Marc Lyde will be the guest speaker for the spring 2012 Kappa Omicron general meeting. Mark has 23 years of experience as an attorney and is the owner of Leonard & Lyde law practice in Chico. He completed his legal education at the University of San Diego School of Law. Mark will be speaking about healthcare law, legal malpractice, and what nurses can do to reduce their risk of being sued for negligence. Location: Panighetti’s restaurant, 2760 The Esplanade. The speaker will begin at 7:00 p.m. One CEU will be provided.

Kappa Omicron Newsletter Fall 2011

Note the upcoming dates:

11/10/11 – Board Meeting 5:00 pm
12/8/11 – Annual Christmas Chapter Party
2/2/12 – Board Meeting
2/16/11 – Spring Program and General Meeting Mark Joacobs to speak about Malpractice Claim Provention
3/1/12 – Board Meeting
3/31/11 – New Member Induction
4/12/12 – Board Meeting
5/23/12 – Annual General Board Meeting

Kappa Omicron began a one year fundraising effort to support the Esplanade House in May 2011. The Esplanade House provides transitional supportive housing program for homeless families with children in Chico, California. The mission statement for this organization is to provide a safe, healthy and nurturing environment for homeless families while implementing a goal-oriented program designed to help homeless parents and children move from crisis to self-sufficiency.

The Esplanade House began in an old motel on The Esplanade in 1991, and due to demand, has since grown to 60 apartments and administrative buildings located off north Esplanade and East Shasta Ave. The majority of parents in the program are recovering from a lifestyle of poverty and addiction that eventually led to a downward spiral into homelessness. Many lost their children to a relative or Foster Care, and were reunited because of the safe and supportive environment provided by the Esplanade House.
When families are accepted into the two-phase (18-24 month) Esplanade House program, they are given everything they need to start over: a furnished apartment, food, clothes, supplies, case manager, counselor, and child care. They are surrounded by other families who all have the same challenge and rules to follow, including curfews and housekeeping.

In the first phase, families live in apartments on the east side, and are fully engaged in a required daily program. Most families are overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of what is required to get their life on track, and need maximum support. In phase two, families move to apartments on the west side of the property for up to an additional year, and attend school or look for employment. It is supportive housing that offers participants the opportunity to “live what they have learned” in a safe, supportive environment that helps prevent relapse and keep friendships with other families who are committed to a healthy lifestyle. Currently, more than 70 adults with over 100 children live at the Esplanade.

Kappa Omicron’s first fundraising efforts, held as part of the spring 2011 induction
ceremony, included a silent auction and raffle. More than $1100 was raised from these efforts. Gloria Rodgers, Program Operations Director for the Esplanade House, was on hand to tell inductees and their significant more about the agency funds were being raised for. Additional silent auctions, raffles, and fundraising events are planned for fall 2011 events.

This summer, July 11-14, three Kappa Omicron members attended the Sigma Theta Tau International- 22nd International Nursing Research Congress in Cancun, Mexico. This was the fourth international research congress I had attended and it was fantastic! (The other three congresses were in Toronto, Montreal, and Singapore.) It is always an excellent conference and it is so exciting to network with nurses from all over the globe!
At the conference, Peggy Rowberg gave a podium presentation titled, “Using Socratic Seminars to Teach Leadership and Management Principles to BSN students.” Fay Mitchell-Brown did a poster presentation titled, “Promotion of Breastfeeding in China.” I gave a podium presentation titled, “The Experience of HIV Positive Women Living in an African Village: Perceptions of Voluntary Counseling and Testing Programs.”
We did find time to swim in the seven beautiful swimming pools, jog on the beach, dance at the disco, attend amazing entertainment, and eat way too much great food! We had fun!

I would like to encourage all Sigma Theta Tau, International members to consider attending one of the yearly research congresses. Next summer the congress will be in Australia. I hope you will be one of the Kappa Omicron members attending the event!

“Chico Celebrates Nurses”
A special luncheon event to celebrate the outstanding contributions nurses make to healthcare in the North State and beyond……..
Saturday October 8, 2011
9:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.
Registration begins at 8:30 A.M.
Holt 170
Our keynote speaker is Dr Carol Huston, Director of CSU/ Chico School of Nursing and past President of Sigma Theta Tau International. Other presenters include nursing directors, educators and staff nurses who will provide participants with current and future perspectives on the nursing profession locally and globally.
Payment by check or cash only
KO members-$60
Non- KO members-$75
Current Students-$15 (must verify enrollment)
Plan now to attend and celebrate Nurses.
RSVP by Monday, October 1, 2011
Register now, space is limited! No registration at the door.
RSVP to fmitchellbrown@csuchico.edu

Make checks out to Kappa Omicron and mail to:
Fay Mitchell-Brown
School of Nursing California State University, Chico
400 West First Street
Chico, CA 95929