne Poppe.

New members enjoy coffee and camaraderie.

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.