• President
• Secretary
• URI faculty counselor
• 1 member for Leadership Succession Committee
• 1 member for Governance Committee

The ballot represents those members who have consented to work toward enhancing the Chapter’s goals. Your vote indicates your willingness to support these individuals. Voting will be held from Friday, March 2-Friday, March 23.

This is an electronic ballot. The new officers will be notified by mail. Election results will be announced at the annual Spring Meeting, April 21^st.

To assist you in selecting new chapter officers and committee members, biographical information is provided & can be accessed by clicking the following link:

http://rinursingsociety.org/slate-of-candidates/

Voting Criteria and Directions

1. Scroll down to the Election Ballot Form below and place your Sigma Theta Tau membership ID number. (Your membership number is located on your membership card and mailing labels of society printed materials. If you are unable to locate either, simply e-mail memserv@stti.iupui.edu or call 888.634.7575 (US/Canada toll free) or +317.634.8171 (International).)

2. Voting can only be done once.

4. Eligible voting members will be those who have paid dues.

5. Click on the box next to the name or names you wish to vote for.

6. Click the submit button once you have finished voting. You may not change your vote or return to your ballot once you have clicked the submit button.

*If you have any questions regarding the voting process, please email me at leeann119@hotmail.com and I will try to answer your questions as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued support and participation in this election.

Leeann Schmitt
Leadership Succession Committee Chair
leeann119@hotmail.com

Election Ballot Form:

As an active member of Sigma Theta Tau, you can enter your votes anytime between Friday, March 2, 2012 and Friday, March 23rd. If you are seeing this message it means that you have arrived on this page before March 2nd, please come back to cast your vote. If you have arrived, after midnight on March 23rd, we apologize, but you have missed the open voting period.

NAME: M. Patricia B. Quigley

CURRENT POSITION: President

PAST POSITION:  President, President-elect, Faculty Counselor

EDUCATION: PhD, Nursing, URI CoN; MNEd, University of Pittsburgh; BSN, University of Pittsburgh; Diploma, South Side Hospital School of Nursing

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/MEMBERSHIPS: Member, ANA, RISNA; Member, ENRS; Member, GAP Analysis Project to Address the Nurse of the Future Competencies; Participant, QSEN Institute

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Volunteer, Neighbor to Neighbor, American Heart Association.

SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES: Initiated and promoted Chapter’s presence on Facebook through encouraging Tara Brown and Noah Bourke to use their talents for this purpose. Initiated the used eyeglasses campaign last year for our community service project resulting in a large donation to the Lion’s Club. Served as delegate to the STTI conventions 2009 & 2011. Represented DU in co-presenting a poster with Diane Gerzevitz at the 2011 Convention. Participated in Regional Conference call which contributed to the Romanian Nurse, Nicoletta , being funded to attend the STTI Leadership Conference in Amsterdam, April 2011.

POSITION STATEMENT: I have enjoyed the opportunities for professional growth while contributing to the Chapter as President. Working with the members of the Board of Directors has provided an opportunity to accomplish new initiatives for the Chapter. With another term as President, I would be able to continue the current initiatives and seek additional ones to help the Chapter grow. Goals would include; 1) creating a legacy of leadership and 2) promoting a welcoming environment to nurture the new members and engage current members. Together, we can provide for the chapter’s continued growth and prosperity. Thank you for your consideration.

POSITION: President-elect

No candidates

POSITION: Secretary

NAME: Deborah A. McKenna

CURRENT POSITION: Newly inducted member December 2011.

PAST POSITION:  N/A

EDUCATION: Rhode Island College, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (graduation May 2012) & Rhode Island College, Bachelor of Arts in Biology, January 1993.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/MEMBERSHIPS: Member of the Nursing Honor Society, Sigma Theta Tau, Delta Upsilon Chapter-at-large, 2011-present. Student representative on the Veteran’s Affairs Nursing Academy Council; a partnership between the Providence VAMC and Rhode Island College, School of Nursing , 2010-present.  Member of the National Student Nurses Association, 2010-present. NSNA Project-in-touch recruiter for academic year 2011-2012. Member of the Student Nurses’ Association of RI, 2011-present. Member of Rhode Island College Student Nurses Association, 2009-present.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Student volunteer clinical skills coordinator & participant at Rhode Island Nurse’s Institute Middle College Charter School, January 2012. Student volunteer clinical/leadership skills coordinator & participant at Veteran’s affairs nursing academy, 2010-present. Fully credentialed volunteer member at Massachusetts Bristol-Norfolk Medical reserve corps, 2010-present. Health & safety chairperson, PTO at Aitken Elementary School, 2000-2007. Child mentor in the power lunch literacy program at Bailey Elementary School, 2001-2003. Member of the Board of Health, Seekonk Town Hall, 1999-2000. American Red-cross volunteer, Camp Casey  Army Medical Clinic, United States army, second infantry division, 1994.

SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES: 2011 undergraduate scholarship recipient.

POSITION STATEMENT: I wish to serve as secretary because I feel that this would be a great opportunity to actively serve our local STTI chapter while also honing leadership, organizational & time management skills in anticipation of my May 2012 graduation. Similarly to the volunteer experiences I have coordinated at the RINI Middle College and through VANA, I look forward to the opportunity to promote new professional experiences for chapter members in order for them to broaden their organizational leadership background and potentially enhance their future career options.

POSITION: URI Faculty Counselor (please choose one)

NAME: Sandra Basley_MSN, RN-BC

CURRENT POSITION: N/A

PAST POSITION:  N/A

EDUCATION: MSN, Education track, University of Hartford

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/MEMBERSHIPS: Membership NLN and Connecticut League of Nursing; Past membership Oncology Nursing Society

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Past involvement with Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts of America and church based youth groups

SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES: Member of Sigma Theta Tau International since 1992, Mu Chapter. In 2007 transferred membership to Iota Upsilon-at-large Chapter. Presently renewing membership and transferring to Delta Upsilon-at-Large Chapter

POSITION STATEMENT: I have always felt that Sigma Theta Tau was the professional nursing organization that truly promoted academic excellence and nursing leadership. Through the support of nursing research, this organization is creating the future of nursing and affecting world health. As I enter academia, I feel strongly that our students need to see this and become involved. I see this position as a way to facilitate this.

POSITION: Leadership Succession Committee (please choose one)

NAME: Linda Hereth

CURRENT POSITION: Program Committee

PAST POSITION:  N/A

EDUCATION: Currentlyenrolled in RN to BSN program at RIC with intent to graduate in May 2012.  Received Associate’s degree in nursing from CCRI in May 2005. Received diploma in Practical Nursing from CCRI in December 2003.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/MEMBERSHIPS: Board certified in gerontological nursing through American Nurse Credentialing Center since 2008. 

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Eyeglass collection for Lion’s Club.  Food drive for Boy Scouts.  Winter coat donation.

SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES: Currently serving on Program committee

POSITION STATEMENT: This would provide me with a greater opportunity to see how Delta Upsilon Chapter meets with other STTI chapters to put together meetings and seminars to enhance professional nursing growth and development. I would be able to gain a better understanding of how different ideas come together to form various programs to meet nursing issues.

POSITION: Governance Committee (please choose one)

NAME: Diane Gerzevitz, APRN

CURRENT POSITION: N/A

PAST POSITION:  Chair Leadership Succession

EDUCATION: MS URI

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/MEMBERSHIPS: Educating hospice nurses in Romania for Hospices of Hope. Academy of Nurse Practitioners, RI NP Council.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Health Ministry Local Church. Board Member Hospices of Hope Romania

SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES: Poster Presenter at Sigma International Convention in Texas 2011

POSITION STATEMENT:  I hold high esteem for Sigma and was pleased to be a committee leader in the past. Engaging with clinicians and scholars internationally is a priority for me at this juncture in my career and Sigma has clearly been shown to be the vehicle to accomplish this. I want to engage other nurses to think globally and link to all Sigma has to offer.

NAME: Laura DeNoncour

CURRENT POSITION: New Inductee

PAST POSITION:  N/A

EDUCATION: Rhode Island College BSN, Graduated Jan 2012

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/MEMBERSHIPS: This is my only professional membership at this time however I am the Secretary of the Student Nurse Association of RI until the end of March.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:  I am involved with the Johnston Girls Softball league providing pitching and batting lessons. I have actively participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.

SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES:I am a new member but look forward to participating in Sigma Theta Tau activities.

POSITION STATEMENT: Governance Committee Member- I am excited to get involved and believe that becoming a governance committee member is a great way to start and get acclimated with the organization. I am interested in learning about the bylaws and would like to work to increase involvement.

CLICK HERE TO CAST YOUR VOTE

From left to right, Joanne Costello, Laura DeNoncour, Susan Amalfitano, and Debrorah McKenna.

The Delta Upsilon Chapter Scholarship for a Rhode Island College undergraduate student was awarded to Deborah McKenna.

The Steiner-Brem Family Memorial Award for Excellence in Parent Child Nursing was given to Rhode Island College student Laura DeNoncour.

Susan Amalfitano received the graduate student scholarship.

Rhode Island College faculty member Joanne Costello, received a research grant for her work evaluating the effectiveness of an initiative in which all patients are offered HIV testing upon admission by nurses through a standing order/protocol system at a local hospital.

Rachel Rotkovitch

East Providence, RI- Rachel Rotkovich, 96, passed away peacefully at home, on September 8, surrounded by her loving daughters, Alona Rotkovich (RI) and Irit Librot (Norwich).

Rachel was a remarkable woman ahead of her time.  Born in Poland, as a young woman she traveled to Palestine where she took a job as a hotel maid in Tiberius.  One of her duties was the therapeutic bathing of a rheumatoid guest that she performed so well that she was encouraged to pursue nursing- a profession previously unknown to her.  Quickly learning English from a Polish-English dictionary, Rachel entered the nursing program at the American University in Beirut, Lebanon.  Upon graduation, she joined the staff of the prestigious 500-bed King Fouad Hospital in Alexandria, Egypt, and within six months, at the age of 26, became the “Matron” or Director of Nursing, appearing and dining frequently at the side of King Faeouk and other dignitaries.  In 1945, she traveled to the United States and received her BS in nursing from Washington Missionary College (currently Columbia Union College/Washington Adventist University) in 1947.  With the newly forms Sate of Israel in 1948, Rachel enlisted there as the Director of Nursing at an army hospital.  There she was reunited with her childhood sweetheart, Ajzik.  Their wedding was the first between two soldiers in Israel.  Rachel’s dedication to enhancing the nursing profession took her back to the United States in the 1960s, where she earned a Master’s in Nursing Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University.  She then worked as director of nursing at Long Island Jewish Hospital, as vice president of nursing at Yale New Haven Hospital, and as a consultant to the US Surgeon General for eight years in the 1980s.  With her determined efforts at bold innovation, Rachel helped to change an entrenched and resistant health-care delivery system in the United States.  She pioneered the profession nursing model- one nurse responsible for the total care of the patient, eliminating the disjointed team approach.  She eliminated the white starched uniforms and created Unit Service Management, which clearly defined nursing and non-nursing tasks and permitted nurses to spend more time with their patients.  This new model vastly improved the quality of nursing care while reducing budget costs.  Rachel’s contributions to the nursing profession are commemorated in the Nursing Hall of Fame at Teacher’s College, Columbia University.  Her exciting and epoch memoirs will be published shortly for all to read.

Rachel is survived by her loving daughters, their husbands Paul Beaudette and Steve Librot, and her grandchildren whom she adored, Adam, Benjamin, Jesse, Hannah, Aaron, David, and Abigail.  A memorial service will be held at the Sugarman-Sinai Memorial Chapel, Providence, RI on September 18.

BIOGRAPHIES OF CANDIDATES

2012 ELECTION

POSITION: President (please choose one)

NAME: M. Patricia B. Quigley

CURRENT POSITION: President

PAST POSITION:  President, President-elect, Faculty Counselor

EDUCATION: PhD, Nursing, URI CoN; MNEd, University of Pittsburgh; BSN, University of Pittsburgh; Diploma, South Side Hospital School of Nursing

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/MEMBERSHIPS: Member, ANA, RISNA; Member, ENRS; Member, GAP Analysis Project to Address the Nurse of the Future Competencies; Participant, QSEN Institute

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Volunteer, Neighbor to Neighbor, American Heart Association.

SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES: Initiated and promoted Chapter’s presence on Facebook through encouraging Tara Brown and Noah Bourke to use their talents for this purpose. Initiated the used eyeglasses campaign last year for our community service project resulting in a large donation to the Lion’s Club. Served as delegate to the STTI conventions 2009 & 2011. Represented DU in co-presenting a poster with Diane Gerzevitz at the 2011 Convention. Participated in Regional Conference call which contributed to the Romanian Nurse, Nicoletta , being funded to attend the STTI Leadership Conference in Amsterdam, April 2011.

POSITION STATEMENT: I have enjoyed the opportunities for professional growth while contributing to the Chapter as President. Working with the members of the Board of Directors has provided an opportunity to accomplish new initiatives for the Chapter. With another term as President, I would be able to continue the current initiatives and seek additional ones to help the Chapter grow. Goals would include; 1) creating a legacy of leadership and 2) promoting a welcoming environment to nurture the new members and engage current members. Together, we can provide for the chapter’s continued growth and prosperity. Thank you for your consideration.

POSITION: President-elect (please choose one)

No candidates

POSITION: Secretary (please choose one)

NAME: Deborah A. McKenna

CURRENT POSITION: Newly inducted member December 2011.

PAST POSITION:  N/A

EDUCATION: Rhode Island College, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (graduation May 2012) & Rhode Island College, Bachelor of Arts in Biology, January 1993.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/MEMBERSHIPS: Member of the Nursing Honor Society, Sigma Theta Tau, Delta Upsilon Chapter-at-large, 2011-present. Student representative on the Veteran’s Affairs Nursing Academy Council; a partnership between the Providence VAMC and Rhode Island College, School of Nursing , 2010-present.  Member of the National Student Nurses Association, 2010-present. NSNA Project-in-touch recruiter for academic year 2011-2012. Member of the Student Nurses’ Association of RI, 2011-present. Member of Rhode Island College Student Nurses Association, 2009-present.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Student volunteer clinical skills coordinator & participant at Rhode Island Nurse’s Institute Middle College Charter School, January 2012. Student volunteer clinical/leadership skills coordinator & participant at Veteran’s affairs nursing academy, 2010-present. Fully credentialed volunteer member at Massachusetts Bristol-Norfolk Medical reserve corps, 2010-present. Health & safety chairperson, PTO at Aitken Elementary School, 2000-2007. Child mentor in the power lunch literacy program at Bailey Elementary School, 2001-2003. Member of the Board of Health, Seekonk Town Hall, 1999-2000. American Red-cross volunteer in South Korea, Camp Casey  Army Medical Clinic, United States army, second infantry division, 1994.

SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES: 2011 undergraduate scholarship recipient.

POSITION STATEMENT: I wish to serve as secretary because I feel that this would be a great opportunity to actively serve our local STTI chapter while also honing leadership, organizational & time management skills in anticipation of my May 2012 graduation. Similarly to the volunteer experiences I have coordinated at the RINI Middle College and through VANA, I look forward to the opportunity to promote new professional experiences for chapter members in order for them to broaden their organizational leadership background and potentially enhance their future career options.

POSITION: URI Faculty Counselor (please choose one)

NAME: Sandra Basley_MSN, RN-BC

CURRENT POSITION: N/A

PAST POSITION:  N/A

EDUCATION: MSN, Education track, University of Hartford

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/MEMBERSHIPS: Membership NLN and Connecticut League of Nursing; Past membership Oncology Nursing Society

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Past involvement with Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts of America and church based youth groups

SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES: Member of Sigma Theta Tau International since 1992, Mu Chapter. In 2007 transferred membership to Iota Upsilon-at-large Chapter. Presently renewing membership and transferring to Delta Upsilon-at-Large Chapter

POSITION STATEMENT: I have always felt that Sigma Theta Tau was the professional nursing organization that truly promoted academic excellence and nursing leadership. Through the support of nursing research, this organization is creating the future of nursing and affecting world health. As I enter academia, I feel strongly that our students need to see this and become involved. I see this position as a way to facilitate this.

POSITION: Leadership Succession Committee (please choose one)

NAME: Linda Hereth

CURRENT POSITION: Program Committee

PAST POSITION:  N/A

EDUCATION: Currentlyenrolled in RN to BSN program at RIC with intent to graduate in May 2012.  Received Associate’s degree in nursing from CCRI in May 2005. Received diploma in Practical Nursing from CCRI in December 2003.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/MEMBERSHIPS: Board certified in gerontological nursing through American Nurse Credentialing Center since 2008. 

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Eyeglass collection for Lion’s Club.  Food drive for Boy Scouts.  Winter coat donation.

SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES: Currently serving on Program committee

POSITION STATEMENT: This would provide me with a greater opportunity to see how Delta Upsilon Chapter meets with other STTI chapters to put together meetings and seminars to enhance professional nursing growth and development. I would be able to gain a better understanding of how different ideas come together to form various programs to meet nursing issues.

POSITION: Governance Committee (please choose one)

NAME: Diane Gerzevitz, APRN

CURRENT POSITION: N/A

PAST POSITION:  Chair Leadership Succession

EDUCATION: MS URI

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/MEMBERSHIPS: Educating hospice nurses in Romania for Hospices of Hope. Academy of Nurse Practitioners, RI NP Council.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Health Ministry Local Church. Board Member Hospices of Hope Romania

SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES: Poster Presenter at Sigma International Convention in Texas 2011

POSITION STATEMENT:  I hold high esteem for Sigma and was pleased to be a committee leader in the past. Engaging with clinicians and scholars internationally is a priority for me at this juncture in my career and Sigma has clearly been shown to be the vehicle to accomplish this. I want to engage other nurses to think globally and link to all Sigma has to offer.

NAME: Laura DeNoncour

CURRENT POSITION: New Inductee

PAST POSITION:  N/A

EDUCATION: Rhode Island College BSN, Graduated Jan 2012

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/MEMBERSHIPS: This is my only professional membership at this time however I am the Secretary of the Student Nurse Association of RI until the end of March.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES:  I am involved with the Johnston Girls Softball league providing pitching and batting lessons. I have actively participated in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.

SIGMA THETA TAU INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES:I am a new member but look forward to participating in Sigma Theta Tau activities.

POSITION STATEMENT: Governance Committee Member- I am excited to get involved and believe that becoming a governance committee member is a great way to start and get acclimated with the organization. I am interested in learning about the bylaws and would like to work to increase involvement.

Click To View

I hope that all DU members take the opportunity to view this poster representing the work of Diane Gerzevitz and her team of healthcare professionals as they make a difference in the care of patients in Romania. DU has provided a forum for informing the membership of this work and a financial contribution to help the program continue in this effort. This is a preview of the poster that Diane and I will present at the Biennial Convention in Dallas, TX in October. We believe that it will disseminate this important work and demonstrate DU’s commitment to health worldwide. 

Thank you,
Patricia Quigley

For further information please contact:

Judy Irene Murphy, PhD, RN, CNE at 401-456-9831 or jmurphy1@ric.edu

Email proposals to: Lauren Slater BSN, RN laurenslater03@gmail.com

Eligibility: All active Sigma Theta Tau Delta Upsilon At Large chapter members

Deadlines:
The deadline for applications for cycle one is 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 30, 2011. Grant award decisions will be announced at the Delta Upsilon induction brunch. A written report of the completed project must be submitted to the Research Committee Chair within 12 months of receiving the award.

Criteria:  CLICK HERE to download a copy of the 2011 Grant Proposal Criteria

Click Here to View the  2011 Criteria for Applicants and Scoring Rubric for Specifics of Proposal

Please Note: Proposals exceeding 5 pages (excluding title page, abstract and references) will not be reviewed.