Ediforial

An in progress

"Tradition!" says Tevye, governs the way we live and our traditions keep us bal- anced throughout our life in a precarious stance like a "Fiddler on the Roof."

Change is a form of tradition breaking. This year at the 19th Annual Congress,

AORN breoks with tradition and shares one day of its magnificent industrial and scien- tific exhibit with operating room technicians attending their 4th Annual Conference at the same time in Houston.

This crack in AORN tradition presents a dichotomy within both groups. There are those who say this i s progress, it makes sense, and both groups will benefit. There are others who say it sounds the deuth kneel for AORT - others predict destruc- tive dilution for AORN.

Almost everyone says, "we'll wait and see." Perhaps it would be best if we change from a "you gotta show me" to a "how can I make it work?'' attitude.

Leaders who engineered the concept of AORT and the joint proposal for both groups did not build into their design a plan for failure.

The AORT group on the exhibit floor on Wednesday, February 3, may be strangers, but "on the other hand" individually they are our friends with whom we work very productively at home everyday.

Evaluation of this experiment should be made with a mature set of counterbal- unced weights, not with the unpredictable weights of heated emotion.

There are other people and other groups outside who are watching to see if (the "fiddler on the roof" of AORN and AORT will maintain his balance - or if) this break with tradition will be destructive.

Nevertheless, there is excitement in all our 194 local chapters this month as AORN members prepare for Congress and excite- ment i s a magnetic and contagious thing. It energizes and stimulates activity. There i s the usual flurry of planning, shopping and packing as well as the anticipation of seeing old friends and enjoying all the social ac- tivity. Don't forget those dancing slippers for the exhibitors night square dance.

The JOURNAL articles this month were planned to give you a preview of the sub- ject matter available on the program. This year you will have the opportunity to hear more speakers of renown speaking on more subjects than ever before. The format, in the main, is your favorite panel presenta- tions designed for audience participation. So, be prepared to make your contribution.

Suggestion - begin now to select your programs so the decision of choice will not be so frustrating at the last minute.

We look forward to a productive Con- gress and one which history will recount as tradition breaking and as an experiment

in progress. 0 -Betty Thomas, RN

Edifor

January 1972 11