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The 8th PNAA NCRC hosted by the Philippine Nurses Association of
Michigan (PNAM) was held at the majestic Atheneum Hotel on April 27-
29, 2007 in the Greek town section of downtown Detroit, Michigan.
The long weekend affair was well attended by local chapter members
and boasted a 40 plus out of town participants. Our very own Indiana
chapter delegation which was headed by our president Redd Knotts,
consisted of executive director Emma Tolentino, Auditor Pressy
Freeman, member Tito De Jesus and yours truly as board member.
Other noteworthy delegations came from PNA Greater Kansas City,
PNA Ohio, PNA Illinois and PNA Greater St. Louis.
Not a cloudy Michigan day nor the choppy waters of Lake Michigan
was distracting enough to dampen any spirit as each delegate
embarked aboard SS Jackson for a night time of cruising, networking
and fun on Friday night. After a scrumptious Filipino feast highlighted
by a crispy skinned and mouth watering lechon (roast pig), everyone
received a heart warming welcome from PNAM president, Ellen
Dioso. The much anticipated talent showcase followed and was
enjoyed by all. While awaiting for the votes to be counted, an
impromptu a capella number was rendered by Vicky Boado, past
PNAM president, backed up by the ‘self-proclaimed back-up singers’
from the PNA-IN delegation, much to the chagrin of the entire crowd.
The ever-prepared and ever-talented Greater Kansas City delegation
who danced and mimicked the popular TV show “Dancing with the
Stars” garnered first place honors followed by the Latin dancing
renditions of the colorful and graceful dancers of PNA Ohio. Both
delegations will represent the north central region come July at the 28th
PNAA national convention in Anaheim,California.
The following day’s educational conference offered a cornocupia of
topics. May Mayor, PNAA president, started with a brief update and
summary of the organization including our successful bid in making the
Philippines an approved NCLEX site. The recent addition of a PNA
Wisconsin chapter to the north central region was also proudly noted,
thanks to the dedication and direction of our north central Regional
Liaison Officer, Sofy Bole with the assistance from PNA-IN president
Redd Knotts, who both traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in March and
conducted a PNAA informational meeting with Minnie Parbs and her
group.
Successful Aging, Pain management Trends and Compassion
Fatigue were some of the engaging topics discussed. Every attendee
had fun filling out the stress assessment questionnaires and were
doubly entertained by their not-so-surprising results. Luckily for most of
us, with the low stress management scores, came an achievement
balance sheet information which gave each one of us a much healthier
perspective. The exhibit halls were packed with the attendees in
between lectures hoping to get a piece of the winning lottery numbers.
The gala night on April 28th was one of elegance and classic style.
The attendees were feted to a professional photo shoot before being
ushered to the classroom turned magnificent ballroom. PNA members
with their well-dressed family and friends in tow were warmly greeted
and entertained with heartfelt speeches, Filipino and ballroom dancing
and other home grown musical talents. Nursing Leadership Awards
were given to deserving members of each north central region chapter
and plaques distributed officially by each chapter president with PNAA
president, May Mayor on hand. PNA-IN had two (2) awardees, Emma
Tolentino and yours truly. With official business taken cared of, the
delegates took to the dance floor and danced the night away.
No signs of fatigue were evident the following morning when most
delegates gathered at the hotel lobby early in search of the nearest
church for Sunday services. Meanwhile, the PNAA fundraising golf
outing was in full swing … Sunday obligations fulfilled, some PNAM
members scurried away to provide transportation to the delegates.
Conference and golf outing attendees gathered at the beautiful and
spacious home of Annie Vista in Troy, Michigan wherein the
generosity of our host chapter continued. Everyone was treated to a
houseful of food and kinship. As we “broke bread together” for the last
time that weekend, I could not help to ponder and be reminded of why I
became a member of the PNAA. The camaraderie and the kindred
spirits that come from being amidst all the most talented and most
giving people in the world never fail to invigorate and rejuvenate me. It
gives me enormous strength and validity to forge on like a soldier. Or
more like a nurse who wants to do and contribute more. Several years
back, as a young nurse in the Cardiovascular unit, I worked with an
older, well respected surgeon who used to smile and say, “carry on
nurse” every time he was appreciative of what I have done with our
open heart patients.
I have not seen this physician in a long time. I have heard that he had
retired and moved back to Europe where he originally hailed. If he
could only see what the PNA nurses had done to patients all over the
world, I'm pretty sure he would have smiled and said, “Carry On Nurse”
over and over again.
Submitted by Elena De Jesus, RN, BSN
PNA-IN Board Member
Chair, Public Relations Committee
Michigan (PNAM) was held at the majestic Atheneum Hotel on April 27-
29, 2007 in the Greek town section of downtown Detroit, Michigan.
The long weekend affair was well attended by local chapter members
and boasted a 40 plus out of town participants. Our very own Indiana
chapter delegation which was headed by our president Redd Knotts,
consisted of executive director Emma Tolentino, Auditor Pressy
Freeman, member Tito De Jesus and yours truly as board member.
Other noteworthy delegations came from PNA Greater Kansas City,
PNA Ohio, PNA Illinois and PNA Greater St. Louis.
Not a cloudy Michigan day nor the choppy waters of Lake Michigan
was distracting enough to dampen any spirit as each delegate
embarked aboard SS Jackson for a night time of cruising, networking
and fun on Friday night. After a scrumptious Filipino feast highlighted
by a crispy skinned and mouth watering lechon (roast pig), everyone
received a heart warming welcome from PNAM president, Ellen
Dioso. The much anticipated talent showcase followed and was
enjoyed by all. While awaiting for the votes to be counted, an
impromptu a capella number was rendered by Vicky Boado, past
PNAM president, backed up by the ‘self-proclaimed back-up singers’
from the PNA-IN delegation, much to the chagrin of the entire crowd.
The ever-prepared and ever-talented Greater Kansas City delegation
who danced and mimicked the popular TV show “Dancing with the
Stars” garnered first place honors followed by the Latin dancing
renditions of the colorful and graceful dancers of PNA Ohio. Both
delegations will represent the north central region come July at the 28th
PNAA national convention in Anaheim,California.
The following day’s educational conference offered a cornocupia of
topics. May Mayor, PNAA president, started with a brief update and
summary of the organization including our successful bid in making the
Philippines an approved NCLEX site. The recent addition of a PNA
Wisconsin chapter to the north central region was also proudly noted,
thanks to the dedication and direction of our north central Regional
Liaison Officer, Sofy Bole with the assistance from PNA-IN president
Redd Knotts, who both traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in March and
conducted a PNAA informational meeting with Minnie Parbs and her
group.
Successful Aging, Pain management Trends and Compassion
Fatigue were some of the engaging topics discussed. Every attendee
had fun filling out the stress assessment questionnaires and were
doubly entertained by their not-so-surprising results. Luckily for most of
us, with the low stress management scores, came an achievement
balance sheet information which gave each one of us a much healthier
perspective. The exhibit halls were packed with the attendees in
between lectures hoping to get a piece of the winning lottery numbers.
The gala night on April 28th was one of elegance and classic style.
The attendees were feted to a professional photo shoot before being
ushered to the classroom turned magnificent ballroom. PNA members
with their well-dressed family and friends in tow were warmly greeted
and entertained with heartfelt speeches, Filipino and ballroom dancing
and other home grown musical talents. Nursing Leadership Awards
were given to deserving members of each north central region chapter
and plaques distributed officially by each chapter president with PNAA
president, May Mayor on hand. PNA-IN had two (2) awardees, Emma
Tolentino and yours truly. With official business taken cared of, the
delegates took to the dance floor and danced the night away.
No signs of fatigue were evident the following morning when most
delegates gathered at the hotel lobby early in search of the nearest
church for Sunday services. Meanwhile, the PNAA fundraising golf
outing was in full swing … Sunday obligations fulfilled, some PNAM
members scurried away to provide transportation to the delegates.
Conference and golf outing attendees gathered at the beautiful and
spacious home of Annie Vista in Troy, Michigan wherein the
generosity of our host chapter continued. Everyone was treated to a
houseful of food and kinship. As we “broke bread together” for the last
time that weekend, I could not help to ponder and be reminded of why I
became a member of the PNAA. The camaraderie and the kindred
spirits that come from being amidst all the most talented and most
giving people in the world never fail to invigorate and rejuvenate me. It
gives me enormous strength and validity to forge on like a soldier. Or
more like a nurse who wants to do and contribute more. Several years
back, as a young nurse in the Cardiovascular unit, I worked with an
older, well respected surgeon who used to smile and say, “carry on
nurse” every time he was appreciative of what I have done with our
open heart patients.
I have not seen this physician in a long time. I have heard that he had
retired and moved back to Europe where he originally hailed. If he
could only see what the PNA nurses had done to patients all over the
world, I'm pretty sure he would have smiled and said, “Carry On Nurse”
over and over again.
Submitted by Elena De Jesus, RN, BSN
PNA-IN Board Member
Chair, Public Relations Committee
P.O. Box 17131, Indianapolis, IN 46217-0131 www.pnaindiana.org
© Copyright 2006 The Philippine Nurses Association of Indiana, Inc.
© Copyright 2006 The Philippine Nurses Association of Indiana, Inc.
| PNA-IN delegates Pressy Freeman, Emma Tolentino, Tito De Jesus, Lena De Jesus and Redd Knotts at The Atheneum Hotel lobby. |
| PNA-IN delegates Welcome Reception/ Networking Night while cruising the Detroit River. |
| PNA-IN delegates singing with Vicky Boado at the Welcome Reception during the Detroit River Cruise. (April 27, 2007) |
| NCR delegates: PNA-IN, PNA Ohio, PNAM, PNA Greater St. Louis and PNA-Illinois with May Mayor, President, and Sofy Bole, RLO. (April 28, 2007) |
| PNA-IN delegates with May Mayor, Remy Solarte and Sofy Bole during the educational conference. |
| PNA-IN delegates with PNAA President May Mayor. |
| PNA-IN delegates with PNAA Executive Director Remy Solarte and PNAAF Treasurer Martha Cobarids. |
| PNA-IN delegates with PNAGSL during the gala night event. |
| PNA-IN Nursing Leadership Awardees Emma Tolentino and Elena De Jesus, Detroit, MI. (April 27-29, 2007) |
PNA-IN delegates with May Mayor and PNAM golfers at Annie Vista's house on April 29, 2007