STTI Region 14: Connecting and Engaging Members Locally and Globally

The purpose of this presentation is to describe how the Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Region 14 Coordinator and Chapters incorporated STTI Mission and the 2013 Presidential Call to Action in their events and activities. The mission of STTI is to advance world health and celebrate nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service. The 2013 STTI Presidential Call to Action challenged the organization and its members to "serve locally, transform regionally, and lead globally" incorporating themes of Servant Leadership, Connectedness, Transformation and Gratitude. This presentation will describe how the Region 14 Coordinator disseminated information to chapter leaders in New York and New Jersey, and encouraged them to incorporate the mission and the call to action by making them potential themes for their 2014 events. Through electronic mail, "The Circle" on the STTI website, Skype, teleconferences and phone calls, the Region 14 Coordinator was able to engage the region chapter leaders and support them as they created educational and social opportunities for the members at large. The Region 14 Coordinator also created different work groups, such a Planning Committee and Communication Committee to help in chapter endeavors. Region 14 Chapters actively incorporated the themes into their event planning for the year 2014. The STTI Mission and Call to Action were made the basis of the Region 14 Biennial Conference to give all members an opportunity to engage in the topic. The Region 14 Coordinator and Chapters were effective. Region 14 members incorporated the STTI Mission into their events and activities. The call to action also incited many members to start or continue service projects to communities locally, regionally and globally. Examples of chapter initiatives that included these themes were presented at the Founder's Day event of the New Jersey Consortium, the Long Island Consortium in New York, and in the Region 14 Biennial Conference. The initiatives included but were not limited to: service and medical missions to Haiti and Dominican Republic, educational opportunities for Haiti and Tanzania, and networking workshop for Region 14 members encouraging connectedness. Outcomes of these initiatives will be discussed.