chapters

1. We have at least 10 potential members committed to building a chapter and growing with it.

2. We have reviewed our market:

a. We have researched our IABC members-at-large in the area and all have been contacted to join us.

b. We know the history of any previous chapter development attempts.

c. We have contacted local organizations and established that there are potential members for continued chapter growth.

d. We have researched the potential members enough to know that there will be a mix of communicators in our chapter (different industries, levels of experience, areas of expertise, multicultural backgrounds, etc.

e. We have identified the existing communication organizations in our area and know what they offer.

f. We do not trespass on the area of an existing IABC chapter per our regional evaluation. (As a last resort, prospective and existing chapters present cases to the IABC executive board for resolution.)

3. We have tentatively identified our leaders:

a. President

b. Executive Vice-President / President-Elect

c. Membership Development / Marketing

d. Professional Development

e. Communication

f. Finance and Administration

4. Our board and interested chapter members are ready to meet with an IABC district/regional or international executive board member to lay our foundations as a Developmental Chapter We will discuss:

a. Orientation to IABC.

b. What members will want and leaders will need to deliver in the next two years as a developmental chapter.

5. We have met with our regional or international executive board member.

6. After being oriented to IABC and assessing our future needs, we have established our leadership:

a. We have agreed upon our job descriptions.

b. We have established our operation year to coincide with IABC and regional boards.

c. Each board member has agreed to serve for one term.

d. The executive vice president/president-elect intends to succeed the president.

e. We each have our employer’s support of our commitment.

f. We have identified our senior delegate.

g. Our senior delegate and/or president will attend at least one regional and one international leadership meeting each year.

h. We have the consensus of our membership.

i. We understand IABC goals and will actively work to support them.

7. We have been approved by the IABC executive board as a developmental chapter.

1. We have named our chapter (IABC is in the name).

2. We have discussed our dues amount with our regional director and IABC headquarters and researched comparable existing IABC chapters. We have established our chapter dues:

* Please consult the IABC International office before establishing dues amounts.

3. All those affiliated with the chapter are paying the total dues amount.

4. We have established our membership and dues roster.

5. We have sent the roster and dues amount to IABC headquarters (IABC will invoice members), registering us as a developmental chapter.

6. We have sent the board members’ names, titles and addresses to our regional director and IABC headquarters.

7. We have sought out resources that will help us lead our chapter:

a. IABC Standard Operating Procedures

b. IABC Board Orientation Program

c. IABC Blueprints: case studies from award-winning chapters

d. IABC membership operating package and recruiting materials

e. IABC Financial Management Guide

f. IABC bylaws and policy manual

g. Regional bylaws and policy manual

h. Other assistance from regional officers and the IABC executive board and headquarters staff

8. We have announced our first chapter meeting.

9. We have established our meeting dates and strategies for future meetings.

1. We have our written marketing plan outline (use the guidelines at the bottom of this page to develop your plan):

a. Statement of purpose for the chapter

b. List of target organizations/audiences for potential new members

c. List of target organizations/audiences for promotion efforts

d. Brief summary of other communication organizations with which we compete for members and/or with which we can form alliances

e. Elements of our communication program

f. Elements of our professional development program

g. Our pricing philosophy:

• Different costs for members and non-members

• Which programs are profit centers? Which break even? Which operate at a loss?

h. Elements of our membership recruiting program

i. A basic budget

2. We have called for assistance and/or shared ideas with our regional officers, board members of nearby chapters, chapters of our size and age, and IABC world headquarters staff.

1. We have established a membership recruiting program that will ensure that we have at least 15 members after two years as a developmental chapter.

2. We are holding chapter meetings and publicizing them.

3. We have identified successors for each board member and have their commitment to serve next year. These include new and returning board members.

4. Our senior delegate and/or president will attend at least one regional and one IABC international leadership meeting this year.

1. We have researched—formally or informally—the needs of our existing and target members.

2. We have planned our chapter meetings/professional development events according to our PD plan and member needs research, have them scheduled several months in advance, and are publicizing them according to our communication plan.

3. We have talked to our regional officers and to IABC headquarters staff about financial management and planning. We have:

a. Projected our income and liabilities.

b. Reviewed our dues amount and adjusted our dues level, if warranted.

c. Developed policies for sponsorships and underwriting.

d. Researched the IABC group IRS tax exemption (U.S. chapters only) and are set up to file after we are chartered.

4. We have an ongoing membership recruiting program that is achieving targeted membership levels.

5. We have created chapter bylaws using IABC model chapter bylaws.

6. We have written job descriptions that are available to our successors.

7. We have invited a regional officer, IABC international executive board member or headquarters staff to join us for our one-year review and planning session.

8. We have held a one-year review session with incoming and outgoing board members, and have set new goals for the coming year.

1. We have established a budgeting process so that our financial picture and balance sheet are part of our ongoing chapter management.

2. We have established a written chapter policy manual.

3. We have held a second-year review with an IABC regional officer or executive board leader and can demonstrate sustained growth of membership, funds and/or services.

4. We have our incoming board members prepared for the next board year.

5. We have at least 15 members.

6. We have signed an IABC Chapter Affiliation Agreement.

7. At least two years after our registration as a developmental chapter, our regional director has the signed Affiliation Agreement, a current roster of our paid members and a resolution proposing the formation of our IABC chapter to present at the next IABC international executive board meeting.

1. The signed affiliation agreement has been accepted by a majority vote of the IABC executive board.

2. IABC/__________________ has been chartered by the IABC executive board.

3. We are now voting members of IABC and our senior delegate will deliver our votes at regional board meetings and international annual general meetings.