AORN of North Central Florida

Chapter 1016 Policy

Delegate and Alternate Delegate Selection and Funding

February 17, 1999

I. Delegate and Alternate Status

AORN National Headquarters determines the number of Chapter Delegates and Alternate Delegates a chapter may send to Congress based on the chapter membership on June 30th of the year prior to Congress. Delegates vote on issues and legislation affecting the greater Association of Operating Room Nurses, and elect national officers. Alternate Delegates do not vote, but are available to replace a delegate should some situation arise preventing the delegate from serving.

II. Selection of Delegates and Alternates

AORN Chapter 1016 considers it an honor to attend Congress as a Chapter Delegate or Alternate Delegate. The Chapter will use a Delegate Point System to determine individual qualification for Delegate or Alternate Delegate status. The purpose of this Delegate Point System is to measure the level of Chapter activity involvement; the Chapter assumes those individuals showing a high level of involvement to be both concerned enough about the Chapter to be willing to serve their fellow members in such a capacity, and deserving of the honor of Delegate or Alternate status.

The Chapter Board of Directors will appoint as many Delegates and as many Alternate Delegates as AORN National allows the Chapter. The Board of Directors may decide to send fewer Alternate Delegates to AORN Congress, based on Chapter and members ability to travel to Congress.

Chapter Delegates and Alternate Delegates will serve a term of one (1) year, per the definition in the Chapter Bylaws. This is to ensure Chapter representation on a National level in the event of emergency meetings called by AORN.

The Chapter will use the dates of June 1, YEAR to May 31, YEAR (example, 6/1/1998 to 5/31/1999) as the time interval for Delegate Point Accumulation. Delegate and Alternate Delegate selection will be based on Delegate Point Accumulation to reflect the member’s service to our Chapter.

The Point System will be published in the May and June Chapter Newsletters for members review. Accumulated Delegate Points based on Chapter records will be available for distribution at the May and June Chapter Meetings. Members will be asked to submit their review of their Delegate Points by the date of the Officer Investiture Chapter Meeting in June.

Chapter records include the following:
Chapter offices
Committee chair positions
Committee memberships
Member Travel Bonus (twice the specific Delegate Point for travel equal or greater than 35 miles)
Member attendance to all Chapter functions for which members signed the roster

Chapter records may include the following, pending member notification of the appropriate Committee Chair:
CNOR and CRNFA certifications

Chapter records do not necessarily reflect the following, and members are responsible for reviewing their Delegate Points and including it:
National AORN committee chairs or members
Attendance to National AORN seminars and workshops (unless otherwise specified)
Completion of nursing-related college courses
Membership in other nursing organizations such as FNA, ANA, and other specialty nursing associations (other than FCORN, since by default all members of AORN in Florida are members of FCORN).

III. Responsibilities of Delegates and Alternates

Delegates and Alternate Delegates are required to be present at the following Congress events: Meet the Candidates, Candidate’s Caucus (formerly the Informal Meet the Candidates), both Delegate Forums, and all House of Delegate meetings. Delegates and Alternate Delegates will sign the roster maintained by the Delegate Committee Chairperson at these events. Delegates are required to cast their ballots for National Officers and other issues on the Ballot.

The Chapter membership will vote on issues, legislation, and candidates before the Association of Operating Room Nurses as outlined in the AORN Journal. This ballot will be distributed in the Chapter 1016 Newsletter, and/or presented at the Chapter meeting the month before Congress. Delegates should cast their votes to reflect the majority vote of the Chapter membership; however, they are expected to exercise discretion in this matter based on direct meetings with the officer candidates and discussion in the House of Delegates.

Alternates will be designated as Alternate Delegate One, Alternate Delegate Two, and so on up to the limit of Alternate Delegates allowed the Chapter by National. These designations are to assist in expediting the process of a Delegate Status Change should a Delegate have to leave requiring a change in Delegate status.

All Delegates and Alternate Delegates are required to check at the Congress Message Center a minimum of twice daily for communications regarding Delegate Status Changes, meetings, and any other business related to the Delegate Committee. The Delegate Committee Chairperson will be responsible for posting these messages at the Congress Message Center.

In addition to the above responsibilities, the chapter delegates and alternates will be involved in at least one chapter fundraiser during the year. They will also do a presentation at the chapter meeting following Congress and submit an article to the chapter newsletter. The presentation and the newsletter will be about an educational seminar or a key note presentation that they attended at Congress.

IV. Delegate and Alternate Funding

While it is considered an honor to serve the Chapter as a Delegate or Alternate, Chapter 1016 recognizes that this honor also requires the outlay of funds. As an additional acknowledgment of an individuals involvement in Chapter activity, Chapter 1016 will, to the best of its ability, assist those individuals going to AORN Congress as Chapter Delegates and/or Alternate Delegates to defray their expenses.

The Chapter President will be reimbursed for Congress Registration, Travel (airfare, gasoline, etc. depending on mode of travel), and their portion of their hotel expenses. The Chapter President will be a Delegate, and it is recommended the President act as the delegate Chair.

The Chapter Board of Directors will be able to use 75% to 100% of Available Funds for these expenses. Available Funds are defined as Total Treasury Funds minus $1,500.00, and minus expenses for sending our Chapter President to AORN Congress. The Board is allowed discretion in this matter to maintain funding for other Chapter projects.

Delegates and Alternate Delegates will receive a portion of Available Funds, using the following criteria:

The Chapter will pay Congress Registration for Delegates and Alternate Delegates. Additional reimbursement will be divided equally between the Delegates and Alternate Delegates who attended Congress based on the remainder of Available Funds after these defined expenses are met.

V. Funding Other Members to Congress

Funding may be provided for members planning to attend Congress other than as Delegate or Alternate, at the Board of Directors discretion. The Board of Directors will use such additional funds as may be available in the Chapter Scholarship Fund.

Chapter members who are attending Congress, but who are not the chapter’s Delegates or Alternates may send in their registration and money with the members who are the chapter delegates and Alternates. By sending their registration in with the Chapter they will obtain a group rate.

Recommended that this policy be reviewed annually by the Board of Directors.

Respectfully submitted:

Thomas J. Macheski, RN

Reviewed and revised by Board of Directors May 7, 2000