Message from President Thorson Regarding Dues

September 2, 2005


Dear CRNA Colleague:

In the next few days you will receive your annual AANA dues statement in the mail. It is my hope that you will once again renew your membership and be part of the more than 90% of the nation's CRNAs who belong to the AANA.

You will notice that your dues statement is arriving later than usual this year. I want to briefly explain the rationale behind this. A proposed bylaw change that would have resulted in a dues increase was considered by the members at the AANA Annual Business Meeting held on August 7, 2005 in Washington, D.C. The proposed bylaw change did NOT pass, and the concept of a dues increase was referred to committee for further consideration. However, because of the proximity of the Annual Business Meeting to the regularly scheduled dues statements mailing, the dues statements simply could not be sent out at the end of July this year. I apologize if this delay caused you any undue confusion or concern.

This coming year, the AANA will be celebrating its 75th Anniversary as a professional association, and what a historical year it will be! We have much to celebrate, both in our members' past accomplishments and a future filled with opportunity. Together, we have a collective strength and unity greater than any healthcare professional organization in the United States. For most CRNAs, being a nurse anesthetist is synonymous with being a member of the AANA. As members of this proud Association, we hold an unwavering commitment to excellence in anesthesia practice, education and research.

Your participation as a member of the AANA is vital to the organization's strength. While the exact future of healthcare is uncertain, we know that change is inevitable. However, we have the ability to shape change, not just react to it. To that end, we must be seated at the table and have an equal voice with those government and healthcare leaders who will decide what the future looks like-what our future looks like.

In addition to renewing your membership in the AANA, I am asking you to also consider donating the equivalent of one hour's salary to both the AANA Foundation and CRNA PAC so that together we can shape the future. Please send your donation of one hour's salary to both the Foundation and the PAC to: AANA, 222 S. Prospect Ave., Park Ridge, Illinois 60068-4001, Attn. Jan Benjamin, Controller, Finance. (Please note that contributions to CRNA PAC may not be drawn from a corporate account.)

Our future is bright, but for it to remain that way we need the commitment and involvement of all member CRNAs. Thank you in advance for your continuing support.

Sincerely,


Brian Thorson, CRNA, MA
AANA President