The use of the word "Association" in the name of our organization, the Association for Nurses in Professional Development (ANPD), is intentional. An association is defined as an organized body of people who have an interest, activity, or purpose in common (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013). This is an apt description of ANPD, a group of individuals from across the United States and beyond, that collaborate on shared issues of concern for our organization and also for our specialty. The work of ANPD is accomplished through the combined efforts of the individual members; Association committees; the Board of Directors, which includes the Association officers; and the management company that is engaged in the operations of our group. The ANPD committees, which are composed of volunteer members, contribute largely to the work that supports the interests of its constituents and advocates for the issues of our organization.
CONVENTION CONTENT PLANNING COMMITTEE
Linda Misko is the chair of this year's ANPD Convention Content Planning Committee. This very busy committee has reviewed over 290 abstracts for the 2014 ANPD convention scheduled for July 16-19, 2014, at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida. They have selected 65 concurrent sessions, 11 of which will be recorded. They have confirmed keynote speakers and invited workshop presenters. In addition, they have reviewed and approved abstracts for 50-60 poster presenters. Besides the planning of the convention content, this group has also worked to update the Presenter's Handbook, moderator packet, poster, and star search judging criteria that will support a quality convention program. This group's work continues through convention, working with local affiliates to coordinate onsite activities.
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
ANPD's Education Committee is currently co-chaired by Debra Liebig and Judith Bowling. With a team of active members, this group is charged with generating educational activities that are in alignment with the strategic direction of the organization and that meet the needs of the membership. Their goals include development of alternative methods of delivery for educational programs. As part of their work, this group identifies topics and speakers for the ANPD Webinar series based on feedback received through program evaluation surveys. In 2014, this group will turn their attention to building toolkits for novice-to-expert educators. The work of this committee is crucial to meeting the needs of the membership.
NOMINATION COMMITTEE
The primary purpose of the Nominating Committee is to provide a slate of candidates for the ANPD ballot. Their activities involve receiving candidate nominations, reviewing the nominations, communicating with nominees, and presenting the ballot to the Board of Directors for approval. The committee follows up with candidates with election results. This group's work ensures a strong cadre of professionals to lead ANPD work.
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES COMMITTEE
The 2013-2014 chair for the Products and Services Committee is Cathy Gage. This committee focuses on meeting member needs by identifying topics of interest and suggesting products for development to meet those needs. They review and recommend products for sale at the ANPD bookstore during convention, and review products to ensure that they align with the mission of ANPD. The group's current work includes a recommendation to the Board for establishment of a speaker/consultant's bureau, which would be a valuable service to affiliate groups and others.
PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE
The Public Policy Committee is led by Eileen Engh and Heather Lary. This group is charged with establishing and sustaining a public policy presence for issues impacting ANPD. Past work of this committee has included the development of a white paper that outlines strategies for NPD in support of the recommendations in the Institute of Medicine's Future of Nursing Report. This white paper is available at http://www.ANPD.org, and the work was featured in a Webinar in January 2014. The next focus for this group will be the development of a white paper that compares and contrasts the roles of the academic nurse educator and the service-based nursing professional development specialist. These similar yet different roles are both crucial to the future of nursing education and professional development.
RECOGNITION COMMITTEE
Under the leadership of Roxanne Bowers, the Recognition Committee reviews and scores applications to determine the best candidates for the annual Recognition Awards. These awards are focused on key roles for nursing professional development and include a Researcher/Consultant Practice Award, an Educator/Facilitator Practice Award, an Educator/Academic Liaison Practice Award, an Educational Technology Award, a Leader/Communicator Practice Award, a Collaborator/Advisor/Mentor Practice Award, a Change Agent/Team Member Practice Award, and the Belinda E. Puetz Award, which recognize the overall pursuit of excellence in NPD. The Recognition Committee also awards two convention scholarships each year after reviewing applications submitted that meet established criteria.
RESEARCH COMMITTEE
Led by Sue MacArthur and Abby Kurtz, ANPD's Research Committee facilitates the ANPD grants' program and establishment of priorities for NPD research. One of the goals of this committee is to improve ANPD member knowledge of research and grant processes. Current work underway includes a multi-site research study to provide industry-wide benchmarking data. In addition, this group has been working to standardize and streamline processes for submission and review of ANPD grant requests. More information about this group and support for NPD research is available on the research Webpage at http://www.anpd.org.
SUMMARY
Through the leadership of their chairs and engaged members, each of these committees contributes to support the mission of ANPD. They serve as examples of what can be accomplished through collective efforts of committed individuals. As members of ANPD, we are all called to action for the advancement of our profession. Whether your efforts are focused in your own specific work setting; in your local community; or at the state, regional, or national level, each of us is called to make a difference. The contributions of these teams and their leaders make a difference to all of those they serve. If you are interested in future involvement with one of these groups, stay tuned for a call for volunteers, which happens later this year.
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