BNAA Membership
1. Membership criteria–Membership is open to Registered Professional Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses of Barbadian heritage.
2. Honorary Membership–Honorary membership is granted to a person who has rendered outstanding service to the Association. A majority vote by the membership awards the status. An Honorary member is not required to pay dues and with the President’s approval is welcome to attend a general meeting.
3. BNAA Officer of the Year Award—shall be nominated biannually based on the established criteria. The Officer of the Year shall be nominated bi-annually and selected from the following offices: Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and Business Manager. Contributes to the goals and objectives of the Association. Outstanding performance of his/her duties as an officer. Participate in fundraising activities. Attendance at meetings not less than eight per year. Recommended by a financial member of the Association.
4. BNAA Member of the Year Award— shall be nominated annually based on the established criteria. Contributes to the goals and objectives of the Association. Promotes educational projects and/or opportunities for others as well as self. Participate in fundraising activities. Attendance at meetings not less than six per year. Recommended by a financial member of the Association.
BNAA Honorary Life Member
Mabel Keaton Staupers
The Officers and Members of the Barbados Nurses Association of America, Inc. take much pride in bestowing “Honorary Life Membership” on Mabel Keaton Staupers – educator, author, health pioneer, Civil Rights activist, dynamic nurse leader – who is now 94 years old.
Mabel Keaton Staupers has been a true credit to the nursing profession and health education, especially for minorities in the communities of Harlem, New York, and Washington, D.C. Because of her belief in equal opportunities and the respect of human dignity, Mrs. Staupers refused to compromise her principles or settle for half measures. Her aim and objective was to break the barriers of discrimination and segregation which clouded that era of our history.
As a result of her commitment, strong will, and true grit, Black nurses have enjoyed full membership status in the American Nurses Association since 1951. Black nurses are admitted to all fifty (50) state units of the A.N.A and are serving on the boards, national staff, committees and commissions of the organization and in all national nursing organizations.
Read More...
Mabel Keaton Staupers was born in Barbados, West Indies on February 27, 1890. She immigrated to the United States in 1903 with her parents Thomas and Pauline Doyle, who settled in New York City. She graduated with honors from Freedom Hospital School of Nursing, Washington, D.C. in 1914. In her professional nursing career, she has been committed to and connected with every major movement in which nurses have been involved from 1914 to the present.
Her experiences have been diverse, and she has concentrated on improving nursing education and worked to eradicate discrimination against Black nurses. Mrs. Staupers was a Civil Rights activist before it was popular to be one.
Mrs. Staupers has received many citations for leadership in the field of nursing as well as for her contributions to the community, both in New York and Washington, D.C. Among the tributes are:
1947 The Mary E. Mahoney Award, National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses
1951 The Springarm Award, N.A.A.C.P.
1963 The Teamwork Award, National Urban League
1965 The Medgar Evers Human Rights Award, Capital Press Club, Washington, D.C
1970 Howard University, Alumni Award
1972 Award for Outstanding Contributions to Nursing and Civil Rights, Caribbean Intercultural Organization
1973 Linda Richards Award, National League of Nursing
1974 Award for Advancement and Spirit of the Nursing Profession, American Nurses Association
Mabel Keaton Staupers is an Honorary Member of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc.; Alpha Chapter, Washington, D.C.; and a Charter and Life Member of the National Council of Negro Women. She is also an active member of the Ecumenical Church of Our Savior, Washington, D.C.
On this occasion, the members of the Barbados Nurses Association of America, Inc. salute Mabel Keaton Staupers, a great Barbadian-American pioneer in the profession of nursing.
BNAA Honorary Members
- Hon. Bradford M. Taitt, M.P.
- Dr. Ena K. Walters, MBE, GCM
- Rev. Edwin L. Toppin
- Wilfred T. Best
- Marlene Griffith
- Bobby Levine
Dame Nita Barrow, GCMG, DA
- Midred Chandler
- Edsil E. Gollop
- Percy Greenidge
- Dorcas Moore
- Mark Reid
BNAA Officers of the Year
- 1981 Monica Puckerin
1983 Gloria Griffith
1984 Eglantine Gollop
1986 Monica Puckerin
1987 Heather Willens
1991 Eunice Whittaker
1992 Monice Puckerin
1993 Eglantine Gollop
1994 Wilmoth Cumberbatch
1995 Joan Cumberbatch
2007 Maureen Green
2012 Etheline Solomon
2022 Lyris Earle
2025 Rashida Dorant
BNAA Members of the Year
- 1970 Jennylyn Griffith
1971 Thelma Reid
1972 Hyacinth Charles
1973 Colleen Levin
1974 Muriel Buschelle
1975 Mary Downes
1976 Eunice Whittaker
1977 Wilmoth Cumberbatch
1982 Eglantine Gollop
1983 Wendy Taylor
1984 Enid Headley-Searles
1986 Etheline Solomon
1987 Alethe Holder-Griffith
1992 Everton Forde
1993 Heather Willens
1994 Gloria Warren
1995 Muriel Beckles-Worrell
1996 Gloria Seale
2007 Elna Clarke
2012 Adaline Waite
2022 Shirley Holder
2025 Dr. Cicely Wilkinson