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Starting an AMSN Chapter
Presented by the Chapter Development Committee
2006
AMSN ContactsAMSN Contacts
National AMSN OfficeNational AMSN OfficeNoreen DunnAMSN and MSNCB Information Services ManagerEast Holly Avenue Box 56Pitman, NJ 08071866-877-2676 or [email protected]: 856.218.0557www.medsurgnurse.org
AMSN ContactsAMSN Contacts
Chapter Development CommitteeChapter Development Committee
Diana Anderson, RN, [email protected]
GettingGetting StartedStarted
Review information on AMSN website under “Chapter” tab, “Starting a Chapter” Guidelines for Chapter Formation
• Chapter Charter Petition• Chapter Profile• Dissolution Agreement
Contact National AMSN Office for a list of national AMSN members in your area
Schedule an Schedule an OrganizationalOrganizational MeetingMeeting
Get everyone excitedGet everyone excited! Send an organizational meeting notice to national
AMSN members in your zip code area Identify colleagues from area hospitals, networking
groups, local universities and colleges of nursing Select meeting location, date, time most
convenient to majority. Consider developing a “theme” to build enthusiasm
and excitement and be sure to include refreshments!
Organizational Meeting Organizational Meeting AgendaAgenda
Welcome, introductions Elect officers Establish Chapter goals Develop budget/ fundraising ideas Set meeting schedule Prioritize educational activities Complete Chapter Profile and Chapter Petition Sign Dissolution Agreement Other business (sign up for committee work, update
member contact information, etc)
Finding Members
The National office will send you a list of National members in your area
Contact the directors or educators for local med surg units.
Post flyers about your meetings in local hospitals
Consider putting a notice in local newspapers and in hospital newsletters
Post flyers around your community in schools, churches, and stores
Election of Chapter Officers
Electing officers at an organizational meeting can seem a littleawkward, but some advance planning can help move things along at a comfortable pace.
You can usually find some interest to run for a board positionfrom some of your core group of organizers.
Develop a ballot which includes information about the candidates for each of the major officer positions and send itout with the notice for your first organizational meeting.Include a position description for each office. Be sure to leaveslots open for write-in candidates, and allow for additionalnominations “from the floor” from interested parties.
Election of Chapter Officers
Consider the following officers:PresidentPresident-electSecretaryTreasurer
Determine how long you want each term to be. It is suggested that your initial officers serve for two years to get your chapter “up and running”.
Committees
While a new Chapter is not required to have committees, most Chapters find them helpful. Some committees to consider include:
Fundraising Educational planning Refreshments Social activities Outreach and membership
Establishing Chapter Establishing Chapter GoalsGoals
Keep it simple, especially the first year. Some ideas for “beginner”chapters might focus on membership recruitment and completing educational activity requirements.
Examples of simple goals:
Enhance the image of the professional Medical-Surgical nurse.
Facilitate communication and collaboration among
Medical-Surgical nurses in the (Chapter name) area. Enhance the professional growth of Chapter
members and of Medical-Surgical nurses in the area through educational program offerings.
Increase local and national AMSN membership
through Chapter activities and program marketing.
Developing a Developing a Chapter BudgetChapter Budget
Once you achieve National Chapter status, you willreceive $75.00 in seed money from AMSN. Considersome of the following ideas to ensure a soundChapter budget:
Set local dues - most Chapters set annual local dues at $15-20 per year.
Some Chapters charge non-members a fee for attending educational offerings at meetings
Plan fundraising activities
Fundraising activities
Fundraising activities:have fun, earn some money, and get visibility
Ideas for fundraising:Bake salesRafflesGarage salesEducational workshopsSelling items such as t-shirts and other promotional items
locally and at the national convention.
Setting a Meeting Setting a Meeting ScheduleSchedule
There are many different ways to establish a regularmeeting schedule and you need to consider what
willbest suit your chapter membership.
Quarterly meetings which incorporate an educational offering with a business session can improve meeting attendance, especially where chapters cover a geographically large area.
Scheduling meetings every month or every other month may be more attractive to established Chapters with more comprehensive goals and activities.
Prioritizing Prioritizing Educational Educational ActivitiesActivities
Offering educational programs can be a significant benefit for your Chapter membership and a great way to attract newmembers. It can also be a profitable fundraiseras well as giving more visibility to your Chapterand the AMSN organization.
Educational Program Considerations
Survey membership to assess educational needs and identify priorities. Consider starting with topics for which you may have the easiest time finding qualified speakers.
Include topics which meet re-licensure requirements, such as HIV/AIDS and Domestic Violence, especially during the quarter preceding license renewal periods.
Educational Program Considerations
Contact hours are recommended, but not required. Obtaining contact hours can be easier by working with area hospitals or universities with Colleges of Nursing, and will usually guarantee a larger attendance and less effort by co-sponsoring educational programs.
If you rotate meeting sites between several area hospitals, consider selecting a topic which allows the hospital to “showcase” a particular service or product line, such as a cardiovascular program with a tour of their cardiac rehab unit.
Educational Program Considerations
Remember that new Chapters must have 2.0 hours of educational offerings per year, and established Chapters need 4.0 hours per year.
Contact hours (CEUs) are no longer required, but are highly recommended.
Completing the Completing the Chapter Charter Chapter Charter
PetitionPetitionThis is really much simpler than it looks. All you do is fill
in the blanks which identify the following:
the proposed name of your Chapter the zip codes, cities and counties you expect to
include in your Chapter area acknowledgement of your responsibility to plan at
least two Chapter activities per year to maintain Chapter status
acknowledgement of dissolution agreement terms
The last step simply requires signatures from at least three active national members.
Completing the Completing the Chapter ProfileChapter Profile
Simply fill in the names and addresses of your Charter officers.
Major officers also sign the Dissolution
Agreement.
The Finishing TouchesThe Finishing Touches
Attach a list of your Charter Chapter members (remember they must also be national members).
Enclose a copy of the minutes from your
first meeting.
… … and you’re in and you’re in business!!!business!!!
Building a Successful Building a Successful ChapterChapter
Your core group of founding members are usuallythe “movers and shakers,” but it is easy to getburned out if only a few always take on themajority of the tasks. Recruiting new memberswill probably be your most important initialpriority. Offering an educational program,combined with good food and Chapter members who know how to “meet and greet” will helpensure an increase in your membership base.
Building a Building a Successful ChapterSuccessful Chapter
Sponsoring fundraising activities and/or community service projects is another good way to gain visibility and market your local Chapter to prospective new members.
Build a network with other Chapter Presidents and with the Chapter Development Committee. We have all been exactly where you are now and would be pleased to lend a hand!
Building a Building a Successful ChapterSuccessful Chapter
Plan to attend the national convention! This is a perfect way to network with other Chapter members from around the country and pick up some great ideas to take back with you!
Read each issue of the MedSurg Nursing magazine, Med Surg Matters and the AMSN Med Surg Nursing Connection newsletter to keep up with important dates and catch some great ideas from other Chapters and National!
Watch the AMSN website for more news and information! (www.medsurgnurse.org)
Conclusion
By now, you should have an idea of how to proceed to start your Chapter.
Don’t hesitate to call either theNational office or the Chapter Development Committee for help andideas!
Have fun!
