Oregon State AOHN 50th Anniversary in 2024: Board of Directors Summer Meeting Prepares

2024 will be the 50th Anniversary of the Oregon State Association of Occupational Health Nurses. During the 2022 summer meeting, the Board of Directors (BOD) adopted a two-year strategic plan to prepare the chapter for its next half-century.  The impact of the pandemic, dwindling membership and difficulty recruiting members to take leadership positions, makes the future of the Chapter is challenging.

On August 2, 2023, the BOD conducted a mid-term review of this 2022-2024 plan to "Grow and Engage" Chapter membership. Here's the outlook for 2023-24:

• Membership has stabilized - new members replacing those who do not renew.
• Current BOD members have agreed to continue to serve through 2023-24. And member Marilyn Morgan has stepped up to take the Treasurer role.
• Nominations for new BOD members will begin in early 2024.
• Chapter fees were suspended for all new members joining in 2023 and all members who renewed for 2023.  Relying on available funds, the BOD decided to continue to suspend Chapter fees for 2024 renewals and for new members joining for 2024.
• Board members served on the 2023 Oregon Governor's Occupational Safety and Health (GOSH) conference Program committee to select topics and recruit speakers on occupational health and Health Care industry topics. The 2025 GOSH Program Committee begins in early 2024. Members will be recruited.
• Over 150 Continuing Education Contact Hours were provided to nurses who attended GOSH at no additional cost above conference registration.
• Eight members were awarded scholarships for the cost of one full-day registration at GOSH. 
• At GOSH, the Chapter sponsored Networking Happy Hour was attended by the current American Nurses Association President, Dr. Jennifer Mensik Kennedy.
• Members and Followers receive invitations through Nursing Network to a wide range of no or low-cost, on-line occupational health nursing related education and training opportunities curated by the Board.
• For programs offered by OSAOHN, CE are offered to members at no cost.
• New members are welcomed and can be mentored in preparing for COHN certification by certified Board members. 
• The BOD will continue to reach out to members through Nursing Network, Facebook, Constant Contact and Linked In. 

Summer BOD minutes and the 2023-24 budget are being finalize and will be presented to the membership at the October 3, 2023 ZOOM meeting. Watch your in box for an invitation to attend.