Boardroom highlights.

The NANB board of directors met February 21 and 22, 2007 to conduct the affairs of the Association. What follows are highlights of the major decisions taken:

2007 annual meeting

Board members reviewed a preliminary agenda for the 2007 annual meeting and conference scheduled for May 30 (business day) and 31 (education day), 2007 to be held at the Delta Fredericton. This year's theme is "Nursing: Evidence, Innovation and the Future." Invited guest speakers include Suzanne Gordon, author, journalist, and adjunct professor, McGill University; Michael Villeneuve, executive director, Academy of Canadian Executive Nurses; and Karen Neufeld, president-elect, Canadian Nurses Association.

The registration fee for the conference/ education day is $100 for members and $40 for nursing students. There is no fee for the annual meeting/ business day. Watch for complete details about the annual meeting on the NANB Web site at www.nanb. nb.ca and through your local chapter and workplace communication network representative.

NANB awards selection committee

Four members of the board of directors were selected for the NANB awards selection committee to review submissions for awards to be handed out at the 2007 NANB Awards Banquet, to be held following the annual meeting, May 30, 2007. Committee members are Rose-Marie Chiasson-Goupil, Ruth Alexander, Ruth Riordon and Bonnie Matchett. Details and ticket information will be included in the annual meeting and conference materials. The deadline for the submission of nominations for awards was extended to March 30, 2007. Members are encouraged to nominate deserving candidates for this recognition. NANB staff were available to provide assistance and support in the preparation of nominations. Go to NANB's Web site at www.nanb.nb.ca for a complete list of awards.

Long range fiscal plan committee recommends fee increase

Board accepted a recommendation from the long range fiscal plan committee to bring a resolution for a registration fee increase to the 2007 annual meeting. Members will have the opportunity to discuss the resolution and vote on the proposed options. The first option proposes a fee increase of $15 per year from 2008 through to 2011. The second option, if accepted by members, would increase fees by $15 in 2008 and 2009 and $10 in 2010 and 2011.

NANB staff will be holding information sessions around the province to answer questions members may have. Watch for complete details/ schedule on the NANB web site at www.nanb.nb.ca, Info Nursing journal and through your local chapter and workplace communication network representative.

NANB Nursing History Resource Centre

The board of directors voted in favor of donating the Nursing History Resource Centre collection, currently housed at NANB headquarters, to the New Brunswick Museum. The decision to donate the collection, initiated and amassed through the efforts of the late Dr. Arlee Hoyt McGee, will preserve the integrity of artifacts and archival materials and will enhance access to the collection for all New Brunswick nurses and the public. The collection will be named "The New Brunswick Nursing Collection."

The decision also included a commitment to provide financial support for the physical transfer of the collection to the N.B. Museum and ongoing funding, from 2006-2012, to support the collections' continued development, maintenance and promotion.

2007 elections

For the first time in NANB history, every New Brunswick registered nurse will be able to participate in the selection of the next president-elect of the Association for the 2007-2009 term. She will then assume the presidency from 2009 through to 2011. The position of president-elect will be contested by two candidates in an election scheduled for this spring.

Candidates for the board of director position are Darline Cogswell, Rusagonis (Fredericton area), York-Sunbury Chapter and Martha Vickers, Tetagouche (Bathurst area), Bathurst Chapter. Candidate profiles are published in this edition of Info Nursing, on the NANB Web site and will be included with each ballot.

Ballots will be mailed to all NANB members around mid-March and must be received at NANB headquarters on or before April 30, 2007.

Guidelines for camp nursing

The board of directors approved revisions to a document entitled "Guidelines for Camp Nursing in New Brunswick." The publication highlights the role of the camp nurse and provides direction and information for the nurse in preparing for the health needs of campers.

Copies of this publication are available on the NANB Web site at: www.nanb. nb.ca, under publications.

Interest groups recognized

The New Brunswick Nurse Practitioner Interest Group (NBPIG) and the Perianesthesia Nurses of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island were recognized by the board of directors as special interest groups of the Nurses Association of New Brunswick. The Association supports and encourages the development of special interest groups by registered nurses who have a common interest in a defined area of nursing practice. Guidelines for establishing an NANB special interest group are available from the NANB practice department through the practice consultation service at 1-800-442-4417.

UNB nurse practitioner program approved

The nurse practitioner program at the University of New Brunswick was approved by the NANB board of directors for the maximum of three years. The approval visit was conducted last November by Luisa Barton, NP, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario and Barbara Waters, NP, Health Canada, Edmonton, Alberta.

UdeM basic program receives approval

The NANB board of directors accepted a recommendation from an approval team that the basic nursing education program be approved for five years. The approval team consisted of Chantal St-Pierre from the Universite du Quebec en Outaouais, Gatineau, Quebec; Sylvie Larocque, Universite Laurientienne, Sudbury, Ontario and Suzan Banoub-Badour, Memorial University, St. Johns, Newfoundland.