DISTRICT INSTITUTES

Beginning September 22 and ending November 21, spending from 10 to 14 days in each month in the field, all districts have been visited and an entire day was given to each of the 20 districts.

In the morning from 9:00 a. m. to 12:16 p.m. Mrs. S, J, Brown, Charman of the State Structure Committee, presented the Structure Plans as set up by the National Structure Committee. One hour was given to the presentation of each of the plans, and the rest of the morning to discussion and the expression of opinions of those present.

At the afternoon session Miss Dietrich presented and discussed the following subjects at each Institute: I.C.N. Congress in Sweden; World Health Organization Report; A.N.C. Procurement for Extended Active Duty; Short paper on Criticism (by request) Federal Legislation; Displaced Persons; Provide for organizations to select their own bargaining agents; Old Age Insurance; Federal Aid to Education, and under State Legislation the final report on Legislation introduced in 1949. Several items such as Selection of Delegates to the Biennial, State Nominating ticket, to urge that all types of nursing be represented and all areas considered. Also many district problems were presented.

More than 84 questions were asked and answered. Hospitals acting as hostesses for the Institutes were: Texarkana Hospital; Memorial, San Antonio; Seton, Austin; Hendricks, Abilene; St. Paul's, Dallas; St. Joseph's, Fort Worth; Wichita General, Wichita Falls; St. Joseph's and Memorial, Houston; St. Mary's and John Sealy, Galveston; and Hotel Dieu, Beaumont. We give our sincere thanks to these hospitals. Other meeting places were: Hotels Nueces, Corpus Christi; Hilton, El Paso; Cactus, San Angelo; Hawn, Temple: and Raleigh, Waco. The Woman's Club was used at Lubbock, the Civic Club in Longview and the Magnolia Tea Room at El Campo.

Those attending were interested, alert to conditions, had studied the Structure Plans, readily discussed them and were ready with opinions on what they liked and what they disliked.

In addition to the regular subjects presented, Mr. BiIl Fruett, an attorney, spoke on “Liability Insurance for Nurses,” Dr. George Schenewerk of Dallas spoke on the Texas Health Council, Dr. Milton Beasire, Abilene, gave an excellent talk on polio. In Amarillo, Miss Helen Kilbourne spoke on the work of the Cerebral Paley Treatment Center. At Fort Worth, a film on cancer was shown and at Houston the program for nurses at Houston University was presented.

Opinionnaires were asked for at all of these Institutes. 98 per cent expressed their desire for a professional organization with a membership of graduate registered nurses; a large majority did not approve of the sections as set forth in the plan, but preferred the present method of developing sections as the need arises, but not as a basis of membership: they saw no need or reason to change the name of the Board of Directors to the Board of Governors; they considered the Assembly to be unwieldy, one called it "organized confusion"; they decided we are not ready for councils as set up, and finally decided they approved the A.N.A. as it now is, flexible enough to make any changes needed without changing the present structure.

In discussing the plan for the "Nursing League of America" the majority decided, since it was an entirely new set-up, that it might work out, but did suggest that more rigid requirements be made for individual membership and that the high office of president be reserved for registered nurses only. They did not believe the Boards of Nurse Examiners belong in the Division of Nursing Education since their main functions are not education, but to administer the law.

They must of necessity also be engaged in legislation. They believed that applications should not go directly to national, but through local and state. These decisions on both plans were based on study in the districts, presentation and discussion at the Institutes trying to ascertain how the plans would work in a district, both large and small.

District Institutes held—20

Nine subjects presented in each district. Presentations—180 Attendance of individuals in 20 districts­­—945 Personal Conferences—76 Miles traveled—10,018

In addition to the 945 members above mentioned, Mrs. Brown presented the Structure Plans, by request, to a group of Army Nurses from all over the U.S. meeting in San Antonio. Also to two groups of nurses from Veterans Hospitals.

There will be one more meeting scheduled to discuss the Structure Plans and make a decision at the State meeting in April.

Many thanks to the districts for arranging for the Institutes; to the members for their attendance and interest; for all the lovely courtesies extended us; corsages, luncheons, etc.; and to District No. 20 for the birthday party for the General Secretary. TN