A letter from the 2018 Chapter President

Dear Gulf Coast GAPNA Colleagues,

As I reflect back on 2017, there were many hardships we endured, but many blessings as well. I wanted to reach out to thank and acknowledge all the previous board members who have served you honorably and volunteered thousands of hours over the past 20 years to better the Chapter and promote the role of advance practice nursing. I am not only honored and privileged to serve you as the 2017-2018 President, but I am humbled too, considering the many outstanding, inspiring and tireless leaders who developed this Chapter through their dedicated service. I hope this is the year we have those role models return to the fold and continue to share experience and knowledge with us. 

I want to extend a special THANK YOU to my predecessor and mentor, Karolina Dimitrova, for her leadership and service as the 2016-2017 Chapter President.  To Rebecca Saade, for assuming the role of Treasurer again, as I believe that Rebecca can help us bring together the past and future of this Chapter with her experience and talents. To Maureen Beck, for her years of service as chapter Treasurer, and to Elizabeth Godlove, who had faith in me and talked me into volunteering for the opportunity to serve you. I also want to thank our Sponsors, because the majority of our meetings would not have been possible without their continued support of advanced practice nurses.

In 2018, my priority will be to (1) ensure that we keep delivering amazing value to you through our educational events, (2) help you professionally as a mentor and (3) continue to provide you avenues for community service and supporting advance practice nursing. If you have an idea, comment, improvement, or criticism, please contact me right away. I will listen and respond - that I promise. If you want to make a difference, reach out to me or Rebecca because we need more board members with great ideas.

Twelve years ago, I joined GAPNA because Rhonda Hunsucker was my boss and told me I should join the organization to network and to learn to be a better GNP. I have stayed and become more deeply involved locally and nationally because of the people like you who are its members. Because of GAPNA, I can honestly say I have grown in many ways, both professionally and personally. It is my hope that you will find value in your membership too and that you will continue to grow with us as we head into 2018 and beyond.

In that respect, I want to encourage active members to renew your national GAPNA membership and encourage more non-members to join GAPNA because of the incredible value proposition that comes with the $100 annual fee.  For a very small investment, you receive membership in the local chapter and the chapter receives a portion of the dues to provide you with educational opportunities. As you know, most of the events are completely free and our Chapter Board orchestrated events in 2017 where you could have received CEU. GAPNA itself holds an untapped wealth of information and resources for you, so please explore this link: GAPNA MEMBERSHIP

I look forward to working with you and for you in 2018!

Very Respectfully,

Lisa A Ginapp, MSN, APRN, AGACNP-BC, WCC, DWC, OMS

Chapter President, Gulf Coast GAPNA, 2017-18