Local chapter update: Evaluate bylaws annually for continued chapter success

While the new year is a good time to get your event calendar straight, it’s also a good time to determine whether any changes are needed for the chapter’s bylaws or leadership structure. Not every chapter necessarily has (or needs) bylaws, but leadership teams should review the samples available in the Chapter Leadership Toolkit and have a discussion about whether the team wishes to pursue bylaw development.

Bylaws provide a road map for chapter members regarding a number of concerns, including:

• Mission and intent of the networking group
• Geographic and/or educational focus area
• Role and responsibilities of the leadership team
• Processes and policies regarding leadership team transitions
• Vendor/sponsorship provisions and limitations
• Transactional processes regarding any accounting or tax status obligations
• Meeting scope and frequency
• Membership information gathering and sharing
• Internal communications

Like any endeavor, drafting chapter bylaws takes a concerted effort and it may require some help from a dedicated subcommittee within the chapter. Though ACDIS doesn’t require chapters to use bylaws, doing so can provide both the chapter’s leadership and membership a sense of ownership over their group’s efforts, and ensure that the chapter has a firm foundation for future chapter leaders’ success.

Chapter leaders working on drafting bylaws should visit the Leadership Toolkit to see some examples of other states’ bylaws (found under the “Advanced Offerings, Continued Growth” heading). Additionally, chapter leaders are always welcome to reach out to ACDIS Associate Editorial Director Melissa Varnavas (mvarnavas@acdis.org) and Editor Linnea Archibald (larchibald@acdis.org) for help.

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.

January:

• The Minnesota ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, January 30, 1-2 p.m., via webinar. For information, contact Faye Bakke (Faye.Bakke@essentiahealth.org).

February:

• The New Orleans ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, February 7, 4-5 p.m., at Semolina’s Restaurant in Clearview. For information, contact Judith Dowling (Judith.dowling@ochsner.org).
• The North Carolina and South Carolina ACDIS chapters hold a joint meeting Friday, February 8, at Palmetto Baptist Health in Columbia, South Carolina. More details to follow. For information, contact the chapter leadership team (ncacdis@gmail.com).
• The Kansas City ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, February 13, via webinar. For information, contact Angelica Naylor (angelica.naylor@outlook.com).
• The Maryland ACDIS chapter meets Friday, February 15, 12-2 p.m., at the Maryland Hospital Association in Elkridge. For information, contact Deborah McClain (dmcclain2@fmh.org).
• The Arizona ACDIS chapter and the CDI Educator networking group meet Friday, February 15, 12-1 p.m. mountain time, via webinar. For information, contact M.E. VanGelder (ME.VanGelder@honorhealth.com).
• The Michigan ACDIS chapter meets Friday, February 22, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., via webinar. For information, contact Susan Fantin (susan.fantin@comcast.net).
• The Minnesota ACDIS chapter meets Saturday, February 27, 1-2 p.m., via webinar. For information, contact Tim Lindquist (timothy.c.lindquist@healthpartners.com).

Save-the-date:

• The Pediatric ACDIS networking group (APDIS) meets Thursday, March 7, 2019, 3 p.m. eastern. For information, contact Val Bica (valerie.bica@nemours.org) and Leah Savage (leah.savage@BHSI.com).
• The Tennessee ACDIS chapter meets Friday, March 29, for an all-day event at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. More details to follow. For information, contact Sherri Clark (sclark@utmck.edu).
• The Georgia ACDIS chapter meets Friday, March 29, 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Piedmont Athens Hospital in Athens. For information, contact Jamie Doster (doster.j@icloud.com).
• The Maryland ACDIS chapter meets Friday, April 12, 12-2 p.m., at the Maryland Hospital Association in Elkridge. Visit the Maryland page on the ACDIS website for the rest of the year’s lineup. For information, contact Deborah McClain (dmcclain2@fmh.org).
• The Washington Evergreen ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, April 25, at Swedish Hospital in Seattle. More details to follow. For information, contact Susan Browne (susan.browne@triohealth.org).
• The Georgia ACDIS chapter meets Saturday, June 8, in Savannah. More information to follow. Please note that this meeting will include a volunteer opportunity with the Help End Hunger Food Bank. For information, contact Jamie Doster (doster.j@icloud.com).
• The Georgia ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, September 19, at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. More information to follow. For information, contact Jamie Doster (doster.j@icloud.com).
• Missouri's three ACDIS chapters meet Saturday, October 19, 2019, 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. More information to follow. For information, contact Karen Elmore (kelmore@bjc.org).