Delegate duties and parliamentary procedures at AORN's 52nd Congress

AORN Journal,  Jan, 2005  

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Sunday, April 3, to Thursday, April 7, 2005

AORN will allow members to serve as delegates for a chapter in any state, even if they are not members of that chapter, as long as the chapter they are representing has authorized them to serve. Each chapter must choose whether to allow the selection of delegates from other chapters and take the steps necessary to implement this change on the chapter level. If necessary, this will involve reviewing chapter bylaws and making changes to the bylaws regarding how delegates are selected. Chapters wishing to recruit members from other chapters to fill their allocated number of delegate slots may implement this practice at the 2005 Congress in New Orleans if their bylaws so permit. Chapters should keep in mind general requirements for delegates, including that student and associate members cannot be delegates. Delegates are responsible for electing AORN's leaders and determining whether resolutions, bylaws amendments, and position statements reflect the needs and wishes of the members the delegates represent.

Delegate Selection

To vote in the national elections, each chapter must select a delegate chair. The chair's responsibility is to provide a list of chapter delegates and alternates to Headquarters. Delegate chairs can submit the names of delegates and alternates on AORN Online at http://www.aorn.org/congress/attendees/delegate_select.asp.

Delegate chairs will receive a confirmation of delegates submitted and will be able to check delegate lists online at any time. Each delegate and alternate selected also will receive an e-mail confirming his or her status. If you are unable to register delegates and alternates online, please send your delegate names via e-mail to Jennifer Slater, member services administrative assistant, at jslater@aorn.org, or contact her at (800) 7552676 x 275.

Member-at-large Delegates Needed

Important issues appear on the Forum and House of Delegates agenda each year. Member-at-large (MAL) delegates do not have chapter meetings to discuss these issues. Member-at-large delegates will have an opportunity to take a position on these issues during the Forums and House of Delegates sessions. For the 2005 Congress, there are 107 MAL delegate spaces. In the event that a MAL delegate is not present at the House, an alternate MAL delegate will be allowed to serve in his or her place. Any member who does not belong to a chapter is eligible to serve as a MAL delegate or alternate delegate. Member-at-large delegates and alternates are selected on a first-come, first-served basis from those who contact Headquarters.

To obtain more information before Congress, contact Kendra Keene, chapter relations coordinator, at (800) 755-2676 x 250, or send an e-mail to kkeene@aorn.org. At Congress, you can obtain more information from the Delegate counter near registration.

Delegate Obligations

Delegates are expected to attend all business-related events, including the Candidates' Forums, Congress Forums, and House of Delegates. If a delegate is unable to attend any of these sessions, he or she should inform the chapter's delegate chair so arrangements can be made to ensure the chapter is represented. Alternates must be prepared to meet the same obligations as delegates.

Delegate Registration

Individual delegates and alternates are responsible for their own Congress registration, and delegate chairs or other chapter designees are responsible for submitting the names of chapter delegates and alternates to Headquarters. The Congress registration form provides an area for individuals to designate their status as delegate chair for their chapter.

Delegates and alternates must be registered before the first Candidates' Forum, which begins on Sunday, April 3, at 2:15 PM. A confirmation list of delegates and alternates who have registered for each chapter will be available for delegate chairs at the Delegate counter near registration after 7 AM, Monday, April 4.

Delegate Changes

Delegate chairs can change alternates to delegates at the Delegate Changes/ Member Resources counter during the following times.

* Saturday, April 2    10 AM to
                       5 PM
* Sunday, April 3      7 AM to
                       5 PM
* Monday, April 4      7 AM to
                       3:30 PM
* Tuesday, April 5     10 AM to
                       3:30 PM
* Wednesday, April 6   10 AM to
                       3:30 PM

Delegate status is coded on the badges and scan cards attendees receive at registration. To make changes, the chapter delegate chair must authorize the change by notifying a Headquarters staff member at the Delegate counter. The delegate and alternate involved in the change must present their badges and scan cards at the Delegate counter. New badges will be printed, and scan cards must be recoded before the changes are valid.

Alternates also can be changed to delegate status at the Credentials Table in the General Session room 15 minutes before the beginning of each House of Delegates session. Temporary delegate stickers will allow individuals to vote at the House of Delegates, but scan cards must be recoded before 3:30 PM on Wednesday, April 6, for delegates to be eligible to vote for national officers on Thursday morning. All delegates must have a delegate voting ticket to vote.