Greater Baltimore Chapter

Greater Baltimore Chapter

GREATER BALTIMORE CHAPTER

ONCOLOGY NURSING SOCIETY

P.O. Box 18417

Baltimore, Maryland21237

January 2009

Dear GBCONS Member

I am beginning my last year as President of GBCONS. It has been a wonderful journey with many rewards and accomplishments for our chapter. Each year has proven to be challenging with constant change related to funding for meetings. This coming year will be no different. The economy and new pharmaceutical regulatory guidelines are changing the landscape. Pharmaceutical regulatory guidelines have dramatically restricted companies’ abilities to support continuing education offerings outside of the hospital and office practices. The GBCONS Board of Directors (BOD) is exploring options to address the changes and continue to provide CE events. Options include the chapter assuming some of the costs of the educational events.

What do the new rules really mean to you?

  • The Program Committee and BOD will search for funded continuing education (CE) programs.
  • Most meetings will be held in a hospital conference room.
  • Social meetings, such as the annual crab feast may have to be fully funded by the chapter and those who attend.

What does the Chapter have planned?

  • No Saturday half day symposium
  • First educational dinner meeting: March 31, 2009 at UpperChesapeakeHospital in Bel Air
  • Dinner meetings are tentatively planned for June 10, October 14, and December 8
  • Crab feast in August, if costs can be managed
  • Chapter bus trip to New York City on September 12, 2009
  • Everyone must provide payment for the trip. If you are an oncology certified GBCONS chapter member, your payment will be returned to you on the bus, the day of the trip
  • OCN review course September 26 and October 3, 2009
  • Franklin SquareHospitalCenter
  • $25 for chapter members and $50 for non-member
  • 11.4 CE’s assigned to this educational offering
  • Annual basket bingo fundraiser in November
  • Meeting flyers to be sent electronically beginning with the Dec 2009 meeting
  • During 2009, membership meeting announcements through the U.S. Mail and electronically
  • During 2008, the chapter began using the ONS GBCONS Virtual Community to send email updates to members
  • If you have not received an email concerning access to this letter, please go to the virtual community and subscribe to chapter announcements.

The Board of Directors and I look forward to seeing all of you in the New Year and thank you in advance for your support of our chapter activities.

Sincerely,

Sally Brown

President, GBCONS

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