Community/Small Chapter Best Practices

Why Suddenly a Subject of Interest? More chapters who were corporate chapters have become community chapters because of changes in contractors, changes in top management More chapters who were corporate chapters have become community chapters because of changes in contractors, changes in top management Small businesses need to be as knowledgeable as the big guys they may be competing with Small businesses need to be as knowledgeable as the big guys they may be competing with The federal government is looking to small businesses to provide services and materials The federal government is looking to small businesses to provide services and materials

Comparisons between Small and Community Chapters Community Community Generally not sponsored by a business Generally not sponsored by a business Smaller membership Smaller membership Membership is made up of many businesses Membership is made up of many businesses Meet at public locations Meet at public locations Usually meet during the evenings Usually meet during the evenings Usually purchase web site Usually purchase web site Small Small May be sponsored by a business Smaller membeship May be a city government or small business May meet during business hrs Web site may be sponsored by business

Pros and Cons of Small/ Community vs Corporate Chapters Pros Pros Not tied to business – can gather members from anywhere Not tied to business – can gather members from anywhere Can meet anywhere – such as restaurants Can meet anywhere – such as restaurants True networking True networking Dont have to do everything – focus on one or two things you do well or want to do well Dont have to do everything – focus on one or two things you do well or want to do well Cons Cons No corporate sponsorship to help with funding No senior management to count on No set place to meet and store materials No set field of members Cant take dues from paychecks Fewer members to hold offices and chairs

What is Your Goal? Training for your members Training for your members Providing training for others Providing training for others Community service Community service Speech Contest Speech Contest Large membership to do many things Large membership to do many things

How Do You Decide What to Do With So Few People? You may want to combine officers and chairs You may want to combine officers and chairs Secretary/Treasurer Secretary/Treasurer VP/Membership Chair VP/Membership Chair Community Service Community Service Chair/Publicity Chair/Publicity Use National to provide training through live-meeting Use National to provide training through live-meeting Sell business membership to allow for less expensive training materials for their business Sell business membership to allow for less expensive training materials for their business Meet with other Associations – Project Management, Administrative Professionals, Professional Engineering Groups Meet with other Associations – Project Management, Administrative Professionals, Professional Engineering Groups

How can NMA Help? On-Line Training On-Line Training NOW – NMA Outreach Webservice NOW – NMA Outreach Webservice LDCs and National Conferences LDCs and National Conferences Staff, National Officers, and National Directors Staff, National Officers, and National Directors Quick Tools Quick Tools Councils – way to participate in more Councils – way to participate in more Breaktime Webmag Breaktime Webmag LEADS LEADS Best Practices index and message board Best Practices index and message board

Quick Tools Leadership QuickTools Available QT1Run a Successful Speech Contest QT2Provide Cost-Effective Professional Development Courses QT3Produce an Award-Winning Newsletter QT4Set up an Affordable Website QT5Conduct an Affordable Scholarship Competition QT6Plan and Submit Effective R1 Reports QT7Run Your Own Awards Program QT8Submit Winning NMA Awards Nominations QT9Run Successful Membership Drives QT10Support Key Community Services Programs QT11Involve/Support Your Company Executives QT12Prepare an Annual Budget QT13Participate in Leadership Development and National Conferences QT14Run a Successful Chapter QT15Run a Successful Council QT16Management Week in America QT17Run a Successful General Membership Meeting QT18Get the Most from Your NMA Membership QT19How to start an NMA Sponsored CM Program QT20 Hierarchy of NMA... THE Leadership Development Organization QT21 How to be an Award Winning Community Services Chapter QT22 How to be a Professional Development (PD) Award Winning Chapter

What One Chapter Did Bring in a facilitator Bring in a facilitator List three things that every member wants from the chapter List three things that every member wants from the chapter Multi-vote to trim down to no more than 6 items Multi-vote to trim down to no more than 6 items Every member gets 1 vote for the item that means the most to them Every member gets 1 vote for the item that means the most to them Take the top 2-3 items and have someone volunteer to lead a team in discussion about one of the topics – do this for each of the 2-3 items chosen Take the top 2-3 items and have someone volunteer to lead a team in discussion about one of the topics – do this for each of the 2-3 items chosen List what the target audience is, what the benefits would be to them, what chapter resources will be required, what the benefits are to the chapter List what the target audience is, what the benefits would be to them, what chapter resources will be required, what the benefits are to the chapter

What One Chapter Did (cont.) Present the results and decide how to move forward – accept the items, change the items, delete the items Present the results and decide how to move forward – accept the items, change the items, delete the items Form teams and go forward with the focus of the chapter Form teams and go forward with the focus of the chapter If membership grows, meet again to choose focus areas or take some of the other items from the larger lists If membership grows, meet again to choose focus areas or take some of the other items from the larger lists Think of this as a 2-year strategic plan – take time to do it right, plan to spend some money, dont give up! Think of this as a 2-year strategic plan – take time to do it right, plan to spend some money, dont give up!

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