Greetings, Beta Mu members. I can hardly believe that I am writing my final president’s message to the chapter. These 2 years have been very rewarding and gratifying and I thank all of you for your support.

As I reflected on these 2 very busy years I brought my attention to the goals for the chapter that the Board of Directors established for the 2006-2008 biennium. I would like to share our progress on these goals with you now.

1. Offer membership to all eligible undergraduate and graduate students. This goal was met with all eligible students offered induction. A total of 106 graduate and undergraduate students accepted the offer and were inducted in this biennium.
2. Induct at least 30 community members. This goal was not met, with a total of 20 community members inducted in 2006-2008. I encourage all members to nominate those excellent nurses with whom you work every day!
3. Contact inactive members to encourage renewal. This goal was met. Patti Stumbo and Kara Snyder our membership committee co-chairs contacted members who did not renew in 2007. In 2008 International began sending a monthly list of those members who renewed, who did not renew and who joined Beta Mu as dual or transfer members. I sent letters to each person on the list. Many of those to whom I sent reminder letters showed as renewing the following month.
4. Stimulate interest in current members. This goal was met. We worked with Habitat for Humanity on 2 occasions involving 20 members of the chapter. Patti Stumbo coordinated a small group of members to answer phones during a KUAT pledge break. Both of these activities generated enthusiasm for the chapter. Watch the web site for more events in the future! If you are interested in working with the membership committee to create new opportunities for volunteering, please make your interest known on the web site.
5. Collaborate with other organizations. This goal was met. Beta Mu continued our relationship with Arizona Nurses Association Chapter 2 to education events. These joint events with each organization taking turns providing the speakers or the refreshments help both organizations meeting their education obligation to the membership. Beta Mu also participated in Healthy Fare during the Tucson Nurse Week Foundation conference and with several events with the College of Nursing’s 50 anniversary celebration. With the leadership of Carrie Merkle, the research counselor, Beta Mu participated in the successful Arizona Summit Research Conference in Phoenix, in a consortium with other state chapters.
6. Support research activities. This goal was met. Carrie Merkle and her research committee coordinated the awarding of 7 research grants in the 2006-2008 time period.
7. Recognize the excellence of members. This goal was met. The past-presidents of Beta Mu nominated Joyce Verran for the International award for Excellence in Research and in November of 2007 Joyce was recognized by Sigma Theta Tau International for her longstanding contributions in the area of research. Joyce received this very prestigious award at the STTI biennial convention in Baltimore. Peggy MacMacken, president-elect, and her awards committee coordinated the Beta Mu Awards for Excellence in Education, Research, Leadership and Clinical Practice and the special award for outstanding Ethical and Professional Behavior. Beta Mu members who are selected as Tucson Fabulous 50 Nurses are recognized by Beta Mu in the Tucson Nurse Week booklet.
8. Explore border health issues with colleagues from Mexico. This goal is being met this summer with a month-long program involving senior nursing students in clinical shadowing experiences, as well as opportunities to create evidence based practice nursing perspectives on various case scenarios. Please see the related article on the students from Hermosillo. Additionally Beta Mu is a participating in a grant with the American Diabetes Association and the Sahuaro Council of Girl Scouts to create and implement a plan to address obesity in students along the border. Age specific activities and educational content is developed for the various scout troops. Please see related article on this exciting project and watch the web site for opportunities to participate!

And finally, a personal goal for every president is to leave a healthy, vibrant chapter in the hands of a skilled and enthusiastic new president which I am proud to say we meet. I look forward to an exciting new biennium for the chapter under the leadership of Peggy MacMacken, our new president!