How to Train, Support & Inspire Chapter Leaders in One Place
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Chapter leaders are incredibly dedicated volunteers, but they’re not association management experts. They can be easily overwhelmed by your association’s expectations and the responsibilities of leadership. Ensure your chapter leaders have the knowledge and resources they need to succeed by inviting them to a chapter leadership conference. Join us as we walk through how to train, support and inspire your volunteers all in one place.
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How to Train, Support & Inspire Chapter Leaders in One Place
- 1. How to Train, Support & Inspire Chapter Leaders in One Place
- 2. About The Presenters Billhighway Got Chapters? We’ve got solutions. Peggy Hoffman Co-Founder & President Mariner Management & Marketing LLC
- 3. Question Poll Do you currently run a Chapter Leadership Conference?
- 4. Benefits & Obstacles to Overcome Benefits to a chapter leadership conference How to remove obstacles/encourage participation Building Your Conference Agenda How to design an experience Where to find your speakers & facilitators Where National Gets Involved Define National’s involvement Create chapter champions Turning Ideas Into Action Help chapter leaders turn ideas into action Continue the learning & networking experience 01 02 03 04 Our Agenda
- 5. 01 Investment in the Future When you dedicate time & money to training chapter leaders, you set them and their chapters up for success Benefits to Hosting a Chapter Leadership Conference 02 Build Relationships & Community Volunteer leaders can stay in touch, share advice, and support each other after the conference 03 Strengthen National & Chapters Your National staff and volunteer leaders can develop and deepen the relationship with chapters 04 ‘Scout’ Out Future Leaders Treat your conference as a training camp – find leadership recruits who could move to National 05 Listen & Identify Support Listen to chapter leaders, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and identify ways to support them
- 6. Remove Obstacles & Encourage Participation Here are a few of the most common obstacles and how to remove them in order to encourage conference participation: Money: Offer subsidies, scholarships and/or sponsorships to remove $$ from equation Ability to Get Time Off: Add continuing education credit (CAE credit) as promotion Permission to Attend: Share a letter that builds your case to management (reasons to attend/ROI)
- 7. Rating Poll How many stars would you give your Chapter Leadership Conference?
- 8. Session content should align with chapter and national critical pain points Don’t assume you’ve identified every topic Create a conference advisory board made up of former and existing chapter leaders Plan for different levels of learners for your new chapter leaders and veterans Don’t spend valuable conference time on passive, informational sessions Keep these goals in mind when planning and designing the educational program: How to Design an Experience Where do you get your energy from? CRP Playlist Puzzles Brain Games Hiking Yoga Trivia
- 9. Where to Find Your Speakers & Facilitators Find the best people to teach, facilitate and/or participate on panels. Former & Current Chapter Leaders Leaders from other associations Subject matter experts (SMEs) Industry partners, vendors or consultants
- 10. Question Poll How much do you involve your chapter leaders in the planning of the conference?
- 11. Define National’s Involvement Build relationships with leaders Identify and invite National staff who would benefit from developing closer relationships with chapter leaders and vice versa. Provide ‘expert’ advice Ask National staff and industry partners to participate in ‘talk to an expert’ session. Chapter leaders can get help with their challenges. Move initiatives forward If new programs and/or initiatives need chapter buy-in, invite National staff and industry partners who are leading those efforts to answer questions.
- 12. How outside changes are affecting national & chapters What scares them about these changes How chapter leaders feel about these changes Hold a town hall conversation where national and chapter leaders can discuss: Create Chapter Champions Where they see opportunities if they adapt changes What could happen if they don’t adapt
- 13. Rating Poll How would you rate your conference based on its ability to help chapter leaders implement new ideas?
- 14. Interactive Activities Include interactive activities into each session design – session plans should include: • Idea-sharing • Problem-solving • Other peer-to-peer exercises • Walk & talks • The Hive • Outdoor activities Help Chapter Leaders Turn Ideas Into Actions: Part 1 01 Discuss Metrics When programs, products, and projects are on the agenda, discuss metrics: • Chapter leader need to know what’s expected of them • How their chapter’s performing • How their chapter’s program, products, and projects are performing • Whether new (or old) initiatives are worth their limited time and money 02
- 15. Actionable Takeaways Break down session takeaways into simple, actionable steps: • Prepare worksheets that break down projects into ‘next steps’ • Provide timelines to help them stay on schedule • Help them find accountability partners (chapters with similar size, structure, challenges, or goals) • Show them where to find additional resources Help Chapter Leaders Turn Ideas Into Actions: Part 2 03
- 16. Continue the Learning & Networking Experience Post recordings of educational sessions in resource center 01 02 03 04 05 Ask attendees to share their takeaways & action plan in online community Keep listening & check-in with leaders both individually and in groups Ask leaders how they’re applying new knowledge and handling challenges Continue to help leaders connect with each other after the conference
- 17. Remember, a chapter leadership conference gives you the opportunity to… support volunteer leaders inspire a shared sense of purpose and strengthen your mission.
- 18. Remove Obstacles Remove obstacles for chapter leaders – take money out of the equation to increase attendance Key Takeaways 01 Design an Experience Identify learner outcomes and keep those goals in mind when planning the conference agenda 02 Get National Involved Involve National (and industry partners) to participate, listen and help support chapters 03 Continue Learning Make your session plans actionable and continue to support chapters after the conference 04
- 19. Questions?
- 20. Save the Date! October 26, 2018
Editor's Notes
- Chapter leaders are incredibly dedicated volunteers, but they’re not association management experts. They can be easily overwhelmed by your association’s expectations and the responsibilities of leadership. Ensure your chapter leaders have the knowledge and resources they need to succeed by inviting them to a chapter leadership conference. Join us as we walk through how to train, support and inspire your volunteers all in one place.
- Got chapters? We’ve got solutions. Billhighway unifies finances and data for organizations with components. We solve inherent operational, data and financial complexities that impact component-based associations. LEARN MORE Mariner Management & Marketing is your partner in helping association volunteers and staff create the greatest possible value for your members and in ensuring the long term health and growth of your association. LEARN MORE
- Is your Chapter Leadership Conference Annual event Annual events (smaller sessions held regionally) Biennial (or less often) Non-existent (but we’d like to have one!)
- Investment in the future of your chapters: When you dedicate time and money to training chapter leaders, you set them and their chapters up for success – and they know it Opportunity to build relationships/community: Volunteer leaders can stay in touch, share advice, and support each other after the conference Strengthen relationship between national and chapters: Your national staff and volunteer leaders can develop and deepen the relationship with chapters A place to scout out future leaders: Treat your conference as a training camp – find leadership recruits who could move from the chapters to national Listen and identify ways to support chapters: Listen to chapter leaders, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and identify ways to support their goals
- Chapter leaders often have obstacles that limit their attendance at conferences. Here are a few of the most common obstacles and how to remove them in order to encourage participation: Money: Offer subsidies, scholarships and/or sponsorships Full subsidy – National covers conference, travel and hotel expenses Partial subsidy – National covers conference and hotel expenses. Chapters pay for travel Matching funds – National matches what the chapter allocates Scholarships: National provides full or partial scholarships based on ability to pay/other criteria Sponsorships: Affiliate/associate members pay expenses for one or more chapter leaders Ability to Get Time Off: Add continuing education credit Permission to Attend: Share a letter that builds your case to management (reasons to attend/ROI)
- How many stars would you give your Chapter Leadership Conference? Stars ….
- Identify learner outcomes: What do chapter leaders need to know how to do when they get back to work? Keep these goals in mind when planning the educational program. Session content should align with chapter and national critical pain points Don’t assume you’ve identified every topic A conference advisory board made up of former and existing chapter leaders can help you understand what chapter leaders need to succeed Plan for two educational tracks: one for new chapter leaders, one for veteran chapter leaders Don’t spend valuable conference time on passive, informational sessions
- After identifying session topics, it’s time to find the best people to teach, facilitate and/or participate on panels. Search for the following experts: Former and current chapter leaders Leaders from other associations (who have addressed similar challenges) Subject matter experts (SMEs) Industry partners, vendors and/or consultants
- How much do you involve your chapter leaders in the planning of the conference? They run the “show” We tap a conference planning group for input We use last year’s survey for input None really, we set the agenda I don’t know
- Identify and invite National staff who would benefit from developing closer relationships with chapter leader and vice versa Ask National staff and industry partners to participate in “talk to an expert” session – chapter leaders can get help with legislative, regulatory, legal, financial, technology, membership, event planning, marketing, and communication issues If new programs/initiatives need chapter buy-in, invite National staff and industry partners who are leading those efforts
- If you have to rely on email to convince chapter leaders to get behind a new initiative or get on board with a big change, the chances of them immediately rallying around your idea are pretty slim. But if you talk with them face-to-face at the conference about a new idea or process, the odds start rising in your favor. When pitching new ideas to chapter leaders, make sure you acknowledge the natural fear of change. Before making your pitch, discuss the changing conditions faced by all associations and chapters. This disruption and change will create winners and losers. Some associations won’t make it and some chapters won’t make it. Although change can be uncomfortable, it’s a necessary part of your association’s and chapters’ evolution.
- How would you rate your conference based on its ability to help chapter leaders implement new ideas? Stars ….
- Break down session takeaways into simply, actionable steps Prepare worksheets that break down projects into ‘next steps’ Provide timelines to help them stay on schedule Help them find accountability partners – chapters with similar size, structure, challenge, and/or goals Show them where to find additional resources We did this at our Association Component Exchange (CEX) event – participants worked in groups, discussed ideas with people and overcame obstacles.
- Make sure to start the learning before the event too. You can use these strategies pre-conference.
- Learn how to structure your chapter leadership conference as a place to train, support and inspire your volunteers.
- Look for registration email coming later in February
- http://www.billhighway.co/associations/events