Editorial: Strategies for Survival Sister Rosemary Donley, R.N., Ph.D.

ast summer while browsing L through a book store, I found a wonderful adult comic book. I call it an adult book because it addressed a mature theme-strategies for survival. The threat is an invasion by a foreign force. When the story begins, Julius Caesar has conquered all of Caul ex- cept a small village. The main charac- ters, Asterisk and Obelisk, are fighting to preserve their village, their values, and their lives. While the external threat is formidable (Julius Caesar was no slouch), Asterisk and Obelisk have some personal constraints. Asterisk is

preoccupied with detail and fascinat- ed by obscure or hidden meanings. Obelisk‘s burden is more obvious. He carries a large stone everywhere.

What does the division of Gaul or the psychology of Asterisk and Obe- lisk have to do with the development of nursing scholarship at the end of the 20th century? On reflection, life back then was not so bad. Given our hassles, the threat of Roman troops and the burdens of the leaders seem simple to overcome. We would readi- ly exchange battles with Caesar for our modern struggles. If our major in-

hibition was the transportation of ob- elisks, we would overcome.

How preoccupied are we with ex- ternal threats and the balance of pow- er in academia, professional associa- tions, and health care establishments? Do we envision ourselves as holding out against an invading army? Do we see a reunited Gaul? Can we turn our obelisks into reflecting benches and our preoccupation with detail into master plans and strategies for change? Mostly, can we see some hu- mor in our struggles and laugh as well as read?

Sigma Theta Tau Responds to Membership Growth

From the cover: National Officers pause in front of the new headquarters. (left to right) Nell Watts, Executive Officer; Beth C. Vaughan-Wrobel, Second Vice Presi- dent; Linda Daniel, Secretary; Helen M. Ference, Third Vice President; Lucie Young Kelly, President; Vernice Ferguson, President-Elect; Angela Barron McBride, First Vice President; and Betty Thomas, Treasurer.

ational Council members and N Committee chairs recently par- ticipated in the opening of a new National Headquarters. The office is located in a publishing house in Indi- anapolis, near the Indiana University School of Nursing. The move will en- able Sigma Theta Tau to increase the depth, scope, and efficiency of its services to chapters and individuals. The improved and enlarged facilities will also increase Sigma Theta Tau’s ability, as project leader, to develop a Center for Nursing which will provide services and resources for the ad- vancement of professional nursing.

The transitional move is in response to the rapid growth of the membership and its needs. Since the national head- quarters opened in 1974, the member- ship has grown tremendously in number, level of involvement, and so- phistication of needs. The individual membership has grown over 50O0h-- from 15,OOO to 80,000-and chapters

are now active in over 200 baccalau- reate schools. Chapters have devel- oped and strengthened their activities, from educational programs and re- search funding to leadership in health promotion in the community. Individ- uals are involved in an increasing range of scholarly activities-writing for publication, undertaking major re- search projects, working with col- leagues in other health care fields, and disseminating health information to the public.

The National Council has anticipat- ed and responded to the members’ in- creasing interests, remaining commit- ted to the development of a scientific base for the practice of nursing, and to the innovation and development nec- essary to increase the image and effec- tiveness of professional nursing. The transitional Headquarters move en- hances Sigma Theta Tau’s ability to promote excellence, creativity, schol- arship, and leadership in nursing.

Page 2 Image: The Journal of Nursing Scholarship Winter, 1985, Volume XVII, No. 1