Region 8 CAT
Posted about 7 years ago by Jessica Panfil
Welcome New and Returning Chapter Officers of Region 8!!
I would like to introduce myself to those of you who have not met me. My name is Mandy Dees and I am your Region 8 CAT of the AACN Chapter Advisor Team. I live in Indianapolis, Indiana and am a board member on the Central Indiana Chapter. This is my first year serving as your Region CAT. You may contact me by email at region8@aacn.org or you may call/text me 812-239-4320.
Chapter Presidents: Between now and the end of August, I will be calling you individually for a more formal introduction.
What is the CAT? When should I contact the CAT?
- The CAT is a liaison between AACN National and Chapters.
- Some of you have reached out to Karen Certalic during my transition. She is an excellent resource for us!
- The CAT directly supports Chapters and their leaders.
- Contact your CAT if you have any questions regarding chapter management and/or chapter resources.
- Questions about financial reporting.
- Contract questions.
- Role questions or conflict within your chapter.
- Any other chapter related questions…I’m here, reach out!
AACN Chapter Portal
- The AACN Chapter website is a wonderful place full of resources for Chapter leaders.
- Transition meetings are an excellent time to review this information as a group.
- Please take time to review the governing documents of chapters
- AACN Bylaws
- Chapter Charter Agreement
- Chapter Governance Manual
- The Chapter Education Room has many short recorded webinars discussing the different aspects of chapter management. Including leadership, financial reporting, contracts, how to put on a conference, navigating chapter database and much more.
- Why not pick a few to watch together as a board?
- Chapters 101 found in the Resource Library section of the website provides a great overview document for chapters.
Updating your Chapter Database
- I use the chapter database to get an email list of current chapter officers, please make sure all your board members are updated, even if they remain the same from last year.
- Thank you to those who have updated your chapter officers!
Communication from your CAT
- I send out monthly Region 8 emails to Chapter officers, please forward appropriate information to your board members & chapter members.
- FYI: I BCC all emails to maintain privacy of email addresses. I also include National and other CATs on my emails. I am happy to facilitate contact of another chapter.
- We have an AACN Region 8 Facebook page…please share with your chapter members and follow us.
- We even have a Region 8 Nursing Network site aacnregion8. Please share with your chapter members and follow us there, too!
Sharing Chapter Programs and News within our Region
- Any of the above mentioned communication methods is how I will share the amazing work of individual chapters throughout Region 8.
- I’ve been asked about a way to network with other chapter leaders across regions. Keep a look out for more detail on a Multi-Region event!
- If we have enough interest, I am willing to host Region 8 Web meetings.
- Let me know if web meetings interest you by August 31st.
Last and certainly not least, the National Theme for AACN has been posted on the National Website.
AACN President Lisa Riggs chose Our Voice, Our Strength as the 2018-2019 National Theme. “We can create the workplace we want and need when we use our voice. Let’s confidently step into our strength.”
- To download the artwork, right click on a link, choose “Save Target As…” and save to your computer.
I look forward to partnering with you. Please reach out anytime…I am here for you!!
Mandy Dees, MSN, RN-BC, CCRN
AACN Region 8 CAT