On Saturday October 26, 2013 the Pennsylvania Coordinating Body (CB) met for the fall live meeting. Each Local Networking Group’s representative met at the new site of the 2014 state meeting, State College, PA. Also present were the incoming representatives that will make up Pennsylvania’s CB in 2014. This was a time of celebrating the past, the My AADE Network Coordinating Body Achievement Award, and looking into the future; how do we continue to engage the diabetes educator in Pennsylvania? There are pictures from the meeting in the Download Rescources Library http://www.myaadenetwork.org/p/do/si/topic=162
The CB opened the meeting with a get acquainted / team building exercise. Utilizing the diabetes educator’s taste for sweets, each member was allowed to take a helping of M&M’s from a bag. Many had quite a serving size not knowing the “consequence” of their selection. Once everyone had their “M&M’s” they found out for every piece selected, they needed to share a piece of information about themselves! We quickly realized that there was not enough time in our meeting to share for every piece of candy. Everyone had a good laugh and it established a good atmosphere for the team to focus on the important work for the CB.
The initial topic was reviewing the recent AADE Strategic Plan. The focus was how to follow the Strategic Plan and focus on the Pennsylvania educator’s needs. The CB wanted to develop strategies to insure members’ needs are being met. While reviewing the Mission Statement for AADE, the CB wanted to make sure there was a Mission Statement that reflected both the AADE mission, but still focused our work for the Pennsylvania member. Kathy Guy volunteered to submit a statement for consideration; the final proposal will be adopted during the next conference call. It will be published in a state wide announcement and the CB looks forward to your ideas.
With a mission established, strategies were next. We will continue to pursue developing legislation for a Pennsylvania Licensed Diabetes Educator. The CB will need to commit treasury funds for the assistance of a lobbyist. We have been receiving excellent advice from a lobbyist but now need to establish a working relationship via contract. The process for developing legislation is time consuming and we hope to follow the best path.
Of course an important strategy is continuing the development of our State Meeting for May 1, & 2, 2014. Marilyn Clougherty, the Education Leader, has been very busy developing a meaningful agenda. To help reduce some costs but still offer a quality program the location has been moved to State College. We have found an excellent conference facility that also offers a centralized location. All registration will be on the My AADE Network, and we plan to offer early discount for January registration!
Throughout this meeting the CB was focused on how we support each LNG, and the members of Pennsylvania. New policies will be out soon so each LNG will be able to plan future local meetings with the CB support.
The end of this fall meeting was a bittersweet moment. A new Coordinating Body Chair will be in place beginning January 2014. The last 2 years have been the most professionally satisfying time of my career as a diabetes educator. I have had the opportunity to work with some wonderfully committed educators. However, it is important that another team continue the work, so I’m so happy to announce that beginning January 2014, Lisa Laird, RN, BSN, CDE, Southeast Pennsylvania LNG representative will be the next CB Chair. We also said goodby to members that have worked very hard for Pennsylvania; Kathy Guy (outgoing Secretary); Rosemary Takacs (outgoing Advocacy leader); Diane Harbaugh (outgoing Technology leader). We welcomed back to the board, Arlene Felecia (Secretary); Nancy Demkosky (Technology Leader); and new members Chelsea Johns (CPLNG); Cheryl Marco (SEPALNG); Amy Sullivan (WPLNG). Please speak with your LNG representative to learn more about volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Coordinating Body wishes all our members Happy Healthy Holidays . See you in 2014!
Thank you
Pat Adams
Chair; Pennsylvania Coordinating Body