NEWSLETTER FALL 2012
Dear Members,
Hopefully everyone has had an enjoyable and safe summer. I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some of the developments that have occurred and upcoming events we have planned for the chapter. Firstly, I have the pleasure of introducing the current board members that I have the honor of serving with. In addition to myself, Ann Taub, MA, CPNP and Esma Paljivec, RN, EdD, CPNP will remain to complete their terms as treasurer and secretary respectively. Also, Donna Hallas, PhD, RN, PNP-BC, CPNP, PMHS, FAANP will remain as educational chairperson, and Mary Beth Koslap-Petraco, DNP, RN, PNP-BC, CPNP, FAANP has graciously agreed to fill the vacancy of legislative chairperson. I would especially like to thank both of them for their contributions and generosity since they have given of their time over the past several years in various positions on the board. In addition,Chaya Shuchat, RN, BSN, SPNP (Columbia) who has singlehandedly developed our great Web page will remain as Web marshal. Lastly, I would like to announce our good fortune in having DorothyKleinert, ANP-BC, MPH, MA, CPNPas president-elect. Dorothy comes to us with many years of clinical and administrative experience, and she is a welcomed addition to the board. Also, I would encourage all members to consider becoming board members next year when there will be several vacancies.
On a more somber note, while finances of the chapter are still very sound, due to decreased funding and increased expenses we will no longer be able to provide the peer review dinner meetings free of charge. However, the board has tried to keep the cost to the members as low as possible; therefore, the fee will only be $15.00 per person, which will begin in 2013. We realize that in this economy any increased cost is significant; this amount will still cover only a small portion of the total cost since each speaker receives a $250.00 honorarium and the average cost of the dinners have ranged from forty to fifty dollars per person and even higher in certain venues.
We are still in the process of finalizing the dates and venues of the peer reviews and the all-day conference. We know this is an inconvenience to many of you who often have to rearrange your work schedule to attend. However, most often the delays are due speakers’ availability and final dates are contingent upon their schedules. The date of the first peer review has been confirmed; on Wednesday, 10/24/12, Dr. Paul J. Lee, MD, from Winthrop Hospital will speak on “Hot Topic in Pediatric Infectious Disease”. Hopefully, you have all received a “save the date” reminder. Further info will be forthcoming shortly. The remaining schedule is tentative (probable dates for upcoming peer reviews are: 12/3/12, 2/4/13, 4/3/13, and Friday 5/3/13 for the day-long conference). If anyone has suggestions on what topics they would like to have presented at the conference, please let one of the board members know. Since we received such positive feedback regarding the venue for the day-long this past April, we plan to again have it at the AMA Conference Center.
Regarding legislative issues, Mary Beth Koslap-Petraco reports that there is a strong possibility that mandatory collaboration between NPs and physicians will be repealed by the state assembly this coming year. There is even a small group of MDs who are supporting its repeal. Also, I would like to congratulate Mary Beth; she has been named nurse practitioner of the year by the Nurse Practitioner Association of New York State. This is a very prestigious and well deserved honor for Mary Beth in recognition of her hard work and exemplary practice.
Lastly, I would just like to say that I am proud to serve as chapter president and I look forward to meeting all of you in person at upcoming events. If anyone has any concerns, or suggestions on how to improve the chapter please feel free to email me.
Sincerely, Rich Beaulieu, PhD, RN, PNP-BC. rbeaulieu@childrensaidsociety.org