Guest Author: Mark Athitakis, ASAE
Sometimes you can fix a broken relationship with a “rogue” chapter, but other times you have to let it go. Here’s how one association managed the transition–and eventually brought the group back into the fold.
In 2007, Liana Watson was managing a state chapter of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists that didn’t support one of ASRT’s legislative initiatives. That was fine; it happens. What wasn’t fine was that the chapter was being publicly vocal about its disagreement.
“We didn’t say, ‘You have to agree with us,’” says Watson, ASRT’s associate executive director of operations and governance. “We said, ‘If you disagree with us, we’re going to ask that you don’t promote that you are disagreeing with us.’” The chapter didn’t comply.
What to do? It can be tempting to speedily sever the relationship with a “rogue” chapter. But ASRT pursued a more patient approach to avoid exacerbating matters. It sanctioned the chapter by systematically removing the benefits it received. Free approval of continuing education credits—gone. Financial incentives—gone. A seat on ASRT’s house of delegates—gone. After two years under this probationary status with no change in course, the chapter became inactive.
