On February 25th, HDI Global announced the Capital Area Chapter achieved the Platinum Circle of Excellence for 2008. Capital Area was ranked 1st, with 445 points, among the 39 participating chapters. Ten chapters achieved Platinum, eighteen chapters achieved Gold and eleven chapters achieved Silver.

The Circle of Excellence program has been in effect for three years. It was created to be a guideline for services offered by the local chapters. Each chapter board determines whether to participate in the Circle of Excellence Program and what level they would like to achieve. Capital Area is dedicated to our mission and to achieving excellence, so we have participated in the Circle of Excellence program all three years. In 2006 and 2007, the Capital Area achieved the Gold Circle of Excellence. In 2008, Capital Area Board of Officers came together and made it our goal to achieve Platinum.

The chapter earns points in the program by doing things like having a website, newsletter, communications, events, training classes, by-laws, member speakers, member white papers, running an Analyst of the Year program, etc. Points are also earned for increasing attendance and membership. Capital Area was able to meet their goal due to the dedication of our volunteer board, vendor sponsors, members and attendees. Members, attendees and vendor sponsors earned points for our chapter by: giving your time to attend meetings, events and training classes; speaking at a local chapter meetings; publishing articles, white papers and books to the community; submitting speaking proposals for HDI's Annual Conference; submitting Analyst of the Year candidates; sponsoring meetings; hosting meetings at your location.

We salute you and thank you for your continued dedication to our local chapter.