MNA Commissions & Committees

The following is a list of MNA’s Commissions and Committees, including brief descriptions of their membership, expectations, and functions.

Elected Positions:

  • Commission on Governmental Affairs
  • Commission on Nursing Practice & Education
  • Committee on Elections
  • Leadership Committee of the Council of Active Retired Nurses (CARn)

All other positions are appointed by the MNA Board of Directors.

Interested in learning more? Any MNA member in good standing may contact the MNA office at 651.414.2800 to find out how you can get involved!

Or log into the MNA Member Center to submit an online Appointment Consideration form: https://mymna.mnnurses.org/

Elected Leaders

Commission on Governmental Affairs (Elected)
10-12 meetings/year, 2-4 hrs each

Includes at least two members from each of the eight MN Congressional Districts and three members at- large. If less than two Commissioners are elected to any congressional district, openings will be treated as at-large positions until the following election.

FUNCTIONS:

  1. Actively promote involvement in governmental process at all levels.
  2. Inform/educate members on governmental affairs.
  3. Monitor, research, and analyze legislation, legislative, and regulatory trends.
  4. Develop long-range goals consistent with the integrated planning process and strategic plan.
  5. Develop legislative and public policy agenda for House of Delegate approval.
  6. Develop procedures to support MNA’s legislative position and goals.
  7. Monitor/provide nursing input to regulatory agencies.
  8. Coordinate legislative concerns identified by MNA structural units.

Committee on Elections (Elected)
4-5 meetings/year, 1-2 hrs each

Consists of five to nine members, elected by the general membership. Cannot serve in any other MNA office except MNA Delegate, MN AFL-CIO Delegate, and National Nurses United Delegate.

FUNCTIONS:

  1. Issue a “Call for Candidates” form and prepare a ballot for all elected offices.
  2. Establish/review election policies and timetable.
  3. Investigate/determine outcome of any election challenges that may be filed.

Leadership Committee of CARn (Elected)
Meets at least quarterly, 1-2 hrs each

Consists of seven retiree selected by members of the Council of Active Retired Nurses.

FUNCTIONS:

Oversee activities of the Council of Active Retired Nurses.

Commission on Nursing Practice and Education (Elected)
10-11 meetings/year, approx 3 hrs each

Consists of eight collective bargaining unit members and four members at-large. At-large seats shall first be filled by non-collective bargaining unit members.

FUNCTIONS:

  1. Identify/review concerns for practice and take appropriate action.
  2. Identify resources; provide support to RNs in promoting safe nursing practice.
  3. Educate/support nurses in ethical nursing practice and in implementing standards of care, contract language, and legislation.
  4. Oversee MNA education and collaborate to provide continuing education to MNA structural units.
  5. Evaluate emerging trends in and review/ recommend formal nursing education, continuing education, and nursing practice issues.
  6. Promote the initiation, dissemination, and utilization of nursing research.
  7. Foster a relationship between MNA and Minnesota Student Nurses Assn.
  8. Collaborate with professional organizations to advance nursing practice and education.
  9. Promote all nurses’ rights and duty to practice according to the professional ethics, health, and safety of the profession.

Serve as a resource on ethical, health and safety issues related to the profession of nursing practice.

Standing Committees

Bylaws, Resolutions, & Main Motions
4 meetings/year, 2 hrs or as needed

Consists of: MNA 2nd Vice President (Chair), MNA Treasurer, and one member from each Commission.

FUNCTIONS:

  1. Thoroughly review MNA Bylaws, Resolutions and Main Motions every two years.
  2. Review all proposed amendments, resolutions, and main motions for clarity/appropriateness; forward proposed amendments to legal counsel; provide consultation to authors when necessary; and share with the MNA Board for review prior to submission to the House of Delegates.
  3. Conduct forums on proposed bylaws, resolutions, and motions to be considered at annual or special meetings of the House of Delegates.

Racial Diversity
Monthly meetings, 11⁄2-2 hrs each

Consists of 11 collective bargaining unit members and 4 members at large. At-large seats shall first be filled by non-collective bargaining unit members. In the event non-collective bargaining unit members do not fill all at- large seats, the remaining seats shall be made available to collective bargaining unit members. In addition to meetings of committee members, the committee will have monthly general membership meetings open to all MNA members in order to foster a culture of anti-racism within the union.

FUNCTIONS:

  1. Oversee the ongoing internal examination of racial barriers to equity within MNA.
  2. Identify ways to engage our members in open and courageous conversations on racism, inequity, and privilege.
  3. Evaluate MNA’s programs and strategies for their impact on dismantling structural racism.
  4. Develop anti-racism training for leaders including chairs, stewards, and members; Members of
    this committee will be expected to co-present the trainings the committee develops.
  5. Develop leadership opportunities for our racially diverse membership.
  6. Provide guidance to members and member leaders as they strive to confront institutional racism within our worksites.
  7. Foster MNA’s partnership with organizations and communities of color to build a wider movement that will fight for economic and racial justice.

Mental Health
Monthly meetings, 1 ½ – 2 hrs each

Consists of 19 members with two members from each of the MN Congressional Districts and three members at-large. If there are less than two committee members appointed from a Congressional District, and if there are no applicants from the Congressional District, the opening shall be treated as an at-large position.

FUNCTIONS:

  1. Oversee the ongoing work to identify gaps and areas for improvement in the mental health systems that nurses are best positioned to change through action, policy proposals and organizing.
  2. Develop short- and long-term goals with an action plan in collaboration with the Board of Directors, Governmental Affairs Commission, Nursing Practice & Education Commission, and mental health
    communication action team (MCAT).
  3. Develop functional and sustained relationships toward common goals with members, legislators, and other organizations that are working towards similar short- and long-term goals to improve the mental health system for patients and nurses.
  4. Develop, maintain, and utilize a mental health communication action team (MCAT) that has
    members from all MNA represented facilities.
  5. The MCAT team members will function to assist the mental health committee to mobilize and educate members around the work of the mental health committee.

Honors and Awards
Up to 4 meetings/year, 2-3 hrs each

Consists of a commissioner or their designee, three members at-large, at least one of whom was a previous award recipient.

FUNCTIONS:

  1. Develop criteria/procedures for nominating candidates and selecting nominees, to be approved by the MNA Board.
  2. Select for MNA Board approval, members and others who have made special contributions to the profession of nursing, their community, or to the professional association.

Screening and Endorsements
Number of meetings: TBD

The Committee shall be divided into three geographic regions (Metro-MN Congressional Districts 3, 4, & 5; Southern-MN Congressional Districts 1 & 2; andGreater-MN Congressional Districts 6, 7, & 8) with up to seven members representing each region.

FUNCTIONS:

  1. Screen candidates for public office within their geographic territory and present endorsement
    recommendations to the MNA Political Committee and Board of Directors.
  2. Organize members in good standing living or working within their geographic region and members of the Commission on Governmental Affairs and Political Committee to participate in candidate screenings.
  3. Assist with relationship building between members and candidates for public office.
  4. Support MNA’s electoral programs.

Ad Hoc Committees

Convention Planning
4 meetings/year, 2 hrs each

Consists of the 2nd Vice President (Chair) and a member from the Board of Directors, each Commission, the Collective Bargaining Committee, and CARn.

FUNCTIONS:

  1. Set the theme; approve education topics, entertainment, and keynote speakers

State Fair Planning
Three meetings/year, 1-2 hrs each

Consists of three Board members.

FUNCTIONS:

  1. Help determine what MNA’s presence at the State Fair booth will be.

Twin City Hospital Pension Plan Committee
6 meetings/year, 4 hrs each. Meetings are the morning of the 2nd Friday of each even-numbered month.

Consists of two regular members and two alternate members elected by the metro stewards.

FUNCTIONS:

  1. Serve as trustees of the Plan with fiduciary responsibility.
  2. Responsible for administering the Plan, including hiring vendors.

Entities Overseen by the Board

Minnesota Nurses Association Foundation
4 meetings/year, 2 hrs each (one 5-hr scholarship review meeting)

Minimum of seven MNA members, including one MNA Board member, and a minimum of two members with expertise in research.

FUNCTIONS:

  1. Conduct/support nursing research including, without limitation, research into clinical practice, methods of delivery of nursing care, and education of nurses.
  2. Publish/distribute research findings to healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and MNA members.
  3. Raise funds to support projects and sponsor researchrelated education congruent with the purposes of
    MNAF.
  4. Award scholarships to individuals pursuing a career in nursing and to children of MNA members.

Finance
4-6 meetings/year; approx 1 hr each

Consists of a minimum of five MNA Board members, includ- ing the Treasurer (Chair).

FUNCTIONS:

  1. Prepare an annual budget for adoption by the Board. 2. Monitor the overall financial status of MNA and report findings and recommendations to the Board. 3. Oversees the MNASO Pension Committee, Strike Fund, and Disaster Relief Fund.

Member Appeal Panel
Up to 4 meetings/year, Up to 4 hrs per session

Consists of three to five Board members. Past experience on a bargaining committee and grievance han- dling (including discipline grievances) is helpful. Training will be provided.

FUNCTIONS:

  1. Review grievance materials; determine if the initial decision was arbitrary or capricious.
  2. At times, a heavy pre-meeting review of appeal documents which may be subject to HIPAA and other confidentiality requirements.

MNASO Pension
One meeting/quarter, 2 hrs each

Consists of MNA Treasurer, one other Finance Committee member and two MNASO members. The Finance Director attends and is the liaison for the investment advisers.

FUNCTIONS:

  1. Review/monitor investments and administration of MNA Staff Defined Benefit Pension Plan and 401(k) Plan.

Personnel
Minimum of one meeting/year, 2-4 hrs each

Consists of the Executive Committee plus two Directors appointed by the Board.

FUNCTIONS:

  1. Develop position posting, select an executive search firm, and perform initial screening of Executive Director candidates to determine which will be forwarded to the full Board for final selection.
  2. Evaluate the Executive Director compensation for appropriateness and competitiveness; recommend any changes to the Board for approval.
  3. Perform an annual performance review of the Executive Director.