How to Organize a Strong Local Chapter

This training is part of WORC’s community organizer training series.

2. ASSESS A LOCAL COMMUNITY 

Once a statewide organizing plan is in place, it’s time to assess a local community based on the priorities outlined in your statewide plan. For example, let’s say your organization has identified four counties for potential new organizing drives over the next three years in the following order of priority – Ada, Rosebud, Larimer and Brook. The logical choice is to start with an organizing assessment in Ada County unless, of course, you have the resources to do two or more assessments simultaneously.

During this phase of the organizing process, the lead organizer gathers basic information about the community and begins analyzing the power dynamics within it. The key is to see what can be, not simply what is. At a minimum, the organizer should gather basic information about the following*:

Turf: What are the natural boundaries of the potential organizing area? The community to be organized should be defined by the people who live there. A rural chapter may be countywide or even multi-county, whereas a big city may be able to sustain several neighborhood based chapters.

Demographics: Who lives in the area? Who are the potential constituencies and what are the implications for organizing? How has the population evolved over the years, and is it likely to change in the future?

Key institutions: What are the key institutions – local government bodies, schools, churches, large employers, colleges and universities, etc. – and how do they affect the community?

Community-based organizations and agencies: What community-based organizations – labor unions, senior citizens clubs, neighborhood associations, direct service agencies, etc. – operate in the community? Is there a need for a new grassroots community organization or not?

Powerful actors: Who are the movers and shakers in the public and private sector who wield power and influence? These people can be very public, or behind the scenes.

Existing issues: What issues are already emerging? Have any leaders stepped forward or groups been formed?

Potential issues: What problems exist that produce hardship, injustice, dissatisfaction or anger from which new issues can spring? The best organizers can spot future issues that have yet to bubble up to the surface.

Objective conditions and political trends: This is a broad category that looks at everything from neighborhood trends to the national political climate.

At this phase in the organizing process it may help to form an Organizing Team. An Organizing Team is a small group of senior staff and leaders who assist the lead organizer with problem solving and advice during an organizing assessment and drive. The lead organizer files weekly progress reports with the team. Team members provide advice and agree to spend time on the ground during the assessment and/or drive.

This phase of the organizing process culminates in a report to the organization’s Board of Directors with a recommendation from the lead organizer regarding whether or not to move forward with an organizing drive and the formation of a new chapter.

3. DEVELOP AN ORGANIZING COMMITTEE 

The Organizing Committee (OC) is a temporary committee of 12-15 people who provide the leadership and direction to kick off a new chapter. The OC gives visible legitimization to the organizing effort, actively recruits members, begins to define the first issue(s), and provides initial leadership.

Organizing Committee members must make an informed choice to support the mission and vision of your organization, and also to the extent feasible represent the diversity of people who live in the community. They must also make a commitment to:

• Create a long term, multi-issue chapter, 
• Foster and practice democratic values, 
• Be public about their commitments, 
• Uphold a common set of organizational standards,
• Provide contacts in the community, and 
• Pay membership dues and participate in fundraising.

The best OC members are not glory hogs, or people with strong prejudices or personal agendas, but people who can motivate and inspire others, lead by example, keep their commitments, and who are able to work together with others to take action and change the world for the better (starting with their own community). 

The organizer plays a major role identifying potential OC members through 1-on-1 conversations and then inviting specific individuals to join the committee. The organizer takes a very directive role at this stage of the organizing process.

4. CONDUCT THE ORGANIZING DRIVE 

Once the OC is finalized, the next phase in the organizing process is the organizing drive. The OC directs and coordinates this phase of the process working alongside and with the lead organizer

This phase of the organizing process typically takes 6-8 weeks, and includes as many meetings of the OC as needed to get the work done. During the organizing drive an attempt is made to strike a balance between building the new chapter and addressing issues. The OC and lead organizer continue to conduct 1-on-1s with community members and recruit new members. Organizing Committee meetings are often held in people’s homes, and meeting facilitation is shared so that everyone gets a chance to develop her/his leadership skills. Important decisions made by the OC include:

• Defining the role and responsibilities of the OC members and the organizer, 
• Agreeing on a mission and vision, and writing bylaws, 
• Determining the chapter’s name, 
• Nominating an initial team of leaders, 
• Working out the chapter’s structure (how decisions will be made, frequency of membership meetings, accountability mechanisms, etc.), 
• Clarifying the chapter’s relationship with the statewide organization (including rights and responsibilities), 
• Picking a first issue, developing a winning strategy, and planning a first action or activity, 
• Planning a kick-off event to launch the chapter (where, when, turnout plan, agenda, etc.), and 
• Developing membership recruitment goals and a plan.

The organizing drive culminates in a public kick-off meeting that preferably includes action on the chapter’s first issue and attracts media coverage. As the public kick-off meeting approaches it’s important to set the agenda, assign roles, delegate tasks and intensify your turnout efforts. A dry run of the kick-off meeting is helpful, and includes planning for “what ifs.” The four primary activities that take place at the kick-off meeting include:

1. Ratification of the chapter’s name and affiliation with the statewide organization. 
2. Nomination and election of temporary officers (you want to avoid locking into untested and possibly ineffective leaders for a long time). 
3. Presentation of first issue and action (it’s also helpful to allow open discussion on other issues). 
4. Membership pitch and collection of membership dues.

Kick-off meetings also commonly include a speaker or educational component, and time for socializing and networking.

Don’t underestimate how much time the lead organizer needs to devote to the organizing process for it to go smoothly. The organizing drive phase of the process can easily consume 75% of an organizer’s time, and the organizer’s work load and responsibilities need to be adjusted accordingly.

Following the kick-off meeting the lead organizer and/ or key leaders should visit or contact all those who intended to attend but did not. These follow-up visits should be conducted as soon after the kick-off meeting as possible to keep up the momentum.

Once the kick-off meeting is over, the new chapter moves into its growth and maintenance phase. All chapters experience highs and lows throughout their lives, but through it all the goals should remain the same: maintain a multi-issue focus, plan and execute sound strategies, recruit members and develop leaders, have some fun, and celebrate achievements.

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