Thinking about building a local chapter network - or re-imagining yours? A few key questions and tips exploring principals and effective practices for developing a strong chapter program.
2. Association are about “associating”
Organizational structure should enable connections
Chapters are one way of extending the organization’s
reach and creating face-to-face connections
3. Range of models:
Separate, independent organizations which
collaborate and partner
Affiliated organizations which are separate but have
shared mission and branding
Division or branch of the same organization
Sub-group of the organization
4. Matching the Options: 3 Guiding
Questions
How important is it for people to get together in
person to achieve your purpose?
To what extent are there unique local issues across
your country or do national issues need to be
addressed locally?
Are you significantly advancing the mission by
creating infrastructure to support local activities? (Will
the results be worth the effort?)
5. Matching the Options: 3 Areas to
Explore
What services or activities are most appropriate for
chapters to offer or perform?
How will you define success? What metrics will you
measure and how?
What resources are required for chapters to succeed
and are these available?
6. Resources to Succeed
Financial
Human – paid staff and member-volunteer
Technology
Training and Information
Environmental Conditions
Opportunities
7. Organizational Options
TRADITIONAL
NEW APPROACH
Chapter Charter
Principals of Affiliation
Board of Directors
Not applicable
Articles of Incorporation/By-Laws
Not applicable
Elections
Not applicable
Standing Committees
Task-Oriented Teams
Regular Meetings
Meet Only As Needed
Bank Account
HQ Funding Pool
1-up Communications Systems
(e.g. Web, Email)
Centralized Communications Systems
Limited Program Management Expertise
(Event Planning, Marketing/Comm, Etc.)
Program Management Expertise Highly
Supported or Provided Directly by HQ
Limited Member Needs Assessment
Needs Assessment Tools & Data
Supplemented or Provided Directly by HQ
Awards Based on Activity
Rather than Results
Awards Based on Results
Knowledge Uncollected
Knowledge Harvested & Shared
A look at the evolving
options from a USA
perspective. Acknowledges
that some chapters achieve
a financial size that requires
some traditional structure,
such as a central governing
body, incorporation, formal
by-laws.