REPORT: October/November 2006

2006 Convention

Voting Body Actions

Resolutions

Resolution on the Role of Registered Professional Nurses in Public Health

WHEREAS, registered professional nurses have an established commitment to addressing the public health needs of the nation;

WHEREAS, a hallmark of public health nursing is service to those most in need, particularly the underserved in both urban and rural communities;

WHEREAS, New York state has an aging population with greater healthcare needs than the general population, growing numbers of uninsured, and unmet needs for services for children;

WHEREAS, New York state has a growing need for culturally sensitive and individualized care for an increasingly diverse population;

WHEREAS, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States;

WHEREAS, the effects of cardiovascular disease can be mitigated by prevention, early detection, and proactive treatment;

WHEREAS, registered professional nurses have an active role in patient education for prevention, early detection, and proactive treatment of cardiovascular disease, as well as other diseases and conditions;

WHEREAS, New York state has continued incidence of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and pertussis;

WHEREAS, New York state has threats of new epidemics; escalating domestic and community violence; growths in incidence and detection of mental health problems, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder; continued incidence of substance abuse; and growth in homelessness and underserved populations;

WHEREAS, there is an epidemic incidence of obesity;

WHEREAS, New Yorkers continue to suffer from the effects of tobacco exposure;

WHEREAS, many New Yorkers are exposed to risk factors associated with poverty;

WHEREAS, New Yorkers are frequently barred from access to preventative and/or comprehensive care, including access to emergency contraception and other measures to avoid unplanned and unwanted pregnancy;

WHEREAS, we are living in times of great domestic and international unrest, whereby we have experienced unprecedented and unimaginable acts of terrorism in New York City and elsewhere: therefore be it

RESOLVED that NYSNA strongly advocate an environment where access to preventative care, intervention, and ongoing care is available to all residents; and be it further

RESOLVED that NYSNA acknowledge that public health nurses, working in a collaborative manner with other professionals, are and should remain at the forefront of public health education, health promotion, disease prevention and treatment, healthcare outreach for the underserved, and disaster preparedness.

Resolution Reaffirming the Right of Nurses to Organize for Collective Bargaining

WHEREAS, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), by its decisions on September 29, 2006 regarding three cases commonly known as the “Kentucky River” related cases, has jeopardized the rights of registered professional nurses and other employees to bargain collectively;

WHEREAS, this decision has the potential to remove collective bargaining representation rights of more than 850,000 RNs nationwide and eight million other workers;

WHEREAS, the NLRB was actively assisted in its anti-union decision by the American Hospital Association, the American Organization of Nurse Executives, and various other supporters of the Bush administration’s anti-labor agenda;

WHEREAS, the decision is intended to have serious impact on the survival of collective bargaining both at the local and national levels and thus threaten the viability of NYSNA, UAN, and ANA: therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the NYSNA Voting Body reaffirms its support for the right of nurses, including charge nurses, to organize for collective bargaining.

Main Motions Approved by the 2006 Voting Body

Motions relating to proposed bylaw amendments that were not adopted.

  • Refer back to Committee on Bylaws the proposed bylaw amendment to Article VIII – CLINICAL AND FUNCTIONAL PRACTICE UNITS (proposing striking out Article VIII and inserting Article VIII – Special Interest Groups);
  • Extend the work of the Expanded Council on Nursing Practice under the structural unit demonstration project for one year.

Assisting nurses who are victims of abuse

  • That the NYSNA board of directors will pursue whatever measures NYSNA can take to assist nurses who are victims of psychological abuse and emotional stress in the course of their practice.

Geographic diversity on NYSNA Board of Directors

  • That the NYSNA board of directors and invited participants at the November 14, 2006 strategic planning retreat address the need for diverse geographic representation on the NYSNA board of directors.

Practice of nurses holding licensure from Commonwealth of Puerto Rico

  • That the NYSNA board of directors develop and support initiatives that would allow nurses from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico holding licensure granted by the Board of Nursing of Puerto Rico to practice nursing in New York state.

Bylaws Amendments Approved by the 2006 Voting Body

Amend Article II – MEMBERS, DUES as follows:

(Bracketed language is deleted; bold language is new; lettering and numbering are changed to accommodate the additional categories.)

ARTICLE II – MEMBERS, DUES, AND AFFILIATES

Section 1. [Qualifications] Members and Dues

A. Members

  1. A Member is one:
    1. who has been granted a license to practice as a registered nurse in at least one state, territory, possession or District of Columbia of the United States or is otherwise lawfully so entitled to practice and who does not have a license under suspension or revocation, and
    2. whose application for membership has been accepted in accordance with association policy, and
    3. who has paid the current dues and any other dues, fees, and financial obligations as required by current policy, and
    4. who has not been suspended or expelled by this association
  2. A Direct Member is one:
    1. who meets the above requirements of a Member, and
    2. whose membership status is further defined in ANA bylaws and agreement between NYSNA and ANA

B. Dues

  1. Annual dues for this association are established by the membership voting by secret ballot.
  2. The annual dues provide membership for twelve consecutive months.
  3. Members who qualify for the following categories may pay reduced dues as established by the voting body:
    1. Nurses not represented for collective bargaining by this association;
    2. Nurses age 62 and older who are retired and earning not more than what social security allows;
    3. Unemployed nurses;
    4. Nurses who are totally and permanently disabled;
    5. Lifetime members.
  4. Upon failure to pay current dues and any other dues, fees, and financial obligations as required by current policy, membership rights and privileges are forfeited.

Section 2. Organizational Affiliates

  1. Definition
    An organizational affiliate of NYSNA is an organization that:
    1. meets criteria established by the NYSNA board of directors;
    2. has been granted organizational affiliate status by the board of directors.
  2. Qualifications
    Each organizational affiliate shall meet the criteria established by the NYSNA board of directors.
  3. Responsibilities
    Each organizational affiliate shall:
    1. maintain a mission and purpose harmonious with the purposes and functions of NYSNA.
    2. pay an affiliation fee to NYSNA.
  4. Rights
    Each organizational affiliate shall be entitled to:
    1. one representative in the NYSNA Voting Body who must be a registered nurse who shall be eligible to vote on all matters coming before the Voting Body except issues related to establishing dues and amendment of bylaws.
    2. make reports or presentations to the Voting Body within its area of expertise, including presentation of proposed actions.
    3. submit the names of qualified registered nurse members as nominees for appointment to serve in NYSNA appointed structural units.

Amend Article XIV – VOTING BODY, Sections 1 and 2, as follows:

Section 1. Composition
The voting body at each annual membership meeting and special meeting shall be composed of the members and organizational affiliate representatives present. There shall be no proxy voting.

Section 2. Qualifications
Current membership in NYSNA or status as an organizational affiliate representative as defined in Article II of these bylaws is required of any individual participant in the voting body and will be verified at the time of registration.

Amend Article VII – COUNCILS

Section 1. Names by deleting b) Council on Ethical Practice and c) Council on Human Rights, and inserting a new b) Council on Ethics and Human Rights, and re-lettering remaining letters in the section.

Amend Article XX – OFFICIAL ORGANS

Strike out “OFFICIAL ORGANS” in the title of the Article and insert “ASSOCIATION COMMUNICATION”.

Strike out “The Journal of The New York State Nurses Association and Report shall be the official organs of this association.” and insert “The board of directors shall establish and maintain vehicle(s) of communication for the association.”

The article, as amended, will read:

Article XX – ASSOCIATION COMMUNICATION

The board of directors shall establish and maintain vehicle(s) of communication for the association. Information carried therein shall constitute official notification to the membership at all times.

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