Local Chapter updates: How to host a successful meeting

Hosting a local chapter meeting, especially if it is your first one, can seem daunting and complicated. To help you with the process, ACDIS provides chapter leaders with a number of meeting planning resources for every step in the process. The following tips and tricks (and many more) can be found under the “Getting Started” section on the Local Chapter landing page.

Step 1: Advertise your meeting: In order to give attendees enough time to plan for the meeting and arrange travel if necessary, it’s a good idea to notify chapter members at least 45 days in advance of the meeting. Of course, if you have it planned before that time period, let them know then too. That way there’s ample time for arrangements. You don’t need to purchase an ad in a major newspaper, drafting a flyer with the relevant meeting information goes a long way. Then, you can forward that flyer on to your members and to Melissa Varnavas (mvarnavas@acdis.org) and Linnea Archibald (larchibald@acdis.org) to post on your chapter webpage. ACDIS also lists all the upcoming meetings in CDI Strategies on a weekly basis.

Step 2: Welcome peers: Ask for volunteers from within your chapter and identify roles and responsibilities for them. It’s important to differentiate roles for greeter, note taker, and the runner of the meeting. Having different people do each of these roles may seem formal, but it takes the stress off of one person and helps the meeting run smoothly.

The greeter, though often overlooked when planning, plays a crucial role in ensuring attendees feel welcomed and that an attendance sheet (leaders should use the Online Membership Roster) is filled out and accurate to capture all the attendees’ names and correct contact information.

Step 3: Have fun: Though local chapter meetings offer an excellent source of education, they also serve as a platform for connecting with your peers in the area and sharing your experiences. Consider a few fun activities to supplement the educational presentations, such as:

• Take a group photo
• Make the meeting a potluck (if the host facility allows for it)
• Play icebreaker games
• Create a theme for people’s attire

For more ideas for hosting your first or 50th meeting, visit the local chapter landing page and download the document titled “Tips for hosting an initial meeting.”

The following is a list of all the upcoming events for ACDIS local chapters. If you have an upcoming event you would like to include, please email Melissa Varnavas (mvarnavas@acdis.org) and Linnea Archibald (larchibald@acdis.org). 

Events this week

• The New Jersey ACDIS Chapter meets Thursday, April 27, hosted by Temple University Hospital. To download the agenda, click here. For information, contact Gina Stewart at gstewart@e4-services.com.
• The Colorado ACDIS Chapter meets on Thursday, April 27, 4.-6 p.m. at Centura Health in Englewood. View the flyer by clicking here.
• The Wisconsin ACDIS Chapter meets Saturday, April 29, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Wheaton Franciscan Medical Building Conference Center. To see the full brochure, click here.

May:

• The Massachusetts ACDIS Chapter plans on holding an after-hours get-together on May 9 at the ACDIS Conference. Please meet in the MGM Grand lobby at 6:45 p.m. to head to the LINQ Las Vegas for apps/drinks and the High Roller Observation Wheel with other chapter members. Please note, this is a self-pay event.
• The Arizona ACDIS Chapter plans on holding a get-together at the national ACDIS conference in Las Vegas, in the MGM Grand lobby. More details will be emailed to chapter members by the end of April.
• The California ACDIS Chapter set a tentative date of May 24 for their education conference call. For more information, visit their local chapter page and read Vol. 3 of their newsletter.

Save-the-date

• The Arizona ACDIS Chapter is planning its next big event for June 17, 2017, at Honorhealth in Scottsdale. Chapter members should send suggestions and speaker recommendations to Chapter President Alma Yap at rnalmay@gmail.com.
• The California ACDIS Chapter holds its third-annual conference Friday, September 15, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Torrance Memorial Medical Center. For information, contact Rani V. Stoddard at stoddardrv@henrymayo.com.
• Missouri’s three ACDIS local chapters join for a full-day conference event on October 14, at the University of Kansas Hospital. For information, contact michael.mckelvey@bjc.org.