Hello Everyone;

Wanted to drop a line to all the ORNANS members and formally introduce myself as your new ORNANS President. I didn’t think I’d be writing this letter so soon when I gave my speech of offering, at the Amherst Conference in June, for President Elect. First of all, thank you for the votes of confidence and secondly bear with me while I adjust to my new position. Thelma and Janet are wonderful women with years of expertise and they are essential to my learning.

The National Conference is around the bend and excitement is building! June 7 to 12, 2009 in ST. John’s, New Found land will be informative and entertaining. The planning committee, for the conference, has been diligently working on the event, so let’s make a good showing from Nova Scotia. One night in particular, a street has been completely closed off for ORNAC members to enjoy, “A Scoff, A Scuff and A Scully”. On that note, membership for ORNANS needs to be postmarked no later than December 15, 2008. After this date, operating room staff will be considered non-members and will pay the full price to attend the conference in June. The reason for this date is, Greg Samson, Treasurer has the responsibility to get the membership list to ORNAC for verification. Once these lists are in order, the conference site will open up in January when the membership lists are finalized.

ORNANS membership also qualifies you as an ORNAC member. Check out the ORNAC site. All conference details are there. One note, the Delta is fully booked for the conference. Don’t panic, there are other names of hotels around the Delta that still have rooms available. If staff is remotely playing with the idea of attending, please book your rooms soon, they are going fast. Victoria conference had 1200 delegates, keep this in mind and book your rooms.
The ORNANS website is a bit outdated. Thelma has contacted the webmaster and updates will be on line soon. If you have any meetings coming up with your local chapter, contact the ORNANS executive to get it on the website. People can’t attend if they don’t know you are having a meeting. If I can, I would like to attend chapter meetings. Keep me informed and I will do my best to be there.

Our membership is climbing; let’s encourage the nurses who are not members to join. I was amazed when Thelma and I attended the ORNAC board meeting in Toronto to find out Quebec has 500 members. Yes they are a much larger province but wouldn’t it be nice to say, “All Nova Scotia Operating Room Nurses belong to ORNANS”.

Please contact me if you any questions. My e-mail is gilliscathy@hotmail.com

Until we meet again, Merry Christmas and have a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year.

Cathy Timmons R.N.
ORNANS President