Engaging members is often a huge undertaking, especially for organizations led by volunteers whose time isn’t solely devoted to chapter management. Engagement strategies can be a huge undertaking- so much planning and writing to do! To help make this daunting task a little easier, here are some tips to help you keep your members engaged and your chapter top-of-mind to your members and your community.
- Plan out your year. Spend a little time with your chapter leaders at the beginning of your term to determine when meetings and study groups (virtual and in-person) will occur. Keep in mind that meetings do not always need to be formal. Sometimes they can be casual get togethers to build camaraderie amongst members. Putting your year’s events onto a calendar may also help you to see the bigger picture in that you may recognize certain parts of the year are dedicated to certain aspects of the payroll world and recognizing those important dates will help to shape your communications, your meeting topics, etc.
- Utilize other social channels. Do not think you have to write everything from scratch every time. Sometimes you just need to be a conduit of useful information. Follow other like-minded organizations, like APA and your neighboring chapters, governing authorities, and vendors in the payroll field. Then, all you have to do is Share, Repost, or Retweet. Done!
- Find volunteers within your chapter to assist with communications, event planning, or new member on-boarding. Is there a member who is a guru at social media? A member who loves to organize events or one who loves to share their knowledge? Do you know an extrovert who loves talking to everybody? Recognizing and appreciating skills and behaviors in your members will engage them and, in return, your chapter will be engaging to others.
- Hold study groups for the CPP and FPC credentials. Nothing garners appreciation more than adding value to a person’s professional standing and, therefore, increasing the value of their membership. From this one aspect, your chapter gains a good reputation within the local payroll community and amongst recruiters who know quality people belong to your chapter. Plus, it is a potential revenue source- hello! View APA’s Chapter Study Group Guide here.
- Utilize your Regional Advisor- this is what they are here for- to help you and your chapter succeed. Not sure who your advisor is or what region you are in…
Region 1 = Martha Baxter = Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington
Region 2 = Charlotte Hodges, CPP = Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin
Region 3 = Susan Judah, CPP = California
Region 4 = Kristine Willson, CPP = Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas
Region 5 = James Bolek, CPP = Alabama, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Oklahoma
Region 6 = Nicole Orr, CPP = Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina
Region 7 = Kevin Valuet, CPP = District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia
Region 8 = Ansleigh Smith, CPP = Delaware, Indiana, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania
Region 9 = Karen Settembrino, CPP = Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
- Join APA’s CHAMPS- Chapters Helping APA-chapters Make Payroll Shine- a chapter-to-chapter referral and networking service for chapter leaders across the nation. Have a unique issue or can’t find inspiration? Use CHAMPS to find others who have had similar issues and get smart solutions or ideas from other experienced chapter leaders.
And, of course, always available to you is this blog and your Chapter Relations Manager, Jennifer Harrison! Email chapterrelations@americanpayroll.org.
