Epsilon Theta News

Volume 25, No. 1

August 2006

Now you can find the Epsilon Theta Website at: http://www.sttitexas.org/ or http://www.sigmathetatau-ut.org/

Message from Past-President

Carol Gaskamp, PhD, RN

Last night I went to a performance of a play at a local community theater, a 501c3 not-for-profit group. This was to be my first time to go to this theater, although I have lived in this community for 4 years, and knew about this community theater for most of those years, and have enjoyed local play productions in other communities I have lived and visited. As I was leaving home, the telephone rang, and when I answered, the caller was requesting support for a community organization. I decided long ago to only support my alumni organizations’ telephone fund-raising appeals, so it was easy to say ‘no’ to this request.

The theater was easy to find, tucked along a remote road in a growing part of Williamson County. Parking was ample. The theater crowd was slim, maybe 20 people in a theater that seats 100. The president of the board of directors for that community organization welcomed those in attendance, and said the crowd was good for a Thursday night. She coupled the welcome with a request for more support for the organization, and the play program outlined the many ways such support could be provided. The cast of the play performed as though the theater was full, and the joy they take in their craft was evident. I benefited from the evening’s entertainment. Now, what do I do with the knowledge that the organization needs support?

I have served on various community and church boards and committees throughout my life (starting as a child in Girl Scouts), and when it comes to community organizations and service, there seems to be three kinds of people: the Unconcerneds, the Supporters, and the Doers. With the plethora of community organizations and causes, it seems that it would be hard to remain Unconcerned about them all! One must be selective about what to support and how to support the work of community organizations. We can buy cookie dough and wrapping paper from kids in school, get our cars washed by church youth, run a race for breast cancer, organize a fund raising event or activity, or provide a service as a volunteer teacher or health care provider. The lists of both needs and ways to meet needs seem endless!

So, thank you to all active Sigma Theta Tau and Epsilon Theta members who choose to be Supporters through your continuing involvement in this organization. And thank you to all who choose to be Doers for the organization, who serve as either an elected or appointed official, or who volunteer for a particular activity such as the Induction Ceremony. You are the embodiment of the organization and put a human face on the work of Epsilon Theta chapter, carrying the organization into the future.

Thank you, active members, for the opportunity to serve the Epsilon Theta chapter of Sigma Theta Tau as president-elect and president. The role has provided an opportunity to work with some wonderful nurse-leaders, and to hone my own leadership skills. I look forward to continuing to work for the organization as a past-president.

Carol Gaskamp, Epsilon Theta Past-President

1. Message from the Past-President
2. Welcome from the Incoming President
3. Message from the Incoming Secretary
4. President's Annual Report
5. Vice-President's Report
6. Secretary's Annual Report
7. Treasurer's Annual Report
8. Leadership Succession Committee
9. Induction Ceremony Report 2006
10. Report from Communications Committee
11. Center for Health Promotion Research

Follow this link to sign up: http://www.nur.utexas.edu/stt/sttlistserv.html

Scott Hudson, MSN, RN  at shudson@mail.nur.utexas.edu.