All Are We Are One: VISNA Restructured

On Saturday, November 4, 2023, the biennial Convention for 2023 was held at the PentHouse Rooftop, Sion Farm, St. Croix with fourteen (14) members in attendance on site and virtually. The Jr. ROTC from the Educational Complex posted the colors. Theme was Nurses Coming Together: Making a Difference. The Nursing Services Organization (NSO) which provides professional liability insurance for nurses in the territory sponsored the event and the American Nurses Association provided membership material for the bags.

Invited guests were Commissioner of Health Justa Encarnacion, RN; Senator Ray Fonseca, Chair of the Senate's Committee on Health, Hospital and Human Services; Schneider Regional Medical Center Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Delphine Olivacce; Douglas Koch, RN, CEO, JFL Hospital & Medical Center and Darice Plaskett, Chief Nursing Officer, JFL Hospital & Medical Center;  the latter two were in attendance. Keynote Speaker was Tina McRea-Phelps, MSM, Director of Constituent Relations & Member Support from the American Nurses Association. In support of the theme, a panel of nurse leaders was convened from the Bureau of Corrections, SRMC, Department of Education, JFL and Department of Human Services. The latter two were present and excerpts from their presentation will be posted on this website. 

The bylaws indicate that the biennial convention is intended for the membership to receive reports from the Board of Directors, elect a new Board for another Biennium, and set mandates for operation of the Association. Reports were received from the President, Treasurer and Executive Director. None of the Nurse Representatives to the Hospitals and Territorial Boards were available. Two affiliate organization leaders made reports; Dean of the UVI School of Nursing and the Executive Director of the VI Board of Nurse Licensure.

All reports will be posted in the Media Library on this website.

As guided by legal consultation a membership meeting was held virtually in September, 2023, to present the Board's intent to offer a resolution for the merger of the Districts into One state entity so as to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of all operations, better utilize available resources and most of all to improve communication with all members. None of the Districts are functional and have a Board of Directors. Dues to the St. Thomas/St/ John District was held in escrow by the State Board from 2018. At the Convention a 2/3 vote of persons eligible to vote was needed to pass this resolution.  TEN OF THE FOURTEEN ELIGIBLE MEMBERS VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE; THE OTHER FOUR WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE VOTE. Minutes of the Business meeting will also be posted in the Media Library.

The Merger Decision implements the following:

1. All nurses will be members of VISNA/ANA ONLY; there will be no option to join as a CBU member. 

2. Nurses eligible to join the VISNA Collective Bargaining Unit will pay a separate Service Fee to the CBU

3. A new fee structure will be in place by January 30, 2024, to be paid via payroll deduction or ANA central billing

4. All dues payment sources will be informed of the change for adjustments as needed

 5. Legislation for representation on the Hospitals and Territorial Boards will be amended for nomination by the State Board of Directors; this will apply to any other pertinent legislation

 Face to face membership meetings are planned for January 26, 2024, on St. Croix and January 27, 2024 on St. Thomas/St. John. Time and place to be announced. 

Recognized with certificates of appreciation were the following members of the CBU Negotiating Team: Dr. Brittany Dawson (Chair), Melisia Hanley, Tiffonee Nicholas, Shama Williams, Nigma Jackson, Asheelah Heywood, Jennifer King, Geraldine Walters Buncome and Maize Maynard.

The elections did not take place as a slate of nominees is still not completed. Would you consider leading this new VISNA? What would convince you to run ? Ms. Melisia Hanley still awaits your consent to serve.