Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.

-Van Gogh

Recently, several members of the ANAC gathered at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing's Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing to celebrate the contribution of the ANAC archives to this prestigious center. As part of this gathering, invitees had the chance to peruse materials from the early days of our organization. It is incredible to think that our organization began with a small group of nurses who came together in a time of uncertainty to share their experiences and connect with one another. Out of this initial gathering grew an organization that would include more than 2,600 members, expand to nearly 50 domestic and international chapters, create and define an entire nursing specialty, and become recognized as one of the leading HIV professional organizations globally.

During the reception at the Bates Center, I had the opportunity to address the attendees that included three of ANAC's past presidents. All of these colleagues and fellow ANAC leaders have made significant contributions to our organization and to the field of HIV nursing. It made me reflect on the fact that I will be stepping into the position of past president in less than a year. I am confident in the strengths and leadership of my successor, Dr. Carol Dawson-Rose, and know that she will further elevate the organization during her presidency.

However, I also realized that as an organization, we must continue to foster and support our members to become leaders. Without a system of mentorship, an organization cannot survive. Therefore, one of the initiatives that I have chosen to focus on throughout this year is leadership development. For individuals interested in pursuing a leadership opportunity, either within ANAC or another professional organization, I would encourage you to consider taking advantage of the rich array of resources ANAC has to offer.

At the local level, our chapters provide a great opportunity to become a leader. All local chapters have a Board of Directors. If you are new to the organization or even if you have been a member for some time, and you are interested in expanding your involvement, please consider running for a leadership position at the local chapter level or taking advantage of one of our upcoming leadership webinars.

If your city or region does not have a local chapter and you are interested in starting a new chapter, our website (http://www.anacnet.org) provides information and a toolkit for starting a new chapter. I recently had a conversation with a new member who came to our annual conference in Denver. He walked away from the conference energized and eager to start a chapter in his hometown. It is moments like this that I find encouraging and hopeful for ANAC's future.

For local chapters that are challenged with finding new leaders, I would encourage the chapter to think outside of the traditional recruitment methods and consider partnering with local community-based organizations that may provide other services for persons living with or affected by HIV, not necessarily direct clinical services (remember that ANAC welcomes other professionals including pharmacists, social workers, mental health providers, case managers, patient navigators, dental health providers, rehabilitation specialists, nutritionists, geriatric providers, youth advocates, educators, researchers, and spiritual leaders-just to name a few). Also consider partnering or sponsoring an event with a local university or community-based organization to maximize resources and visibility.

For those who are interested in pursuing national leadership roles, participating on one of ANAC's specialty committees or task forces is a way to be involved at a larger level. Of course, there are also national leadership positions that involve serving on the national Board of Directors. These positions typically require having had previous involvement with the organization at the local and/or national levels. However, as a National Board member, the opportunity to create change, shape the future direction of the organization, serve as the voice of our membership, and to mentor others is incredibly rewarding. Call for nominations for national-level leadership positions will begin shortly, and I would encourage anyone who is interested in taking their involvement to the next level to consider running for a national position. Step forward, take the lead, and inspire others.