On August 14, 2013, NAIPC held a conference call for prospective new chapter leaders across the country. Attendees included senior service providers from Monterey, CA; Seattle, WA; Pittsburgh, PA; Miami, FL; and North Florida/Central Georgia.
MaryLea Quinn, co-founder and chair of the Atlanta Chapter, provided insights into the process of forming a chapter, methods for maintaining and growing chapter membership, and best practices to ensure the success of a chapter.
Forming a new chapter is no easy task. It requires dedication, patience, and, of course, time. MaryLea’s experience forming the Atlanta Chapter in 2009 was no exception. But her hard work and dedication is evident…the Atlanta Chapter is one of the largest chapters of NAIPC and one of the most active.
Advice that MaryLea gave prospective chapter leaders included:
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Focusing on NAIPC’s not-for-profit status and the mission-driven approach.
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Researching rigorously to recruit the strongest senior service providers in the region to form a solid core for the chapter.
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Developing an educational program at the local level for senior outreach events.
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Reaching out to local libraries and/or organizations to find meeting space.
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Dedicating time to planning quality monthly meetings for members.
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Creating an agenda before meetings and sticking to the agenda.
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Allowing time during meetings for networking.
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Arranging for educational speakers to give presentations at meetings, which provides an added value for members. Speakers can be key stakeholders in aging, including representatives from government agencies, other non-profits, and experts from universities.
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Forming and maintaining chapter committees that members can get involved with, even without committing to a leadership role.
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Holding continuing education events for members. The Atlanta Chapter holds two of these events each year.
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