By Cynthia Hopkins RN MBA/HCM ONN-CG ACM-RN CCM
I still remember the day I was asked to become President of CMSA Houston
There were only two people left actively involved in the chapter-the current President and the administrative support person. The chapter had just thirty-nine members and minimal funds.
My first response was, “let me think about it.”
A week later, I said yes.
Why? Because I saw it as a challenge-and an opportunity
I knew rebuilding CMSA Houston would not happen overnight. But I also knew that if I could bring together the right people, create energy, build relationships, and remind people why their profession mattered, we could turn things around.
It Started with the People
My priority was building a Board.
I handpicked people who I believed could make a difference. I wanted go-getters. I wanted positive people. I wanted people who believed in teamwork, enjoyed building relationships, and genuinely wanted to give back to their profession.
Once we had our board, everyone received a copy of their responsibilities. But I didn’t believe in simply handing someone a job description and walking away.
I worked alongside everyone.
If someone needed help, I was there. If something needed to be done, we figured it out together. I wanted to make sure nothing fell through the cracks.
We were building something together, and everyone needed to feel that they were part of it.
Make People Want to Come Back
Our next priorities were growing membership and improving our finances. We started offering monthly CEU programs at different restaurants. But these weren’t just educational events.
They were opportunities to connect.
I reached out to people I knew who worked in case management at different facilities and invited them to our monthly programs. They invited their colleagues, and those colleagues invited others. When people came through the door, our Board made a point of engaging with them. I spoke at every meeting about the importance of supporting our profession and being involved. But we also made sure people had fun.
People came back.
Then they brought someone with them
And some of those nonmembers eventually became members.
We also looked for other ways to bring members and nonmembers together. One year, we held a holiday celebration at one of the venues that included dinner, dancing, and prize giveaways. We invited both members and nonmembers and encouraged everyone to bring a blanket or pair of socks to donate to a local nursing facility.
It was more than just a holiday gathering. It gave people another opportunity to meet one another, enjoy time together outside of the traditional CEU program, and learn more about CMSA in a relaxed environment. The donation drives also gave us an opportunity to give back to the community while introducing new people to our chapter.
I believe those types of events were important to our membership growth because they showed people that CMSA was about more than education. It was about relationships, community, giving back, and having fun with people who understood the work we do.
I believe that growth came from staying engaged and creating an environment where people felt welcomed. We weren’t just asking people to join an organization. We were creating a community they wanted to be a part of.
When Vendors Become Partners
As our monthly programs became more successful, our vendor relationship grew too. Eventually, vendors began approaching us about sponsoring our CEU programs.
That was exciting because it meant we were creating something people wanted to support.
We worked hard to make our vendors feel like partners. We valued their involvement and looked for ways to make them part of the experience.
And those relationships became another important piece of our chapter’s growth.
Then We Said “It’s Time for a Conference”
Once our monthly meetings were going well, I knew we were ready for the next step.
A conference.
We secured the venue, brought in vendors and speakers, and started planning. But we didn’t want to create just another conference where people listened to speakers and went home.
We wanted people to feel something when they walked through the door.
We wanted it to be educational, engaging, and fun.
We introduced a 50/50 raffle that attendees really enjoyed. I liked the idea so much that I even contacted National and suggested they consider incorporating a 50/50 raffle into the national conference.
We also created a Shining Star Award, recognizing someone at each conference who made a difference. The recipient received a certificate and a small monetary award.
Sometimes a little recognition goes a long way.
Creating an Experience
We wanted attendees to feel excited before they even sat down for the first presentation.
We used balloons, backdrops, photo booths, and conference themes.
One year, we chose a Mardi Gras theme and the vendors got involved too. They decorated their booths and participated in the fun.
We even selected the best-decorated vendor booth and offered the winner a discount on the next conference.
Why did we do all of this?
Because we wanted people to remember the experience.
Yes, education was important. It always would be.
But so were relationships, laughter, networking, recognition, and creating memories with people who understood the work we do.
Bring People Together
We also started a preconference dinner for our speakers.
For me, this became one of the most meaningful parts of the conference.
It gave us an opportunity to sit around a table with thought leaders in case management, have real conversations, exchange ideas, and build relationships.
Those relationships are what make a professional organization special.
The Foundation Comes First
Looking back, one of the biggest lessons I learned is that you must build the foundation before you build the structure.
First, we needed people.
Then we needed relationships.
Then we needed engagement.
Then we needed growth.
Once we had that foundation, we could become more structured-holding elections, update bylaws, and put stronger processes in place.
But structure alone doesn’t build a chapter.
People do.
Stronger Together
If there is one thing I would tell anyone trying to rebuild or strengthen a CMSA chapter, it is this:
Find the right people!
Find the positive people!
Find the people who engage others.
Find people who believe in teamwork.
Find the people who are willing to roll up their sleeves.
And most importantly, find the people who genuinely want to give back to their profession.
A successful chapter isn’t built by one President or one Board member.
It is built by a team.
When I think back to those early days-with only thirty-nine members, minimal funds, and just two people carrying the chapter I don’t think about what we lacked.
I think about what we had.
We had an opportunity.
We had a vision.
And we had people willing to work together.
That’s where the transformation began.
Because when people come together with a common purpose, something powerful happens.
Happy National Case Management Week. This week, we RECOGNIZE the case managers who make a difference every day through advocacy, coordination, problem-solving, compassion and connection. CMSA has a full week of education and celebration planned, and we hope you'll be part of it. See the schedule: bit.ly/3PR89WG
We become stronger together.
Bio: Cynthia Hopkins RN MBA/HCM ONN-CG ACM-RN CCM is a healthcare professional and dedicated leader with a longstanding commitment to professional service, healthcare advocacy, and community involvement. She has served on the CMSA National Board of Directors, as an Ambassador for MD Anderson Cancer Center, and on the Executive Board of the Military Veterans Connection Committee at MD Anderson.
Cynthia has also held leadership roles with CCMC, ACMA Houston, and the CMSA Houston-Gulf Coast Chapter, where she served as president. During her tenure, the chapter received several honors, including the Chapter Revitalization Phoenix Award, Membership Development Award, Award for Best Use of Technology, and Award of Excellence for Conference Planning.
Her contributions have been recognized through honors including the Doll Foundation-Champion of Care Award, Compassionate Touch-Robert Hatch Advocacy Award, and the Excelsior University C. Wayne Williams Award for outstanding public service and community involvement.