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RNAO Members’ Voices
April – September 2011

Submitted by
Miranda Cornacchia RN
RNAO-CTNIG Communications Officer

POLICY/POLITICAL ACTIVITY
Please share the political activity that Members at Large/Chapters/Region without Chapters/Interest Groups undertook during the reporting period. Please include visits to MPPs (or a forthcoming scheduled meeting with an MPP (please identify the names of MPPs, for tracking purposes at home office), Action Alerts, Letter Responses, etc.

May 2011 - CTNIG Executive’s resolution that was submitted at the RNAO AGM was decided by voting delegates to be brought forward to the Board of Directors for review. The resolution asks that the RNAO lobby the provincial government for basic and ongoing educational resources to enable nurses to meet the CNO Practice Guideline for Complementary Therapies.
 
Darka Neill - participated in developing the program for the Therapeutic Touch Network of Ontario Annual Conference in her position as conference program chair.
 
Darka Neill - Participated in the Therapeutic Touch Network of Ontario’s response to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario draft policy for Non-Allopathic (Non-Conventional) Therapies in Medical Practice.
 
MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS  
Please share the media activity that you undertook during the reporting period.

January 2011 (late entry) – Kathy Moreland Layte was invited to speak at the Association of Cancer Executives in New Orleans, LA. Over 100 administrators from the top cancer centers in the USA heard her speak about the rationale and benefits of bringing Healing Touch into their organizations. A recent article in the Oncology Nursing Society Complementary Therapy Special Interest Group and upcoming article in the Association of Cancer Executives newsletter summarized the talk.

April 2011 – Kathy Moreland Layte was invited to be a guest on Resiliency Radio, a part of the Raven Drum project for wounded veterans (available online http://www.blogtalkradio.com/resiliency-radio/2011/04/15/an-introduction-to-biofield-therapy-and-healing-touch ) for two interviews. She spoke about subtle energy and the connections between consciousness and healing.
 
June 2011 – Kathy Moreland Layte presented about the issues in biofield therapy research at the International Society for the Study of Subtle Energy and Energy Medicine (ISSSEEM) in Colorado. As this is being written, Kathy is participating at the Annual Healing Touch Worldwide conference in San Antonio and will be participating in a panel discussion on research in Healing Touch.
 
August 2011 - Kim M. Watson – Profiled in the Hotel Dieu Grace Hospital Frontline News highlighting a delegation she was invited to join for “Holistic Nursing and Healing Traditions” in South Africa from September 19-29, 2012.  This program was organized by People to People Citizen Ambassador Programs along with the University of Pittsburgh, School of Nursing. As a delegate, she will also have the opportunity to learn about a variety of diagnostics and treatments used by traditional healers ranging from magic, divination and incantations to bio-physiological methods such as fasting, herbal therapies, bathing and massage. They will be learning how various traditional and holistic therapies are used in the treatment of AIDS and some common acute and chronic conditions and their efficacy as supported by research. Through round table discussions, one-on-one interactions and social events, they will also gain an understanding of the psycho-spiritual foundation of African traditional medicine.

Marie Knapp - is connected with  www.awellfuture.com   This web site is focused on providing inspiring and wellness focused information to the public based on the following:  “Taking charge of your life and your health means bringing joy and wellbeing into your life, finding new vitality, feeling inspired, and inspiring others!”  The site makes available  video-taped interviews with grounded credible complementary and integrative health practitioners as well as audio conversations related to a variety of psycho-spiritual topics.  At the moment, one can have access to all the resources on the site simply by signing up for the free email subscription.
 
Marie Knapp - Learning from the teleclasses offered by Lance Secretan to Higher Ground Leadership Pathfinders.   Secretan describes the Higher Ground leadership pathfinder as follows:

“We are a worldwide global community of practitioners certified by the Secretan Center to use Higher Ground Leadership® in teaching, coaching, mentoring and consulting with corporations, government, non-profits, academia and individuals. We are a group of highly trained and experienced business leaders, coaches and advisors committed to bringing breakthrough concepts of leadership to the world. We have joined together through this life-changing work to support each other, to guide our clients and to inspire individuals and organizations to define and live their ONE Dream®.”

MEMBER SERVICES
Please share any member services activities that you provided during this reporting period. Include workshops, meetings, newsletter or other communications.

Kim M. Watson – President’s Address for Fall 2011 Newsletter
 
Darka Neill - RNAO-CTNIG June Digest and September newsletter sent out to all members
 
Darka Neill - Regular email communications sent to members with announcements and requests
 
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION
Please share any recruitment and retention services activities that you provided during this reporting period.

CTNIG – Provided a donation towards RNAO student membership fund.

CTNIG Executive – updated RNAO Interest Group brochure.  

Pediatric Massage Scholarships donated to CTNIG members for Pediatric massage courses and Canadian Massage Conference registrations