Chair: Brette Svennson, MSN, AGPCNP-BC

Terms of Office: Chair – 2 years (optional 2nd term); Chair-Elect – 1 year, assumes role of Chair; Members – 1 year.

Committee Description: The Awards Committee reviews all applications submitted and recommends recipients for the different GAPNA Excellence Awards (Established Chapter Excellence, Emerging Chapter Excellence, SIG Excellence, and Excellence in Clinical Practice, Excellence in Community Practice, Excellence in Education, Excellence in Leadership, and Excellence in Research). Winners are recognized during the Annual Conference Awards Ceremony.

Goals:

• Redefine the criteria of GAPNA awards to limit nominations (only 1 nomination per Chapter/SIG).
• Continue the enhancement of the recognition of winners.
• Continue to refine the awards dinner to enhance the prestige of the event.
• Attend chapter leadership calls to recruit nominations

Volunteer Time Commitment:

• Attendance at Committee meeting during Annual Conference
• Attendance at Awards Ceremony during Annual Conference
• Participation on monthly conference calls throughout the year (see schedule above)
• Approximately 12-24 hours of outside work throughout the year to include activities surrounding the marketing of the awards program and evaluation of awards nominations.

Awards for Excellence:The Awards Committee accepts Excellence Awards nominations from October through June 1 every year. Winners are announced at the Annual Conference Awards Ceremony in September.

View the different Excellence Awards criteria, or apply online.

Chair: Nina Ganesh Nandish, AGPC, NP

Terms of office: Chair – 2 years; chair-elect – 1 year; member – 1 year.

Committee Description: The Chapter Leadership Committee serves to market the organization to all APRNs, actively recruit new members and new Chapters. This committee helps to develop and coordinate marketing/retention materials through cooperation with designees identified by the BOD.

Goals:

• Increase and maintain current membership.
• Improve communication and participation among all members through utilization of other venues such as Facebook, listserv, ENP, Conference calls and Web-X Collaborate with Health Affairs Committee.
• Develop leaders within chapters utilizing the expertise and guidance from the Leadership SIG.

Volunteer Time Commitment:

• Attendance at committee meeting during Annual Conference.
• Participation on monthly conference calls.
• Approximately 12-24 hours of outside work per year.

Chair: Casey Fowler, ARNP, DNP, NP-C, GS-C

Terms of office: 2 years with option of second term.

Editors:

• Journal section co-editors: Benjamin Smallheer and Abby Parrish
• Newsletter: Carole Bartoo
• Website editor: Casey Fowler

Committee Descriptions:

• Newsletter: coordinates and edits submissions for the GAPNA Newsletter
• Journal: coordinates and edits submission for the GAPNA section of Geriatric Nursing
• Website: coordinates and edits submissions for the eAlerts and website

Goals:

• Encourage Twitter and Facebook exposure.
• Update web content (Clinical Research Corner).
• Encourage newsletter readership.
• Encourage journal article submission.

Volunteer Time Commitment:

• Attendance at committee meeting during Annual Conference.
• Participation on monthly conference calls.
• Approximately 12-24 hours of outside work per year.

Publications:

• The Newsletter is issued quarterly. View current or past issues, locate deadlines, or to submit an article for publication.
• The Journal is issued six (6) times a year, every other month. View current or past issues, locate deadlines, or to submit an article for publication.

Chair: Linda Beuscher, PhD RN FNAP

Terms of Office: Chair – 2 years (optional 2nd term); Chair-Elect – 1 year, assumes role of Chair; Members – 1 year.

Committee Description: The Conference Planning Committee meets via teleconference bi-weekly then monthly to establish the outline for the program and identify key speakers. They are charged with the development of an annual conference that meets the needs of a wide array of APRNs and encourages membership in the organization. Part of their function is to review abstracts for the program.

Goals:

• Planning the Annual Conference
• Develop ideas for sessions and brainstorm speakers
• Develop revised call for abstracts

Volunteer Time Commitment:

• Attendance at Annual Conference
• Attendance at Committee meeting during Annual Conference
• Attendance at Awards Ceremony during Annual Conference
• Participation on monthly conference (Oct-Dec), bi-weekly calls (Jan-Mar), and then calls as needed.
• Approximately 12-24 hours of outside work throughout the year to include activities surrounding the scoring and accepting of abstracts, securing of speakers and session topics, and reviewing the draft registration brochure.

 Chair: Laurie Kennedy-Malone, PhD, GNP-BC, FAANP, FGSA

Terms of office: Chair is 2 years (optional 2nd term); Chair-Elect is 1 year, assumes role of Chair; Members–1 year.

Committee Description: The Education Committee participates in the development of educational programs and information for the GAPNA Website and other resources; members of this committee may participate in a faculty Special Interest Group (SIG) in conjunction with the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF).

Goals:

• Preceptor Toolkit – conduct annual review and make any necessary updates.
• Submit abstract for educational session at 2015 GAPNA conference.
• Continue to sponsor Education related posters and seek opportunity for top abstracts to be presented during break out session at 2015 GAPNA conference.
• Continue to have a voice at LACE, NONPF, and NCSBN.
• Continue to discuss the role of GAPNA in addressing needs of AGNP/AGCNS students for Gero preceptors.
• Pending funding, advertise and evaluate Brooklyn Home for Aged Men Scholarship applications.

Volunteer Time Commitment:

• Attendance at committee meeting during Annual Conference.
• Participation on monthly conference calls.
• Approximately 12-24 hours of outside work per year.

Chair: Deborah I. Wolff-Baker, ACHPN,GS-C

Terms of Office: Chair – 2 years (optional 2nd term); Chair-Elect – 1 year, assumes role of Chair; Members – 1 year.

Committee Description: The Health Affairs Committee monitors legislative events and activities and keeps the Board and membership apprised of events of potential interest and impact to GAPNA and advanced practice nurses that work with the older
adult. The Committee engages the membership in responding to requests for action in response to legislative initiatives and in the preparation of briefing papers that can be utilized for both grassroots and national efforts.

Committee Goals:

2019-2020 Health Affairs Goals

1. Develop policy positions, decisions and collaborations with external organizations or groups that reflect GAPNA's mission, vision, and guiding principles by:

• Proactively identifying opportunities to support GAPNA's strategic plan, policy perspectives and position statements.
• Monitoring Federal and State specific issues related to APRN Practice and/ or access to care.
• Continuing to execute a home health advocacy campaign with the goal of successfully passing legislation supporting APRNs right to order Medicare Certified Home Health for their patients.
• Monitoring current and future policy related collaborations and partnership opportunities, aligning with organizations that align with GAPNA’s mission and goals.

2. Establish mechanisms to achieve policy priorities:  

• Explore the opportunities and potential value of developing a lobbying arm (including PAC development, employing a lobbyist, partnering with other organizations, and other opportunities as identified), and develop a draft proposal for Board consideration.
• Submit one Health Affairs article for each newsletter (#4).
• Submit at least one GAPNA health policy poster/podium abstract for 2020 conference.
• Partner with other committees and SIGs to provide Health Affairs educational update(s) to GAPNA membership during annual conference.
• Enhance partnership with Communication Committee to foster additional social media and website posters.
• Present GAPNA’s Legislative Agenda to at least one external conference (AANP, NONPF, AMDA, HPNA, AAHCM).

Time Commitment:

• Attendance at Committee meeting during Annual Conference
• Participation on conference calls throughout the year
• Approximately 12-24 hours of outside work throughout the year to include activities outside the committee calls (noted above), writing articles for inclusion in newsletter and eAlert, and advising membership of legislative affairs.

Legislative Issues (list): Visit the Health Affairs Legislative Issues section of the website to view any “letters of support” or “letters in opposition of” that GAPNA has signed onto.

Health Affairs Scholarship: Visit the Health Affairs Scholarship page on the website and download an application. The Scholarship is intended to provide assistance to a GAPNA member who wishes to attend the annual American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) Health Policy by granting them $1,500.00 to be used for registration fees, travel, lodging, and other summit-related costs.

Chair: Cindy Gerstenlauer, ANP-BC, GNCS-BC, CDE, CCD

Terms of Office: Chair – 2 years (optional 2nd term); Chair-Elect – 1 year, assumes role of Chair; Members – 1 year.

Committee Description: The Historical Committee gathers and preserves GAPNA documents and pictorial memorabilia from inception in 1981 to present. They display historical material during the Annual Conferences every 5 years and utilize background material to assist in marketing and branding the organization. They extend the GAPNA Historical Monograph and panels every 5 years.

Goals:

• To summarize GAPNA annual reports, BOD minutes, conferences, the development and status of the GAPNA APRN Gerontology Certification exam for the purpose of  historical documentation, archiving, extending the historical panels and monographs.
  To continue to archive the saved GAPNA historical materials at the UVA, The Eleanor Crowder Bjoring Center for Nursing Historical Inquiry
  To support the cost of archiving through an annual line item in the GAPNA budget for a $1000 donation, and to solicit donations to the Kathy Fletcher Archiving Fund from the GAPNA membership.
  To develop a process for GAPNA and Chapters to ready their records for archiving.
  Continue to spotlight committee members in the GAPNA newsletter.

Time Commitment:

• Attendance at Committee meeting during Annual Conference
  Participation on monthly conference calls throughout the year (3rd Tuesday of the month, 8 PM EST)
  Approximately 12-24 hours of outside work throughout the year to include activities outside the committee calls, such as reviewing old files and documents to decide what should be archived, summarizing reports, writing newsletter articles, etc.

Historical Monograph: The Historical Committee put together a 50-page, soft covered monograph of the history of GNP’s and advanced practice nursing, “Evolution of the Gerontological Nurse Practitioner and the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association 1981—2011” The publication was initially available through Amazon for $25.00. It is now available on the GAPNA Website to members only.

An “Addendum for the 35th Anniversary of the Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association 2011-2016” has been added.

Chair: Linda Keilman, DNP, MSN, GNP-BC, FAANP

Terms of Office: Chair – 1 year (elected); Chair-Elect – 1 year (elected), assumes role of Chair; Members – 1 year.

Committee Description: The Nominating Committee works to coordinate the nominations for the GAPNA Executive Board which consists of a President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, and two Directors at Large.

Goals:

• Increase membership voting by 20%
• Ballot to include 2-3 names for each position

Time Commitment:

• Attendance at Committee meeting during Annual Conference
• Participation on monthly conference calls throughout the year (see schedule above)
• Approximately 12 hours of outside work (mostly Oct-Feb) to find and solicit volunteer leaders for the election slate.

Call for Nomination Form: Nominations for the Board of Directors and Nominating Committee will be accepted through April 1. Elections take place during the month of May. You must be a member-in-good-standing in order to cast your vote. If you are interested in serving, please complete an online form (available September – April).

Chair: Christine  Tocchi, APRN, PhD, C-GNP

Terms of office: Chair is 2 years; Chair-elect is 1 year; member is one year.

Committee Description: The Research Committee solicits manuscripts for the GAPNA Newsletter and promotes research and practice poster and oral presentations at the GAPNA Annual Conference.

Goals:

• Coordinate the process for the advertisement, review and final presentation of Research Poster and Oral Presentations at GAPNA's Annual Conference.
• Review policies and process for access of members for research and data set and make recommendations for any needed changes.
• Collaborate with one other committee to develop a research project proposal.
• Contribute manuscripts and news items for GAPNA newsletter.
• Evaluate and make recommendations for scholarship development of GAPNA members.

Volunteer Time Commitment:

• Attendance at committee meeting during the Annual Conference.
• Participation on conference calls throughout the year.
• Approximately 12-24 hours of outside work throughout the year to include activities to prepare for a Pre-Conference session and secure speakers, as well as, promote and review abstracts that are submitted.