A while back I had emailed Mr. Cameron Sinclair at Architecture for Humanity regarding starting a Cleveland chapter if one happens to not be in existence. I had just recently received an email from Mr. Sinclair about how to start up a Cleveland chapter.Imagine my glee! GLEE!
So, in the brief span of a couple of minutes I had set up a Google Group with the hopes of collecting interested parties that would like to collect in a regular manner to discuss how best to arrange ourselves to best undertake the role of a proper chapter.
As you can tell from first glancing at the Google Group, it isn't set up very well yet. That is because I just started it and will continue to organize and fine tune it. I also would like some input and I expect that somewhere in this fair city someone else has probably already started working along these lines. I don't think it would be conducive to duplicate work.
I am planning to have the first meeting sometime in mid-July. The location is not set and should be easily accessible by all. I am open to suggestions so if any place would like to host the first Cleveland Chapter meeting, feel free to contact me.
Here is a copy (part) of the email I recieved:
Hi all,
As we venture into another busy season I wanted to update you all on how things are going with the new AFH and chapter sites. Both are on hold until we finish the competition tool for the AMD Open Architecture Challenge. In the meantime we’ve changed the AFH site to have a chapter tab and are going to spend a lot more time updating information on each chapter and highlighting chapter projects.
We are also putting together an proper affiliate agreement so we can support chapters in a more fluid manor (and act as fiscal sponsors). For those interested in starting a chapter (see list below) it is actually really, really easy. Meet, Find a project and don’t do anything illegal. For a more in depth version please read below. For those who are already running chapters please give me you feedback as we will be posting a version of this on our site soon.
If you have any questions please let me know. Also check my schedule below if I’m in your town perhaps we can set up a joint event....
Cheers
Cameron
7 things to start a chapter
1. Set a fixed time every month to meet.
It seems obvious but some sort of consistency in people schedules go along way. Back in 2003 when chapters began this was originally called ‘drinking for humanity’. Like-minded people would meet on the first Tuesday night of the month in a bar, club or coffee shop. Everyone would put the cost of their first drink into a jar or kitty and these funds would go towards a project run by the chapter. If you send us the time and location of your events we will post them on the AFH site.
2. Name your group and use the new graphic identity
In order to be a chapter you need to take a name that represents the city, town, region or academic institution. The reason for this is that other people can’t start a chapter if you’ve decided to take a whole state or country. At the moment people in Maui and Honolulu both want to start AFH Hawaii. If one group takes that name then the other seems like they are a sub-set of the other. Additionally the idea of the chapters is to be the local voice and designers of ‘Architecture for Humanity’ - AFH Boston knows far more about building in Boston than we do so if we get invited to do a project there, we direct them to AFHB. Currently the only exception to this rule is AFH UK, however this due to specific tax exemption purposes in England.
We have a new logo system that allows chapters to adapt it to their name and swag is coming on the way. The designer is Michael Di Tullo, who is also the Creative Director of Converse Shoes (wait for the AFH Chuck Taylors to arrive soon). Many people have been confused about why we would like chapters to adopt the logo system. One main reason is to try and have some sort of continuity between groups but the second is due to legal reasons. AFH and any chapter/affiliates cannot have a logo with houses/homes in the mark and emphases the words “for humanity.” as this is in trademark violation for Habitat for Humanity. As long as it is not interfering with the H4H trademark existing chapters can keep their mark but should also include the organizations logo – AFH San Diego is a good example of this. <http://www.afhsd-rebuild.org/>, which presented both their logo ‘Rebuild’ with the AFH one . Attached is the logo in illustrator format which you can use for your chapter.
3. Set expectations and tangible goals.
Every group starts as a small dedicated group of people. Groups fail not because of lack of interest but because they end up taking on a project that is way beyond the scope of what the group can achieve. Remember your members are volunteering their time, they will come and go. Simple starter projects like helping repaint a school, building a small shelter, doing a design charrette for a local non profit, raising awareness of an issues or focusing on a particular client for a sustained period (with bigger projects down the pipeline). It took Kate and I four years to see any of the Architecture for Humanity projects realized. Also if you tell a client that you are going to do a project it is far more of a disappointment to them when you turn around 6 months later and tell them you have neither the manpower or support to help, you’ve dashed what may have been their only source of help. ON the other hand with a strong band of volunteers if you set precise goals with both the client and the chapter then projects really shine and you can be proud of what you’ve all achieved. Note: Even with the most amazing client and/or partners, not all projects work out and you must also remember this. Most commercial firms have a batting average and so will you.
4. Have a designated liaison/chapter head and a strategy for growth
‘Who’s in charge of the XX chapter?’ That is usually the number one question we get in the office. IF we know the answer then we can send more members, more clients and occasionally FUNDERS your way. A good example is AFH NY, I took a call recently from ABC carpet in Manhattan who wanted to donate to a local/city charity and wondered if we were based in NYC. I said that we have local chapters through-out the country and we did indeed have chapter in NYC. I gave them the email of one of their directors, Cynthia Barton, and they connected with her directly. On the other hand AFH Chicago is an example of what happens when a chapter head leaves. Up until last year chicago was one of our largest chapters (80 members), the head of the organization got another job and had to relocate. As no-one was in place to take over her role the chapter stopped. Almost weekly we get emails from folks wanting to join a group in Chicago but yet no-one is up for running it. Therefore it is closed.
5. Communicate via a google or yahoo group and have web presence.
WE have always been a web-based organization. AFH started with a website and an annual budget of $700 (donated by Kate and I). Using the net is extremely efficient way of communicating. In the next year we will have listserves, calendar services and forums for every chapter but in the meantime we recommend you use something like google groups (which is a mix of listserve and forum) or a facebook group and start a blog or webpage. Also inform us of your activities and we can promote it. We should have one liason from every chapter so we an update the AFH site and send out newsletters to potential members.
5a. DO NOT START A MEETUP GROUP
From 2002 – 2004 meetup was a very, very good way for us all to meet, then they started charging member to use it. At the time we had 63 chapters and within 4 months of the new charges chapters dwindled down to 14. Part of the problem is that Meetup also charges you to have the list of people signed up to start a chapter [ there are currently 2600 folks on their, 1/2 are looking to start a chapter]. The second issue is that if you try to close a chapter it automatically emails everyone else and asks them to take over. This means there is no way of closing a chapter and someone is out $10 a month. If all the chapters and potential chapters did this then the Meetup folks are making over $7200 a year just from chapter members. That is funding that could go towards projects. IF you have a meetup group then please set up a new place for members to meet BEFORE closing it.
6. Post all chapter projects on the Open Architecture Network
The best way for us and your other members to know the status of a project is through the Open Architecture Network. As AFH and chapter site will be built within the same eco-system and database of the OAN you will be able to host the projects on your own site and any updates on the OAN will automatically update on the chapter site. Additionally in order to access all the tools above chapter members will be able to use their same login as their OAN membership <http://www.openarchitecturenetw
7. Find interesting and fun ways to fundraise
Surprisingly the best fundraisers we’ve held have been incredibly fun. Boston has their annual 5K run, New York has done art and photography auctions and we’ve had snowboarders, high school bands and DJs all raise money. Please remember though that there are a lot of sharks and busy-bodies out there who will host a party for you and then front you with all the charges which hits us twice. First off you end up raising much much less than anticipated (ie. $20K at the door, but $15K in costs leave you with $5K.) and more importantly if we are you fiscal sponsor we have to bank ALL the charges against our overhead. Meaning the example I’ve created would mean a 75% overhead – most grants will only go to organizations with less than 15% overhead. Currently AFH has one of the lowest in the industry, making us very attractive to donors. We’d like to keep it that way.
Ie. Keep the costs low and the fun high!
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