As California is one of the biggest states in the nation, our state Chapter of APNA is very spread out geographically. Therefore, to increase APNA's visibility in California and help nurses discover how they can get involved with the Association, the California Chapter has set up a statewide network of Area Representatives. These "Area Reps" serve as local contacts to help disseminate information about APNA and the Chapter to both current members and potential new members. They also help to arrange sponsored dinner programs/meetings and facilitate networking in their local areas.
Our strategy is to establish Reps in areas where our members are concentrated and also in areas we have targeted for growth. We have three major concentrations of members in the San Francisco Bay Area, Greater Los Angeles, and San Diego -- plus significant concentrations around Sacramento, Long Beach, Orange County, and San Bernardino -- as well as developing groups in the Central Coast (Monterey-Salinas-SantaCruz) and Central Valley (Modesto-Fresno-Bakersfield) areas.
The Chapter equips Area Reps with "Handbooks" containing Chapter contact names and numbers, a list of APNA member benefits, information about Chapter-sponsored continuing education programs, descriptions of Chapter activities and ways to get involved, and much more. Along with this "Handbook", the Chapter provides membership applications, display copies of JAPNA, and display copies of both "APNA News" and the APNA California Chapter "NetLetter." This package of materials has proved very popular with the Reps because it really helps them get the word out about APNA.
- Assist the Chapter's Board by helping to recruit.
- Maintain local "stockpile" of APNA membership applications.
- Facilitate recruiting student (Associate) members.
- Use Area Rep Handbook's "show-and-tell" information to help attract new members.
- Benefits-of-Membership sheet.
- Display issues of JAPNA and Newsletters
- Sample pages from APNA and California Chapter web sites, etc.
- Provide current and prospective members "contact" names & phone numbers of Chapter Board Members, Committee Chairpersons, etc.
- Help publicize Chapter programs -- post fliers in local hospitals & nursing schools.
- Solicit feedback from local members -- and funnel it back to the Chapter Board.
- What they need from APNA.
- What they do like and what they don't like about APNA, etc.
The Chapter currently has a network of 9 existing Area Reps and we are always looking for more volunteers to cover additional areas around the state. If interested, please email the Chapter's President, Kathy Johnson: kathy@ebold.com .