Start planning for Congress 2008

 The first week in October registration will open for AORN's 55th annual Congress in Anaheim, Calif., March 30-April 3, 2008. Congress 2008 attendees will have more opportunities to gain continuing education, participate in Congress events-including the return of the Foundation' 5K Run/Walk-and use new online planning tools to make the most of their time at AORN's annual meeting.

"Our next Congress offers something for everyone, with a focus on diverse and interactive education, ranging from clinical advancements and management to women's health and leadership issues, said AORN President Mary Jo Steiert, RN, BSN, CNOR. "General sessions will also reinvigorate our passion and provide new tools to inspire our professional practice," and changes have been made to the program schedule to allow more time for additional sessions and contact hours, Steiert noted.

Planning
AORN's recently enhanced Web site offers convenient new registration and planning features for Congress 2008, including a new online itinerary tool. Available in January, the online planner will automatically upload an attendee's itinerary during to registration.

Other online resources for Congress 2008 include education session overviews, events, housing and AORN business information. All can be accessed through AORN's online home for Congress 2008. These pages are continually updated with new information and resources about educational, business and event information for the upcoming Congress.

In November the Web pages also will include opportunities to win three free registrations to Congress 2008. The prizes will be awarded to those who qualify by participating in an online "Facts & Fun" trivia game, with questions on perioperative practice issues developed by perioperative nursing specialists in AORN's Center for Nursing Practice. Anyone who answers all of the online trivia questions will automatically be entered in a drawing for the three free registrations.

Congress 2008 Web pages will also include information on the city of Anaheim through a partnership with the Anaheim/Orange County Visitors & Convention Bureau. This collaborative Web page will include information on attractions and events during Congress in Anaheim, including restaurants and weather updates.

Here's what to look forward to at Congress 2008:

Education
After Congress 2007 in Orlando, Fla., AORN surveyed members about educational offerings during the meeting and found that many members wanted more sessions in which participants could use an audience response system to connect with speakers and test their knowledge, said Susan Bakewell, RN, MS, BC, director of AORN's Center for Perioperative Education. "We know Congress is an important way for our members to get continuing education, so the Congress Education Planning Committee works hard to select education sessions that meet the needs of attendees."

Looking forward to Congress 2008, Bakewell cites several sessions that shouldn't be missed:

• Women's Leadership: The Continuing Journey toward Diversity, a session presented by AORN Executive Director Linda K. Groah, RN, MSN, CNOR, FAAN, and Lillian H. Nicolette, RN, MSN, CNOR, examining leadership roles from a diversity perspective and exploring the strengths, challenges and opportunities women's leaders face in managing successful businesses.
• La Esterilization: Eventos y Prácticas Recomendadas (Sterilization: Events and Recommended Practices), a session conducted in Spanish by Ibia Bustelo, RN, BSN, CNOR, who will review AORN recommended practices for sterilization and offer suggestions for improving practice in maintaining a culture of safety.

Overviews of education sessions for Congress 2008 can be viewed online by visiting AORN's Congress Web pages at www.aorn.org/congress and selecting the education section.

Elections
In order to offer more time for continuing education, particularly for attendees serving as delegates, the Candidate's Forum will be held Saturday, March 29, one day earlier than usual. Voting also will take place a day earlier than normal, on Wednesday, April 2. That means the Delegate Registration Counter will close at 5 p.m., Tuesday, April 1.

"By making these changes we have freed up Monday, March 31, for nothing but education sessions," noted Claudia Randall, BSB, CPC, who is deeply involved in planning for Congress 2008. "This change will also give attendees more time to visit the exhibit hall later in the week," she said.

Beginning Nov. 13, 2007, Delegate Chairs (or designated AORN chapter or Specialty Assembly members) can submit delegates and alternates online at www.aorn.org/Congress in the General Information Section under Delegate Information. The deadline for submission is Feb. 29, 2008. For the second year, SAs will also send delegates who will join delegates representing the chapters during meetings of the association's House of Delegates.

To view the official 2007-2008 national ballot, see page 5 of this issue.

Exhibits
In addition to professional education and association business sessions, the Congress exhibit floor-one of the largest surgical trade shows with nearly 600 exhibitors-is an important part of Congress. The 2008 exhibit floor will have some exciting new features, including New Product Showcase kiosks, which will allow attendees to electronically search for companies with new products. Look for these kiosks just inside the lobby entrance doors.

Special hours on the 2008 exhibit floor will be reserved to enable perioperative managers to learn more in-depth information about exhibitors' products, services and job openings. To learn more about the exhibitors that will be present at AORN's 2008 Congress vistit AORN's Congress Web pages and take a virtual tour.

Events
Congress is an important time to network with colleagues. In addition to networking sessions, the First-Time Attendee Breakfast and the Next-Generation Happy Hour, Congress 2008 will present a new look and feel for the annual awards function. Rather than a dinner, the 2008 Sweet Success awards event  will be a dessert reception, with a shortened program and a lower ($25) ticket price. The reception will allow attendees to speak with individual award winners and chapter entrants to learn about their success strategies. After the award presentations, there will be a raffle and a champagne toast to the 2008 winner of the Award for Excellence in Perioperative Nursing.

Knotts Berry Farm will be the site of the Congress 2008 AORN Exhibitor Advisory Committee's Nurses Day event and nurse/exhibitor party Tuesday, April 1. The event will include access to rides, dancing, live music and entertainment for family and friends.

Foundation
The AORN Foundation is planning several activities during Congress 2008 to provide entertainment for attendees and raise money to fund nursing scholarships and other Foundation programs.

On Monday, March 31, the Foundation will host a Denim and Diamonds party. Whether donning denim,"bling" or formal attire, attendees will have the chance to mingle, dance to a live band and win door prizes throughout the evening.

After a hiatus in 2007, the Foundation's 5K Run/Walk will return this year on Wednesday, April 2. New to the event in 2008 will be the option to compete for medals in a runner's class or a walker's class. Teams of three or more members will compete for prizes that will be awarded to the most uniquely dressed team and to the team with the most participants. Door prizes will be awarded during the pre-race warm up.

"Congress is an important time for the Foundation because these activities and the donations received by attendees go directly to AORN Foundation's programs," said Nancy Harbin, Development Program Manager for the AORN Foundation.