MASSACHUSETTS NURSE NEWSLETTER :: March 2008

	Julie Pinkham

By Julie Pinkham
Executive Director

Convention 2007 may now be just a happy memory, but some of the important changes occurring as a result of your votes are now in place.

Specifically, a “yes” vote on a bylaw proposal allowed the MNA Board of Directors to change Regional boundaries as needed. Based on that vote, the Board changed boundaries so they align with state Senate districts instead of being based on county lines. This provides for a more equitable distribution of members among all five regions and allows members to be more strategic and precise in any campaign involving political action. By now, all members have been informed in writing of their change in boundary—and for some, there has been no change at all.

While members may petition to be assigned to another Regional Council, it will take both time and effort for the MNA Membership Division to get all boundary change in place. Inasmuch, the Board of Directors recently placed a moratorium on member petitions for boundary changes until April 30. Petition changes beyond this moratorium date will then be entertained prior to any regional elections occurring.

Remember, your regional council is made up of four regional “at large” seats and the bargaining unit chairs or their designees for the units in that region. To effectively mobilize political and community efforts in support of the bargaining units, action is required by the constituency of the community effected – thus the regional membership provides you with a structural component of the MNA based on where you live, allowing you the opportunity to address local issues and to mobilize within your own community.

And now, in our continuing effort to keep members informed and connected, we have recently provided members with an MNA email address and free email service as part of our five-year strategic plan. This free service allow better access to information – particularly for bargaining units engaged in campaigns addressing issues of concern to members. The perks and benefits of this new members-only feature include email storage, spam protection, anti-virus protection and email support for all users.

Brochures detailing features of this valuable new service have been forwarded to all members. The email is easily set up and allows you to forward MNA email to any existing account you may have. Or you can use it as a stand-alone – and as long as you have Web access, you can reach your mail from anywhere.

As you well know, email has increasingly become a standard form of communication— you regularly see it and use it in your work place. But don’t forget that email is the property of your employer. Sensitive information regarding matters of the bargaining unit may, in fact, be viewed by the employer. It’s time you had a secure site for MNA matters to be communicated via email.

In the near future, the MNA Web site will feature some sections that will only be accessible to members. Your email address will serve as your user name to log into these sections.

We recognize that email is no substitute for one-on-one communication; in-person conversation is unquestionably the best form of contact for professional and union matters affecting you. But electronic communication is another valuable vehicle that can place you in a better position to strategically address and communicate the work place issues that face you.

By providing the tools to create more powerful MNA members, the result will be increased success.