A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Kathryn L. O’Donnell, R.N.

The governing body of your Association, comprised of officers and members of the Board of Directors, gathered at the New York Hilton Hotel on August 20 for the purpose of conducting a three-day mid- year Board meeting. All members were present, along with Jerry Peers, President ex o#icio, and Doris B. Pagano, Executive Director. Semi-annual reports of the Com- mittees, Executive Director, and Editor of AORN Journal formed the basis of much of the discussion.

Your Board acts as a group of coordi- nators, weighing and measuring the effects of the various recommendations and the progress of its various projects. Its activi- ties are basic to the production of the varied and interesting programs for members and guests at its annual Congress. Since the 13th Annual Congress will be held in Chicago in February, 1%6, a great deal of attention was focused on that event. Miss Pagano, who has worked closely with the local Chi- cago Congress Committees, gave a full ac- count of the activities which were begun well over a year ago, and of the finishing touches which are even now taking place.

It is at this mid-year Board meeting that final choice is made for the sites bf future Congresses. I am happy to report that in 1967 we will meet in the beautiful city of San Diego, and in 1968 we will return again to the East Coast, this time to the city of Boston which staged one of our earliest annual meetings.

Following is brief mention of some of the

many points discussed at the mid-year meet- ing, a number of which must be voted upon by the Delegates at their next business meet- ing at the Chicago Congress.

A recommendation of the Bylaws Com- mittee was that upon election, all officers and members of the National Board of Di- rectors would automatically become Dele- gates, and that they would remain so for the term of office. If this recommendation is voted upon favorably by the Delegates, it will in no way reduce the number of Delegates to which each chapter is pres- ently entitled.

It was the opinion of the Board that the National Public Relations Committee and the Congress Public Relations Committee could be consolidated and still function ef- fectively. Consequently, the Board recom- mends that the National Public Relations Committee be deleted from the Standing Committees, as presently provided for in the Bylaws. A recommendation to this effect was submitted to the Bylaws Committee for action by the House of Delegates at the Chicago Congress. Basic to this decision was that many of the activities of this Committee have been taken over by Headquarters.

Also referred to the Bylaws Committee for action was the recommendation of the Nominating Committee that national offi- cers should be elected by the active mem- bership, using a mail ballot, rather than by the House of Delegates at the Congress.

The Board has asked the Membership Committee to prepare a questionnaire to be

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sent to all hospital operating rooms across the country in order to determine how many registered, professional nurses are employed in these facilities. These figures will be used to establish realistic goals for membership in AORN. When perfected, this question- naire will be mailed from National Head- quarters.

The Board of Directors commended the Chairman and the members of the Editorial Committee for their substantial contribution to the membership through their work for the AORN Journal.

It was the decision of the Board to en- gage the services, on an annual basis, of Mrs. Certa Morris, Registered Parliamen- tarian. Mrs. Morais will be remembered for her series of articles on parliamentary law in the 196d issues of AORN Journal. She will act as consultant to the Bylaws Committee, will attend Delegates’ meetings, and will conduct a Workshop at the An- nual Congress.

It was also decided by the Board that emergency room nurses will be qualified for associate membership in AORN, ef- fective immediately.

The Board asked that a letter of congrat- ulations be sent to Mrs. Florence McQuil- len, Executive Director of the Association of Nurse Anesthetists, who was named Health Association Executive of the Year. Under Mrs. McQuillen’s guidance the mem- hership of her Association has soared to

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12,000 from the total of 3,200 when she took office in 1948. This record speaks for itself. We of AORN salute a colleague.

The Board learned with pleasure that the latest Institute, discussions for which were held as early as February, 1%5, has heen definitely scheduled in Philadelphia for April 22-23, 1966. Representative for NCE will be Sister Mary Virginia Clare, O.P., R.N. Indicative of the hard work arid foresight required is the fact that the Pre- liminary Meeting for such Institutes are usually scheduled at least six months ahead of time. In this case, the meeting was sched- uled for early October.

By the time you read this, your President will have had the privilege of representing AORN at the First Annual Congress of the National Association of Theatre Nurses of Great Britain, October 3, 4, and 5 in Harro- gate, England, 200 miles north of London. As you may recall, operating room nurses from England have attended three of our Congresses. NATNGB was formed in May of 1964 and in one short year membership has bounced up to 700. The AORN of the United States sends NATNGB our best wishes for this and other Congresses.

Although Christmas is still three months away at the time of writing, this will be my last opportunity to talk with you be- fore the season arrives so let me in closing wish each of you a very happy holiday sea- son and all good fortune in the New Year.

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