Each of us makes a difference in our profession with the drive to accomplish a common goal. We will always be nurses, even if “retired”, and will want what is best for our patients. All of us will probably be a patient at some point in time! I see nurses determined to share their passion and shine for our future everyday. Many of our hospitals and other workplaces have students with us for the summer trying to learn peri-operative nursing, to see what it is all about. It is so encouraging to see the nurses in our profession being a part of teaching the students, sharing their passion, and in turn seeing the students so excited and willing to learn.

We have the opportunity through our organization to grow as leaders, teach, learn and continue our education. We all need to shine bright for our future and encourage our future leaders. I encourage each of you to reach out to other nurses as mentors, teachers and friends. Invite them to join you for one of our meetings or socials. I can see the determination of our members and colleagues to “share the passion“ for AORN and peri-operative nursing every day as we “shine bright for the future”. We can all look for better ways to provide patient safety and make a difference in the lives of our patients as well as keeping a safe workplace environment.

Thanks to all of you for what you bring to the nursing profession and to AORN. I am looking forward to serving as Dallas AORN President for the coming year and getting to know each of you better. I will be attending the AORN Leadership Conference in Denver from July 25 to 27, to obtain new and exciting ideas for our chapter.

Our meetings this year will be at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, the first one will be on September 10, 2008, the business meeting will begin at 6:30 and program to follow. The program and dinner will provided by Medline. This year we will continue to have a business meeting and program every other month which will be September, November, January, March and May. We would also like to have a social meeting in October, December and February.