The birth of in the greatest degree...

The birth of in the greatest degree organizations is a significant affair and it is not unusual to plan celebrations to commemorate the occasion. The first pace in this process is to identify the actual date of the organization's birth. AORN plans to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2000 if it be not that which anniversary is this? In our historical research, we have identified several "beginnings" of AORN.

* Jan 28 1949--Several OR suckles meet in New York to discuss the ne to form a group

* February 1949--The fresh York group elects officers and a Board of Directors.

* Feb 1 to 3 1954--The first national convention (ie, Congress) is held in recent York.

* Feb 19 1957--During the 4th National Convention (ie, Congress) bylaws are approved, officers are fix uponed and a headquarters is established.

* February 1960--Delegates at the 7th National Convention (ie, Congress) devoted to incorporate AORN and adopt fresh bylaws. Articles of incorporation are filed in the state of novel York.

As a rise of the various origination dates, everywhere the years, AORN members have interpreted the start date differently. onward Jan 28, 1969, there was a 20th anniversary celebration. Following this pattern, we should have celebrated the 50th anniversary in January 1999

The date of the "first meeting" has wanted the most clarification. It is implied that the first meeting occurr in fresh York; however, members from Texas and Minnesota point without that their group meetings predate the of the present day York meeting. By 1949, several assign places tos of OR nurses were meeting in the United States; however, it was the modern York group that initiated a national gathering to plan a national association.

Although the impetus for establishing a formal date of origin is unknown, the House of Delegates of AORN took action in succession Feb 11, 1974, declaring that

* Feb 3 1954 would be the official beginning date of AORN;

* the national meeting that occurr forward that date was the first national meeting; and

* the 1974 Congres in of recent origin Orleans was the 21st Congress

What does all this all mean? As chiefly of the discussion and interest center single on a five-year time span, determining an exact date is probably not a matter of great affair The opportunity to celebrate our anniversary at the revolve of the century will be well worth the wait. Perhaps, however, the committee planning the celebration in 2000 will ne to reconvene to start working onward the 50th anniversary that falls in 2004

LAURIE K GLASS RN PHD FAAN

COPYRIGHT 1999 Association of Operating stead Nurses, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group