Board of directors strategic planning session.

The CARING Board of Directors held a strategic planning meeting on January 18th -20th, 2008 at the Airlie Center in Warrenton, Virginia. Board members Jerry Chamberlain (President), Patrick Shannon (Vice President), Stephen Prouse, (Secretary), Amy Jacobs (Treasurer), Susan Newbold, Liberty Rovira, Ed Stern and Nelita Zytkowski took time from their busy schedules for this annual board meeting. Board member Jason Windsor was not able to attend due to military service in Afghanistan. Board members meet by telephone conferencing each month and also conduct face-to-face meetings annually. This board uses a combination of regular conference calls, email and an annual face-to-face meeting that is useful in providing the momentum and direction for productive virtual teamwork.

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Board members met over a three-day span for 10 hours each day to discuss strategic and operational planning for 2008 and beyond. Board members reviewed the mission of CARING and began brainstorming ideas for better ways to serve our members. Discussions focused on ways to deliver important members services over the next three years. Topical themes included web cast education, helping members grow and advance in their professional practice, email management, networking and services related to the Job Bank. The spirited discussions gave clarity and serves as the foundation for the strategic blueprint for the board to follow. The underpinnings of the blueprint focuses on the culture of "community" where CARING will focus on supporting professional growth of members and ultimately the growth of the Nursing Informatics specialty.

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Board elections were also a major topic at the meeting. A timeline was established, and Stephen Prouse will be in charge of organizing the elections. All CARING members are encouraged to consider running for the board. Go to www.caringonline.org for announcements and availability of forms.

Airlie Center (www.airlie.com) is a dedicated conference site located in the heart of the Virginia Piedmont countryside where the campus is surrounded by acres of wetlands, meadows, woodland and local wineries. Airlie Center is known for providing a unique environment for the creative exchange of ideas and it is a well-known conference center for hosting professional conferences in other industries. Airlie guests also enjoy creative cuisine prepared by a chef who uses seasonal ingredients grown in an organic vegetable garden on campus. Airlie Center was also the location for the first Weekend Immersion in Nursing Informatics (WINI) in 1995.

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The Board of Directors planning session was productive and gave board members the opportunity to define the strategic initiatives and to form a plan to outline the tactical and operational steps toward success.

Liberty Rovira, MN, RN-BC

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