<strong>2017</strong> Florida Nurses Association keynote address participated actively among the 280+ attendees that consisted <strong>of</strong> nursing faculty, practicing nurses, and nursing students exceeding the regions attendance expectations as it was well above the previous attendance levels. The Region hosted at the symposium 50 accomplished posters with awards for posters as well as annual nursing awards were issued. The recipient <strong>of</strong> the South Region Outstanding Nurse <strong>of</strong> the Year was Dr. Steadley Foster. The South Region was supported by the Nurses Charitable Trust, the Royce Foundation and Dr. Sara Fishman’s family for sponsoring nursing student scholarships awarded at the symposium and award ceremony. Supporting the event as well was vendors and exhibitors with the Gold Level Sponsor being American DataBank and the Silver was the Nurses Charitable Trust. The South Region’s annual symposium and award ceremony, now in its seventh consecutive year is legendary within the community as a note-worthy event celebrating nursing. This event could not be made possible without the tireless efforts and commitment by the South Region Voluntary Leadership Council: Alina Diaz-Cruz, MSN, MA, RN member awards committee, Peggy Davis, DHSc, MSN, MEd, RN, South Region <strong>FNA</strong> Chair <strong>of</strong> Program CE, Marie O. Etienne, DNP, ARNP, PLNC Chair <strong>of</strong> Nursing Ethnic Diversity, Sheree Mundy, DNP, BSc, ARNP Chair <strong>of</strong> Posters, Lolita McCarthy, PhD, MBA-HCM, RN Treasurer, Patricia R. Messmer, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN, Chair The Nurses Charitable Trust & Chair Florida Nurses Foundation, Elizabeth Olafson, MSN, MSEd, RN-BC Chair <strong>of</strong> Scholarships and membership, Barbara Russell, BSHSA, MPH, RN, CIC Vice-President <strong>FNA</strong> member scholars committee and research grant, Karen Sinclair, MSN, MBA, RN members <strong>of</strong> poster and award selection, Jill Tahmooressi, MBA, BSN, RN-BC, NCSN, South Region Activity Manager, Maxine Jacobowitz, BSN, RN, CPN, South Region Chair <strong>of</strong> Gifts, Stephanie Yzer RN, BSN member <strong>of</strong> gifts committee, finance, & award selection committee, Ferrona Beason PhD, RN, member <strong>of</strong> poster and award selection committee. The Region has already started plans and looks forward to seeing everyone next year at the 8th Annual Symposium and Awards Ceremony at Gulfstream in Hallandale, scheduled for Saturday April 14th, 2018 from 8am- 2:30pm. 114
<strong>2017</strong> Florida Nurses Association <strong>FNA</strong> Membership Comparison 1978-<strong>2017</strong> Year Membership Count 1980 4045 1981 4536 1982 4700 1983 4800 1984 5026 1985 5517 1986 5763 1987 6019 1988 6333 1989 7370 1990 7880 1991 8018 1992 7244 1993 6913 1994 7114 1995 7026 1996 7281 1997 7120 1998 7120 1999 6443 2000 7237 2001 7126 2002 6745 2003 6836 2004 6145 2005 6335 2006 6245 2007 6579 2009 6256 2010 5285 (Loss <strong>of</strong> VA units) 2011 4810 2012 4582 2013 4663 2014 4792 2015 4573 2016 4070 Current 4428(June) 115