Friday, October 10, 2003
Park Hyatt Hotel, Washington, DC
Presiding: Selena Swartzfager, President
Recorder: Marilyn Hargrave, Secretary

Members Present:
Selena Swartzfager, President
Rudy Gomez, President Elect
Susie Miller, Past President
Marilyn Hargrave, Secretary
Kathleen Papes, Membership Chair
Linda Bantle, Networking Chair
Sherry Abernathy, Nominating Chair
Tricia Satkowski Harper, Planning Chair
George Gunderson, Special Projects Chair

The meeting was called to order at 8:15 am.

Minutes:
The minutes of the April 25, 2003 Annual Meeting and April 25, 2003 Steering Committee Meeting were read and approved. Motion by Susie Miller, second by Rudy Gomez.

Old Business:
Selena Swartzfager accepted the archived BONUS materials from Helena Otzman at the April meeting and has reviewed the materials and passed them to Jennifer Ahearn for storage at AACN.

The committee expressed concern regarding the need to complete the archived records and establish a method to ensure that future records are submitted for archive.
Decision: Rudy Gomez will look through his personal file of materials and try to fill in information and articles. Selena and Jennifer Ahearn will work together to bring past newsletters up to date. February 28, 2004 is target date for these items.

New Business:
Rudy Gomez presented a draft proposal for a change to the BONUS by-laws regarding honorary and alumni membership. He will work on the list of eligible honorary members and present to the Steering Committee by February 28, 2004. Further discussion and motion detailed under committee reports.

Selena presented the BONUS Administrative Fund financial statement dated
7/1/02 – 6/30/03. The statement was accepted by the committee.

Committee Reports:
Networking – Linda Bantle
Discussion was held regarding additions to the content of the BONUS web site. Decision: It was suggested and accepted that the BONUS meeting minutes be posted. The Secretary will forward the minutes to the Networking Chair after they are approved.
Linda discussed the effort that Bill Wachob is heading to post BONUS members pictures on the web site. Concern was expressed regarding privacy. It was decided that it is an individual choice to submit a picture for posting.

Membership – Kathleen Papes
There are 108 BONUS members. Kathleen will continue to work with Jennifer Ahearn regarding correspondence and contact with schools not participating in BONUS.

Nomination – Sherry Abernathy
Discussion was held regarding the structure of the nomination committee.

Planning – Tricia Satkowski-Harper
Suggestions from the attendees of the April 2003 meeting were brought forward.
Decision: Everyone enjoyed the door prizes at the annual meetings and that will continue. Also, it was suggested that we try a “wear your school colors day” for the Friday morning meeting.
A concerted effort with be made to post conference information and dates to the web site earlier than in past years.

Special Projects – George Gunderson
The committee will solicit poster presentations for Spring 2004 meeting. Discussion was held regarding the questions asked through the list-serve and a means to compile the information and make available to membership.
Decision: This committee will work on a way to provide the information either on the web site or at the annual meeting.

Past-President – Susie Miller
Susie thanked Selena and everyone for filling in for her last year.

President Elect – Rudy Gomez
Rudy Gomez suggested that the committee chairs contact volunteers to involve them in the activities of the committee as early as possible.

Kathleen Papes made a motion recommending that the by-laws revision regarding Honorary Member and Alumni Member under Section III Membership, submitted by Rudy Gomez, be accepted and brought to the general membership at the Annual Meeting. Linda Bantle seconded and all approved. Further discussion will be held regarding the dues and criteria for membership. A draft of the proposed revision will be posted on the web site.

Secretary – Marilyn Hargrave
Minutes submitted and approved.

Jennifer Ahearn joined the committee for lunch and reported on the preliminary findings of the Task Force on Options for Participation in AACN. The committee took a tour of the AACN office at One Dupont Circle.

Agenda planning for April 2004 meeting in Seattle
Keynote speaker and alternates were chosen and will be contacted. It was suggested that the keynote speaker lead a break-out session, if their schedule allows.

As requested by the general membership, some break-out sessions will be designated for public or private schools.

Discussion was held regarding changing the annual meeting start and/or end day or time to assist with travel.
Decision: A committee will be established to determine need and feasibility.
If a change is recommended, it may take approximately two years to implement.

Subjects suggested for the breakout sessions:
Human Resources
Effective Leadership
Practice Plans
Diversity
Business Plan
Criminal Background Checks
Compliance tracking
Questions from list-serve
Workload
Electronic workplace

Tour of meeting site.
Meeting adjourned at 4:30 pm.

January 2004 - Minutes approved by email vote of steering committee members