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Countdown for Associations: Top 5 Reasons to Create Chapter Groups in Your Online Community

Posted by: Walter Roark on May 7, 2009 at 9:01PM AFT

5. Make the Most of Chapter Activities in Dedicated Groups
Fire up grassroots enthusiasm by setting up individual chapters in

your social networking community. Local chapters can gather offline, then network online to continue the conversation, follow up on issues and plan ahead to the next local event. Cause-driven or goal-driven chapters who are nationally-directed can conduct business online, communicate important benchmarks and update group members about chapter-related news. Documents such as presentations and meeting minutes can spur collaboration and consensus.

4. Online Chapter Blogs: an Around-the-Clock Educational Platform
Your association staff can communicate directly with chapter constituents in a group blog where a meaningful dialogue can transpire. Keep chapter leaders and the rank & file fully informed about local successes and inter-chapter collaborations. Form study groups that will appeal to local members and boost their learning curve regarding educational opportunities and major association causes.

3. In a Socially-Enabled Community, Chapters Can Link Social Events to Groups and Vice Versa

Active chapter groups can promote offline, mission-related events

in the online community. Date & time, mapped location, calendar posting, additional web-related information and a list of attendees can be integrated for viewing by other members. Popular chapter-sponsored, local happenings get the full spotlight. Whether it’s a cook-off, auction, golf tournament or garage sale, chapters can reach out effectively to potential attendees.

2. Communicate High-Level Association Policies to Local Chapters Quickly and Conveniently in the Community Setting
Critical articles of policy need to be updated periodically, and a social networking community is the ideal destination to disseminate policy matters. CMS blog announcements will help community administrators communicate details regularly to regional, state and local chapters. Open commenting should provide a productive, interactive discussion related to major policy shifts or initiatives.

1. Reach out to Local Communities from the Association’s Online Community to Boost Recruitment
A socially-infused, integrated social community can quickly become

an association’s most formidable recruiting tool. Individuals interested in joining a chapter near their geographical location can connect with local officers instead of having to apply to administrators in the national headquarters. Local chapter heads can offer persuasive online incentives to retain existing members and attract new recruits. For any association, emerging or well-established, a fully integrated social networking community is at the core of membership retention.

Please feel free to comment on our blog topic about online social networking, local chapters and associations.

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