Local chapter updates: Handling leadership transitions with confidence

Volunteering to join a local chapter or networking group leadership team is an exciting endeavor. It can also be intimidating. Having clearly delineated expectations for volunteers can help.

The local chapter leadership toolkit (available on the ACDIS website under the local chapter map) includes several examples of roles and responsibilities for leaders as well as a collection of sample bylaws from other ACDIS local chapters.

While certain networking groups may prefer to remain more informal in their structure and expectations, setting parameters for leaders from the outset allows the team to share responsibilities without duplication of efforts. It also provides an outline for how much time volunteers can expect to devote to local chapter efforts and where they can best leverage their individual talents. It also helps ensure that every individual serving the local chapter gets the most from their experience and fulfills the duties assigned.

Similarly, developing bylaws provides a scope of practice for the entire community. Bylaws describe the geographic, or topic, focus for the networking group. They also further describe meeting requirements for the leadership team, additional needs for supportive volunteers, frequency and length of meetings for members, and type of educational and networking events the group expects to hold in the coming year. Furthermore, no one volunteer (or two, or three) should be expected to lead their local chapter indefinitely. Bylaws provide guidance regarding mentoring new leaders, transition processes for the leadership team, and an overview for the community regarding the custodianship of their networking group over time.

Every chapter should consider creating leadership roles and bylaws for their ACDIS community, aligning them with the requirements and benefits included in the Local Chapter Agreement Form. And as always, include ACDIS Associate Editorial Director Melissa Varnavas and ACDIS Editor Linnea Archibald in your plans.  

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).

February:

• The Maryland ACDIS chapter meets Friday, February 16, 1-3 p.m., at the Maryland Hospital Association in Elkridge. For information, contact Candace Blankenship (evalani3@msn.com).
• The Texas ACDIS Chapter meets Thursday, February 22, 12-1 p.m., central, via webinar. For information, contact Amy Czahor (amyc@recordsone.com).
• The CDI Educator ACDIS networking group meets on Thursday, February 22, 12-1 p.m., pacific, via webinar to discuss the topic of CDI educators and data. For information, contact M.E. VanGelder (me.vangelder@honorhealth.com).
• The North Carolina ACDIS chapter meets Friday, February 23, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. Please RSVP by Friday, February 16. For information, contact ncacdis@gmail.com.
• The Minnesota ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, February 28, 1-2 p.m. CST, via conference call. For information, contact Faye Bakke (Faye.Bakke@essentiahealth.org).

March:

• The Massachusetts ACDIS Chapter meets Friday, March 2, 9:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Baystate Health in Springfield. Click here to download the agenda. Please RSVP to by February 23. For information and to RSVP, contact Lara Faustino (lara.faustino@bmc.org).
• The Alabama ACDIS chapter meets on Friday, March 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Brookwood Baptist Health—Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster. For information, contact Jeff Morris (jwmorris@health.southalabama.edu).
• The Arizona ACDIS chapter meets on Wednesday, March 21, at HonorHealth-Shea Medical Center in Scottsdale. For information, contact Alma Yap (rnalmay@gmail.com).
• The Maine ACDIS chapter meets Friday, March 30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta. For information, contact Cathy Seluke (cathy.seluke@mainegeneral.org).

Save-the-date:

• The Washington Evergreen and Oregon ACDIS chapters meet for a joint meeting on Friday, April 6, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at PeaceHealth in Vancouver. Please register by March 15. For information, contact the Evergreen chapter leadership team (evergreenACDIS@gmail.com) or Linda Dawson (linda.dawson@providence.org).
• The Central New York ACDIS chapter meets Friday, April 20, 1-3 p.m., at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center in Syracuse. Please RSVP by April 13. To RSVP and for information, contact Dawn Burr (dawnburr@crouse.org).
• The South Carolina ACDIS chapter tentatively plans to meet Friday, June 8, at MUSC in Charleston. For information, contact Mary Hopkins (mary.hopkins@hcahealthcare.com).
• 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).