We Have Always Done It That Way

I recently attended a conference where there was a rather robust conversation about creating local affiliate organizations for the national association that had organized the conference. This was my first time attending this conference and my background in associations was not well-known among the participants. I saw this as an opportunity to advance my thoughts on what we have traditionally called “chapter development.” Let me share them for you here:

1 Don’t start a chapter.
2. Create an “unchapter” instead.
3. Do that by thinking about everything you would do to create a chapter.
4. And then do the opposite.

I can’t find a good reason why we refer to local affiliate organizations as chapters, so there is no good reason to keep doing it. Call them communities, networks, clusters or something completely different. Whatever floats your boat. Just don’t call them chapters!

I see no reason why our local affiliates need to duplicate the burdensome bureaucracy and chair filling of our national organizations, so let’s not do that either. No officers and no board. Let’s have a small coordinating council instead that can make sure people are kept up to date about what’s happening. Streamline administration and communication.

And, in that spirit, I see no reason why our group needs to have a formal web site. Just put up a blog with all of the content the members might need. Much easier for volunteers to handle, much easier for the members to use and much more current in terms of sharing information.

I see no reason why these groups must have monthly in-person programs or lunches. Let each group choose its own approach. Some may want quarterly programming or only virtual programming or even no formal programming at all. I see no problem with any of those approaches so long as it works for the members. Not every group needs to fit the cookie-cutter image of the traditional chapter and nor should every group do the exact same things. The groups should differentiate, and then coordinate, cooperate and compete with each other as necessary.

I see no reason why our groups need to follow any mandate or requirement from the national organization other than staying true to vision, mission and strategy and remaining within the boundaries of legal, ethical and financial propriety. They should do their own things and do them as well as anybody else, including the national organization. Forget about the parent-child relationship. Think of it as cousins instead…

Associations need to dump the traditional model of “chapter development” in favor of a fundamentally new way of bringing people together at the local and regional levels. I’m sure the naysayers out there will point out everything they think is wrong with what I’ve suggested. Good. I look forward to that debate!

Tags: Strategy, Membership, Innovation, Leadership, We've Always Done It That Way //