Have you ever aspired to be the association president in your state but aren’t completely sure how to get there? We brought together four former state presidents for a roundtable discussion on the path to reach that position. We’ll talk about the traits you need, the importance of getting involved, and what everyone gained from the experience.
Click the timestamps below to help you navigate through the many topics we discussed.
On This Episode:
When Lisa in Michigan contacted us on Facebook recently, she asked us what it takes to become a president for your state association. As soon as we read her question, we knew it would be a great podcast topic.
We visit with former presidents all the time and feature one on the show. Sharon was a past president with the North Carolina Association of Nurse Anesthetists and she references those experiences often on the podcast. So it made a lot of sense for us to have that discussion and help ambitious CRNAs gain insight into the position.
Sharon just so happened to be on a trip with Jackie Rowles, Tracy Castleman, and Carole Doyscher recently and it presented a perfect opportunity to have this conversation. In case you don’t know each of these women, Jackie was a past president in Indiana, Tracy in New Jersey, and Carole in South Dakota. Combined, they all bring a wealth of experience and knowledge about the industry and how to be an effective leader at the state level.
We caught up with all of them in Arizona while Jeremy was back in the North Carolina studio to dive into this discussion on this episode of Beyond the Mask. Each of these past presidents will offer up information and advice about taking on leadership roles. Find out what steps you need to take and what you can expect if you are fortunate enough to serve in that role.
Even if you aren’t someone that aspires to become a president, this is still a topic that everyone will gain something from. There’s great advice for all CRNAs, especially those that are starting out in the profession and excited to learn more.
A few of the things we’ll all talk about on the show:
- Go to meetings and get involved
- Finding a mentor
- Know your skillset and limitations
- Understand the sacrifice
This episode will go by quickly because it’s full of information and we have some fun along the way. Check it out at the top of the page and use the timestamps to help you navigate through the many topics we discussed.
2:25 – A Facebook message sparked the idea for this episode.
2:58 – Former presidents Jackie Rowles, Tracy Castleman & Carole Doyscher join us today.
4:03 – What’s the first step on that path to presidency?
5:48 – Carole feels finding a mentor is very important.
6:36 – Tracy was a big part of the AANA’s mentorship program getting started.
8:19 – Jackie shares her perspective on what it takes to rise up.
9:51 – If a young CRNA wants to get involved, what should that first step be?
11:41 – The women discus character traits they’ve seen from leaders.
15:48 – You have to be able to identify someone that can come up behind you and be your replacement.
17:04 – There’s a sacrifice to be made when you take a leadership position.
19:22 – What resources do we have at the AANA level?
23:06 – How do you prepare for issues?
25:04 – Carole shares her point of view working in a small state like South Dakota.
27:44 – Teamwork is important and finding a great lobbyist is crucial
28:45 – As a president in a state, what exactly do you do?
30:56 – Remember that you are a representative the entire profession.
32:04 – Summarizing what everyone feels about the role of the president.
33:37 – What did each woman get out of taking the president role in their state?
“Some people might think, ‘Well I’m going to be president because I have this vision for this association,’ and sometimes the members vision is different than what your vision is. But as their president, you have to carry the members’ vision forward.”
-Sharon Pearce, CRNA, past president of the NCANA
