Chapter development and maintenance
Once the student chapter is formed, the next order of business is to consider how the organization will grow and prosper. Who will make up the membership of the organization? What type of officers should it elect? What type of activities should it develop and sponsor for its members?
The first order of business is to attract and retain members, getting them involved, motivated and functioning as a group. The last step is to set goals for the chapter. This should be done at the beginning of each school year, and set by the executive committee with full cooperation of the membership.
Recruiting and retaining members
Organizations wither and die because of ineffective recruitment. You need new members to bring in new ideas and to carry on the traditions of your group. Below are some thoughts on what people look for when deciding to join a group and what kind of people groups look for.
Reasons people join groups:
- Acceptance
- Friendships
- Responsibility and authority
- Personal interests
- Vocational interests
- Social gathering
- Skill development
- Recognition
- Prestige
What groups look for in members:
- Enthusiasm
- Skill and abilities
- Capacity for development
- Desire to work within a group
- Motivation
- Ability to get things done
- Interest in group goals and mission
In approaching individuals to get involved in your student chapter, you need to share core information about your group, and most importantly, stress the benefits and opportunities a member would receive from their involvement.
Basic information about your student chapter to share:
- Structure
- How the student chapter works
- Who is involved
- Goals
- Criteria for selection
- Expectations of membership
- Job descriptions (officers, committees)
- Responsibilities
- Programs and activities
- Meeting schedule
Once you have a good group of members, you don’t want to lose them. A student chapter should only lose members to graduation. Even then, they should become strong and supportive alumni members.
Here are some things your student chapter must do to retain its members:
- Successfully fulfill at least one of the needs a person had in joining.
- Be consistent and directed, providing for periodic evaluation of structure, goals and procedures.
- Provide procedures for change.
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