One beauty of the Cub Scout motto is that when we've done the best we can do, we usually get a good outcome. Another is that when we make a mistake, our ego can kick in to remind us that we tried. So...this message starts out with a correction and an apology.

 

In the 2017 3rd Quarter President's Message I made a mistake by referring to a colleague who presented as a Fellow "Designate." In all my years of active affiliation with the ACHE I had not heard the term "Designate." To me the light was either on or off. We are either Fellows or we're not. I didn't know there was a third option. We don't know what we don't know.

The main message is that painfully, [and thankfully (ego saved me)], a few days later Shawn Eaker, FACHE wrote to correct me.  Previously the ACHE let people use "Designate" when all requirements, except the three-year membership time, had been completed.  Now that has been changed again because all requirements including tenure must be completed before taking the exam.  I hadn't known that.  For my mistake, I sincerely apologize to anyone I besmirched, and I stand corrected.

There's another message.  It's called "gratitude" for people who correct us.  In his book, The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell says (paraphrasing) we should be grateful to the mavens who take the time and energy to write a letter to the editor.  These are people who care.  

Please note the tone of Shawn's e-mail. Shawn is understanding of my mistake and positive about ACHE's evolution.  Shawn is NOT a critic shouting down from the safety of the audience in the grandstands.  Teddy Roosevelt's famous 1910 speech, " The Man in the Arena" perfectly describes that phenomenon.  Shawn is willing to enter into the fracas in the arena.

Healthcare executives know what it is like to be "the man (woman) in the arena."  There are plenty of smart people who feel entitled to second-guess us with opinions about what we could or should have done differently.  And, we've all taken our turn at criticizing from the outside those who are on the inside.  When we're in the arena, we can only do our best.

ACHE requires all 78 chapters to publish a quarterly newsletter and ACHE provides helpful guidance and suggestions for articles.  Nonetheless, a volunteer chapter board of directors establishes a volunteer Communications Committee that is responsible for a digital document that is released with a mouse click to 957 Missouri members plus 3,519 ACHE affiliates outside Missouri who want to stay in touch. The challenge becomes one of meaningfulness.

We all get a lot of e-mails.  Some of them include newsletters.  ACHE annual surveys, chapter surveys, and software diagnostics give feedback about reader satisfaction.  MO-ACHE knows how long the average reader looks at each issue and which links are clicked.  77% are deleted from the Inbox.

This is the 20th issue of Chapter News published in the 3 years I chaired the Communications Committee and 2 years I served as President of MO-ACHE.   Volunteers and staff have done our best to help make the newsletter meaningful.  An example is the creation of the MO-ACHE Student Essay Award (M-SEA).  One purpose of M-SEA is to generate original articles that share the thoughts of future healthcare leaders.  Please note Andrew Oberle's 4th annual award-winning essay, "Fostering Resilience in Trauma Care to Improve Outcomes and Social Program Solvency" published in this issue.

In 2014 I wrote an intentionally controversial opinion piece for Chapter News.  I suggested that our "do something" Congress should abolish the apothecary measurement system.  The rationale is that every Deming, Lean, Toyota (whatever you want to call it) theory decries duplication and every student learns early that the metric system of measurement is better.  I won't get on that soapbox again, but the point is that there was NO response.  And, I'd love to know what people thought about my last tirade about ACHE's protocol about showing our MHA or MBA when we're Fellows.  So, you can imagine my pleasure, after 19 issues to know that someone took the time and energy to correct me.  Thank you, Shawn!

The Cub Scouts have a great motto, "Do your best!"  I did.  I do.  Do you?  Say "Yes!"

In 2017 the MO-ACHE Board of Directors (BofD) fulfilled its fiduciary responsibilities with 6 regular meetings with a quorum. This is a summary of activities which was presented at the 2017 Annual Meeting on November 2.

Click to download the Annual Report

MO-ACHE members of the Board of Directors (BofD) serve two-year terms concurrent with the calendar Fiscal Year.  During 2017, the Nominating Committee identified candidates for a slate that was proposed to Missouri members.  The election concluded on October 30 with unanimous support for the slate.  On November 1, the MO-ACHE BofD ratified the election and the results were reported at the MO-ACHE Annual Meeting on November 2.

Please welcome and support 4 new volunteer members of your chapter board:
Following is the MO-ACHE BofD roster for 2-year terms effective January 1, 2018:

It is with acknowledgement and gratitude for many years of dedicated service that 3 members of the BofD cycle off the board on December 31, 2017.  Please share your appreciation with:
Thank you!