[Lopsa-regional-project] [LOPSA-Board] Q: What should go in a LOPSA Chapter Kit?

[Ken Robinson]

Being part of another professional organization, for a chapter to really 
succeed, you, of course, need to have membership.  But, you also need to 
develop partnerships (not necessarily sponsorships) with businesses with 
local presences.

For example, company representatives are brought in for presentations 
(not just presentations by members).  However, they are given 
guidelines.  Those presentations may not focus on their products, though 
they may devote part of the presentation to their products (have to 
throw them a bone).  The presentation is to address issues that are 
faced, methodologies of approach, and varieties of solutions to the 
problem.  It is to be geared toward the needs of the group.  If it turns 
into a sales presentation, the company is not invited back to any of the 
chapters.

This type of partnership increases awareness of the organization (in our 
case, LOPSA), and in turn, increases the potential for additional 
membership.

But, to address what is needed to help the starting of a chapter, you 
need two packets.  One packet is geared to prospective members.  The 
other is geared toward companies, with partnership and sponsorship 
opportunities and benefits, as well the benefits to them if they had 
admins that were part of LOPSA.

I have petitioned to start a chapter in Indianapolis, and there is a 
large base of admins in this area.  But, I have only found one 
professional IT organization in this area, and most IT folks here do not 
know how large the IT presence really is in town.   IT networking is a 
large issue here, and is most likely an issue elsewhere.  I really 
believe that within 1-2 years, we can have a significantly sized local 
membership, once we get started.

-Ken

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Kenneth C. Robinson

Member: Information Systems Security Association (ISSA)
Member: League of Professional System Administrators (LOPSA)

LinkedIn Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethcrobinson

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Shawn Badger wrote:
> Personally, I was introduced to LOPSA at a local LUG meeting by a 
> LOPSA member that was in town and was kind enough to do a presentation 
> at the same time I found out about the local LOPSA group as well. So 
> for me at least it would be good for the local groups to be informed 
> on how to attend local user group meetings to tell people about us. 
> Also, I know Hans is pushing the LOPSA members here to give 
> presentations at the groups as well. I think that is a great way to 
> promote the organization.
> It would be nice if there is was a list of members that are available 
> to do presentations at the user groups. Something else that would be 
> kind of cool is to publish a list of the local groups leaders and 
> encourage members that are traveling and willing to presentations to 
> let that person know when they are available for presentations. The 
> local leader could then see if there was an appropriate user group 
> meeting going on during that time and see about getting this person in 
> to do a "LOPSA sponsored presentation".
>
>
>
>
> On Wed, Mar 5, 2008 at 1:35 AM, David Parter <dparter at cs.wisc.edu 
> <mailto:dparter at cs.wisc.edu>> wrote:
>
>     > What material and information does a new chapter need? What's most
>     > important? It may be as simple as a page of dos and don'ts, a
>     FAQ, and a
>     > big pile of stickers - I don't know. That's why I'm asking.
>
>     in no particular order:
>
>     * a FAQ is a good idea
>
>     * a local group advice page (like a FAQ but not quite the same)
>
>     * a checklist of resources available
>
>     * ready access to all the various electronic resources: logos, slide
>      templates, etc
>
>     * ready access to the relevant LOPSA policies, information on
>     insurance
>      coverage, etc (possibly links in the FAQ)
>
>     * a couple of scenarios for different ways to organize and structure a
>      local group
>
>     * online resources: mailing lists, email aliases for organizers, a web
>      site
>
>     * a mailing list for all the other group organizers, to exchange
>     ideas,
>      news, updates, etc.
>
>     * an archive of all the local groups past event topics (with or
>     without the
>      slides and other materials) for inspiration
>
>     * an easy way to get mailings to people in the lopsa database
>     within the
>      geographic area (in accordance with our privacy policy, we can't
>      release the addresses, but we can send the mail to those who have not
>      opted out)
>
>     * information on possible speakers
>
>     * information on what material and support is available from the
>      office/board
>
>     * T-shirts and other LOPSA stuff for door prizes
>
>     * the "postcard" about why join lopsa
>
>     * a LOPSA FAQ to help explain LOPSA to potential members, attendees,
>      sponsors, etc
>
>     * information about what kind of help is available for "other"
>     events in
>      the area -- like if there is a conference or other event were the
>      LOPSA local group could have a booth, what can we provide to help
>     with
>      that
>
>     * starter cash if needed
>
>     * a mentor (or perhaps just the other organizers) willing to help
>      especially with planning the kick-off and first 3 months
>
>      --david
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