The author reads her weekly message from the Rogue Tulips Consulting newsletter "Rogue Speak."

This week's message: Chapter Structures Continue to Frustrate Associations – So Let them Go

I am a Component Relations Professional (CRP) at heart having served as one earlier in my career for over 15 years at several organizations. Working with the local groups and members was a rewarding and sometimes challenging experience. I learned a lot and I believe it helped the organizations where I worked thrive.

We’ve all heard of déjà vu, that feeling of “haven’t I been here before? Heard that before? Done this before?” When it comes to the conversations people have with each other, we tend to talk about the same things over and over. I was reminded of this yesterday when I participated in a networking group discussion that turned to the “world of telework.”

This year, there is a lot of talk in the association community about modernizing the chapter system. It comes from a lot of areas: outdated ways of delivering services locally, governance systems that no longer serve the members, and draconian requirements to maintain chapter or affiliate status that create unpaid staff positions for volunteers.