So you want to run a local chapter?
HDAA is completely member-driven. You can make a difference bringing people together.
Leading a Local Chapter
Well, if you don’t, who will? HDAA is completely member-driven, and we look to our members to come up with topics relevant to their place of work, and also to volunteer to chair the meetings. Running a group is a great way to give back to the analytics community, and although not the primary goal for many, it does enhance your resume and reputation in the healthcare industry.
Local chapters are a great way for neighbors to get to know each other, think a 50-mile radius. By hosting local meetings, you can talk about topics like state level reporting, community programs, and the employment market. A local group focusing on a specific vendor can be helpful. Avoid focusing on topics that could benefit from national discussions that could be better handled nationally.
Note that HDAA does not fund local chapter venues or expenses. A local member organization can host. Potentially a vendor can provide resources, but keep in mind the vendor-independent nature of HDAA, and restrictions on gifts due to our 501(c)(3) non-profit status. Donations are possible but have to follow protocol. Reach out to the Executive Director if working with vendors.
What does a group consist of?
The chair, and optionally a co-chair to assist or cover, will request meeting schedules, facilitate the meetings, and attempt to get the best engagement from the group, often by asking insightful questions of the presenters.
This group is a set of members who share the passion for the topic, who can come up with topics and presenters for the meetings. If you need help generating topics, ask the Program Director for a survey which will go to all HDAA members. An advisory group should not be larger than 6–8 members.
Here’s the trick. There are no group memberships. Each event for a group is advertised with the full membership, and people can register for any topic they are interested in.
How big, and how often?
It can be as small as your advisory group, or as large as the full membership. Healthy groups tend to have 30–100 participants on a call, but it doesn’t matter as long as participants get value.
Some meet as often as monthly, others quarterly or even annually. Many find bi-monthly to be the sweet spot.
Include in your request
- —Topic title
- —Presenter name, organization, and any brief background you want to share
- —Date, time and duration, including your time zone. Usually, they are posted as Eastern Time, but we can adjust unless it’s a local.
- —One- or two-line description
What happens next
We will provide a Zoom registration link to you, add to the events calendar, and the next newsletter. You should register as soon as we send you the link personally. You can forward to presenters, advisory groups, etc.
What resources are available to a group?
Every local chapter has its own public page on the HDAA site, so prospective members and sponsors can see what your chapter is working on.
This is member-only content. Contains recordings, slides, and most of the time chat logs and A.I. summaries.
Discussion groups private to members. Once you start to meet, we can provide a discussion group specific to your topic, but open to all HDAA members.
How do I get started?
The Suggestion Box forum is often where new groups are suggested and interest gauged. Make a post and see who wants to be involved, and perhaps solicit advisory group members, or do that on your first meeting. When you feel ready, contact the Program Director to discuss further, or just schedule your first meeting.
You can make a difference bringing people together.