Moving Toward Communities of Interest in 2011

Abstract

A s we begin a new year, an opportunity to reflect on where we have been and where we are going is in order. Our past president, Deborah Fillman, wrote in last month’s Message From the President that one of AADE’s most significant accomplishments this past year has been the launching of a new membership model: My AADE Network. Chapters are moving forward with transitioning processes, and members are taking advantage of forming local networking groups. Such a membership model builds and connects members locally and across states, whereby individual members are fully engaged with one another, without administrative constraints of maintaining bylaws, recruiting officers, submitting reports, and collecting dues. During 2011, AADE will transition the current Specialty Practice Group (SPG) model to a Communities of Interest (CoI) model. The CoI is patterned on a Community of Practice (CoP) model, allowing members to engage in a process of sharing resources, responding to requests for information, problem solving, and mapping areas of knowledge. CoIs are groups of AADE members sharing a common interest or professional practice area, where there is passion about a given topic as members regularly interact. Each CoI will work from a Web-based home page on AADE’s My AADE Network. Members will network with one another, share information, provide valuable resources, and communicate different events/activities. One of the major goals associated with each CoI is to focus on learning through reflection on practice. As diabetes educators, we all approach patients/clients with a different set of skills/expertise based on past experiences, stories, and ways of addressing recurring problems—in essence, a shared practice. Let the idea of learning through reflection and shared practice be the center of this supportive, vibrant community. Initial efforts at managing knowledge with SPG focused on specific products (eg, newsletter, conference). CoI will provide a new approach, focusing on knowledge management: sharing, creating, and recording. Like the My AADE Network model, members in a given CoI will not be responsible for submission of quarterly reports, budgets, or even the need to conduct a business meeting. CoI is a member benefit. Members will not be asked to pay any fees to join any/all CoI. Access to CoI is free with the benfit going into effect with 2011 membership renewal. Over the next several months, more information will be forthcoming regarding the leadership structure associated with CoI. 2011 promises to offer many new opportunities and possibilities for diabetes education and educators. Take the time to discover the many ways AADE operationalizes its mission and strategic plan. Finally, we look forward to your comments and possible topics you would like to see covered in future issues of The Diabetes Educator (TDE). Feel free to contact me at jfain@umassd.edu. We appreciate your observations and suggestions.