Chapter-community partnerships benefit all who are involved.

ONS chapters are the heart and soul of the Society. Did you know that ONS has 233 chapters, representing 11,257 members? Here is some more ONS chapter trivia.

* 30% of ONS members belong to a chapter.

* Chicago had the first chapter, chartered in 1980.

* Golden Empire Oncology Nurses (CA) is the newest, chartered in 2007.

* The average chapter has 60 members and holds six meetings a year.

* Tuesday evening is the most common meeting night.

* Most chapter meetings include dinner.

ONS chapter membership provides opportunities for education and networking. In addition to personal growth opportunities, the local chapter provides a structure for community partnerships that reaches beyond the outreach of individual institutions.

The ONS Connect Editorial Board recognizes that many ONS chapters reach out to their communities. Contributing Editor Michele E. Gaguski, MSN, RN, AOCN[R], CHPN, APN-C, reports on two ONS chapters that are actively engaged in projects in their communities (see p. 10). In One Nurse's Perspective (p. 15), Mary A. Brandsema, RN, OCN[R], describes the Central Jersey Chapter's partnership with the Police Athletic League and the Brick Municipal Alliance Committee.

In each of these stories, ONS nurses combine their professional organization activities with community service. They illustrate yet another benefit to ONS membership--even if you never attend a national meeting or participate beyond the local level.

Consider how your local chapter can advance ONS's mission to transform cancer care and extend the activities of local members. If only 30% of members are involved at the chapter level, we have a pool of more than 20,000 nurses who are ONS members that can be recruited for local membership. Your chapter's membership committee can attend community cancer awareness functions with two objectives in mind: participation in the event as an ONS member and recruitment of nurses into the local chapter.

In addition, chapters can strategically place members as liaisons with various community groups. For example, do you have a member on the planning committee for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure[R] event? Are oncology nurses active in school parentteacher organizations who also can provide cancer prevention education for students and teachers? Are ONS members representing state regions on the state comprehensive cancer plan coalitions?

These are just a few ideas to consider. We would like to hear about your chapter's successful community partnerships and projects. Share your stories in an e-mail to [e-mail].

Debra M. Wujcik, RN, PhD, AOCN[R], Editor