News & Events

Making connections: MNA members bring your concerns to legislators

From the Massachusetts Nurse Newsletter
August 2011 Edition

    Constituent Karen Lyons, an RN at UMass Adolescent Unit, and Rep. Harold Naughton (D-Clinton), House Chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Safety, discuss the importance of passage of the MNA’s workplace violence prevention bill. A month after this meeting, Naughton’s committee reported the bill out favorably.
     
  MNA members met with Rep. Garrett Bradley (D-Hingham) this summer to discuss the MNA’s legislative agenda. Bradley, who is a member of Speaker DeLeo’s leadership team, has been a long-time supporter of safe staffing and other MNA bills. From left, Susan Wright Thomas, an RN at Cambridge Health Alliance; Bradley; Cathy Craig, an RN at Tufts Medical Center; and Craig’s daughter, Shelby, whose sign says it all.
     
  On June 23 MNA members met with newly-elected Rep. John Mahoney (D-Worcester) in the Region 2 office to talk about the MNA legislative agenda. Front row, from left, Kathleen Coggins, RN, St. Vincent Hospital; Tami Hale, RN, Worcester Public Schools; Adrien Mayo, UMass Memorial. Back row, from left, Mahoney; Jayne Foley, RN, UMass Memorial; Lynne Starbard, RN, UMass Memorial; Lisa Cargill, RN, UMass Memorial; Tim Mayo, RN, UMass Memorial.
     
  MNA members met with Rep. Susan Williams Gifford (R-Wareham) in June to discuss the MNA legislative agenda. From left, Karen Wenger, Tobey Hospital; Judy Cardinal, Jordan Hospital; Lisa Kingston, Cape Cod Hospital; Judy Apone, Falmouth Hospital (seated); Stacy Brady, Taunton State Hospital; Gifford; Karen Coughlin, MNA vice president; June Miranda, Jordan Hospital; Joanne Murphy, Jordan Hospital; Maria Sheppard, Cape Cod Hospital. Also attending was Barbara Parro-Smith, Falmouth Hospital.
     
  MNA members met with Rep. Tom Conroy (D-Wayland) in June to discuss the MNA’s legislative agenda. Conroy is the vice chairman of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, so members were interested in getting his support. From left, Kelli O’Neill, RN, Tufts NEMC; Conroy; Liz Tobin, RN, Newton-Wellesley Hospital; Suzanne Tempesta, RN, Newton-Wellesley Hospital; Susan Howe, RN, Newton-Wellesley Hospital.
     
  Kelli O’Neill makes a point to Rep. Conroy.
     
  A group of MNA members and allies from Cape Cod met with new Rep. David Vieira (R-Falmouth) in May to discuss the MNA’s legislative agenda. From left, Michele Armour, a member of the Coalition for Social Justice, a strong MNA ally; Linda Kervin, RN, Cape Cod Hospital; Sonya Wargo, RN, Cape Cod Hospital; Maria Sheppard, RN, Cape Cod Hospital; Anne Fulton, RN, Falmouth Hospital; Vieira; Karen Coughlin, MNA vice president; Cynthia Dyer, RN, Pocasset Mental Health Center; and Regina Reed, RN, Falmouth Hospital.