CONTACT - Volume 8, Number 1
Honor Society News

Lambda Chi chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International started the academic year with an exciting new agenda for the membership. Politics was the organizing theme for the October general membership meeting at which Barbara Lumpkin, Associate Executive Director of the Florida Nurses Association, presented FNA's Health Policy Agenda for 2001-2002. Lumpkin emphasized that all professional nurses must be politically savvy and politically active if the multiple issues related to health care reform and patient advocacy, nursing education and the workplace are to be favorably resolved. According to Claudia Hauri, Ed.D., ARNP, Director of Barry's Nurse Practitioner Specialization and long standing political activist in nursing, Barbara inspired us with strategies and ideas for increased personal involvement in Florida's political arena - it's now or never.

Looking toward the future, Lambda Chi's Research Day, scheduled for February 16, 2001, is fast approaching. This year the South Florida Consortium of Sigma Chapters (Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University, University of Miami, and Barry University) have joined forces to provide a program of significant impact, Victimology: Understanding and Caring for the Survivors of Violence with featured speaker Ann Wolbert-Burgess, DNSc, RN, CS, FAAN, author of Violence Through a Forensic Lens. Dr. Burgess is the 1999 recipient of the Episteme Award, the most prestigious recognition from Sigma Theta Tau International. She is an expert on Rape Trauma Syndrome, child molestation, and the use of "Mind Mapping" in treatment for survivors of violence. We thank Past President Sue Ann Charron for taking the lead role in planning this event. It's not too late to call us and reserve your place.

Diane LaRochelle, Ph.D., RN, President