Attending our annual meeting in May reminded me again of the many benefits membership in APSNA has to offer. First and foremost are the personal connections we make through our organization. Whether we are connecting via our discussion forums or in person at the conference, the connections we make are an invaluable asset to pediatric surgical patients around the country and the world.

There were 150 attendees at conference this year. Congratulations to Raquel Pasaron for planning such a wonderful event. Our next conference will be held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in April 2015. Abstract submissions are being accepted until October 1, 2014. Please consider sharing your knowledge with us next spring in Florida.

Congratulations to the 2014 Founder's Award Winners, Barbara Mariscal and Kimberly McIltrot. A tie! Both Barb and Kim have devoted their careers to the care of children and have been an integral part of APSNA. Thank you for your dedication and service. Watch for the call to nominate someone for the 2015 Founder's Award.

In addition to personal connections, APSNA offers many educational benefits including grants that may be used for everything from research projects to obtaining WOCN certification. If you or one of your coworkers is currently in school or considering a return to school, these grants can provide some financial assistance. Details about these grants are available on our Web site.

I would like to welcome Jen Reitsma, from Sanford Children's Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as our new membership chair. If anyone is interested in joining APSNA's membership committee, let Jen know via e-mail. We are always looking for input on how to recruit and retain members and enhance our membership experience.

Finally, we would love to hear about our member's professional and personal milestones including marriages, births, graduations, promotions, presentations, and publications.

Sincerely,

Melanie Hanlon, RN, CNP, PC/AC

Membership Chair