How to Form a Chapter

The purpose of forming an IEA Chapter is to:

  • Build an energetic and growing Enneagram community in your area.
  • Introduce the Enneagram to a larger number of people.
  • Create awareness and visibility of the Enneagram in your community.
  • Provide high quality, affordable Enneagram events and learning opportunities in your community.
  • Support and feature local Enneagram professionals.
  • Bring international Enneagram experts to your community.
  • Provide personal growth and lifelong learning opportunities for yourself and others.
  • Provide a forum for different Enneagram schools of thought.

Starting an IEA Chapter: The Nuts and Bolts
 
In our experience, it’s important to have one or more “champions” take the lead in organizing a Chapter. These people carry the enthusiasm, focus, and attention necessary for Chapter development and they are instrumental in drawing in other Chapter participants. Initially champions often take on key leadership positions for the Chapter, such as Chapter Presidents or Chair of the Chapter’s Program Committee.

1. The first step in forming an IEA Chapter is to locate enough people to form an active, committed, and engaged Board of Directors.

  • Generally, it’s good to recruit 5-10 people to assure that no one has to do too much of the work. However, some Chapters have been started with fewer initial Board members. Some people recruit interested Board members by circulating an “interest sign up sheet” at a local Enneagram event or training. Others approach people they already know. (Note: The draft IEA Chapter By-Laws say that Chapter Boards should have from 7 – 15 Board members. You can modify that section of the By-Laws to suit your Chapter’s needs.)
  • Try to find people who embody the following skills, qualities and capabilities:

    ·          Commitment to the Enneagram and openness to learning from all schools of Enneagram teaching.

    ·          The ability to organize people and tasks.

    ·          People who are committed to working as a team.

    ·          People who have time and energy to commit to board meetings and other organizational work.

    ·          Someone who can create and manage a basic data base.

    ·          Someone familiar with basic accounting skills or, at a minimum, someone who can balance a checkbook and keep track of income and expenses.

    ·          One or more people with good writing skills.  

2. Call an initial Board meeting to do the following:

  • Review “The Purpose of IEA Chapters” on the IEA website.
  • Talk about the need that your Chapter can address in your local Enneagram community.
  • Decide on your Chapter’s mission, and perhaps discuss your vision and goals.
  • Decide how your Chapter will function. For example:

                                                              i.       How often will the Board meet?

                                                             ii.       What kind of activities will the Board sponsor?

                                                           iii.       What committees, if any, are needed to complete the work? (eg. programming, marketing, membership)

                                                          iv.       Will your Chapter have Associate members? [See IEA policy on Associate members]

                                                            v.       How will Board officers be selected and who will they be? (You will probably need a Chairperson or President, a Treasurer, a Secretary and possibly a Program and/or Membership Chairperson.  Officers should be selected as soon as possible so that roles and responsibilities are clear.)

                                                          vi.       Decide (or begin to investigate) whether you want to incorporate your Chapter as a non-profit organization within your state. (This is not required but it’s sometimes useful in order to take advantage of non-profit discounts such as reduced checking account rates from local banks.)

                                                         vii.       Discuss how you will begin to build and maintain a mailing list/data base to let people know about your Chapter and events that you sponsor.

                                                       viii.       Possibly begin to plan a first event to attract Chapter members.

 

  1. Complete IEA Chapter Bylaws for your Chapter and submit them to the IEA office for review and approval. (Draft by-laws are available from the IEA office or the IEA Board liaison to Chapters.)

  1. Sign and submit the IEA-Chapter Agreement to the IEA office.   (Available from the IEA office or the IEA Board liaison to Chapters.)

  1. Congratulations, you’re now an official IEA Chapter!!

A key reminder: Put quality programming in the forefront, and your membership will grow.

For more information about IEA Chapter formation, please contact Curt Micka the IEA board liaison to Chapters.

And check out resources for more information about Chapter Formation and Growing Your Chapter.