Dear Members, Colleagues, and Friends,

I am extremely honored and grateful to be chosen as the new president of this dedicated Association; at the dawn of its jubilee.  Allow me to bow and acknowledge the work of  the out-going Board under the leadership of Marie Etienne, MSN, ARNP.  I applaud their commitment and their constant desire to take the Association to new heights. 

 As we are taking over new challenges as a new Board, we pledge to continue honoring the philosophy and the mission of the Haitian American Nurses Association. We will continue to pursue services to the community and our different missions in Haiti with the help of all the organizations that have worked closely with the Association.  We are taking this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to all of these individual groups. 

We have a strategic plan for the next two years.  Our goal is to continue the efforts of the past Board in facilitating the Association with a new office that will enable us to become more visible within the community; in alliance with other grassroots organizations already established.  We are going to implement services that are in response to the different objectives of Healthy People 2010 to address more effectively the problems with health disparities.  In case of national or local emergencies we need to be ready with a plan to serve and assist our community and provide assistance for the most in need.  Our vision is for a continuous increase in the membership of HANA, throughout Florida , so that the majority of nurses of Haitian descent will embrace our work and increase their participation in the activities of the Association. 

I pledge to make the Association a holistic bridge within this diverse community.   My vision is to have HANA grow beyond Dade County , this effort will expand our services within the surrounding counties.  I want to challenge all the nurses present tonight who are not yet a member to make a commitment to join us so that together we can make a difference.  I am calling upon my Board members to continue striving to serve, and also to never forget that “ Nursing is not only a Profession but a Passion”.