Local chapter update: Starting a local chapter in your neighborhood

Although there are more than 40 ACDIS local chapters and networking groups in operation throughout the country, there may not be one in your particular state or geographic region. Before you begin recruiting people for a new chapter, however, make sure to visit the local chapter page on the ACDIS website and click on your state to double check if there are already leaders in your area. If there are leaders listed, send them an email and find out how you can get involved.

If you do find that there’s not a chapter near you, email ACDIS Associate Editorial Director Melissa Varnavas (mvarnavas@acdis.org) and Editor Linnea Archibald (larchibald@acdis.org) expressing your interest in getting something off the ground. They’ll be able to connect you with any other interested individuals in your area and point you toward the proper resources.

The Local Chapter Leadership Toolkit is also a great tool for learning what it takes to start and run a chapter. Take a look at the documents under the “Getting Started” section and spend some time reading through the details of the local chapter agreement form which outlines all the benefits and expectations related to volunteering to lead a chapter or networking group.

And, as always, feel free to reach out to any of the ACDIS national team members. We’re happy to help and support you and your chapter.

The following is a list of upcoming events for ACDIS local chapters. If you have an upcoming event you would like to include, please email Varnavas and Archibald.

June:

• The Massachusetts ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, June 21, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. Agenda to follow. For information, contact Lara Faustino (lara.faustino@bmc.org).
• The CDI Educator ACDIS networking group meets Friday, June 22, 12-1 p.m., via webinar. For information, contact M.E. VanGelder (me.vangelder@honorhealth.com).
• The Arizona ACDIS chapter meets Saturday, June 23, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Brady Conference Center, HonorHealth-Scottsdale Shea Campus. Click here to download the save-the-date flyer. Please RSVP by Monday, June 18. For information and to RSVP, contact the chapter leadership team (azacdischapter@gmail.com) and Debra Beisel Denton (debra.beiseldenton@mihs.org).

July:

• The Kansas City Missouri ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, July 11, 2-3 p.m. CST, via webinar. For information, contact Angelica Naylor (angelica.naylor@nkch.org).
• The Westchester/Hudson Valley ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, July 12, 2-4 p.m., at Greater Hudson Valley Health System at the Orange Regional Medical Center Campus, with special guest ACDIS Director Brian Murphy. For information, contact Kerry Seekircher (kseekircher@northwell.edu).
• The Central New York ACDIS chapter meets Friday, July 13, 1-4 p.m., at Pomeroy College of Nursing in Syracuse. For information, contact massenab@upstate.edu or dawnburr@crouse.org.
• The Washington Evergreen ACDIS chapter meets on Friday, July 20, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., via webinar. Click here to download the save-the-date. For information, contact the chapter leadership team (evergreenacdis@gmail.com).

August:

• The Massachusetts ACDIS chapter, along with the New England components of AHIMA, meet Friday, August 3, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Baystate Health Educational Center in Springfield. More details to follow. For information, contact Aimee Van Balen (avanbalen@lifespan.org).
• The CDI Educator ACDIS networking group meets Friday, August 10, 12-1 p.m. PST, via webinar. For information, contact M.E. VanGelder (me.vangelder@honorhealth.com).
• The North Carolina ACDIS chapter meets Friday, August 24, for their summer conference at Mission Health in Asheville. For information, contact the leadership team (ncacdis@gmail.com).

Save-the-date:

• The Maryland ACDIS chapter meets on Friday, September 14, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Towson. Click here to download the save-the-date flyer. For information, contact Candace Blankenship (evalani3@msn.com).
• The Washington Evergreen ACDIS chapter meets on Friday, September 28, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Trios Women's and Children's Hospital in Kennewick. Click here to download the save-the-date. For information, contact the leadership team (evergreenacdis@gmail.com).
• The Massachusetts ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, October 17, 1-4 p.m., at Kent Hospital in Warwick, Rhode Island. For information, contact Joyce Williams (JWilliams@Lifespan.org).
• Missouri's three ACDIS chapters meet Saturday, October 20, for the third annual Show Me State conference at SSM DePaul in St. Louis. For information, contact Mariann Dinello (mariann.dinello@ssmhealth.com) or 314-344-6286.