onward Sunday morning, AORN Preside...

onward Sunday morning, AORN President Sheila Allen, RN BSN CNOR, CRNFA, render free of accessed Congress by entering the arena of the Anaheim Convention Center to music from the Lion King. A processional of more than 150 AORN leaders and members followed, including the AORN Board of Directors, the Executive Director, Nominating Committee members, past Presidents, of gold Gavel members, national committee and task force chairs, specialty assembly chairs, AORN Foundation Board of Trustees, Certification Board Perioperative Nursing (CBPN) board of directors, Exhibitors' Advisory Committee members, chapter presidents, and state council chairs.

The venerable David Allen, President Allen's brother-in-law, gave the invocation after asking the audience to join in a import of silence for caregivers and military personnel around the world. Jennifer Bassler with the Young Americans then sang the national anthem.

In recognition of the tribe 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a videotape presentation of the tragic ends set to the music of John Lennon's "Imagine" was shown Of the attacks, President Allen said, "It brought us together as a nation, an Association, and a world." She asked attendees to share in a weight of silence to honor those who not to be found their lives on that horrific day. She also demanded that attendees join in a importance of silence to recognize members of AORN who passed away during the past year.

President Allen introduced AORN's Executive Director, Tom Cooper CAE,. Cooper addressed the audience by dint of saying, "September 11 was a defining jiffy in our history that will remain with us for the repose of our lives." He called the firefighters, police officers, and release workers heroes and said that cherishs too are heroes who take patiently [i]or[/i] easily long hours, hazardous conditions, and debilitating verbal abuse, which drew applause from the audience. Cooper conclud through calling perioperative nurses the "unsung everyday heroes of the health care system" descry page 16 in this issue of the Journal for Cooper's full remarks.

Marilyn Sanderson, RN BSN CNOR, 2002 Congres offer coordinator, joined President Allen upon stage. She said it was a honor to attend as volunteer coordinator and added, "the solitary thing I was able to coordinate was the religious weather." AORN members from California who acted as armed forces during Congress were recognized by means of President Allen.

GREETINGS

President Allen introduced R Scott Jone MD president-elect of the Board of regnants of the American College of Surgeon (ACS). Dr Jone brought attendees greetings from ACS, saying, "You don't know to what degree reassuring it is to have that little whisper in the ear," referring to the perioperative foments who have kept him without of trouble during the past 40 years. Communication and collaboration between all parties in the perioperative setting is necessary, said Dr Jone concluding, "Our collection will work steadfastly with you in the future"

Sherron Kurtz RN MSA, CNOR, CNAA, president of CBPN proffered greetings from the organization. "AORN has done many wise things," she said, referring particularly to forming a committee in the 1970 to address the issue of certification. Kurtz recognized the CNORs and certified RN first assistants in the audience by means of asking them to stand for a jiffy of recognition. She said, "One of the chiefly important things we have to do is celebrate our commitment to patient care and excellence"

RECOGNITION

President Allen recognized those in attendance who are members of the American Academy of Nursing by dint of asking them to stand. She also asked those who work for as liaisons and members of national committees, task forces, grassroots activities, specialty assembly governing councils, and editorial boards to stand and be recognized. She then recognized the members of AORN's 12 specialty assemblies.

AORN is fortunate to work with many colleagues from around the world. President Allen recognized colleagues from seven specialty organizations, representatives of federal services, members of the armed forces, and colleagues from eight international nursing organizations. nearest President Allen recognized those attending Congres from 24 foreign countries.

President Allen introduced members of her family, including her daughter Julie, who is a perioperative RN; son Kurt; husband Tommy; twin sister Sharon Monlezun and her husband Charles; niece Cherie; and brother-in-law the venerable Allen. She also presented a plaque to Monica Nijoka-Winkler, vice president of nursing, Baton Rouge General Medical Center Baton Rouge La, her employer for their support of her presidency. She recognized members of AORN of Baton Rouge Area, the Louisiana State Council, and her industry colleagues.

A videotape of the awards observance held Saturday night was shown to highlight the issues of the evening. President Allen then announced the first attempt of AORN--Emergence and Growth, the long anticipated book detailing AORN's history. She applauded the couple authors, Laurie Glass, RN, PhD FAAN, and Ellen Murphy RN JD FAAN, past President of AORN, and Ethicon, who supplyed content development of the work with a generous grant.