WHY CHAPTER SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL
CEOs have a tendency to measure chapter support in terms of the following:
- Expense of providing chapters with adequate number of staff
- Related expense of maintaining chapter liaisons and staff
- Time & travel expenses of officers and senior staff visiting chapters
- Costs of face-to-face summits and related training
SERVICES & SUPPORT
Generally, associations do not report the costs of servicing and supporting chapters. In cases where the driving force for planning and implementing successful changes in chapter structure can’t be seen first-hand, time spent on cost reporting can be unnecessary. In short, it’s a wasted effort.
It’s rare to find discussions surrounding opportunity cost in environments like these, too. Many associations are undergoing huge innovation right now, from changing their name and membership scope to merging with other associations in similar fields. Others might be piloting single, effective joint national-chapter strategies or new training initiatives that bring everyone together in a new, streamlined way.
CHANGE LEADS TO OPPORTUNITY
In many cases, change breeds further change. And that presents a golden opportunity.
RELATIONSHIPS: It’s time to start leveraging a greater return on the time associations spend maintaining relationships with their chapters.
REVENUE: It’s time to start generating more revenue, by leveraging the advantages chapters bring to the table.
MISSION: It’s time to increase the degree to which associations and their chapters fulfill their joint mission.