ABCGN 2008/2009 Elections

ABCGN 2008/2009 Elections

All ABCGN certificants were mailed the notice regarding this year’s elections.  As noted the result of this year’s slate is an uncontested ballot.  We have three board positions to fill with three highly qualified candidates. Therefore it is not necessary to have a formal ballot mailing. The complete list of slated candidates can be viewed below.

Because this is an uncontested ballot, with no formal voting, all ABCGN voting members, will still have the opportunity to contest the ballot at ABCGN’s Annual Membership meeting on May 19th, 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the ABCGN Recognition Dinner (Gala).

Members that are unable to attend the dinner may contest any of the candidates by submitting their vote to ABCGN, 401 N. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611, or fax to 312-673-6723.  Simply download that the “Contested Ballot” document and send to ABCGN no later than May 1, 2008.

ABCGN 2008/2009 Slate of Candidates

ABCGN Board of Directors
Deborah Copeland, BSN, RN-BC, CGRN
Georgette Knoebel, BSN, RN, CGRN
Barbara Schwant, BSN, RN, CGRN

ABCGN Public Member
Ann Ragsdale

Deborah Copeland, BSN, RN-BC, CGRN

Regional Society: Arizona
Employer: Banner Dessert Medical Center
ABCGN/SGNA Activities:

• CBGNA Board of Directors- 2000-2003
• Chair, CBGNA Self-Assessment Taskforce- 2001-2002
• SGNA Nominations & Elections Committee
• SGNA Education Committee
• SGNA ERCP SIG Co-founder
• SGNA House of Delegates- 1995, 1996

Regional Society Activities:

• President- 1997
• President-elect- 1996
• Nominations & Elections- 1998
• Newsletter Editor- 1996
• Treasurer- 1994-1995

Awards:

• GI Nurse/Caregiver of the Year- CCFA
• Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal

Essay:

For years CBGNA and SGNA were a huge part of my life; year after year devoted to the promotion and development of our profession.  Unforeseen events in the world and in my personal life, with the sudden death of my husband, forced me to focus my attention elsewhere.  Now that my children are grown and I am retiring from the Naval Reserves, my passion for involvement in the organizations that shape our professional practice has returned. 

I have worked in Endoscopy since 1986 and initially became a member of SGNA in 1992.  As our profession has grown, so have I, attending all most every annual conference since 1993.  I contributed to the 2nd and 3rd editions of the ‘Core’, the Manual of GI Procedures, co-founded the ERCP SIG, co-authored the ERCP Self Learning Module, and have participated in CBGNA Item writer’s workshops.  In the past I have lectured on a regional and national level, served on the SGNA Education committee, and served as a CBGNA Director. 

All of my Endoscopy experience means nothing if I don’t use it to benefit others in Gastroenterology.  I am fortunate to have an employer that supports and promotes involvement in professional organizations. Unfortunately most members won’t even know who I am because my last name has changed from ‘Walz’ to ‘Copeland’.  Anyone who recognizes the name Walz will know I will do all in my power to advance the practice of Gastroenterology.

Georgette Knoebel, BSN, RN, CGRN

Regional Society: Arizona
Employer: Desert Ridge Outpatient Surgery Center
ABCGN/SGNA Activities:

• ABCGN Board of Directors- 2006-2008
• Role Delineation Study, Member- 2006
• SGNA CEPRG Committee, Member- 2005
• SGNA Nominations & Elections Committee- 2004
• SGNA Program Committee, Chair- 2003-2004
• SGNA Program Committee, Member- 1998-2003
• SGNA Future Sites Committee Member- 2002-2004
• SGNA EUS SIG Newsletter Editor- 1999-2000

Regional Society Activities:

• Educational Co-chair- 1995 – 1996
• Hospitality Committee, Member- 1995

Awards:

• 2006 ABCGN GI Professional of the Year Award
• SGNA Education Poster Award, 2nd Place, 2004

Essay:

My experience as a board member for the past two years has provided me with the insight for what it takes to make hard decisions.  I have a passion for GI nursing, am a team player, and strong encourager but that isn’t always enough.  The Board makes decisions which impact all the members of our specialty who care about making a difference in their practice.   As a member of the role delineation committee we wrestled with the job description of GI Nurse which was later confirmed by the members through survey.  We work closely with SGNA to develop education programs for recertification.  I have served on the education and audit committees for the board striving to promote quality and assist members with the recertification process.   We listened to the members regarding the recertification process and worked to simplify it.   We set standards to keep our specialty in the forefront with other certifying boards.  We are looking to the future and working to provide a certification test on the computer.   I believe I contribute to the purposes of ABCGN by setting an example in my work place and sharing my passion for GI Nursing.   I am a resource on the regional level and listen to the members and bring their ideas to the board.  The members of the board need to bring a variety of experiences to their role.  My practice in a surgery center gives voice to those members.  Since I have served on the Continuing Education Program Review Group for SGNA I am better qualified to review for GI specific programs.  I value being a certified gastroenterology nurse and will continue to work hard, listen to the members, and improve our certification test.  

Barbara Schwant, BSN, RN, CGRN

Regional Society: Central New York
Employer: Ellis Hospital
ABCGN/SGNA Activities:

• ABCGN Board of Directors- 2005-2008
• Role Delineation Study, Member- 2006
• SGNA Nominations & Elections Committee- 1990
• SGNA ERCP SIG Liaison- 1995

Regional Society Activities:

• President- 1994, 2005
• Newsletter Editor- 1999-2008
• Education Committee- 1989-2008

Essay:

For the past three years, I have had the honor of representing you on the Certifying Board as a Director. I have served on the Audit Committee, reviewing recertification packets, determining GI-specific content for conferences, and helping to define GI specific topics. I am a member of the Awards Committee, and am currently serving as Chair of the Newsletter Committee. I also participated in the Role Delineation Study, which determines the content of the certification exam.

I have significant experience beyond my three years on the Board. I have been a GI nurse for 28 years, and served twice as President of the Central NY Regional. I am a NOLF representative (Nursing Organization Liaison Forum - specialty nursing organizations), regional newsletter editor, and have co-coordinated several conferences.

During my time on the Board, ABCGN has made the convenience of computer testing a reality. We have created a new Poster Category for obtaining contact hours, and have made recertification available on-line. Your organization has blossomed over the past three years, but I want to help take it further. I believe my experience qualifies me to do this.

ABCGN must be a community of peers dedicated to assisting GI nurses to become informed, involved, and intellectually excited. It’s what we will work for. Please consider me for Director in 2008.

ABCGN Public Member- the ABCGN Public Member will represent the public by continually assessing and prompting a certification climate that is responsive the needs to the public.  The public member will attend all board meetings, be assigned to at least one committee and have voting rights.   The Public Director shall not be a nurse or associate and, therefore, shall not be eligible for certification, shall not be married to any person eligible to be certified by the ABCGN, and shall not employ or be employed by any person eligible to be certified by the ABCGN.  The Public Member shall represent the interests of consumers and shall protect the interests of the public at large.

Ann Ragsdale

Employer: Woodland Joint Unified School District
Job Title: K-8 Independent Study Teacher
Qualifications Summary:

• Quality Control Manager, Dorado Systems Corporation- 1971-1995
• CTEL Certification (Bicultural Educator Training)- 2006
• CTA (California Teachers Association), Member
• Volunteer, Yolo Juvenille Hall- 2006-2008
• Volunteer, Pioneer High School Tutor- 2003-2008