Presidency of STTI Comes To an End

- by Carol Huston                                    

The 40^th Biennial Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) convention is over and my role as the 27^th President of STTI (2007-2009) has come to an end.  What an amazing experience this was!  For eight years, first as a member of the STTI Board of Directors (BOD) and then as the president-elect and president…. I had the opportunity to travel worldwide, representing the honor society at numerous professional meetings, conferences, and global healthcare events.  Indeed, my travels took me to 5 continents and 18 countries. I will always appreciate becoming a better global citizen as a result of these experiences.  

Without question, however, two of the greatest highlights of my presidency were meeting with so many healthcare leaders and attending so many nursing events around the world.  The dedication and commitment to not only STTI, but also to nursing, was a constant I found among the chapter leaders I met.  I also learned that there are many ways to run a chapter and many types of successful programming. I also discovered unlimited creativity in the multiplicity of ways that members and chapters make a difference and accomplish the mission and vision of the honor society.   

I was also privileged over the past four biennia to work with a number of amazing nurse leaders on the international board of directors.  I learned much from the presidents who preceded me; May Wykle role modeled a remarkable combination of elegance and strength of purpose; Dan Pesut showed me that innovation, risk taking, and big picture thinking were critical leadership skills; and Carol Picard was the epitome of grace, spontaneity, collaboration, and interpersonal connectedness.  Each of these individuals, as well as the leaders who preceded them, was instrumental in helping me become a president who would represent the honor society well.   

I also owe a big thank you to the individuals I worked with on the international board of directors.  I learned that divergent thinking should always be a goal and that growth and change is as rewarding as it is difficult…. I also learned though that when one stays true to mission and vision, the impossible can be achieved. I was also extremely fortunate to work with an amazing staff at STTI headquarters.  This staff is among the most highly educated, committed, and capable staff I ever had the pleasure of working with.   I owe a huge thank you to Sandy Fledderjohann, the chief administrative aide to the president, who took such great care of me the past two years.  I also need to recognize Pat Thompson, the CEO of STTI, for her unending support, encouragement, and wisdom.  I’m sure many people were a bit anxious to have a new president, a new CEO, and a number of new individuals join the STTI BOD at the same time in Nov. 2007…. yet we were able to hit the ground running and make tremendous progress toward beginning to address the goals which were laid out in Leading Globally and Vision 2020.   

I also owe a world of thanks to my family.  My husband Tom, who many of you know, was there at my side, for many of the events I attended on behalf of the honor society. He has always supported me and encouraged me professionally and this experience was all the richer because he was there to share it with me. 

Finally, I want to thank Kappa Omicron members Peggy Rowberg, Jenny Lillibridge, Janelle Gardner, Debbie Clifton, Bessie Marquis, Jeanne Madison, and Karin Lightfoot for being at convention and for all of their support and encouragement.  You guys are great!  It truly was a special pleasure at convention to present Bessie Marquis, my friend and long time colleague with a mentoring award in recognition of the significant impact she has had on my life. 

Finally, while my STTI presidency has ended, I will continue to be involved in the honor society in several important ways during the coming biennium.  First, I am one of the co-chairpersons for 2010 International Year of the Nurse (2010 IYNurse), a partnership effort between Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, the Nightingale Initiative for Global Health, and the Nightingale Museum of London). 2010 is the centennial year of the death of the founder of modern nursing — Florence Nightingale (1820-1910). To celebrate this historic milestone, 2010 IYNurse is a sustained public awareness initiative to actively involve the world’s nurses — estimated to be more than 15 million — in a year long celebration of commitment to bring health to their communities, locally and worldwide.  Check out our website at http://2010iyn.net/.   
 

I was also elected to the STTI Leadership Succession Committee for 2009-2011 and was appointed chairperson of that group.  Finally, I will serve as one of seven faculty to develop the new STTI Faculty Mentored Leadership Development Program, which will begin in spring 2010.  I look forward to these new opportunities within STTI and to assuming my new role at home as the Director of the CSUC Nursing program.  It’s nice to be home and to have the opportunity to work closely again with so many amazing colleagues and students. Wish me luck!