Outreach Ohio is meeting a milestone in success.  We are the only state organization in all of the United States where chapters meet on a local level to network and share ideas. Born in 1991, with WCO as one of the founding members, collaboration began and has never stopped. This group has been and active and unique group of state driven oncology nurses which has served as a model for other states. ONS has published several articles about the success of Outreach and attempted to model this idea among other states.  The goals of Outreach Ohio mentorship, networking, peer support, team, building, collaboration and encouraging chapter leadership and growth. To date (9) chapters exist in Ohio. Through Outreach Ohio local Ohio chapters are able to have peer support and access to leadership.

Accomplishments:

Outreach Ohio Mentorship Award development

Support of local CHIPS (new chapter development)

Collaboration and mentoring for all chapters with meeting three times a year

ONS grant support for Leadership workshops

Serving as an avenue for communication and vehicle for leadership

Submitted by: Mary Murphy RN, MS, AOCN, ACHPN

The Outreach Ohio meeting was held at the Zangmeister Center in Columbus on Saturday, October 17th.  Representatives from various chapters in Ohio were present. The agenda included chapter reports from those present, as well as those unable to attend. Numerous chapter-related issues were discussed, including the ongoing need for new vibrant leadership within the chapters, as well as continuing to attract new members, including the student nurse population. They will be our nurses of tomorrow and the need to mentor them as they develop their specialty interests is quite essential. Other issues discussed included the length of the chapter presidents’ term of office – one year vs. two years. The Outreach Mentorship award nominees from each chapter will also be due by January, as the award will be presented in April at the next Outreach Ohio event. (If you have a WCO member in mind for this award, please notify Susie Newton, the WCO scholarship chair, or any of the board members, so that the necessary information can be prepared for the nomination.)

Many chapters are accessing the IMER Institute for Medical Education & Research for their programs, and one was presented at the Outreach meeting as well, on Hematologic Malignancies. Other issues discussed included scholarship opportunities, fund raising, officer elections, programs, needs assessments, pharma guidelines, and philanthropical missions, just to name a few.

Outreach Ohio affords the Ohio participating chapters the opportunity to network and problem-solve in a casual, yet productive manner away from the work setting. It also allows those attending to meet new colleagues and take new ideas back to their chapters.

Please feel free to contact any of the board members if you would be interested in attending an Outreach Ohio meeting. The next one will be in April and will be announced at our programs, as well as in the newsletter. Submitted by: Karen Agnor RN, BSN, CHPN