Local chapter updates: Tips for creating and maintaining a Local Chapter from the chapter advisory board

Recently, some of the members of the Local Chapter Advisory Board put together some suggestions for starting a local chapter and some tips to keep the flame alive. Here’s a few pieces of their advice:

• Take advantage of ACDIS national: ACDIS national is your biggest supporter; they are here to help their local chapters in any way necessary. All you have to do is ask! National wants each local chapter to reach their maximum potential and can help to facilitate networking opportunities for its members and expand educational opportunities for CDI professionals throughout the country. If you have any questions about a new chapter or want help with an existing one, contact Melissa Varnavas (mvarnavas@acdis.org) and Linnea Archibald (larchibald@acdis.org).
• Get social: Take advantage of social media! ACDIS maintains a number of networking and communication tools including the ACDIS Blog, ACDIS Forum, ACDIS Twitter, ACDIS Instagram, as well as groups on Facebook and LinkedIn. Each of these venues allows users to post comments, concerns, and interests. Chapter leaders are also asked to email event information to Linnea Archibald and Melissa Varnavas on a monthly basis. This information is posted in CDI Strategies every week.
• Membership rosters: According to the “Official Local Chapter Agreement Form,” chapter leadership needs to ask members to complete the official online membership roster on a quarterly basis. Upon completion of the roster, registrants receive an automatic email with a discount code off national membership. Leaders can use the information in the roster for identifying future leaders, speakers, and chapter helpers. The chapter leadership can also use the roster as a sign-in sheet for meetings

These three items above are only a few of the many tips and tricks the Chapter Advisory Board compiled. To read more, click here.

To listen to the newest episode of ACDIS Radio, “Think Global, Act Local: A Look at Local Chapter Networking Initiatives,” click here.

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 Melissa Varnavas (mvarnavas@acdis.org) and Linnea Archibald (larchibald@acdis.org).  

July:

• The Central Pennsylvania ACDIS Chapter meets on Friday, July 28, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Hanover Hospital in Hanover. For information, contact Amy Sterner (sterner@hanoverhospital.org).

August:

• The Massachusetts Chapter meets on August 11, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Crowne Plaza in Newton. The event is in collaboration with New England state AHIMA and ACDIS component organizations. To register, click here. Note: This event is near capacity.
• The Tennessee ACDIS Chapter meets on Friday, August 11, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga. For information, contact Kristie Perry (kristie.perry@erlanger.org).
• The CDI Educator ACDIS Network holds a meeting on Monday, August 14, 12-12:30 p.m., pacific, via conference call. For information, contact M.E. VanGelder (ME.vangelder@honorhealth.com).
• The California ACDIS Chapter meets on Tuesday, August 15, 12 p.m., pacific, via conference call. For information, contact Rani Stoddard (stoddardrv@henrymayo.com).
• The Texas ACDIS Chapter meets on Wednesday, August 16, at 12 p.m., via webinar. For information, contact Amy Czahor (amyc@recordsone.com).
• The Minnesota ACDIS Chapter meets August 23, 1-2 p.m. via conference call. For information, contact Faye Bakke (faye.bakke@essentiahealth.org).
• The North Carolina ACDIS Chapter holds its summer conference on Friday, August 25, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Wilson Memorial Hospital (Duke Lifepoint Hospital). For information, contact Linda Rhodes (Linda.Rhodes@nhrmc.org).
• The Florida ACDIS Chapter meets Saturday, August 26, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. A meet-and-greet time will be held at a local restaurant (place to be determined) on the Friday night prior to the event. For information, contact Deb Dallos (Deb-Dallos@smh.com).

September:

• The Maine ACDIS Chapter holds its next meeting on Friday, September 8, 12-4 p.m., at Maine General Medical Center in Augusta. For information, contact Valerie Parent (vparent@emhs.org).
• 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 (stoddardrv@henrymayo.com).
• The Alabama ACDIS Chapter holds an all-day fall event on Friday, September 15, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Baptist Shelby in Alabaster. For information, contact Jeffrey Morris (jwmorris@health.southalabama.edu).
• The Indiana and Kentucky ACDIS Chapters hold a meeting on Friday, September 15, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Ivy Tech Conference Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. For information, contact Leigh Wolff (lwolff@beaconhealthsystem.org).

Save-the-date:

• The South Carolina ACDIS Chapter meets on Friday, October 6, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at AnMed Health in Anderson. For information, contact Karen Bridgeman (bridgema@musc.edu) or any other member of the chapter's leadership team.
• Missouri’s three ACDIS local chapters join for a full-day conference event on Saturday, October 14, at the University of Kansas Hospital. For information, contact Michael McKelvey (michael.mckelvey@bjc.org).
• The Oregon ACDIS Chapter holds its fall conference on Friday, October 20, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the McMinnville Grand Ballroom in McMinnville. For information, contact Molly Siebert (msiebert@lhs.org).
• The Kentucky ACDIS Chapter meets on Thursday, November 2, 1-4 p.m., at Norton Audubon Hospital in Louisville. For information, contact Leah Savage (leah.savage@nortonhealthcare.org).
• The North Carolina ACDIS Chapter holds its fall conference with Carolinas Healthcare System Northeast on Friday, November 10. For information, contact Linda Rhodes (Linda.Rhodes@nhrmc.org).
• The Maine ACDIS Chapter holds a meeting on Friday, December 1, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. For information, contact Valerie Parent (vparent@emhs.org).
• The Kentucky ACDIS Chapter meets on Thursday, February 1, 2018, 1-4 p.m., at Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown. For information, contact Leah Savage (leah.savage@nortonhealthcare.org).