Tarnove to Hit the Road

After three years of dialogue with AMDA state chapter leaders and two regional listening posts in Massachusetts and Minnesota this year, Executive Director Lorraine Tarnove announced at the State Presidents Council meeting held in Dallas on March 17, her plans to attend all state meetings over the next two years . The Listening Posts were very valuable but it is clear that it is still difficult for state presidents and leaders to get to another meeting. “If the mountain won’t come to me, off I go,” pledged Tarnove. “My initial plans are to attend the Georgia, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Virginia state chapter meetings,” added Tarnove.

On Wednesday evening in Dallas, AMDA President Steven A. Levenson MD, CMD, gave an energetic talk that pleaded with state leaders to be responsive and support national office by providing substantive communication and response to national requests for feedback. Dr. Levenson himself is going to hold monthly conference calls open to all state leaders with the first now in planning for June. All states have received an initial request to help with scheduling.

The culmination of this year’s efforts to improve chapter communications will be at the December 3 strategic planning meeting that will include representatives from the states. The AMDA board also approved the establishment of “LTC Direct” that will offer state chapters services including membership promotion and meeting management. State chapters responded to all of the plans with enthusiasm. Daniel Haimowitz, MD, FACP, CMD, a past state chapter president and current AMDA Program Chair said, “This is exactly what we need and what we’ve been hoping for.”

“It takes a while for us to get a handle on how to address the state’s needs and wants. These activities and services should go a long way to supporting chapter growth and creating a productive national/state relationship,” said Tarnove.

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