Xi Kappa Chapter Elects New Officers Marjorie McCullagh

The Xi Kappa Chapter-at-Large elected new officers for the 2005-2006 year. For the first time in chapter history, the election was conducted using an electronic ballot. The election brought several new officers into the Governing Council, and renewed terms of others. A summary of the election winners appears below.

President	Marjorie McCullagh
VP Concordia College	Rhonda Boldgrean
VP Jamestown College	Lindsay Bontjes
VP MSUM	Julene Brown
Secretary	Jane Lindlad
Treasurer	Diana Moon
Counselor Concordia College	Jennifer DeJong
Counselor MSUM	Barbara Matthees
Counselor NDSU	Beverly Greenwald
Leadership Succession	Sara Stetz

Board Activities: see related stories: Facilitated Leadership Transition and Strategic Planning Retreat
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Avian Influenza Presentation, January 19, 2006 by Jami Petry

Avian Influenza: The “Bird Flu”!

Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society, Xi Kappa Chapter, in a joint effort with the North Dakota Nurses Association District IV, recently hosted Dr. John R. Baird, the North Dakota Health Officer, on January 19th, 2006.

Nearly 60 people attended this insightful presentation on the Avian Influenza situation and its impact on public health as a whole. Baird spoke briefly on the background of influenza and how the Avian strain came into mainstream. Baird spoke in depth on the specifics of Avian Influenza and its potential impact on health care. Dr. Baird finalized his talk with encouragement to nurses as a whole to consider, not only the global and national effects of Avian Influenza, but also the local and individual impact.

He encouraged nurses to get involved early in the preparedness for the possible pandemic.Additional information may be found at the following websites:

Fargo Cass Public Health: http://www.cityoffargo.com/health/

North Dakota State Health Department:: http://www.health.state.nd.us/

Centers for Disease Control (Influenza): http://www.cdc.gov/flu/

US Department of Health & Human Services (Pandemic Flu): http://pandemicflu.gov/

World Health Organization (Influenza): http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/en/

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Xi Kappa Chapter-at-Large Inducts 43 New Members by Barbara Matthees

The 11th Annual induction of new members to the Xi Kappa-at-large Chapter was held at the NDSU Alumni Center on October 17, 2005. Forty four new members, representing the top of each nursing class at the three institutions, plus honorable nurse leaders from the community, were inducted. The event was attended by friends and family members of the inductees. Dr. Marjorie McCullagh, our Chapter President, led the induction ceremony and each campus Counselor introduced the inductees and included the career aspirations of each. Each campus added many talented and ambitious new members! We are proud to have them as members of our honorable society.

Jennifer DeJong from Concordia College introduced Jessica Lynn Gold, Motley, MN: Joseph Halvorson, Paynesville, MN; Jessica Lynn Henriksen, Marshall, MN; Bethany Meier, Jennifer Meier, Albany, MN; Karen Peters, New York Mills, MN; Erika Stanfel, Alicia Swanson, Krista Wright, Great Falls, MT; and Amanda Jo Zeinstra, Holland, MN.

Teree Rittenbach from Jamestown College introduced Shanna Anderson, Jamestown, ND; Traci Berg, Wilton, ND; Cara Cosgriff, Big Timber, MT; Cheri Ewert, Landon, ND; Katie Gustin, Mandan, ND; Lanette Harr, Jamestown, ND; Lindsey Hauge, Stanley, ND; Garrett Heidenbrink, Jamestown, ND; Kalin Keahey, Aberdeen, SD; Christina Lindman, Minot, ND and Katie Van Roeke, Corsica, SD.

Barbara Matthees from MSUM introduced Henrik Bjorndahl, Fergus Falls MN; Peggy Boeck, Paynesville MN; Patricia Bricker, West Fargo ND; Mary Nelson, Park Rapids, MN; Mary Randelman, St. Francis MN and Tami Such, Pelican Rapids, MN.

Beverly Greenwald from NDSU introduced Jennifer Ching, Estelline, SD; Dawn Cox, Fargo, ND; Sheila Friedt, Mott, ND; Amy Galle, Grafton, ND; Heidi Hagen, Britton, SD; Lindsay Johnston, Grafton, ND; Sara Kiefert, Fertile, MN; Melissa Laffen, Fargo, ND; Heidi Peterson, Munich, ND; Kayla Preskey, Glenburn, ND; Lisa Steffen, Perham, MN; Tara Stundahl, Twin Valley, MN; Denise Tollefson, Crystal, MN; Brittany Vigen, Buxton, ND; Deborah Warnscholz, Northwood, ND; and Shanna Wohlenhaus, Wheaton, MN.We look forward to mentoring these new members actively participate in our Chapter.

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Chapter Members Enjoy Education Benefits

Membership in Xi Kappa Chapter comes with several benefits. One of these is educational activities. Recently Xi Kappa Chapter has sponsored several educational events on clinical and other topics. At one recent event (a dramatic presentation about end-of-life issues), Xi Kappa Chapter partnered with Hospice of the Red River Valley to offer continuing education units for nurses.

Xi Kappa Chapter will be sponsoring an educational event in March on the topic of mentoring. You can read more about this planned event in a separate item in this issue of the Chapter newsletter.

Members routinely receive e-mail announcements of upcoming Xi Kappa educational events. To receive e-mail announcements, the Chapter must have your e-mail address in the membership directory. This information is supplied from you through the Society office. If you are not receiving announcements, you may have failed to include your e-mail address with your membership renewal. To remedy this, remember to include this information the next time you renew, and meanwhile, forward a request to subscribe to the Chapter e-mail list administrator, Marjorie McCullagh at Marjorie.mccullagh@ndsu.edu

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