At its September meeting, the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Nurses Association voted 7-5 to support the proposed bylaw amendment calling for MNA to disaffiliate from the American Nurses Association.

The board also pledged to continue its support for a comprehensive effort to educate MNA members on both sides of this issue to facilitate an informed decision by the membership at the annual MNA Business Meeting on Nov. 9. Town meetings have been scheduled throughout the state for discussion of this issue, and information is available on the MNA web site or by contacting the MNA hot line at extension 755.

The board also voted to publish how individual members of the board voted on the issue of ANA affiliation/disaffiliation and for each board member to submit a statement of their position on this issue. Below is an alphabetical listing of the MNA Board of Directors, detailing how each voted on the motion, as well as their statements.

Barbara Blakeney, Vice President
Voted "no" on motion to support disaffiliation
"I support continuing affiliation with ANA because our strength and power is in the unity of the profession and in one powerful voice for nursing. Now is no time to splinter into small ineffectual groups. Now is the time for unity and clarity. Please vote to stay with ANA."

Karen A. Daley, President
The president serves as chairperson for meetings of the board and votes only in the case of a tie.

Sandy Eaton, Director at Large
Voted "yes" on motion to support disaffiliation
"For MNA to fulfill its mission as the one strong voice for nurses in Massachusetts, we must focus our resources on a pro-nurse, pro-patient, professional, proactive, progressive program, moving beyond ANA's muddled moderation, linking arms with nurses everywhere who share our vision of advocacy. Change does not come from above."

Maura K. Fitzgerald, Director, District 5
Voted "no" on motion to support disaffiliation
"I am opposed to the disaffiliation of the MNA from the ANA for a very simple reason. In these tremendously difficult and tumultuous times for the profession of nursing it is critical that all nurses come together as a single clear voice. I feel that the vote to disaffiliate would splinter the profession."

Mary Goodwin, Director at Large
Voted "yes" on motion to support disaffiliation
"It has been a long and arduous journey for all through these trying times. I firmly believe, after careful review of all of the facts, the only course to take is to vote for disaffiliation from ANA on Nov. 9, and urge all my colleagues to do the same."

Patricia Healy, Director, District 1
Voted "yes" on motion to support disaffiliation
"I am a staff nurse who believes in an independent MNA which will build a larger and stronger membership by making organizing and collective bargaining a statewide priority. An independent MNA can and will fight the corporatization of health care and establish a collective voice that will unmistakably advocate for nurses and our patients."

Barbara R. Norton, Director at Large
Was absent for vote on the motion
"I support disaffiliation. The MNA's legislative, health and safety, nursing practice and labor programs have become the standard for excellence. I believe our resources will be better used in Massachusetts where we can continue to be a powerful voice for nurses, at home and across the country."

Margaret O'Malley, Director at Large
Voted "yes" on motion to support disaffiliation
"Next June, membership in UAN will be forced upon Massachusetts by ANA. Management domination of UAN by the ANA Board will jeopardize every bargaining unit and every MNA contract. Don't let ANA's actions take away your hard-won rights. Vote for disaffiliation. We need every member to stand and be counted."

Frances C. Scully, Director, District 4
Voted "no" on motion to support disaffiliation
"The tri-level organization of the nursing association is essential in working towards goals at all levels of the community; national, state and local. The influence from the grassroots level is equally important to the broad view from the national organization. It gives us the varied input necessary for progress."

Kathleen Sperrazza, Secretary
Voted "no" on motion to support disaffiliation
"I believe that disaffiliation from ANA is the best course for MNA. In these fiscally difficult times, MNA's limited resources will be better spent at home. MNA is a progressive, passionate voice for nurses. It is difficult to meet our goals when national collaboration often requires more moderate approaches."

Theresa Spinelli, Treasurer
Voted "no" on motion to support disaffiliation
"I believe the Board of Directors' vote in March to remain neutral on the issue of affiliation/disaffiliation was correct and honorable. This position created an open atmosphere for the town meetings and could not be interpreted as influencing or criticizing members who did not agree them."

Stephanie Stevens, RN, Director, District 3
Voted "yes" on motion to support disaffiliation
"When the ANA set up the UAN without adequate insulation it was clear that we could not join the UAN. In June, the UAN passed a resolution mandating states like MNA to join. We must disaffiliate or face-bankrupting MNA fighting the legal challenges that could come with such an affiliation."

Nora A. Watts, Director, District 2
Voted "yes" on motion to support disaffiliation
"I believe the ANA has not represented the needs of staff nurses and have long felt that MNA must withdraw from the ANA. Now, we have no choice as the UAN is planning to make membership mandatory. The MNA has voted against UAN membership because its structure threatens our viability."

Jeannine Williams, RN, Director at Large
Voted "yes" on motion to support disaffiliation
"I support disaffiliation because I believe ANA's moderate stance on issues does not address the crises that nurses and the profession face in the current health care environment. MNA is ready to champion these crucial nursing/patient care issues especially when they become unencumbered from sending ANA our valuable resources."

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