GRETA DEGEN PURSLEY - STATEMENT OF INTEREST
March 7, 2024
This document signifies my interest in being part of the Community Board for Academy for Five Element Acupuncture. I feel that my talents from past and present would be a good fit for this seat on the board and list these below for your review. I have also included my curriculum vitae.
Board Experience
From the attached CV, you will see that I have worked on boards for my job (Chair and Vice Chair of various policy committees inside educational institutions), for my community (homeless outreach grassroots agency board as Program Director, current Vice President of HOA locally), for my professional nursing association (expert consultant for Roberts Rules of Order, as well as Vice President, Officer-At-Large, and Director for Iowa Nurses Association), for my church (Chair of Missions Committee, hosting annual fund raisers for outreach to other countries). I have hosted events, balanced budgets, changed by-laws, ensured for archival safe keeping of records, reviewed minutes, developed agendas, hosted fundraisers, planned events for over 500 attendees, planned continuous educational programming, and participated in some way inside boards for my entire career, even as a student. I have the most experience with non-profit agencies. Currently I only attend one board, my local HOA, once monthly, so I feel that I have time and energy to donate.
Policy Experience
My experience in higher education, my work in committees and my board experience ensure that I understand how policies and procedures are developed and applied effectively to various populations. I also have been instrumental in changing and deleting some policies that narrowed scope rather than promoting creativity and buy-in from staff and faculty. Policy making and enforcement are a balancing act. The mark of a truly good workplace is one where staff and faculty and board all feel empowered to go above and beyond in everything they do; where people listen and are genuine and transparent.
Project Management Experience
Part of my history in public health administration was spent at a Visiting Nurse Agency. There, they needed someone to take extra courses and certify in project management for the entire agency (250 staff members). I was the expert chosen for this task and although I have left that position behind, the lessons learned from the work and from the education still influence my decisions. My favorite book has always been “Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…and Others Don’t” by Jim Collins and I was lucky enough to engage in several dialogues with the author that inform my thinking, past and present. He stated that you need the right person in the right place at the right time. This represents how staff and faculty and even board members can be most effective when they are in the right mind, right place in their own lives, right event, doing the right things for their spiritual and emotional and physical well-being. That serves me well as I consider this board membership. I possess the talent, the experience, the passion, the drive and the motivation to work together with others to represent my beloved alma mater and confront the hurdles of tomorrow.
Supervisory Experience
My work in community health was to supervise 75 staff, nurses, and social workers. I held weekly meetings, controlled, and monitored our budget, and was responsible for workplace policies and effective communication with management and staff. My work in education gave me opportunities to supervise graduate faculty members, as I designed and implemented and ran the graduate Nursing Leadership Studies at Concordia University, Austin. I enjoyed the opportunity to be a servant leader who rolled up her sleeves and did the work I expected from others together. I bring that same commitment to any board work and team members.
I hope I have highlighted the reasons and experience that would make me a good fit for the Community Board at Academy for Five Element Acupuncture as an alumna. I realize that there are some large challenges ahead of us. I am an ongoing member of Florida acupuncture groups and have advocated on behalf of Academy for Five Elements in the past, as I believe the faculty and staff will recognize. I know it will be important for the board to be proactive instead of reactive to the changes we see on the horizon, and I applaud your efforts so far. It is obvious that the board believes in their mission and vision and that they are working hard on AFEA’s behalf. I would appreciate the opportunity to join you in those efforts.
Sincerely submitted,
Greta Degen Pursley
Class 37, Academy for Five Element Acupuncture