I.  Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 3:30 pm by T. McCoy, President.

II. Reading and Approval of  Minutes

The minutes of the 11-11-07 meeting were summarized by Tammie McCoy and approved.

Maria Stephens, Treasurer presented the report.  Current Balances are as follows:

$3472.74—checking

$4474.52—savings

$20,000.00---CD investment

We have made our first cookbook payment of $2276.26.  The balance of $2276.26 is due on March 2, 2008.  Members were encouraged to sell the cookbooks.  We have approximately 300 cookbooks left to sell.

A.  Eligibility Committee

Faye Jordan, Counselor presented the candidates for induction.  No community leaders have applied for induction this year.  The following candidates were submitted by the respective faculty and approved by the eligibility committee:

MSN Students—14

RN to BSN Students—16

Generic BSN Students—Discussion was held regarding the candidates.  18 candidates were approved who are within the percentile rank and 2 candidates were approved within the exception clause for a total of 20 BSN students. 

Maria Stephens announced that the next bake sale will be held on February 25, 2008 in Martin Hall.  Members were encouraged to bring items for the bake sale.  Mary Jo Kirkpatrick presented an update on the cookbook sales.  We have sold approximately 250 cookbooks.  Members were encouraged to take the cookbooks and sell them.                MJ Kirkpatrick suggested that we recognize Susan Wright, ASN Secretary for her volunteer work compiling and editing the cookbook.  It was moved and approved to give Susan $100 in cash and pay for her meal.  She will be recognized and honored at the Zeta Rho Awards Banquet and Induction Ceremony to be held on April 1, 2008.

The membership decided to defer the Tasting Tea until possibly Fall 2008 since the cookbooks are selling. 

MJ Kirkpatrick moved that the cookbook profits be used only for nursing scholarships.  This was approved.  The treasurer will keep a record of the money made from the cookbook sales.

MJ Kirkpatrick suggested that an operational budget be developed for our Zeta Rho chapter. T. McCoy and R. Hughes will work together with the treasurer to develop an operation budget for 2008-2009 to be presented at the May 2008 retreat.

C.  Program Committee

Terri Hamill presented plans for the 25^th Anniversary Celebration, induction and awards ceremony to be held on April 1, 2008.  Dr. Sandra Jordan, VPAA will be the speaker.  The program committee will meet next week to plan the menu and other details.  It was suggested that a buffet meal be served.  Maripat Curtis will be recognized at this ceremony for her accomplishments in STTI and for being named to the Hall of Fame for nursing .

D.  Awards/Scholarship/Nominating Committee

Kathy McShane stated that at present there are no nominations for the Nursing Education

Award of Excellence.  Any retiring nursing faculty will be honored with this award also. 

BSN, MSN Faculty will give scholarship applications to those students who are members of STT and encourage them to apply for the scholarships which will be given.

The nominating committee recommended the following officers for 2008-2010:

President-Elect:  Cathy Smith

Secretary:  Sarah Howell

Counselor:  Faye Jordan

E.  Heritage/Publicity Committee

No report.

No report.

A.  Baptist Hospital Program

T. McCoy reported that she had called the education department at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle and offered to do a program regarding evidenced based research for the staff.  She has received no further response from administration regarding this program. 

R. Hughes and C. Smith reported on the STTI Convention held in the Fall of 2007 in Baltimore, Maryland.  The quality of presentations was outstanding.  R. Hughes presented national Bylaw changes regarding criteria for membership, categories of membership, required yearly chapter meetings/programs and the Vision 20/20 STTI goals.

A.  Undergraduate Awards Day

It was moved and approved by the membership to contribute $150 for the refreshments for the undergraduate College of Nursing and Speech-Language Pathology Awards/Research Day to be held on April 1, 2008.  Zeta Rho will also contribute $150 for refreshments for the graduate research day to be held summer of 2008.

It was moved and approved to collect children’s books, coloring books and crayons for the Blair Batson Children’s Hospital in Jackson, MS.  These are to be collected no later than March 5.  Collection boxes will be placed in Martin Hall.

VII. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 4:45 pm.  Next meeting will be the Induction ceremony/Awards banquet on April 1, 2008.
Respectfully submitted,<>
Sarah M. Howell,  Secretary, Zeta Rho Chapter<>