February/March 2002 AWHONN Lifelines 69

with in-depth information about prac-tices such as

• culturally appropriate counseling• age-specific assessment and screen-

ings• heart-healthy lifestyle recommenda-

tions• improving knowledge of early identi-

fication and treatment

During 2002, those nurses whoattended the conference will conductcardiovascular health educationalforums for women and other nurses intheir home communities throughoutthe U.S., in addition to evaluatingscreening and assessment tools, andcollecting data.

$10 Million in NursingScholarships

The Labor Department and HCAhave partnered to create a $10 mil-

lion scholarship program aimed attraining and employing people inhealth care careers, specifically thoseworkers who have been dislocatedsince the Sept. 11 attacks.

“AWHONN believes this trainingprogram will provide some much need-ed assistance in alleviating the nation’semerging nursing shortage,” saidMelinda Mercer Ray, Director ofHealth Policy and Legislative Affairsfor AWHONN. “It will also help pro-vide new career opportunities to thosewho lost their jobs in the aftermath ofthe Sept. 11 attacks.”

Each organization is contributing $5million toward the scholarships, whichwill be offered for those who want tobecome registered nurses, licensedpractical nurses, radiology technolo-gists, surgical technicians and certified

nursing assistants in return for a workcommitment equal to the training. Thenational program will focus on sixregions:

• Atlanta• South Florida• Tampa• Dallas• Houston• Denver

Interested applicants can visitwww.dol.gov for more information, orcall 1-800-HCA-CARES.

Butts Lauded WithOutstanding Staff Award

In recognition of exemplary perform-ance and leadership, AWHONN

recently named Rose Butts, Manager ofMembership Development, the recipi-ent of the AWHONN 2001 JeffreyDe’Forest Bulluck Outstanding StaffAward. Butts was recognized for herexceptional levels of energy, dedicationand her superior responsiveness indelivering leading-edge services toAWHONN members.

This is the sixth year that theAWHONN Jeffrey De’Forest BulluckOutstanding Staff Award has been pre-sented. The award recognizesAWHONN employees who demon-strate a daily commitment to perform-ing their jobs at the highest possiblelevel and who display team spirit, apositive attitude and a consistent will-ingness to help others while stillaccomplishing their own duties.

Butts’ steadfast commitment toinnovative customer service is atremendous asset to AWHONN, andshe has played an integral role inimproving the efficiency and effective-

ness of AWHONN’s member services.Among her many achievements in thepast year is accelerating the turnaroundtime for returning member calls, aswell as providing real-time, on-sitemembership service at conventions fornew and existing members. This systemconsiderably streamlined the processfor both members and internalAWHONN departments.

In 2001, Butts took the lead inmanaging all aspects of AWHONN’sLeadership Conference and ensuredthat nursing leaders received the high-est level of training. In addition, she iscredited with instituting a highly suc-cessful membership renewal plan thatdramatically increased renewal ratesfor lapsed members. Members are asappreciative of her proactive approachas they are for her warm, gregariouspersonality.

“Rose is continually seeking out cre-ative new ways to enhance memberservices and take them to the next lev-el. She is greatly admired for her com-mitment to members on both a profes-sional and personal level,” said GailKincaide, Executive Director ofAWHONN. “Thanks to Rose’s unpar-alleled dedication to member services,our organization is able to offer thehighest quality of member services. Shetruly embodies the spirit ofAWHONN.”

Butts is a graduate of Old Domin-ion University with a bachelor’s inSpeech Communications. She has beenworking with health care–focusedorganizations for the past 13 years andis continually taking managementcourses that focus on membership serv-ice. As the youngest of 10 children,Butts is part of a tight-knit family fromJarrett, VA, and is an active member ofher church. �