Diana Pistole , MPH, RN President, ASTDN

May 14, 2009 I am honored and privileged to serve as your President for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, but I must admit to feeling “a little bit nervous.” Since becoming President-elect, I have been wondering if I have what it takes to follow in the footsteps of some very dynamic and talented past-Presidents. Then I realized - I don’t have to do it alone! I have a very talented and enthusiastic group of individuals on the Executive Board who will help me lead and inspire this group of public health nursing leaders and partners. I encourage all members to become involved in the many committees of ASTDN. The products that they deliver to the membership are invaluable to those who are dedicated to achieving the highest standards in this wonderful specialty. ASTDN would not exist but for the many past efforts of the individual members – voting, associate and alumni. This year, for the first time, ASTDN will broaden its connection to those interested in the field of public health nursing by offering new classifications of membership to our organization. It is my goal to grow our membership by having every state represented by a voting member and at least one associate member. Thank you to all who made the journey to attend the 2009 ASTDN Annual Conference in Oklahoma City! I know that in this time of budget cuts and H1N1 influenza, it was a difficult undertaking. The planning committee and my local staff hope that you enjoyed your stay in OKC and found the conference presentations relevant to your practice. I hope the energy of the conference remains with you during the coming year and that you never forget “Public Health Nurses: Nobody Does It Better.” Also, don’t forget to mark your calendars and join us, along with our ACHNE colleagues, in Washington DC in June 2010 for our joint conference! In closing, I invite you to explore the ASTDN website and learn more about our organization and its mission. You may just get inspired to join a committee and lend your talents to a worthwhile project. I hope to reorganize and update the website in the coming months, so stay tuned. Best regards, Diana Pistole, MPH, RN President, ASTDN