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.
No comments:
Post a Comment