ONS-SA CHAPTER  HISTORY

Twenty-fifth Anniversary for the San Antonio Chapter

 by Paul M. Hitzfelder, RN, BSN

             In 2001,  the San Antonio Chapter celebrated two decades of excellence in cancer nursing.   The chapter started in July 1981 with four brave nurses: Barbara Carlile (now Damron), Terri Barnett, Rosemary Duggan and Suzi Emmanuel. These “founding mothers” sent a letter to 200 registered nurses informing them of a plan to unite cancer nurses.  Within a matter of months the first organizational meeting convened on October 29, 1981.  A liaison with the Nurses' Committee of the American Cancer Society Bexar Metro Unit was established.  Carol Sandor joined the newly forming group.

            Thirty-six nurses attended the first meeting.  Meeting at the Cancer Treatment and Research Center, (CTRC) a tremendous amount of discussion focused on the group's independence as a local interest group or whether it should become affiliated with ONS national organization.  Committees were formed, a newsletter created with dues of $12 established, and thus the Society of San Antonio Oncology Nurses became a reality.

Terry Barnett recalled, "So many people showed up for this first meeting, we were overjoyed."  By November 1, 1981, Barbara Damron remembered, "I was impressed with how ready everyone was to easily come together."  The first meeting’s presentation was on apheresis.

            By January 1982 the camaraderie of the board worked to submit their chapter application (fifteen copies of the application were sent to the national office in a shoe box!). Terri Barnett, the first newsletter editor, mimeographed it, and the cover sheet was professionally created.  The treasury boasted $501.50.  In March 1982 the national office approved the application. At the Seventh Annual Congress of ONS in St. Louis, Missouri, the chapter was presented to the assembly; San Antonio Chapter was the first chapter in Texas and the twenty-second on the national level.   Barbara Dameron said, "All of it was so much like a dream,… quickly and positively all nurses at ONS pushed for us.”  Something in all of us, Terri Barnett, Carol Sandor, Dianne Hallworth matured professionally."  Dianne recalled, "I didn't know anyone, so I was sitting in the back (of the Opening ceremony).  Everyone else from San Antonio was up front.  So when we stood up to be acknowledged I was by myself in the back?"  Although Beverly Frank was not at that congress (her first congress was in San Diego in 1980) her most memorable event in those early years, "... was knowing other nurses, like Lucille Wiede."

            The first chapter display was presented at the Leukemia Society meeting in April.  Barbara was the first chairperson for the First Annual Nursing Focus:  Legality, Morality, and Ethics:  Applications in Nursing. Thirty-six participants paid $25 to attend the Focus Group, which was held at Oak Hills Inn.  Barbara Damron guided the chapter for five years and received the Nurse of the Year from the Texas Nurses Association in 1982.  

           By 1985 the chapter had outgrown the meeting area at CTRC and moved to the American Cancer Society office on Wurzbach.  ONS presented a copy of the Lippencott Manual of Nursing Practice to Dr. Coltman in gratitude for allowing the chapter use the facility for its meetings.

            In 1985 Susan Smith was named to chair the Conference Committee while Theresa Hammonds was named our representative to the National Resolutions and Legislative Committee.  Barbara was elected to the Board of Directors of the national ONS. Congress was held in Houston in which Carol Sandor and Dianne Hallworth presented their poster on Tracheal Esophageal Puncture.  This congress was the Tenth Anniversary for ONS and national membership was over 8,000.  Included in this year the American Cancer Society and ONS sponsored Camp Discovery, a five day summer camp for 64 children with cancer.

           The chapter has grown, and there are many recollections to cover.  When asked, “What was your most memorable event of the first few years?” several members gave unusual answers.

Terri Barnett recalled, "I chaired an educational conference with the American Cancer Society (and Karen Torges) with some 35 speakers.  One day a week for several weeks with a total of 24 contact hours.  It was videotaped and used by other American Cancer Societies across the country.  If I had only known ...."

Dianne Hallworth remembered, "We put our conference handout booklets together in Barbara's den.  Now we have the booklets printed professionally."     

            The organization changed its president in 1986 with the election of Susan Smith. “I found it very difficult to follow Barbara Holmes," said Susan.  "It was a running joke that I didn't have half the clothes she did. However, I found ONS to be a good source to network and have fun.  My most memorable experience occurred as chair of the conference committee."  This was the year National ONS raised its dues at the Congress in Los Angeles, so the local Chapter lowered its dues to $7.

            The following year the San Antonio Chapter joined with the Galveston chapter in the spirit of chapter networking and held the annual conference in Galveston at the Flagship Hotel.

            Beverly Frank has contributed many woman-hours to ONS, and she initiated the community service of donating needed supplies and an occasional meal to the Ronald Mc Donald House.  She can also be remembered as a key person on the 10 member committee who oversaw the national congress at San Antonio in 1991.  Beverly networked with APON and INS to invite officers to our annual dinners. 

            Rosemary Duggan assumed the presidency in 1992 and had Continuing Education Units added to the general meetings and an increased commitment to ONS members.   Gaylel Cook became president in 1995 after a vigorous term as the membership chairperson.  Her most memorable recollection was co-chairing the conference: "Ethical Illusions" with Paul Hitzfelder.  Margaret Hall brought her Irish charm and wit to the presidency of an all too brief term. Joann Hardy stated, "I wanted to be remembered as the president who raised the dues." She mentioned that the president has a large amount of mail and paperwork to assess.

            Carol Thompson was the president when the National Congress came to San Antonio in 2000.  She recalled her memorable moment, “Talking in front of 5,000 nurses … seeing all our members getting registered for congress.  I was happy about people’s feelings.” 

            Sandy Terrazzino lead the chapter in 2000-2001; she replied, “My very first board meeting surrounded by my colleagues. I saw their dedication and ingenuity at accomplishing our mission … and looking at my last dinner as president at all the accomplishments we had completed.”  The highlight of Dianne Hallworth's presidency (2001-2002) occurred when she reported, "We received our twentieth year pin at congress in Orlando, Florida."  Pauline Hendricks held office from 2003-3004.

           As 2004-2005 rolled around Gayle Cook served as president for the second time.  She said, "The high point was having a board of directors who were dedicated to and worked so hard for the chapter.  Each person contributed a part of themselves to help bring the chapter members programs, events, information, and tools that would help do their life's work."  Paul Hitzfelder held the reins of office in 2005-2006 and recalled, "Giving the two student nurse scholarships to help build a future for nursing as well as oncology nursing was my finest fifteen minutes."

           Wendy Crabbe (2005-2006) remembered, " The highlight of my presidency was getting to work with such wonderful and dedicated board members and getting to know chapter members at the monthly dinner meetings.  I also saw a new side to my normally shy self.  Being chapter president makes you come out of your shell.  It was fun."

            As a footnote, Terri Barnett was the first editor of the newsletter. She was followed by Dianne Hallworth, Susan Smith, Paul Hitzfelder, Kim Harrison, Joanne Hardy, Linda Kirk, Dianne Hallworth again, Paul Hitzfelder again and now Gayle Cook.  Helping out is her husband, Lee, and Paul Hitzfelder working with the ONS-SA Web Site that was established  in 2002. Paul Hitzfelder won an honorable mention and a Best Design award for his newsletters while Gayle Cook was awarded the Best Newsletter for 2006.  (The early newsletters of the chapter were with Kim Harrison when she passed away and have not been recovered.  If any members have copies, they are asked to please contact the editor or the archivist, Ande Burrel.)  As a side note, the ONS-SA Newsletter can now be found on this web-site in PDF format for downloading so anyone can read and/or print it out.  Quite an upgrade from the time the newsletter in hard copy only went to members and a few supporters.

Last updated May 31, 2007 05:34 PM .