To know where we are going, sometimes we have to look back over where we have been and review what we have learned along the way.  Everyone says that 2013 is going to be a year of change for the healthcare industry...more change than what we have seen and experienced over the past couple of years? 

For NCHN, we are looking at change and considering how we can do it in a positive manner and for the betterment of the Association. Sometimes we can and sometimes we just have to accept the change and move along.  As Network Leaders, you are also dealing with change and I am reminded of the saying,  "The only thing that is for certain is that there will be change!” We must constantly adapt.

So, today I would like to share some changes here at NCHN.

First of all, we are discussing the option of moving the NCHN Weekly Digest to a biweekly publication vs. the weekly you currently receive each Tuesday morning.  In reviewing the history of why we started the Weekly Digest, it ties directly to the passage of the Affordable Care Act.  We were receiving numerous notices and updates about the new law and we were passing them along so often that we started hearing "Enough is enough. Quit sending out so many emails each week – put them into a weekly report or something!”  We listened and thus on August 9, 2010 the NCHN Weekly Digest was launched.  Over the course of the past two years the readership of the Weekly Digest and month eNews has averaged about 25% of the folks receiving it actually opening it. Of course, we don't know who is actually reading it!  We started tracking the open rates by groups and are happy to report that since October 2012 the open rate among NCHN members has increased to an average of 37.3%. 

So, tell us: is it time for another change with the NCHN electronic publication?  Would you the members and our guests that read the Weekly be just as happy with a bi-weekly publication?  And maybe a quarterly eNews vs. the current monthly eNews publication?  Is this a change that NCHN should make, or should we leave things the same?  You tell us – please send your comments and thoughts to either Rebecca or Christy. We would love to hear from you!  And we might even buy a cup of coffee or tea for someone that sends us their thoughts.  

Other changes in 2013

Board of Directors:
Each year, a number of seats on the NCHN Board of Directors are open for elections. This year we have four Director positions that are open for elections.  Board Directors are elected by you the membership!  But in order to be elected, folks must submit their name and the required information that is discussed later in this newsletter.  We are looking for a few good Network Leaders to step forward and submit their names for consideration to serve as a Director of NCHN.  Please take a minute and think about who would be a great Director for leading NCHN into the future – and if it is you, please do not hesitate to nominate yourself today! 

Challenge to you for a change in 2013
Each month, NCHN offers a Coffee/Tea Chat with Dr. Chess.  I challenge you to reserve and protect this time on your busy calendars and begin participating in this membership benefit in 2013.  This is your time – do it for yourself and for the good of your network.  This is the one opportunity, once a month, that you can connect with your peers across the nation, share you successes and challenges, ask for support, comfort and feel the love of other Network Leaders for the work you are doing.  Take advantage of this opportunity. The next Coffee/Tea Chat is on Wednesday, February 13 @ 12:30 PM ET.  More details are so located below. 

Two More Changes in 2013: 
After much discussion and research on membership dues of other comparable national professional membership organizations, review of finances and long range planning for the Association, the NCHN Board of Directors voted to increase NCHN dues by 10% for the 2013-3014 year.  Over the years - almost 19 now - NCHN membership dues had only increased once before and that was in 2005.  The new dues policy approved by your Board of Directors is as follows:

• The NCHN network membership dues will increased, effective May 1, 2013 by 10% across the three current dues categories for our current members, resulting in the following dues structure:
  • Less than $250,000 – increased from $500 to $550
  • $250,000 - $500,000 – increased from $750 to $825
  • Over $500,000 – increased from $1,000 to $1,100
• Any new members accepted will follow the new dues structure and their dues will be prorated for the remaining months of 2012-2013 fiscal year.
• NCHN fiscal year is May – April and the 2013-2014 dues assessments will be conducted in the spring of 2013. 
• New process for determining dues:  “NCHN annual dues are determined by the member organization’s most recent fiscal year’s operating expenses, as reported on their 990 form and/or other Internal Revenue Service reporting format, including expenditures for all programs, services, including programs supported by grant funds, and any additional companies that are under the management of the parent organization.” 

And now, a change that I am not looking forward to in 2013! 
Synernet, one of our founding members, has provided NCHN with Administrative Assistant Services since our inception back in 1995.  I am sad to report that at the end of this month that arrangement will be ending.  What this means to NCHN as an Association and to you as members is that Debbie Comeau will no longer be working with NCHN. I, along with the NCHN Directors & Officers thank Debbie for her service and years of dedication to NCHN.  We wish her the best and will miss her at NCHN events! 

Rebecca J. Davis, Ph.D.
Executive Director

This post was originally posted in the January 2013 issue of the NCHN e-News.