Springtime brings many new possibilities; it is a welcome change from winter, when the Earth is renewed! Spring flowers, fresh lawns, Easter and Passover celebrations, spring-cleaning, and unfortunately for many of us, spring pollens! Perhaps it’s also a time to spruce up your Professional life? Is it time to renew your CDE credential or finalize requirements for a first time CDE credential? Is it time to review/update your CV/resume? Are you able to include an item becoming more important to many potential employers: Community and Professional Association involvement? Are you an active AADE member, who is:
using the MyAADE Network site (www.diabeteseducator.org ); did you know the value of your dues is over $1,700.00 in subscriptions, CE opportunities, Advocacy efforts, Products and Events;
networking with Members of the 21 online Communities of Interest (COI’s, formerly known as SPG’s), access to all is included with your dues, subscribing is required;
being an active participant in your Local Networking Group (LNG, formerly known as Chapters, of AADE); currently there are 2 LNG’s in the State: Kansas City & St.Louis; is there enough professional activity and interest to form a new LNG in your area?
being an active Member of your state of Missouri Coordinating Body (CB)?
Your 20011-2012 Missouri CB Transition Team Board Members are Nancy Trebilcock, BSN, RN, CDE, Chair, St Louis; Sharla Fischer, RD, LD, CDE, Finance Chair, St. Louis; Deb McConville, APRN BC,CDE, Kansas City; Mary Pat Gilbert, OT, Recording Secretary, Kansas City; Mary Lawrence, MSN, RN, CDE, Membership Chair. Our CB Board had the great pleasure to meet many of you at AADE’s first Regional Program on March 3rd, in Kansas City. We were able to network with Members from Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, and Iowa! The CB and both LNG’s had display tables that highlighted their accomplishments, news of future programs. The CB Board and St. Louis attendees donated attendance prizes of Missouri related items. But, as happens with many volunteer Organizations, ours is suffering from Member “absenteeism and apathy”. Your CB and LNG Leadership Teams have too few people doing the work of many; we are also LNG Volunteer Leaders! Yes, volunteering takes time, and we all have families, responsibilities, other interests….me too; I have 11 grandchildren, a very supportive husband and family, church activities, 2 jobs, etc.! We can only be as successful as your participation allows us to be! There are many ways to help your Organization:
subscribing to the discussions link for your LNG allows you to receive email notices regarding meetings, events, news updates, etc;
access the calendar icon from the state page of the MYAADE network often, so you don’t miss an activity or event that interests you;
sign the e-petition regarding acess to DSMT; the goal is 10 thousand signatures; 1,876 have signed; –http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/support-access-to-diabetes-self-management-training/. For many of us, this legislation is important to prevent job losses! Have your family, colleagues, industry partners do the same and contact your local Legislative members;
attend an LNG event/meeting; and/or secure a meeting/event location in your area; be an LNG Leader!
Be on the CB! Board members needed now include: Technology Leader (Web Administrator/Publicity), Education Leader (initiate/coordinate state wide CE offerings), and Advocacy Leader. Additionally, for 2013, open CB Board positions will be: Team Chair, Finance Leader, Recording Secretary, and Membership Leader. If you are not able to hold a Board position, perhaps you can help with committees or smaller tasks/projects; our next CB Board meeting is April 21st. If you can help with your CB or LNG or need help in subscribing to your LNG discussions site, please contact me at nancytcde@hotmail.com, subject: CB or LNG & I will direct your inquiry. Please, let’s work together to help Missouri be a good example of how we can promote our Members and therefore, promote quality diabetes Education.
I challenge you, as I challenge my patients: the if, what, and when about the future is up to YOU!
Grow where you're planted!
Nancy Trebilcock, Missouri CB Transition Chair & St. Louis LNG Chair