Greetings TAVNE Friends and Colleagues!

Here we are in the middle of a hectic Spring semester, so it seems a little surreal to be talking about our October Conference.  Yet, we must. Plans are under way to bring you a conference dedicated to helping us do what we do in refreshed, innovative ways.   The Executive Board is also developing a strategy to explore the issues impacting vocational nursing education.  Some of these issues include shrinking clinical sites, lack of faculty, push for increased enrollments in community colleges, quests for innovative curriculums, and the effects of the Texas Team work on vocational nursing education.

Some reminders, the Executive Board and committee members represent you on several committees around the state.  These include, but are not limited to, the Board of Nursing Advisory Committee on Education, the TPAPN Advocacy committee, and the Texas Nursing Workforce Committee.  We will report to you in October. Remember, we desperately need your input about the issues impacting you, so that we can represent you adequately.  Your feedback at the conference and your comments throughout the year give us this.  Also, as with last year, your membership is included in the conference fee. This may allow promote some schools to pay for both. 

The first Jackie Morgan Faculty Scholarship will be awarded this fall.  Criteria for selection will include leadership, career goals and a passion for vocational nursing education.   Look for information on the website in the very near future.  The winner will be selected in collaboration with Jackie’s family and the Executive Board. 

The poster session was well received at the last conference.  We will continue this.  The criteria for selection will be posted by the end of June.  Please start talking now about the great things you are doing and would like to share with everyone!

 And finally… we still encourage schools to contribute door prizes, however, based on feedback from members, there will be a new procedure to collect and distribute these.  This direction will come from our Conference Planner, Linda Bland.

I look forward to seeing you in Irving, Texas at the Sheraton Grand, October 24-26, 2012!