CHATTER
Licensed Practical Nurses Association of Alabama
News Letter ~ August 2014
Hello Alabama LPN's
Convention time is here, so mark your calendars or use any method you usually use to help you remember things. We really want you to attend. This years program is going to be great and will hold your attention. Also this is the year RN's will renew their license, so contact any of them and if they need CH's invite them to come. They can contact me, James Selmar or Janett Blackwood. There are several door prizes and we will have our Alabama and Auburn baskets, and other items for our raffle. Please bring LOTS of MONEY!!!!!
On the local areas across our state LPNAA has several local chapters that have guest speakers to help you get CH's. We encourage you to bring a friend, LPN or RN, to come with you to your local meeting. Tell them this a good way to obtain CH's and it only cost the $5.00 per meeting. Many nurses have children and have a hard time going to all day seminars. If they come each month they will have the 24 CH's they need before the two years is up for renewal. Remember to tell them that it's easier to go to a 1 hr meeting vs. an 8 hour program and dad will probably be more receptive to keeping the children.
The Amberley Suites, Garden Inn and Motel 6 are three hotels that are within walking distance of the First Baptist Church, where the convention will be held. No hotel rooms have been blocked, so you can book at the hotel of your choice. The reason we didn't reserve rooms is the cost. So many of you have various discount cards and can get a better price and with so many of you doing this it will keep LPNAA from having to pay for any reserved rooms not used. Reserved rooms not used can be costly and be a thorn in our treasury.
I know that many of you have retired or let your license lapse. We would still like to invite you to come and see many of us again. Let us know what your doing, tell us about the exotic trips you've gone on, all the money you won from lottery tickets, about your face lift or your tummy tuck, etc., just tell us what we can look forward too. We would love to see and visit with you. Get the answers to, "What ever happened to Mrs. What's her name? And remember the time when ??? Bring newspaper articles and pictures you might share for our scrapbook. Our membership has dwindled and fresh, young nurses are needed to build us back up and strengthen us. We need working LPN's, who have been members of LPNAA for two years. There are certain requirements that have to be met before you are eligible for a board position. We encourage you to think about this, either for yourself or someone else.
I want to thank all LPNAA and AFLPN members for their service and dedication to the nursing profession and to our associations, for without you, patients might not receive quality nursing care and our professions would suffer. May you always put your patients first and that service will be returned.
Blessings,
Patsy Cathcart, LPN
LPNAA President
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Vice President's Report
Janett Blackwood
Athens, Alabama
Goodness - Where has the time gone!
For several months I have made it my mission to contact every practical nursing school in Alabama. I have found twenty-seven schools with practical nurse programs. Some of these are satellite campuses in other towns. I have contacted all by fax, phone or e-mail but one. They are not answering their phone or returning messages or even e-mailing me. The feed-back response has been exceptional. I have faxed or e-mailed all schools with some making plans to attend our convention.
My next project is checking on the status of the lifetime members. Several of them are deceased. If you have any lifetime members living, or deceased in your chapter, please contact me with their name and address. Any and all help is appreciated in this endeavor. Since we deleted lifetime memberships, to help the state financially. This will help to update our records and acknowledge their lifetime membership.
See you at the convention
Janett Blackwood, LPN
LPNAA State Vice-President
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Hello Everyone,
Greetings from Chapter 3 of Montgomery. We are asking God for blessings to everyone who has an ailment; comfort to all breathed families. May all those returning to school have an interesting school term. Good luck to all nurses during the renewal season. Have a cool summer.
Ozie Harold, LPN
Chapter 3 President
Secretary's Report
Joyce Hardy, LPN
No report due to illness
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Chapter 3
Montgomery
Hello Everyone,
Greetings from Chapter 3 of Montgomery. We are asking God for blessings to everyone who has an ailment; comfort to all breathed families. May all those returning to school have an interesting school term. Good luck to all nurses during the renewal season. Have a cool summer.
Ozie Harold, LPN
Chapter 3 President
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Chapter 5
Decatur
We have been busy preparing for this year's convention. Things are almost completed, except for the last minute items. Our committee has planned meals, snacks, door prizes, raffle items, and entertainment. Everyone has pitched in getting excited and anxious for September 25th and 26th to get here.
First Baptist Church is a large church here in Decatur. They have a large exercise room and an indoor walking area. They take membership and anyone can join. This really makes it nice being indoors.
Motels located near the church are:
- Amberley Suits 256-355-6800
- Garden Plaza Inn 256-355-3150
- Motel 6 256-308-0312
All are within walking distance of the church.
This year snacks,a box lunch, breakfast and banquet meals will be served.
The state board meeting in August was held here and we had several in attendance. A lot was covered and convention plan were given. We are all looking forward to seeing everyone there, so please make plans to attend and money for raffles.
Patsy Cathcart, LPN
Chapter 5 President
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Chapter 6
Tuscaloosa
Chapter 6 has 4 new members! We have been meeting every month, wonderful speakers, thanks to Joyce Hardy! Had Boston Butt sale, going to sell more before the years out. Had our annual picnic at my house on the river August 2nd, lots of fun-great food! Chapter 6 is looking forward to the upcoming Traumatic Nursing Seminar - hosted by Decatur - looks like great speakers and CE's for attendee's. Thanks for all the hard work getting this together! Please pray for Joyce Hardy ( under the weather) and Faye Avery who had shoulder.
See you in Decatur September 25th and 26th.
Cindy Buford, LPN
Chapter 6 President
State Education Chairperson
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Chapter 8
Dothan
Hello Everyone,
Hope life is treating everyone well.
We only have three members due to health reasons unable to go to Wallace like we use to. With all the rain and bad weather that we have been having, it is hard for me to do much of anything lately. I was unable to make the trip to the last board meeting in Decatur due to health and car trouble, but hope to see all Sep. 25th and 26th for the convention in Decatur this year.
We had one small fundraiser. We have met every month for our meetings on the second or third Tuesday of each month. We had to cancel our meeting in June due to bad weather. We invite any and all that would like to join our chapter, to just contact any of us and we would gladly stir you in the right direction. Remember, if any LPN would like to ever serve on the Alabama Board of Nursing you have to be a member of LPNAA. For they pick two from the LPNAA and two from the AFLPN. Coming to our meetings help you obtain your contact hours and helps you know what is going on with the LPNAA and ABN Board. It would be nice to see some new faces and to help keep our nursing profession going without fading us out! It starts with each and every LPN!
Hope to see everyone at the convention. Hope Joyce Hardy, Patsy Cathcart and Faye Warner are feeling better. Our chapter would like to send our condolences to families of Betty Cook, Jean Flanders, Lorraine Beavers (brother passed), Johnni Sanky (mother passed). We are sorry for your loss.
Celeste Gabbrielli, LPN
Chapter 8 President
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Chapter 12 has folded and no longer meets. I talked to Susie Brown who was president of the chapter. She told me that they had lost one of their members - Jean Flanders. She passed away a few months back and wanted us to know this.
Janett Blackwood, LPN
Vice-President
Chapter 12
Anniston
Chapter 12 has folded and no longer meets. I talked to Susie Brown who was president of the chapter. She told me that they had lost one of their members - Jean Flanders. She passed away a few months back and wanted us to know this.
Janett Blackwood, LPN
Vice-President
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There not much to report, just trying to find new members.
Lorraine Beavers, LPN
Chapter 23 President
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We are sad to report that Betty Cook has passed away. She was a faithful nurse and faithful member of the LPNAA for many years. She served in several capacities including treasurer and vice-president for many years. I am the only active member in chapter 24. If you know anyone interested in joining in the Chapter 24 area, please contact me. My number is 205-489-3259.
Faye Warren, LPN
Chapter 24 President
Chapter 23
Birmingham
There not much to report, just trying to find new members.
Lorraine Beavers, LPN
Chapter 23 President
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Chapter 24
Haleyville
We are sad to report that Betty Cook has passed away. She was a faithful nurse and faithful member of the LPNAA for many years. She served in several capacities including treasurer and vice-president for many years. I am the only active member in chapter 24. If you know anyone interested in joining in the Chapter 24 area, please contact me. My number is 205-489-3259.
Faye Warren, LPN
Chapter 24 President
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Greg Howard
AFLPN President
The license practical nurses association of Alabama has graciously agreed to collaborate with the Alabama Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses to make practical nursing in Alabama the very best it can be.
We need all LPN's and future LPN's to step up, and by joining either association, we can be stronger and successful in numbers and can offer and give the people of Alabama the best nursing care possible. We need you and your membership to proclaim our worth to all who will listen.
Greg Howard, LPN
AFLPN President
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Melissa Bullard
LPNAA Representative
Alabama Board of Nursing
It's been an eventful few months on the Alabama Board of Nursing, a new year with new faces and changes taking place with rules and regulations. The LPN's have finished up with renewals and proof of citizenship due to our State Legislature. Now we began getting proof for the RN's which is a long process for they out number us 3 to 1 and there is only so much a team can do. Please if you know any RN who has not sent proof if citizenship let them know, ASAP! All they need to do is make a copy of their Driver's License and a copy of their nursing license and mail it to the Alabama Board of Nursing in Montgomery. If they are not citizens they need their green card copied, and Driver's License. RN's have to have proof of citizenship before they can do an application for renewal, if they wait until the last minute, it will not be ready for January and they will be working on a lapsed license beginning January 1, 2015. We had a lot of LPN's that didn't have their 24 CE's and waited to send their renewal on time, which means fines and fees for the Alabama Board of Nursing. Let's LPN's be role models for the RN on our next renewal and let's have all our CE's and our renewal done in October! That would be GREAT!
I want to take this time to thank the LPNAA and it's members for letting me represent them. If it weren't for you, I would not be at the Alabama Board of Nursing. I want to thank Jesus for wisdom that only He can give and strength to do what is right and to carry on when I am at my weakest. God is good at all times. I want to thank President, Patsy Cathcart andVice-President, Janett Blackwood for their hard work on this convention. Without them I would not be able to do what I needed to do, God Bless you and your families for putting up with my craziness in getting it ready. Invite a friend, family member and or another nurse to the convention, they are needed. I will be busy the next weeks, I am going to check into the Radio station in Hartselle about advertising our convention on Sunday mornings during their Christian broadcast. I hope they make it real cheap, simple and to the point to reach nurses in the North Alabama area. Thank you again for those who are faithful and serve for the LPNAA.
Melissa Bullard, LPN
LPNAA Representative
Alabama Board of Nursing
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Chrystabell King, LPN
LPNAA Representative
Alabama Board of Nursing
I was approached by the LPNAA to submit an application to Governor Robert Bentley for the opening position for a LPN on the Board of Nursing.
Governor Robert Bentley accepted my application and appointed me to serve on the Board of Nursing. This is both an honor and an opportunity for me to serve my fellow LPN's of Alabama. I am both excited and anxious about serving in this capacity, which I began in January 2014.
With the help of God, my family and LPN's of Alabama, that I will have the strength and courage to stand up for what is right for the nurses and citizens of Alabama. I know there will be times when I will have to make decisions that will not be popular, but in the best interest for he people involved.
If I can be of help to you, please let me know.
Chrystabell King, LPN
LPNAA Representative
Alabama Board of Nursing
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THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2014
STUDENT DAY
7:30am - 8:00am REGISTRATION
8:00am - 8:15am MARCH OF STUDENTS
8:15am - 8:40am PRAYER --- REV. BARRY THOMPSON
WELCOME --- LPNAA PRESIDENT --- PATSY CATHCART, LPN
AFLPN PRESIDENT --- GREG HOWARD, LPN
MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION AND INTRODUCTION OF GUEST
SPEAKER --- TOPIC --- PURPOSE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION
SPEAKER --- SHANNON WILLIAMS
8:40am - 10:00am TOPIC --- SURVIVING SEXUAL ASSAULT
SPEAKER --- APRIL FREE
10:00am - 10:15am BREAK
10:15am - 11:15am TOPIC --- DEPRESSION AND TRAUMA FROM RAPE
SPEAKER --- TERRI NORWOOD
11:15am - 12:30pm LUNCH --- FURNISHED
DOOR PRIZES
LPN STUDENT OF THE YEAR
LPNAA NURSE OF THE YEAR
AFLPN NURSE OF THE YEAR
12:30pm - 2:00pm TOPIC --- COLLECTION OF EVIDENCE, RAPE KIT,
INVESTIGATION OF RAPE, POLICE RESPONSIBILITY AND
SANE NURSE RESPONSIBILITY
SPEAKERS --- SGT GEORGE SILVESTRI OF THE DECATUR POLICE
DEPT. AND LANA HILL, RN OF THE SANE PROGRAM
2:00pm - 3:00pm TOPIC --- TEENAGE SUICIDE
SPEAKER --- DR. STEPHANIE UNDERWOOD
3:00pm - 3:15pm BREAK
3:15pm - 4:15pm TOPIC --- BULLING
SPEAKER --- BRENDA CAUDLE
4:15pm - 4:30pm EVALUATIONS AND CERTIFICATES
6:00pm - 8:00pm BANQUET AND ENTERTAINMENT
FRIDAY
SEPTEMBER 26, 2014
7:30am - 8:15am BREAKFAST AT THE CHURCH
8:15am - 8:30am REGISTRATION
8:30am - 9:30am SPEAKER --- REV BARRY THOMPSON
POWER OF PRAYER
9:30am - 10:30am SPEAKER ---
10:30am - 11:00am BREAK
EVALUATION AND CERTIFICATES
11:00am - 1:00 pm POST BOARD MEETING
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