One Voice, Many Communities: Our 2026 AONL Chapter Vision
Every nurse leader I know can point to a moment in time when a colleague's encouragement, a mentor's counsel or a room full of peers changed their career trajectory. For thousands of AONL members, those moments happen in our local state and regional chapters. That is why, as president-elect, I count chapters among my most important responsibilities this year, and why our 2026 chapter vision flows directly from AONL's strategic plan.
The vision has three commitments:
- Catalyzing leadership development. Every Chapter Town Hall designed for chapter leaders now opens with a "Strategic Spotlight" linking local chapter work to AONL's strategic priorities. We are creating an inaugural Chapter Annual Report that will celebrate the achievements of every chapter who wishes to participate, offering governance excellence programming for chapter boards and refreshing the AONL Chapter Award criteria with chapter leadership input.
- Powering strategic advocacy. Chapters are AONL's advocacy engine at the state level. Town Hall agendas feature national and state policy priorities. AONL provides tools and resources to help every chapter raise its advocacy voice.
- Strengthening regional connection. AONL Regional Board Directors serve as a resource to their respective chapters, fostering connections through intentional individual outreach with chapter leaders and participating in board or annual meetings at the chapter's invitation.
Behind each initiative is a simple belief: when chapters thrive, nurse leaders thrive, ultimately improving care for patients and the communities we serve.
AONL’s website includes a list of chapters across the country. Find your chapter. Connect with your peers. Speak up. Together, through strong chapters and shared purpose, nursing leadership speaks with one voice to advance health for all.
Stuart Downs, DNP, RN, CENP, FAONL, FAAN
President-Elect, American Organization for Nursing Leadership