Local chapter update: Gather new members, identify new leaders and speakers, all with the online membership roster

Earlier this year, ACDIS national rolled out a new online membership roster which chapters are required to use, per the Local Chapter Agreement Form. Individual chapter members receive a discount off national membership when they complete the form and chapter leaders can leverage the roster to help build their membership and identify new speakers and leaders.

First, the roster can be used to collect existing members’ updated information and track meeting attendance. Many chapter leaders set up laptops at the registration table during meetings, opened to the online roster, so that attendees can update their information on the spot. After the meeting, the chapter leaders can request the roster list from ACDIS Associate Editorial Director Melissa Varnavas and Editor Linnea Archibald and use the list from that day to send out the event’s continuing education credits and gauge how many attendees were at the event.

Secondly, the roster can be employed to gather information from those interested in joining the chapter for the first time. Each chapter page on the ACDIS website includes a link to the online membership roster. Because new people often fill out this link before ever contacting a chapter leader, it’s a good practice to request the roster list in advance of sending out a save-the-date or meeting details. That way, any new folks will be included on that communication.

Finally, the roster can help leaders identify new speakers, event hosts, and the next generation of chapter leaders. The roster form includes questions on all three topics, so when it comes time to plan an event or transition the leadership team, chapter leaders should request the roster and sort it according to who’s indicated interest in volunteering.

No matter how you leverage the roster, adding a line to your chapter emails about with a link to it  will help ensure that your contact list stays up-to-date and that your chapter members receive their ACDIS national discounts. Try adding a note to this effect: “Keeping your contact information up-to-date is your responsibility. We ask members to complete the online membership roster on a quarterly basis and as needed due to changes in your personal contact information of job status.”

Remember, chapter leaders can reach out to Varnavas and Archibald at any point to request their current membership roster or to ask any questions about how to effectively use the tool.

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). 

June:

• The Heart of Missouri ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, June 13, 12:30-1:30 p.m., via webinar. For information, contact Karen Elmore (kelmore@bjc.org).
• The Chapter Advisory Board invites chapter leaders and members to join them for a panel discussion on Thursday, June 20, 12-1 p.m., via webinar. Click here to register.

July:

• The CDI Educator networking group meets Thursday, July 11, 2-3 p.m., via webinar. For information, contact Coral Fernandez (coral.fernandez@bhsi.com).
• The Central New York ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, July 18, 12-1 p.m., via webinar. Click here to download the event flyer. For information, contact Dawn Burr (dawnburr@crouse.org).
• The St. Louis, Missouri, ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, July 24, 5:30-7 p.m., at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis. For information, contact Linda Canoy (linda.canoy@bjc.org).

August:

• The Arizona ACDIS chapter meets Saturday, August 3, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Honor Health Shea Medical Center—Brady Conference Center in Scottsdale. Click here to download the save-the-date. For information, contact M.E. VanGelder (mvangelder@honorhealth.com).
• The Kentucky/Southern Indiana ACDIS chapters meets Friday, August 16, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Wildwood Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky. Click here to download the save-the-date flyer. For information, contact Susan Snyder (ssnyder@bhsi.com).

Save-the-date:

• The Chapter Advisory Board invites chapter leaders and members to join them for a panel discussion on Thursday, September 12, 12-1 p.m., via webinar. Click here to register.
• The Georgia ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, September 19, at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. For information, contact the chapter leadership team (georgia.acdis@gmail.com).
• The Michigan ACDIS chapter meets Saturday, October 5, at McLaren Hospitality House in Flint. Click here to download the save-the-date. For information, contact Susan Fantin (susan.fantin@comcast.net).
• Missouri's three ACDIS chapters meet Saturday, October 19, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for the fourth annual Show Me State Conference at Boone Hospital in Columbia. Click here to download the save-the-date. For information, contact Karen Elmore (kelmore@bjc.org).
• The Washington Evergreen ACDIS chapter meets Friday, October 25, at Overlake Hospital in Bellevue. For information, contact the chapter leadership team (evergreenACDIS@gmail.com).
• The California ACDIS chapter meets Friday, October 25, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the University of California, Davis. Click here to download the save-the-date flyer. For information, contact Rani Stoddard (stoddardrv@henrymayo.com).
• The Kansas City, Missouri, ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, December 4, 2-3 p.m. central, via webinar. For information, contact Angelica Naylor (angelica.naylor@outlook.com).
• The Chapter Advisory Board invites chapter leaders and members to join them for a panel discussion on Thursday, December 12, 12-1 p.m., via webinar. Click here to register.