Welcome to the Windy City Chapter of the American Nephrology Nurses' Association (ANNA). We are your local ANNA chapter, whose members are generally from northern Illinois, primarily the Chicago metropolitan area. The Windy City Chapter is one of 27 chapters that comprise the North Central Region of the ANNA.

The ANNA serves its members through a national structure separated into four regions. Within these regions are over 100 local chapters. Chapters serve as the foundation of the ANNA, making Association services locally available to members. By joining one of the ANNA's expanding networks of chapters, members can promote their professional growth, advance nephrology nursing practice, and positively influence patient outcomes.

The Search for New Chapter Officers

The search for new chapter officers never ends. If you have ever considered becoming an officer, please consider this the year to form a mentor relationship with the officer of your choice.

Do you like to coordinate events and plan budgets. Then you are a natural to become our chapter Treasurer.

Our maybe you have a secret craving to become a writer. Becoming our chapter secretary is a great way to hone those writing skills locally, plus you will have exposure to a national audience.

Want to get involved in politics, yet don't want the hassle of running your own campaign? Consider becoming our next chapter Health Policy Representative. Get involved in the legislative process, have a chance to meet local, state and national legislators as you assist in shaping the law of the land!

Whatever office that you are interested in, you will never be alone. There is tremendous support from the ANNA National Offices, plus our current and immediate past officers are readily available to provide support, guidance and continuity. You are NEVER alone in the ANNA!

What an opportunity to get involved in YOUR professional organization and to build your personal resume! If you have any interest in becoming a chapter officer, please contact Gary Reschak, chapter Secretary at 2unicorn7@comcast.net. Or click on "Officer" to go to our officer page and contact the current holder of the position that your are interesed in directly, for your questions, concerns and support.

It is never too early to consider becoming a chapter officer! Make a comittment now before the deadline passes you by! Contact me - Gary Reschak for more information.

The Regional Health Policy Advocacy (RHPA) Award.

Initiated in 2009, the RHPA Award will recognize one chapter in each region for it's contributions to health policy advocacy. Every member can easily participate in winning this award and help in shaping the national healthcare debate. RHPA points will be earned by meeting any of 31 criteria through out the 2013 year. Many are individual member actions that are as simple as using ANNA's Cap Wiz or being a concurrent member of the Illinois Nurses Association, to coordinating a facility tour for a local legislator. But our chapter Health Policy Representative, Debra Kaiser must know what you have done. Click on our "Health Policy" page for a list of the RHPA Award Criteria and please keep Debra Kaiser informed of everything that you've done, since January 1, 2013 that meets any of the criteria listed.

The Windy City Chapter is a part of the North Central Region of ANNA. While the Regional Newsletters are primarily written for chapter officers, we will be making them available to all chapter members through a web link as they become available. There is information that is valuable to all members, but most of all, we wish to encourage members to become chapter officers. This newsletter is one of many resources provided by the ANNA National Offices and the North Central Region to support and encourage members to become chapter officers. You are never alone in ANNA! North Central Neighborhood (December 2012)

Our "Accolades" page, to highlight chapter member's accomplishments, is up and running! See what your fellow chapter members have been doing and then click on "Contact Us" and let us know what you've accomplished!

Questions? Suggestions? News of your own to report? Take a chance to get more involved with a bunch of fun loving nephrology nurses! Click on the "Contact Us" page and let us know what we can do for you or what you can do for us. A chapter is only as informative and as fun as it's most active members. Get involved! Contact us!

Please do check the website for updates (at least monthly), and please do keep your e-mail addresses current with the ANNA National Ofiices as we use the ANNA Connected and this website as our primary means of communication.