March 31, 2016

To the CAPPN Membership from the Board President:

Much has happened over the last 8 months. The committee that organizes the Fall Institute, an annual educational event for Psychiatric APN's that takes place here in scenic Colorado, has decided to separate from CAPPN (Colorado Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses). The Fall Institute Committee members have begun the process to become a stand-alone organization with their own Tax ID number and have drawn up their own charter setting forth the aims and principles of its group. The CAPPN Board members support this decisive step in the continuation of a valued educational tradition that many of its members have participated in and benefited from over the years. We wish them continued success!

In the process of the shifting roles within the CAPPN Membership and the expiration of some of the Board Chair positions, the Board finds itself in need of candidates for office. On that note, we are reaching out to the membership for volunteers to serve as the ad hoc nominating committee to collect nominations for officers and directors for the CAPPN Board for the 2016-2017 term of office.

According to the CAPPN Bylaws, the ad hoc Nominating Committee is supposed to be chaired by the Director of the Ethics Committee. However, this is one of our open positions. The President of the Board may appoint someone to an open position as needed. Hence, anyone in the CAPPN membership who is interested in acting as the Interim Ethics Committee Chair until elections are complete, should contact me directly at wordgirl54@gmail.com. I will then present interested folks to the current Board Members for approval.

Following is a list of sitting Board Members and open positions along with the names of those who are running for re-election.

CAPPN Board: Current Status
• President: Caiti Collins, Term ends 12/2016
• Vice-President: Donna Strickland: Running for re-election
• Secretary (Interim): Ruby Martinez
• Treasurer: Laura Mehringer: running for re-election
• Legislative Director: Laura Mehringer: running for re-election
• Membership Director: Open position, Ruby Martinez running for re-election
• Public Relations Director: Open position
• Education: Open position
• Ethics: Open position
• Technology: Open position

Ann Terrill, my predecessor, has graciously volunteered to assist with setting up an online voting site to facilitate a timely election process. We would like to fill the Board positions as soon as possible and look forward to hearing from you!

Yours Sincerely,
Caiti Collins, APN