1. Picking Up the Pieces: Rebuilding Chapters One Brick at a Time
Terese Urban Chair – Virginia Hands & Voices
September 2017 Hands & Voices Leadership Conference

2. A Little About Me My name is Terese Urban, but people call me Teri.
I’m originally from Michigan, but I’ve lived in several states.
My husband’s name is Mike and together we have 3 kids. Veda, my oldest, is deaf.

3. I’m Just a Mom!

4. Why Are You Here? Looking for new ideas New and Confused
Experienced and Frustrated

5. Session Objectives:
Assess the current status of your own chapter and identify key problems
Identify important/difficult decisions that need to be made and discuss ideas on how to address them
Return to your state chapter with an action plan designed towards improving the health and long term success of your chapter

6. Describe Your Chapter in 2 Words
Examples:
New and confused
Struggling and alone
Tired but trying
Reborn and excited
Stuck and lost
Simple and working
At wits end
On track and moving ahead

7. Identifying Key Challenges

8. Top 10 Things I’ve Learned from Restarting a Chapter

9. Lesson #1 Find a Partner in Crime Valerie Abbott
Mother of a hard-of-hearing middle schooler
I call her ‘Taz.’ (Tazmanian Devil)

10. Lesson #2
Identify the Real Challenges

11. Lesson #3
Make a list of challenges and prioritize what needs to be addressed first, second, etc. to be successful

12. Lesson #4
Strategically Build or Rebuild Your Army

13. Lesson #5
Cultivate the Relationship with Your EHDI Coordinator and Other Important Organizations

14. Lesson #6
Build Your Brand Message

15. Lesson #7 Invest in Quality Marketing Materials Brochures
Business Cards
Web site
Letters enclosed with The Communicator
Exhibitor Table
Expo in a Box

16. Lesson #8
Build your Programs and Activities around What Families and Professionals Need

17. Lesson #9
Network, Network, Network!!!

18. Lesson #10
Communicate and Communicate Often - using every tool you have
Web site
Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
Letters to Members

19. Returning to Your Key Challenges
Name 1 key challenge your chapter is facing today.
What important or difficult decision do you have to make to address the challenge?
What idea(s) do you have on how to overcome that challenge?
What help do you need from people here today?

20. Action Plan
Identify 1-3 challenges you want to overcome in your chapter.
Identify 1-2 people in your state that you will contact within 1 week to ask for help.
Identify 1-2 people at this conference that you will contact within 1 week to ask for help.

21. If you remember only one thing…