Nov/Dec 2009 
Mentoring and communications shine.
The Dakota Users Group of Applied Systems has been honored with the Applied Systems Client Network’s (ASCnet) 2009 Chapter of the Year Award. ASCnet Chapters Committee Chair Dianna George presented the award at the association’s 24th annual Technology, Education & Networking Conference—TENCon.
Chapter president and co-chair Melody Zimmer-man of American Insurance Inc. of Dickinson, N.D., along with chapter vice president and co-chair Connie Bertram of Dawson Insurance Agency in Fargo, accepted the award on behalf of the Dakota Users Group.
The Chapter of the Year is an honor and acknowledgement of all the work and time chapter officers have done for its membership in a given year. Each of our chapters are unique and provide education and networking for their membership at local user group meetings. This once-a-year honor demonstrates how ASCnet chapters strive to do more for their membership. The Chapter of the Year award allows a bit of a cushion for future meetings, as there is a monetary prize as well as a plaque and meeting gavel.
“I have personally labeled the 2009 Chapter of the Year ‘The Little Chapter That Could,’” said George as she presented the award. “They have excelled in identifying future leaders. I am always amazed at how a chapter with a small membership base continues to promote new leadership and deliver quality education each year.”
Each year ASCnet conducts an Officer Retreat, where new techniques, tools and requirements for member meetings and chapter administration are presented to the volunteer leaders. The processes and techniques presented at the retreat are what form the Chapter of the Year submission categories:
- Leadership Skills
- Member Education and Meetings
- Chapter Administration and Management
- Communications
- Membership Retention and Growth.
The submission application includes a series of questions for each of the above categories, as well as an opportunity for the chapter to submit work examples. Each category is worth 15 points, with an additional 25 points available at the reviewer’s discretion. Submissions are reviewed and scored by members of the Chapters Committee Task Force. The review is blind, with any and all references to the chapter name or members removed.
The 2009 Chapter of the Year winner, Dakota Users Group of Applied Systems, truly portrayed the dynamics of users helping users at their local meetings. The officers have put into place—or are in the process of implementing—many of the new requirements and techniques presented at Officer Retreats.
Chapters, large and small are challenged year after year in recruiting new volunteers to fill officer positions. Over the past year, the Dakota Users Group has successfully implemented a mentoring program for future leaders that includes leading by example and demonstrating how much fun it is to be involved, and it continues member and non-member communications, surveying their constituents for new improved ways to deliver programs at the local level.
Congratulations to the Dakota Users Group of Applied Systems.