As the debate over whether the AANA should make the region director positions an at-large vote or maintain the current structure, we wanted to help present both sides of the debate. Today we look at the arguments against Bylaw Amendments 5 & 6 and Jeff Molter, MSN, MBA, CRNA, Mike MacKinnon, CRNA, MSN, Tracy Young, CRNA, MSNA, MBA, and Joe Rodriguez, CRNA, will provide their perspectives. The issue will be voted on Saturday, August 15, 2020.Â
Click the timestamps below to help you navigate through the many topics we discussed.
On This Episode:
One of the most talked about issues within the AANA right now is the upcoming vote regarding the region directors.
In case you haven’t followed the recent discussions, a bylaw amendment was put forward last year to change those positions and allow people residing anywhere in the country to become region directors from outside their geographic location. This change is set to go into effect later this year but the Bylaw Amendments will be voted on in just a few weeks on August 15, 2020.
On our previous episode, we heard from three AANA members about the proposed Bylaw Amendments 5 and 6 and why they feel like the current structure needs to remain in place.
Now we turn to the other side of the argument and get to hear why the leadership pool needs to be opened up across the country with the at-large voting. To help us with this, we brought on Jeff Molter, MSN, MBA, CRNA, Mike MacKinnon, CRNA, MSN, Tracy Young, CRNA, MSNA, MBA, and Joe Rodriguez, CRNA to the podcast. Each of these active members and leaders in our industry have strong opinions on why change is needed.
Throughout this episode, we’ll hear their reasoning and let them respond to some of the concerns that other members have about keeping things regional.
We appreciate everyone that participated in this two-episode discussion because it means so much for the future of the AANA. It’s great to see so many people that care about the organization and want what’s best for its members moving forward and we’ve seen that during these two shows. Â
A look at some of the additional topics we cover on the show:
- Why this movement to rescind last year’s vote?
- We’ve seen some run unopposed in a region before.
- Examples of times where multiple directors from the same region still would have provided different viewpoints.
- How board members would be assigned.
- Why aren’t we developing enough leaders in every region?
Check it out at the top of the page and use the timestamps to help you navigate through the many topics we discussed.
2:34 – Introducing our guests today. Â
4:19 – Joe begins the discussion on why this issue is so important.
6:07 – Why this movement now after the issue passed?
7:21 – Mike on his belief that leadership is about choice.
9:47 – Are Amendments 5 and 6 separate issues and votes?
12:38 – The issue of a lack of member activity.
18:35 – Do you feel like you could represent California if you don’t live there?
21:23 – How the national leaders rely on regional directors.
23:29 – How the board members would be assigned.
29:47 – Would this mean candidates now have to run a national campaign?
31:55 – Will at-large voting disenfranchise minorities?
36:48 – What’s the larger question here?
41:20 – How can we increase interest in running for the board?
44:50 – The importance of face-to-face meetings with CRNAs
47:10 – Closing thoughts from our guests on this topic.
“Choice becomes really important and leadership qualities are about the individual, not where they’re from or where they live. So a great leader, regardless of where they are, is going to interface excellent with the people they represent. They’re going to put the effort in, they’re going to have the skillset. A bad leader, if they live next door to you, will still be bad. It doesn’t matter where they live.”
-Mike MacKinnon, CRNA, MSN
