NATIONAL TWENTY YEAR CLUB 2000
of the National Network of Career Nursing Assistants

"We have the ideas that can change care
and we have the experience to do this"

National Twenty Year Club for Nursing Assistants
(go to response form)

The "Twenty Year Club" is an honorary member organization for experienced nursing assistant who has provided direct care for twenty or more years to residents and clients in nursing homes, homes, hospices, or other long-term care services.

• PURPOSE OF THE "TWENTY YEAR CLUB"

• To validate the nursing assistants who provide consistency and predictability to the people in their care.

• To identify and address training needs and other issues relative to experienced nursing assistants.

• To foster community understanding of the role, responsibility and value of experienced nursing assistants in long-term care services.

• To involve other organizations in the recognition of the value of the experienced worker to the quality of care in long term care.

• "Most Service Years" Recipients

This prestigious annual award of the National Twenty Year Club recognizes the nursing assistant who has the most years of service nationwide. The purpose of the award is to validate this important accomplishment, but it also serves a purpose to foster a better community understanding of who nursing assistants are and what they do. The award will be presented during the 7th Annual National Forum on Nursing Assistants, November 2000. Please help us find the nursing assistant who has the most years of service nationwide (see Response Form).

• HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL TWENTY YEAR CLUB

1999

• Carter Catlett Williams MSW, Rochester, NY

1998

• Dr Mary Harper, Retired director of Long Term Care for the National Institute of Mental Health and current director of the Mary Harper Gero Psychiatric Hospital in Tuscaloosa, AL.

• Elma Holder and Sarah Berger, Directors of the National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform.
  * Elise Nakhnikian, Editor in Chief, Contemporary Long Term Care.

• HOW HAVE WE GROWN

The National Twenty Year Club

• 1999 - 1,300 NAs, 225 facilities, 43 states, 29,000 + years of service

• 1998 - 1005 NAs, 204 facilities, 35 states, 24,876 years of service

• 1997 - 920 NAs, 207 facilities, 36 states, 21,945 years of service

• 1996 - 700+ NAs, 141 facilities, 34 states, 15,000+    years of service

• 1995 - 223 NAs, 65 facilities, 23 states, 4,600 years of service

• ELIGIBILITY

Nursing assistants, resident care assistants, attendants, home care aides or other direct care workers who have completed 20 or more years of service in long term care services. Service years do not need to be consecutive and can be from several different long-term care facilities or settings.

• BENEFITS

• Eligible nursing assistants receive a certificate of membership and may be considered for inclusion in the 30 year, 40 year and 50 year sections of the National Twenty Year Club.

• Names of members are displayed at the National Forum on Nursing Assistants, Washington D.C. in November.

• Names are displayed for meetings with legislators and public officials.

• Assistance is provided to organize a Twenty Year Club Chapter in your area.

• Facilities are urged to use this status to generate positive publicity for your nursing assistants.

• ANNUAL NATIONAL AWARDS

The annual national award for "Most Service Years" is presented in October each year. Previous recipients of the award are honored at this event, but are not eligible to compete a second time.

Each year, an honorary member is selected who is not a nursing assistant, but who has worked to support, encourage and be a friend to nursing assistants. As a member, you are urged to nominate a friend of nursing assistants for this award. Nominations are due by September 15, 2000.

• RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERS INCLUDE:

• Upholding the principals of this organization as listed in the CNA Pledge. ( Jim - link to pledge)

• Selecting a specific task from a list of "Twenty Year Club Tasks" to be accomplished each year.

• Requesting media coverage of this award

• Inviting legislators and public officials as much as possible to presentations

• HOW TO JOIN

If you are a nursing assistants who has worked in long term care for 20 or more years, you are eligible to join the National Twenty Year Club.. There is no cost to eligible nursing assistants. Postage and shipping is requested of facilities submitting 5 or more applications.

To join, (go to Response form) or mail a list of names and numbers of years of service along with facility name, address, phone and contact person to: National Twenty Year Club, 3577 Easton Road, Norton, Ohio 44203-5661, or fax to (330) 825 9378.

• DEADLINE AND COST

To be listed in the national display and directory, and considered for the National "Most Service Years Award," please send applications by September 15, 2000.

Additional information and verification of service may be requested from applicants. Sponsors provide membership to eligible nursing assistants at no cost.

You can help support this effort by agreeing to sponsor a nursing assistant or group of nursing assistants. For information about sponsoring a nursing assistant or group of nursing assistants in the Twenty Year Club contact the NNCNA. ([email protected])