THE MW MSD has been fully implemented and successfully operating for seven years. We continue to utilize shared resources to allow your executive director to focus on increasing membership and strengthening the imprint of state nurses associations (SNAs) on nursing practice and public policy within the state. As you know, 2020 and 2021 brought its own unique set of challenges and we have not grown membership as we have in the previous years. The executive directors are currently collaborating on a membership marketing plan for 2023-2024 to increase membership recruitment and retention. Exploring member benefit opportunities/programs for members in each state is also ongoing.
The MW MSD board of directors held three virtual meetings this year and the annual in-person board meeting was held on August 25th- 26th in Jefferson City, Missouri. The last board meeting for 2023 will be held in November. The current MW MSD board members are Terry Reese (MO), President, Kari Wade (NE), Vice-President, Linda Adams-Wendling (KS), Secretary/Treasurer, Laura Mallett (KS), Linda Hardy (NE), and Caryl Goodyear (MO). Each member SNA is allotted two board seats.
The MW MSD Board of Directors believe that the economy of scale created by the joint operations enhances member value (responsiveness, technology support, additional education, and expert consultation) and reduce expenses, while reducing the burden on volunteer leaders. The MW MSD Chief Executive Officer assists KSNA as needed and maintains operations in the absence of the executive director. The MW MSD board and CEO are open to discussions with other state nurses associations (SNA) who may benefit from joining the MW MSD. In 2023 the MW MSD allowed for outside organizations to contract for services, those organizations are not allowed to be full partners in the MSD as that is only a benefit for other SNAs affiliated with the American Nurses Association.
The Kansas State Nurses Association participated fully in the development of the MW MSD as a corporation and continue their dedication to make it a successful and self-sustaining model for association operations. Linda Adams-Wendling, KSNA President and Laura Mallett, KSNA President-Elect, are currently serving as the Kansas representatives on the MW MSD board.
Should you have any questions regarding the MW MSD feel free to contact your KSNA board representatives or myself.
