**Please take a moment to respond to this SURVEY!**   

July 2006

Dear Colleagues and Friends,         

The 2006 Convention in Baltimore was a great success, there were over 3000 attendees! Although the weather was not cooperative, a good time was had by all. The presentations, exhibitors, research and innovative program exhibits and interactive sessions were well attended. Virginia was well represented with presentations. Speakers included: Cynthia Dingus, Emily Drake, Robin Hills, Lisa Klein, Jung-Tzu Lin, Debra Lyons, Suzy Pace, Rita Pickler, Mary Lou Reed, Gayle Roux, Sherri Lee Simons, Jennifer Truax, Barbara Walsh, Orpha Weinhold, Iris Woodward, Sue Woodson and Rene Zelkin.

Kudos to Lisa Klein. She received the Outstanding Innovative Program Paper Award for Pregnancy after Bariatric Surgery.

One of the best parts of Convention is visiting with colleagues from throughout the States and Canada and making new friends. It is always refreshing to meet and greet 1^st time attendees and truly make them feel welcomed. This would be a goal for Virginia Section Meetings and of course, chapter meetings.

Please check your CHAPTER site and contact your CHAPTER LEADERS for local activities. Browse through the other Chapters for their activities. Volunteer to be a speaker at a Chapter Meeting!

Mark your calendars: the 2007 Virginia Conference will be held October 26-28, 2007 in Fredericksburg and the AWHONN Convention 2007, “inspired to excellence” will be held June 23-27^th in Orlando, Florida.

There will be a transition in leadership for Virginia for 2007-2009.  Remember, that your vote counts for Section and National Leadership offices. Please take the time to cast your vote. We have strong Chapters in Virginia and there are always opportunities to get involved on the chapter levels. All Chapter Leaders welcome the help and are all great mentors! Let them help lead the way for your professional growth.

I am delighted to answer your questions or AWHONN needs. Feel free to contact me for further information. The position of Web News Editor is open!!  We are looking for someone who will gather information and articles of interest and work with our webmaster and keep our membership up to date. Please contact me if interested.

Thank you again for all your support with Virginia AWHONN!  Have a safe, enjoyable summer! Take some time to make it a period of growth and renewal of your mind, body and spirit.

Warm regards,

Mary Lou Reed, CNM, MSN, RNC
Chair, Virginia Section
AWHONN
mlureed@yahoo.com

            The Division of Women's and Infants' Health Office of Family Health Services, Virginia Department of Health is delighted to announce that Virginia was awarded the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Grant as of April 2006 and AWHONN has been asked to send a representative. The first (PRAMS) Steering Committee will be August 24, 2006 from 10:00 am-3:00 pm in the Richmond area. I am seeking an interested member of AWHONN to attend these sessions (4 in the next year). You will be expected to prepare for this meeting. Please contact me ASAP if interested. (Mary Lou Reed at mlureed@yahoo.com). 

         AWHONN VIRGINIA was very helpful during the summer of 2004 as the Division of Women's and Infants' Health Office of Family Health Services, Virginia Department of Health
developed the Web-based Training on Perinatal Depression and discussed the status of screening and care of women experiencing depression during the childbearing year.

         AWHONN again will commit to serve on the same Expert Panel during the grant period of September, 2006 - August, 2008.The Expert Panel will again be participating in similar discussions regarding barriers to care, services needed in Virginia, reimbursement, and policy or system changes needed.

        If you have not completed the Perinatal Depression Web-based Training, please check it out at http://www.perinataldepression.org