How did it get to be Day 3 already?

Wow, is it Day 3 already? I can’t get over the positive energy that is surrounding this event. I have been a member of several specialty-nursing organizations over my almost-30 years in the profession, but there is something special that happens at every event sponsored by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.

 Sigma Theta Tau International—
opening doors to the future of nursing!

The programming of STTI events always reflects the mission and vision of the organization and, even though attendees come from different clinical backgrounds and practice in different parts of the world, we are all striving to improve the lives of others. It is no wonder we leave these gatherings with lots of great ideas, positive memories and new connections.

My membership on the board of Sigma Theta Tau International Foundation for Nursing has increased my awareness of the amount of work that happens behind the scenes to bring these events about, and I am in awe. I know that, for this event, STTI staff members have the convenience of being on home turf in Indianapolis, but the amount of things brought to and from these events is incredible. They make it look so easy!

Since I have the opportunity (by virtue of this blog), I would like to thank Lynn Lambuth, director of the foundation, and Becky Frey, foundation development officer. They are so passionate about the work of the foundation. I have really enjoyed getting to know them over the past three years. Also, I would be remiss if I didn’t thank “the man behind the curtain” for assisting me with this blog. The Honor Society of Nursing is fortunate to have so much amazing talent working to make the organization great. There is a part of me that knows they want to keep the nurses happy, just in case …

Making a difference with chapter philanthropy
What do you want to change or strengthen about nursing and health care in your community? Giving back is an integral part of nursing and STTI.

I had the opportunity at the Leadership Forum to facilitate a panel session to showcase some of the amazing philanthropic activities of some of our chapters. I asked the 30 or so members of the audience how many had been sponsored by their chapter to attend the forum, and more than 75 percent of the group raised their hand. I was impressed! That shows the commitment many chapters have to encourage leadership growth of their members. If your chapter hasn’t sent some of your new leaders to Leadership Forum or other STTI-sponsored events, I highly recommend it, because those who attend come back energized and full of ideas.

When I was president of Nu Xi-at-Large Chapter, we had an expectation that those we sponsored would come back and wrote an article about their experience for our newsletter. It was a great opportunity for the attendee to write about their experience and it gave the chapter the ability to chronicle what had been learned.

Chapter leadership

Today’s sessions focus on chapter leadership. What does that mean? The title of several sessions point you in the right direction. They include “Understanding the chapter management system,” “Enhancing membership with service and knowledge resources” and “Retention intervention: Tips for reenergizing members.” Many of these sessions were presented by STTI staff. It is a great way for members to see the faces of the people with whom they frequently communicate electronically. From the perspective of the staff members, they are excited to assist members in any way they can to ensure a positive experience.

Networking lunch

Today also provided another opportunity for members to meet and discuss topics of interest to them. A few examples illustrate the options that were available: “Lifelong leadership,” “Steps to stop incivility” and “Transforming leadership.” Members I have spoken to find these networking opportunities a great way to connect and learn from each other.

Indy on my mind

Below is the view from my room at the Hyatt, looking over to the JW Marriott, where the 42nd Biennial Convention will be held 16-20 November 2013.

JW Marriott Indianapolis—venue of the 42nd Biennial Convention.

I hope you’re making plans now to attend the convention. If you’re like me, you’ll stay in Indy a day or two after the event to take in the sights, if your schedule allows. While in Indy for the Leadership Forum, I found some great things to do that I’d like to share with you and to include, perhaps, in your list of things to see and do when in Indianapolis.

Below is the sculpture that sits just outside the JW Marriott. Most people think it is a giant red checkmark, but it is called “The Cardinal.” It’s approximately 36 feet tall and 50 feet long and, when viewed from above, you can see that it looks like a cardinal perched on a tulip-tree branch, which is formed by the stonework in the plaza. It’s a tribute to the Indiana state bird and tree. I walked down to the sculpture last night to take this picture, and I have to say it is quite stunning.

The Cardinal

Tourist attractions are great, but there’s no better way to experience a place than to see it through the eyes of the people who call it home. In Indianapolis, your best bet for a "local" experience is to venture out to one of their six distinct cultural districts. Each district has a personality and flare all its own, so you'll have to figure out which best fits your personality. For additional ideas, visit http://visitindy.com/.

Mass Ave–Mass Ave, Indy’s arts and theater district, draws creative people to its eclectic offerings of live theater, music venues and trendy galleries. It's a place where people live and work amid memorable architecture and style, alongside the city's most historic and urban neighborhoods. If you're looking for locally owned shops and restaurants, this is the place to be.

Broad Ripple Village–Located six miles north of downtown, Broad Ripple Village boasts a thriving art scene and street life with shops, historic buildings and parks in charming, walkable neighborhoods nestled among beautiful greenways and waterways. By night, it pulses with the beat of the most original music venues and nightlife destinations in the city.

Fountain Square–This historic neighborhood has a town square and central fountain that remind you of a European village. The thriving artist community blends retro and new art influences in its architecture and style, creating a funky mix of independent, one-of-a-kind destinations.

The Canal and White River State Park–This is Indiana's museum and cultural attractions corridor. The 250-acre park and canal feature the world-class Indianapolis Zoo and White River Gardens, Indiana State Museum and IMAX Theater, Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, NCAA Hall of Champions, Victory Field (baseball) and the south portal to the Central Canal. It's a package of tremendous art, history, recreation, leisure and sports, all showcased along a beautifully restored urban waterway.

The Wholesale District–This district is a vibrant entertainment center with great shopping (Circle Centre mall), signature restaurants, lively entertainment and quality hotel accommodations, all within easy walking distance of each other! Visitors rave about the cultural events and performances, the historic architecture and the friendly, inviting hospitality.

Indiana Avenue–This cultural district encompasses the most historically rich commercial district for Indianapolis' African-American community. The area is known for history and heritage, jazz music and restored neighborhoods. Its cornerstone is the Madame Walker Theatre Center.

Upcoming STTI events

In addition to the Biennial Convention, scheduled for November 2013, here are to other important STTI events to add to your calendar for next year:

• Creating Healthy Work Environments, 12-14 April 2013, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
• 24th International Nursing Research Congress, 22-26 July 2013, Prague, Czech Republic

Back to the forum

Below is Anne Bye, RN, BSN, president-elect of Gamma Chapter. Her poster provided some great ideas on ways to create a chapter community service committee. It’s exciting to see another nurse leader doing wonderful things at the local level. Anne, along with others who were present today, is fortunate to have a venue such as this to share their work. I am a firm believer in not inventing new wheels but improving them!

Anne Bye

I caught Jessica Wendorf, an STTI staff member, Abby Heydman, PhD, RN, Region 1 coordinator, and Nelly Garzon, MSN, RN, global regional coordinator, Latin and South America/Caribbean. discussing the many values of STTI membership. See photo below.

Jessica Wendorf, Abby Heydman and Nelly Garzon

We saved the best for last. Today, Patricia Thompson, EdD, RN, FAAN, chief executive officer of Sigma Theta Tau International, spoke about what it means to be a member of STTI. She reminded us that it is an honor and a responsibility to keep the mission, vision and values of the organization alive in our everyday practice.

Patricia "Pat" Thompson

As a past president of STTI, Thompson is keenly aware of the challenges of that role, and it is clear that she provides exceptional support to each president. We are so fortunate to have such a leader. By virtue of her passion and loyalty to this organization and the profession, she provides the leadership necessary to advance our mission.

Thanks also go out to President Suzanne Prevost, whose call to action, “Give back to move forward,” set the stage for us to continue pursuing our Vision 2020 goals. Prevost has been involved with STTI for more than 25 years, and her commitment to the organization is phenomenal. Whether it is time or money (or both), giving back is essential if we are to continue growing the profession and our organization.

Our founders chose the name of our organization from the Greek words storgé, tharsos and time, meaning love, courage and honor. Ninety years later, these words still hold great meaning for our work. Be sure to check the STTI Web site regularly to learn more about what your chapter can do to celebrate our 90-year anniversary.

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.

Remember, if it’s gonna be, it’s up to me!!

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

Day 2 at Leadership Forum

Day 2 of Leadership Forum began with three leadership sessions focusing on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and how they impact students, nursing curriculum and clinical practice. So, you may be wondering, what are the MDGs?

The Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) was approved as an associated nongovernmental organization (NGO) by the Department of Public Information of the United Nations (U.N.) in December 2010. This U.N. association demonstrates STTI’s commitment to the United Nations charter which, in addition to declaring that world body’s commitment to maintaining peace and security among nations, affirms its intent to solve humanitarian and health issues through international cooperation. Through this affiliation, STTI commits to disseminate information and raise public awareness about the purposes and activities of the United Nations and issues of global concern.

The honor society provides the strongest nursing presence at the United Nations and continues to conduct outreach around the world to help its nurse members better understand the work and aims of the United Nations, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), set to be achieved by 2015. These goals, which include reducing child deaths, improving maternal health and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other major diseases, lay the foundation for improving world health. View "The Millennium Development Goals and Me" and see what you can do to help meet the goals by 2015.

You can’t spell FRIENDLY without INDY!

I have been quite impressed with the friendliness of the folks from Indianapolis. Even if I don’t look totally lost, people ask if I need anything. I decided to do a little homework on Indiana, as I honestly didn’t know too much about this part of the country. I found some interesting facts. (I assume they’re not factoids.)

• It is illegal to sell or buy a vehicle on Sunday, thanks to Indiana’s Blue Laws.
• Elvis Presley’s last concert was at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis in 1977. (He died three months later.)
• The Raggedy Ann doll was created in 1914 by Marcella Gruelle of Indianapolis.
• Of all U.S. state capitals, Indianapolis comes closest to being placed in the exact center of its state.
• The Indiana World War Memorial is modeled after the Mausoleum of Maussollos in Turkey.
• Indianapolis is second only to Washington, D.C., for the number of war monuments inside city limits.
• Indiana University's greatest swimmer was Mark Spitz, who won seven gold medals at the 1972 Olympic Games.
• Indiana is the top popcorn-producing state in the nation. Orville Redenbacher is from Brazil, Indiana. Ninety percent of the world’s popcorn is grown in Indiana.
• Indianapolis is the twelfth largest city in the United States.
• Singer-songwriter John Mellancamp was born in Seymour, Indiana and resides in Bloomington, Indiana.
• Steve McQueen, Shelley Long, Carole Lombard, Carl Malden, Sydney Pollack and Florence Henderson—all actors—are from Indiana.

Back to the forum

I had a chance to speak to Rebekha Perkins, an almost new graduate from Utah Valley University, located in Orem, Utah, USA, and Safiya George Dalmida, assistant professor at Emory University’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and chair of STTI’s International Service Task Force. They were meeting as part of a free service—the Career Guidance Center—that is being provided during the forum.

Safiya George Dalmida and Rebekha Perkins

The Career Guidance Center offers several valuable resources to nurses. Whether they are just starting their career, looking to further their education or searching for new nursing positions. STTI offers career guidance to help them navigate these challenges. It provides the opportunity to speak one-on-one with an expert career facilitator about 1) resume/CV development and job interview skills, 2) pursuing a new nursing career, 3) advancing your education and 4) networking.

Afterward, I spoke again to Rebekha, and she felt the experience was extremely worthwhile. Many thanks to those nurse leaders who provided their time and expertise to this endeavor!

I also had the opportunity to spend some time with an amazing husband-and-wife couple, Brian and Sheree Harvey (below). They met when Sheree became a merchant marine mate aboard the ship on which Brian served as captain. Several years later and after many miles at sea, they married and graduated together this past June with BSNs from South University, Tampa, Florida, USA.

Sheree and Brian Harvey

They have a dream of building a ship that will be able to navigate the difficult waters surrounding The Cook Islands, and other islands in the South Pacific, to provide health education and care to the inhabitants. They both aspire to continue on in their education and complete their DNPs, one in administration and the other as an FNP. (A leadership education grant made it possible for Brian to attend the forum). Both found the event a great learning experience. Expect to see more of these two in the future!

Minding your Ps

A great lunch was made all the more enjoyable by plenary session speaker Loretta Sweet Jemmott, PhD, RN, FAAN. (It was sponsored by Eta Chi Chapter, Indiana Wesleyan University.) I have had the pleasure of hearing her speak in the past and am always impressed with her passion for nursing.

Loretta Sweet Jemmott

Jemmott shared with us the personal journey that brought her to where she is today. She also shared her 6Ps concept, ways to strengthen your voice to help lead the change in nursing: 1) Passion, 2) Power, 3) Persistence, 4) Patience, 5) Partnership and 6) Prayer.

Great Ps to live by. She also asked us to live our lives by memorizing and declaring, “If it’s gonna be, it’s up to me!!”

Meet Tiffany Montgomery

After the lunchtime plenary by Loretta Sweet Jemmott, I spoke to an aspiring nurse leader, Tiffany Montgomery, who was thrilled to meet Jemmott, one of her nurse heroes. Tiffany is a second-year PhD student at the University of Los Angeles, California, USA, where her focus of study is teen pregnancy. She has read all of Jemmott’s work and felt so honored to meet her in person. By the way, Tiffany writes a blog for RNL titled “Taking hold of my dreams.” Click here to read the latest post. Tiffany is one of those people who, when you meet her, you know great things will happen to nursing!

Let’s see, STTI headquarters or Simulation Center?

After the last session of the day, many took the opportunity to visit either the Center for Nursing Scholarship, also known as STTI headquarters, or the Simulation Center at Fairbanks Hall. I chose to headquarters, because I always get inspired and rejuvenated when I visit the people in that that beautiful building, located on the edge of Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. (That’s why they call it IUPUI).

If you ever have the chance to visit headquarters, take the self-guided tour. Below is a picture of new banners on display above the front desk in the building’s lobby.

Thanks to Kathy Ricossa, some folks from Region 1 banded together several years ago and purchased plaque to benefit the foundation, where it complements the headquarters’ rose garden. I found a beautiful rose and was able to take a picture, just before the skies opened up!

After returning to the Hyatt, many regions held get-togethers tonight. As part of Region 1, I attended a family-style dinner with a dozen or so fellow Region 1 members at Buca di Beppo. Many thanks to Abby Heydman, PhD, RN, for getting us all together.

Another full day at Leadership Forum. What a great way to spend a day with old and new friends!

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

Do you know the secret handshake?

Greetings from Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, the birthplace of the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI). I am pleased and honored to share with readers of Reflections on Nursing Leadership and others who read this blog the activities happening at Leadership Forum 2012, an event that allows members to connect through multiple tracks on multiple levels.

The theme for today is embracing our past. Suzanne Prevost, PhD, RN, COI, president of STTI, set the tone for this biennium with her call to action, “Giving back to move forward.” 

Looking back at the past, I discovered some interesting facts about STTI and Indianapolis. To start things off …

The founders

• The founders of Sigma Theta Tau were students at the Indiana Training School of Nurses.
• At the first induction on 12 October 1922, the six founders signed a ledger with their given names, as well as their Greek names: Athena, Theba, Cecelia, Corintha, Hebe and Diana. They had a secret handshake—thumbs parallel, two fingers extended to the wrists and small fingers linked.
• In 1936, Alice Crist Malone received the first research grant, in the amount of $600.
• In 1993, STTI had a cable TV program, “Nursing Approach,” that focused on nursing research.
• In April 1993, Audrey Hepburn visited the Center for Nursing Scholarship and took part in a rose-bush planting ceremony. The rose is now known as the Audrey Hepburn rose. After her death a few months later, a biennial award was established in her honor to recognize a nurse who has made significant contributions to the well-being of children.
• The first issue of Image: Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society of Nursing (now Journal of Nursing Scholarship) was published in 1967 as a newsletter. In 1970, Image was elevated from a communication tool to a scholarly journal.

I have been practicing the secret handshake, so those of you attending the Leadership Forum, be ready. I may ask to shake your hand!

Opening keynote/plenary

The Leadership Forum was launched today with an inspirational presentation from President Prevost, titled “Giving back to move forward as a nurse leader.” Prevost set the stage by challenging attendees to become actively engaged as a change agent to advance health by paying it forward.

Suzanne Prevost

During her presentation, replete with stories of nurses sharing experiences of personal growth, President Prevost discussed the benefits of investing in others, as well as the positive impact the act of giving has on leadership development and effectiveness. “Giving back to move forward” has four key elements: engage collaboration, respond to vulnerable populations, embrace technology and create your legacy.

Poster session

After the opening plenary concluded, the Leadership Poster session began and was well attended. I had the pleasure of speaking to Norma Elva Saenz-Sota, MCE from the School of Nursing, CIDICS, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, Mexico. Her research topic? Sexually transmitted disease prevention in heterosexual couples and community-based participatory research. I learned this is Norma’s first trip to the United States. She is pleased with the opportunity to share her research and having a wonderful time meeting other forum attendees from around the world.

Norma Elva Saenz-Sota

I also had the opportunity to meet nursing students from Indiana University East, located in Richmond, Indiana. Pictured below are (from left): Ariel Cox, Hailee Martin, Tammie Gregory, Ashton Brown and Jackie Price. These students are the future of nursing, and they were all smiles about the opportunity to network with nurse leaders and learn how they can contribute to nursing through Sigma Theta Tau International!

Students from Indiana University East

How many of the following facts do YOU know?

Indianapolis provides the backdrop for this event. You’ve heard, of course, about the Indy 500. I came across some fun facts about the Indianapolis 500, as reported by Wikipedia.com and Indy500.com.

• The speedway was constructed in 1909 on 328 acres of land five miles northwest of Indianapolis, Indiana.
• Ray Harroun, the first winner of the Indianapolis 500, won $14,250 for his effort. Scott Dixon, last year’s winner, took home $1.76 million.
• The Indy 500 seats more than 250,000 people, giving it the title of the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing."
• The track was once paved with 3.2 million bricks, which is why it’s called The Brickyard..
• The fastest official lap turned at the speedway was 237.498 mph, achieved by Arie Luyendyk during a qualifying run on 12 May 1996.
• Troy Ruttman was 22 years old when he won the 36th Indianapolis 500 on 30 May 1952, making him the youngest winner of the race. Al Unser is the oldest person to win the Indy 500. He was 47 years, 360 days old when he won the 71st Indianapolis 500 on 24 May 1987.
• The fewest cars to finish the Indy 500 was seven and that was in 1966.
• When peanut shells were found in the seat of a crashed car in 1940s, they became known as bad luck.
• It is considered bad luck to enter and exit from the same side of the car.
• Green cars are also considered bad luck at the Indianapolis 500.
• Indy cars accelerate from 0 mph to 100 mph in four seconds.
• Indy drivers experience up to four times their body weight in turns at the Indianapolis motor speedway.
• Tony Stewart is the only driver to complete the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.
• The 80,200 spectators who watched the first Indy 500 race in 1911 paid $1 admission.
• Ray Harroun, the first winner of the Indy 500, was also the first person known to use a rear-view mirror on a motor vehicle. It just happened to be during the inaugural 1911 race.

Doing lunch

Lunch was a networking opportunity, and Table 24 was an amazing group. Our topic was “Transforming leadership with service learning/volunteering.” Pictured below are (starting on the far left): Audrey Von Bergen-Sonin, Janet Syslo, Don Rose, Velmarie Swing, Debbie Barnett, Cathy Peters and Denise Sevigny. Lots of sharing of strategies for success!

Table 24

One strategy in particular, shared by Don Rose: His chapter conducts a new-member orientation during which an overview of STTI is provided and new members are encouraged to join committees so they can get involved immediately. Sounds like a win-win situation!

Then tea

This afternoon, Sigma Theta Tau International Foundation for Nursing sponsored a tea, so recipients of leadership education grants could meet with donors who provided those funds, which enabled these nurses to attend the conference. For this event alone, the foundation received 86 requests for assistance and, of those requests, 30 percent were funded. Our goal is to increase grant and membership subsidy funding by at least 100 percent by 2020, one way to support the honor society’s Vision 2020, which includes being the organization of choice for nurses around the world.

Congratulations to the following: Celestine Carter (USA), Sherrita Garland (USA), Brian Harvey (USA), James Holland (USA), Chris Johnson (USA), Duke Lim (USA), Chin-Nu Lin (USA), Nadia Martindale (USA), Erik McIntosh (USA), Tiffany Montgomery (USA), Triniece Pearson (USA), Kristin Perkins (USA), Denise Sevigny (USA), Sharon Spencer (USA), Asma Taha (USA), Shellye Vardaman (USA) and Josie Weiss (USA). In addition, Juana Mercedes Gutierrez-Valverde (Mexico) received a grant, thanks to the Giving Circle of Delta Theta Chapter. On behalf of the foundation’s board of directors, I want to thank all who donated. These grants would not have been possible without your support.

Every member

As you may know the foundation’s annual giving campaign, “Every Member Around the World Supporting Vision 2020,” encourages all members to make a donation annually because, every year, the foundation receives requests from nurses for research grants, membership-dues assistance and leadership education grants. So, if you haven’t become an annual donor yet, please consider doing so. Speaking for myself, the foundation has been an easy way to give back to a profession that has given so much to me. The day ended with the president’s reception. Below is President Prevost with  first-time attendee Melanie Cross.

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