Question 1

What does the ONA Board of Directors do?

Accepted Answer

The ONA Board of Directors is the elected leadership body responsible for guiding the strategic direction, financial stewardship, and organizational oversight of the Association. The Board ensures ONA remains member-led, mission-driven, and aligned with the values of nurses and healthcare professionals across Oregon.

The Board's core responsibilities include:
 • Setting ONA’s strategic direction and long-range goals
 • Overseeing financial policies and responsible use of member dues
 • Implementing House of Delegates directives
 • Ensuring safe staffing, workplace safety, and robust practice standards
 • Supporting bargaining units and statewide committees
 • Hiring and overseeing the Executive Director
 • Establishing committees and filling vacancies
 • Ensuring compliance with ONA’s mission, bylaws, and policies
 • Representing ONA in statewide and national advocacy

Board Composition (per 2024 Bylaws):
Officers (4)
 • President
 • Vice President
 • Secretary
 • Treasurer
 • Member-at-Large (Appointed by BOD)
Directors (11)
 • Recent RN Graduate
 • Allied Healthcare Professional (non-RN)
 • Chair, Cabinet on Professional Practice
 • Chair, Cabinet on Health Policy
 • Seven additional apportioned directors

Cabinet Chairs as Board Directors:
The 2024 Governance Amendments designate the Chairs of:
 • The Cabinet on Professional Practice, and
 • The Cabinet on Health Policy
as automatic Board Directors, ensuring practice and policy leadership are represented at all times.

How the Member-at-Large is selected:
The Member-at-Large is not elected as a separate position by the membership.
Instead:
 • Members elect 11 directors
 • Once seated, the Board internally elects one of its directors to serve as the Member-at-Large on the Executive Committee
(Article V, Section 2)
This ensures the role is filled by someone already elected by the membership while allowing the Board to select a director who can best support internal leadership needs.

Question 2

What is the Executive Committee, and who serves on it?

Accepted Answer

Under the bylaws, the Executive Committee consists of:
 • President
 • Vice President
 • Secretary
 • Treasurer
 • Member-at-Large

What the Executive Committee does:
The Executive Committee:
 • Acts on time-sensitive issues when the full Board cannot meet
 • Provides leadership continuity
 • Supports the President and Executive Director in day-to-day governance
 • Helps coordinate Board priorities and follow-through

The Executive Committee does not replace the full Board.
It simply ensures ONA can function efficiently at all times while maintaining full Board oversight.

Question 3

How ONA’s Democracy Works

Accepted Answer

A simple way to understand who elects whom and how decisions get made.

Members → Elect Delegates → Delegates vote on bylaws & resolutions (HOD)
Members → Elect Board → Board oversees strategy, finances & implementation

Members elect Delegates
 • These Delegates represent their bargaining units at the House of Delegates (HOD).

Delegates vote on major decisions
At the HOD, they vote on:
 • Bylaw changes
 • Major policy decisions
 • Resolutions that set ONA’s direction

Members also elect the Board of Directors
The Board implements the decisions set by the HOD and oversees:
 • Strategy
 • Financial stewardship
 • Organizational performance
 • Executive Director oversight

This creates a healthy, balanced structure:
 • Delegates → set the rules and direction
 • Board → implements the rules and oversees the organization
 • Members → elect both groups

This ensures ONA stays democratic, transparent, and member-led.

Question 4

What makes the STRONGER TOGETHER candidates different?

Accepted Answer

The STRONGER TOGETHER slate brings a highly experienced, statewide, and member-focused leadership team.

What set this slate apart:
1. Diverse statewide representation
2. Experience within ONA governance, including current and former Board members
3. Strong practice, policy, and advocacy backgrounds
4. Platform built through extensive member conversations
5. Commitment to transparency and responsible governance

Question 5

How was the STRONGER TOGETHER platform developed?

Accepted Answer

The STRONGER TOGETHER platform was built through a deliberate, statewide listening process grounded in ONA’s mission, values, and updated 2024 governance structure. Over several months, the slate engaged with members across regions, roles, specialties, and bargaining units to understand the issues shaping their daily work and long-term professional needs.

Input came from:
 • Bargaining unit and local leaders
 • Professional practice and staffing committee members
 • New graduates and seasoned nurses
 • Allied health professionals and support roles
 • Members involved in policy, advocacy, and organizing
 • Rural, urban, and frontier communities

Across these conversations, members consistently identified the same core themes:
safe staffing, workplace safety, transparency, accountability, and equitable support across the state.

The platform reflects these priorities and is designed to align with the responsibilities and authority of the ONA Board under the 2024 bylaws.

Question 6

What changes will this slate prioritize first?

Accepted Answer

The slate’s initial priorities reflect both ONA’s mission and the responsibilities outlined for the Board in the 2024 bylaws. These priorities are focused on strengthening the foundation of ONA’s governance, improving statewide support, and ensuring members experience meaningful impact at the bedside and in their workplaces.

The slate will prioritize:
1. Strong enforcement and oversight of Oregon’s safe staffing law
Ensuring implementation aligns with statutory intent, supports local staffing committees, and results in real improvements in patient care and workplace conditions.
2. Greater transparency and communication across the organization
Providing consistent Board updates, accessible reporting, and clear communication pathways that build trust and strengthen member engagement.
3. Enhanced support for bargaining units, committees, and local leaders
Improving tools, alignment, and statewide coordination so every unit, large or small, rural or urban, has equitable support and resources.
4. Responsible fiscal stewardship and long-term financial planning
Safeguarding the stability of the Association through prudent budgeting, strong oversight, and strategies that ensure ONA’s resilience and growth.
5. Strengthening ONA’s statewide and national presence
Building coalitions, supporting organizing, and ensuring Oregon’s voice is represented in state and national policy discussions that impact healthcare professionals.

Question 7

Why This Matters

Accepted Answer

ONA’s governance structure ensures that the Association remains member-led, transparent, and grounded in real frontline experience. This structure isn’t just procedural — it’s what protects the strength and integrity of our union.

Here’s why it matters:
1. Members set the direction.
Members elect both Delegates and the Board, ensuring ONA’s priorities come directly from the people doing the work.
2. Decisions reflect real clinical experience.
Those who understand patient care, staffing, and the realities of healthcare practice guide ONA’s policies and advocacy.
3. Checks and balances protect member power.
Delegates set bylaws.
The Board implements them.
Members elect both.
This balanced structure prevents decision-making from consolidating in any one place.
4. Progress is protected and strengthened.
Wins like safe staffing, workplace safety laws, and strong contracts require a solid governance foundation to uphold them — and build on them.
5. Every member has pathways to participate.
Regardless of shift, region, specialty, or role, members have multiple ways to engage, run, vote, lead, and influence ONA’s future.

Question 8

How do I vote in the ONA election?

Accepted Answer

Voting is accessible, secure, and confidential.
1. You receive a secure electronic ballot via email on January 12, 2026
2. You vote online using that link
3. Members without email may receive mailed instructions
4. Voting remains open for ~30 days, closes February 12, 2026
5. Results are certified by the Elections Committee

Your vote is safe, secure, and entirely confidential. Individual ballots cannot be viewed by anyone at ONA, only the independent election system processes and records votes.

Question 9

2026 ONA Election Dates & Deadlines

Accepted Answer

• Candidates Announced: January 5, 2026
 • Election Opens: January 12, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.
 • Election Closes: February 12, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
 • Elected Leaders Take Office: July 1, 2026

Question 10

How do I get involved or contact the team?

Accepted Answer

Members can get involved by:
 • Reaching out to the STRONGER TOGETHER team at info@strongertogetheroregon.org (mailto:info@strongertogetheroregon.org)
 • Attending meet-the-candidate events
 • Sharing information with colleagues
 • Supporting outreach and engagement
 • Participating in committees, leadership roles, or statewide advocacy

Every member plays a role in shaping ONA’s future.

Question 11

Bylaws Source Notes (2024 Updated Bylaws)

Accepted Answer

Board Composition:
 • Article V, Section 2 (A-B)

Board Responsibilities:
 • Article V, Section 3 (A-T)

Cabinet Chairs as Board Seats:
 • Article V, Section 2 (B) (3) and (4)

Bylaws Amendments Process:
 • Article VII & Article VI

Terms of Office:
 • Article V, Section 4 (A-C)

Vacancies:
 • Article V, Section 5 (A-C)

2026 Election Transition:
 • Editor's Note to Article V, Section 2

House of Delegates Authority:
 • Article VI

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