Local chapter update: Consider leadership transitions ahead of fall elections

Some local chapters have formal roles and responsibilities for their leadership team with clearly defined positions for president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and so on. While this is not a requirement, doing so can help potential volunteers fully understand the expectations of their volunteer duties and the time commitment volunteer leadership may require.

Believe it or not, summer is a perfect time for the local chapter leadership team to discuss roles and responsibilities of the leadership group. That’s because ACDIS recommends local chapters consider conducting any leadership team transitions (inducting new volunteers, holding elections, etc.) in the fall. Doing so aligns with our nation’s typical election schedule and local chapters can have some non-political fun with their nomination and voting process if they choose. It also provides a window of a few months where outgoing volunteers can serve as mentors to the incoming team before handing over the reins officially in January when the Official Local Chapter Leadership Agreement form needs to be signed.

Some local chapters allow for a vote of the full chapter membership via an online survey or email ballot, others do a vote by show of hands at their fall event. Some chapters don’t have a voting or nomination system in play, instead opting to find opportunities for involvement according to the abilities of the volunteers.

Having conversations with the volunteer leadership team now allows the group to assess its structure and transition processes and to work with ACDIS national on any concerns that might arise to implement updated roles and responsibilities or changes if warranted. There are examples of roles and responsibilities in the Local Chapter Leadership Toolkit on the ACDIS website.

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). 

August:

• The CDI Educator ACDIS networking group meets Thursday, August 8, 2-3 p.m., via webinar. For information, contact Coral Fernandez (coral.fernandez@bhsi.com).
• The New Orleans ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, August 8, 4-5 p.m., at Semolina’s at Clearview. For information, contact Judi Dowling (judith.dowling@ochsner.org).
• The Tennessee ACDIS chapter meets Thursday, August 15, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. For information, contact Judy Rochelle (judy_rochelle@chs.net) and Cynthia Raymond (cynthia.raymond@hcahealthcare.com).
• The North Carolina ACDIS chapter meets Friday, August 16, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem. For information and to register, click here.
• 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).
• The Washington Evergreen ACDIS chapter meets Friday, August 16, 10-11 a.m., via webinar. For information, contact the chapter leadership team (evergreenACDIS@gmail.com).
• The Minnesota ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, August 28, 1-2 p.m., via webinar. For information, contact Jera Van Damme (jera.vandamme@essentiahealth.org).

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 Arkansas ACDIS chapter meets Friday, September 13, 1-4 p.m., at St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock. For information, contact Cindy Whichard (cynthia.whichard@coniferhealth.com).
• 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 Maryland ACDIS chapter meets Saturday, September 20, for an all-day event at St. Joseph's Medical center in Towson. Click here to download the registration form. For information, contact Deborah McClain (dmcclain2@fmh.org).
• The Indiana ACDIS chapter meets Friday, September 20, 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., at Ivy Tech Culinary and Conference Center in Indianapolis for their fall conference. Click here to download the event agenda. Click here to download the registration form. For information, contact Angela Green (agreen915@gmail.com).
• The Indiana ACDIS chapter is planning a fall conference on September 20, in Indianapolis. For information, contact Angela Green (agreen915@gmail.com).
• The Ohio ACDIS chapter meets Friday, September 20, 1-4 p.m., at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima. For information, contact Kathryn Vermillion (kmvermillion@mercy.com).
• The Iowa ACDIS chapter meets Friday, October 4, 9:30-11:30 a.m., at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. For information, contact Deanna Brennan (deanna.brennan@uiowa.edu).
• The Michigan ACDIS chapter meets Saturday, October 5, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at McLaren Hospitality House in Flint. Click here to download the save-the-date. Click here to download the agenda. Click here to download the registration form. 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., at the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center in Columbia, for the fourth annual Show Me State Conference. Click here to download the event flyer. Click here to download the welcome letter, which includes instructions for registration. For information, contact Karen Elmore (karen.elmore@bjc.org).
• The Oregon ACDIS chapter holds a joint meeting with OrHIMA Friday, October 25, at Linn Co. Fairgrounds Albany. For information, contact Bonita Quinn (bgquinn@stcharleshealthcare.org).
• The Washington Evergreen ACDIS chapter meets Friday, October 25, at Overlake Medical Center in Bellevue. More details to follow. For information, contact the chapter leadership team (evergreenACDIS@gmail.com).
• The California ACDIS chapter meets Friday, October 25, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the University of California, Davis. To register and save your spot, click here. Click here to download the save-the-date flyer. For information, contact Rani Stoddard (stoddardrv@henrymayo.com).
• The California ACDIS chapter meets Wednesday, November 20, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., via webinar. 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.