Part of being a leader means getting involved with issues you care about. ANA-Illinois is excited to announce that several positions on ANA-Illinois leadership committees have opened up. Members, this is your chance to help shape the future of nursing, grow professionally, advocate for change, build connections, expand your resume and help lead the way with ANA-Illinois.
Learn more below about each committee and why you should join!
Recognizing Excellence, the ANA-Illinois Awards Committee
Are you the type of person who believes in celebrating nurses’ success? If so, joining the ANA-Illinois Awards Committee is the perfect opportunity to shine a light on outstanding nurses!
Recognizing the outstanding contributions of nurses is crucial for uplifting the profession and inspiring future leaders. Awards not only honor individual achievements but also highlight the impact nursing has on patient care and the healthcare system as a whole. By celebrating excellence, we set the bar high for all nurses, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and recognition.
Responsibilities Include:
- Recommending new awards
- Establishing criteria for the nomination and rubric for evaluating nominees
- Soliciting nominations
- Identifying potential awardees
- Clinical Practice
- Nurse Influencer
- Student Nurse of the Year
- D.E.I Leadership Scholarship
- Innovation Award
The committee reviews and scores nominations and presents the winners to the Board of Directors in September of each year.
Term Length: One Year
“The Awards Committee honors nurses who have gone above and beyond for the profession of nursing and the communities they serve. Serving on the Awards Committee is also a way to communicate nursing values and nursing contributions. Award winners inspire other nurses to be creative problem solvers, too, as they tell their stories,” Chair of the Awards Committee Theresa Ellingsen, MSN, APRN-CNS AG-BC, BSN, CLNC.
Help recognize outstanding healthcare professionals, join the ANA-Illinois Awards Committee today!
Being Part of the Change, the Legislative/PAC Committee
Interested in things like policy, leadership, and advocating for your fellow nurses? Then the Legislative/PAC Committee is perfect for you!
Shaping the future of healthcare means being actively involved in legislative processes. Nurses bring a unique perspective to policy discussions, ensuring that healthcare legislation reflects the needs of patients and practitioners alike. By participating in the Legislative/PAC Committee, you have a direct role in advocating for the profession and influencing laws that affect nursing and healthcare outcomes. Be a voice for change and contribute to shaping a healthier future for all.
Responsibilities Include:
- Keeping the membership apprised of current legislation concerning nurses and healthcare
- Reviewing proposed legislation and advising the ANA-Illinois lobbyists
- Educating nurses and others on:
- government processes
- important political issues
- records of office-holders and candidates
- Encouraging nurses to become active in government affairs and organize political action
- Raising funds for and making contributions towards candidates for state public office who have demonstrated responsible awareness of nurses’ needs and the health needs of people
- Preparing a regular report for the ANA-Illinois newsletter
Term Length: Two Years
“I have learned so much through my committee work about how nurses can impact public policy and how the nursing perspective can influence bills that may appear to be unrelated to healthcare. The voice of the professional registered nurse can be impactful everywhere,” Chair of the Legislative/PAC Committee Colleen Morley DNP, RN.
Become a part of healthcare’s future, sign up now!
Bettering ANA-Illinois, the Bylaws Committee
Are you a rule follower? Enjoy paving the way for others and creating a structured environment? If so, the ANA-Illinois Bylaws Committee is the perfect place for you to shine.
The strength and integrity of an organization are reflected in its governance. Shaping ANA-Illinois through its bylaws ensures that the organization remains aligned with its mission and responsive to the needs of its members. By being part of the Bylaws Committee, you have the opportunity to influence the direction and operations of ANA-Illinois, ensuring it continues to serve nurses and the healthcare community effectively.
Responsibilities Include:
- Review and interpretation of the ANA-Illinois bylaws
- Recommend corrections or amendments
- Draft proposed text of all amendments
- Conduct a biennial review of ANA-Illinois policies
- Recommend revisions, updates, or other relevant actions to the Board of Directors.
Term Length: Two Years
“The Bylaws Committee is appointed by the Board of Directors of ANA-IL, and it consists of at least 5 members. We review and interpret the bylaws and recommend proposed amendments to the bylaws. We also conduct a biennial review of the ANA-IL policies (omitting finance policies). The Bylaws Committee meets online once a month for about one hour. Each member is responsible to review 1-2 policies per quarter. The member commits about 1-2 hours per month to the Bylaws Committee,” Chair of the Bylaws Committee Pam Brown PhD, RN, ANEF.
Build your resume and help shape ANA-Illinois, join the Bylaws Committee!
Shaping ANA-Illinois Membership, the Membership Committee
Do you love ANA-Illinois? Do you believe in the power of membership and the importance of an engaging nursing community? If this sounds like you, then the ANA-Illinois Membership Committee might be the perfect place for you to make an impact!
An active and growing membership is the lifeblood of ANA-Illinois. Engaging and retaining members ensures that the association remains a powerful voice for nurses. The Membership Committee plays a vital role in building a strong, connected nursing community that is engaged, informed, and actively contributing to the profession’s future. Your participation can help grow ANA-Illinois and keep its members engaged in meaningful ways.
Responsibilities Include:
- Recommending strategies to increase membership
- Member engagement and retention, welcoming new members
- Recommending opportunities that meet the needs of existing members
- Recommending strategies to re-engage lapsed members
- Monitoring membership statistics and trends
Term Length: Two Years
“Be the change you wish to see in the world. As a part of membership I want to show my excitement and enthusiasm about ANA-IL by reaching out to new members and reconnecting to members. Helping nurses understand it’s our profession and we have to fight for it! Joining a committee is just a small way to be a part of the experience,” Chair of the Membership Committee Demetris Hogan DNP, MBA, RN.
Help new and old members stay engaged in ANA-Illinois, sign up today!
Managing the Budget, the Finance Committee
Interested in money management? Want to boost your resume? Then you belong in the ANA-Illinois Finance Committee!
Understanding the financial workings of an organization is key to its success. The Finance Committee ensures that ANA-Illinois operates efficiently and effectively, making the most of its resources to further its mission. By learning how to manage an organization’s budget, you gain valuable skills in financial stewardship, ensuring that funds are used to maximize impact in nursing advocacy and professional development.
Responsibilities Include:
- Preparation of the annual budget
- Regular review of the budget
- Recommendation for revisions and advice to the Board of Directors as the expenditure and investment of all association funds
Term Length: Two Years
“Joining ANA Illinois’s finance committee provides the member a valuable seat at the table to responsibly allocate funds and resources to meet the diverse needs of Illinois nurses and future nurses statewide. This committee also serves as a forum to meet other members providing exposure to the full workings of the organization. I highly recommend that all ANA IL members consider joining and contributing to the Finance Committee,” Chair of the Finance Committee Dr. Jeannine Haberman.
Join the Finance Committee today!
Educating Nurses, the Program Committee
Are you a believer in nursing education? Want to help create programs to empower nurses with the knowledge and skills of new innovations in healthcare? Then the Program Committee is for you!
Education is the cornerstone of professional development in nursing. As healthcare continues to evolve, nurses must stay informed about the latest practices, technologies, and research. The Program Committee plays a crucial role in identifying educational needs and developing programs that equip nurses with the knowledge and skills to excel in their roles. By contributing to this committee, you can help shape the educational offerings that will empower nurses across Illinois.
Responsibilities Include:
- Assessing member educational needs
- Planning educational programs based on the needs assessment and ANA-Illinois’ strategic plan
- Seeking CE approval for all educational programs
- Creating and submitting a calendar and schedule of recommended educational programs at the March board meeting
Term Length: Two Years
“We are a wonderful, good think tank and each person helps in planning the program needs for ANA Illinois Webinars and the Annual Professional Issues Conference. We keep nursing practice, education, and research evidence-based through our outstanding programs,” Chair of the Program Committee Pam Di Vito-Thomas, Ph.D., RN.
Help educate nurses as healthcare evolves, join the Program Committee!
Empowering Nurses and Creating Diversity, the D.E.I Committee
Are you all for empowerment in healthcare? Want to help advocate for diversity and combat discrimination in nursing? If this sounds like you, then join the ANA-Illinois D.E.I Committee!
Empowerment in healthcare is about fostering a culture of inclusion, where every nurse, regardless of background, can thrive. The DEI Committee is committed to addressing disparities and ensuring that diversity, equity, and inclusion remain central to ANA-Illinois’s mission. By working to eliminate discrimination and marginalization, the committee helps create a more equitable healthcare environment where all nurses can contribute meaningfully to the profession and patient care.
Responsibilities Include:
- Assisting the Board of Directors in creating an inclusive environment that promotes equity in the association
- Collaborating with the Program Committee to develop educational programs and resources to help maximize diversity, strengthen equity, and optimize inclusion in the nursing community
- Guiding and working with other stakeholders to support policies that reduce health inequities
- Serving as an expert resource for the healthcare community regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion
Term Length: Two Years
“The discipline of nursing must be intentional regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. The work of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee is intentional, establishes accountability, and demonstrates ANA – IL’s refusal to stand idle in the midst of a movement. We convene to empower, enrich, and enhance our professions’ journey of embodying diversity, equity & inclusion for all. Using creativity and innovation, our efforts bring awareness and deliver tangible outcomes which may be implemented to improve relationships and change how nursing care is delivered. The DEI committee strives to make necessary changes that will not only improve the quality of patient care and outcomes, but will save lives. We recognize that an antiracist approach is vital in today’s healthcare world. As Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones, a physician and scholar, so poignantly stated – ‘Racism is a system of structuring opportunity and assigning value based on the social interpretation of how one looks. That’s why we must address racism as a root cause of health inequities,’” Chair of the DEI Committee Amanda Hopkins, PhD, RN.
Help create an inclusive and equitable nursing community with the ANA-Illinois D.E.I Committee, sign up today!
Creating Family, the Community Service Committee
Are you interested in volunteer work? Want to boost your resume and find new connections within the nursing community? If this sounds like you, then the Community Service Committee is the place for you!
Building a robust healthcare community is essential for supporting nurses and improving public health. The Community Service Committee fosters connections between nurses and the public through volunteerism and outreach, strengthening the bond between healthcare professionals and the communities they serve. By organizing events and promoting nurse visibility, this committee helps enhance the role of nurses as community leaders and health advocates.
Responsibilities Include:
- Developing and supporting regional committees that organize health and safety education events and other volunteer activities that improve the visibility of nurses and ANA-Illinois
- Creating and implementing at least two state-wide events each year
- Developing and maintaining a database of interested nurses and available opportunities
- Collects nurses’ names, skills, interests, and/or desired projects to be connected to appropriate opportunities
Term Length: Two Years
“Members are encouraged to join the ANA Community Service Committee to engage with others and contribute to the community. This involvement provides a sense of personal fulfillment, allowing individuals to give back and positively impact the lives of others. It also offers an opportunity to reconnect with fellow community members and help reinforce community bonds,” Chair of the Community Service Committee Maggie Smith DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, OCN.
Help create bonds between ANA-Illinois nurses, join the Community Service Committee today.
Join an ANA-Illinois Committee Today!
By participating in ANA-Illinois committees, you have an opportunity to bring new ideas and opportunities to fellow nurses. Take a step towards leadership, add a line to your resume, and learn all about what it takes to lead a vast organization with ANA-Illinois. Be a part of a better nursing future and take a step towards leadership with ANA-Illinois. Apply to join a committee today.