Recently in Chapter Hosts Corner Category

I wrote this message only after 6 months of experience in running the IAC HK Chapter. let me gather my mind to answer this question.

I found the support came from people than the system. I found IAC gives quite a free hands to the Chapter host to run their local chapter which I believe they respect our knowledge on local needs and culture. Whenever, I have any questions, I could freely contact with the Chapter Leader, Kerru and exchange views with her.

Moreover, I found the attendants to the HK Chapter indeed have given the most support and power to the Chapter. Some come periodically while the others only drop by for a look and never come back. It is always crucial that being a host, I have to tell myself that the Chapter only attracts people when our goal and purpose are aligned. I do not need to be everyone for everything. This well settle down my ego thoughts.

However, I found there is one thing very helpful and useful to me so far - which is before I kick off the chapter, I clearly define the culture that I would like to see happening in the Chapter. Since I have been members of many other voluntary or paid membership organizations, many people come and thought of being served. From the beginning, I told all the attendants that everyone come here is for "Contributing as their Recipical". Since our simple structure, we do not set up an gentle reminder system for all the upcoming meetings, interested party has to check the Chapter Blog by themselves. We fixed the place and time for meeting without change. I commit to myself that even nobody will come, I still be there. Fortunately, this never happened to me.

Now, some of the regular attendants are spreading the words for the meeting at their own initiative. Of course, there are lots of appreciation to them and their passions motives me. They gave me suggestions on how the running could be better and more effective. We put thoughts together to find next suitable venue at cheaper cost.

Well, if you ask me "How much effort you have to spend for hosting a Chapter?" I would answer you that, "Please ask me how much I benefit and appreciate the blessing of being an IAC local chapter host?" The support comes by itself as we are like-minded people with same purpose and goal in coaching.

I would like to announce a good news that Benny Cheung is approved by IAC headquarter to host the IAC Shenzhen Chapter. Isn't it amazing that only after 3 months of the kick of the IAC HK Chapter, we have our new sister chapter in China.

Well, our next target will be the IAC Guangzhou Chapter. Will you be the president of it?

Please contact Coach Bonnie at bonnie@coachlite.com for any enquiry or write direct to Kerri of IAC.

I am very excited to let you know that since we have kicked off in Oct 2007, 3 new members from Hong Kong and 1 new member from China were increased.

It has been 4 months passed after the kick off of the first IAC HK Chapter meeting in Oct, 2007. Here are some of my sharing on how to run an IAC local chapter:

1. Since we do not have much support in hardware, such as venue, adminstration and etc. the most valuable and the only asset is people. I, therefore, develop a self-initiated and group-serving culture within the Chapter. There is no host for each Chapter meeting. Everybody comes in is part of the meeting to take care the flow of it. Well, I enjoy each meeting with any feeling of burden.
2. I do not build a reminding culture by sending Gentle Reminder monthly. I build a Weblog to post all the information and also post month advertisement on to the HKICC newsletter to attract those who are serious about this coaching meeting.
3. I have chosen a cozy place than a classroom or meeting room to let participants feel at home and relax. Here is a place for personal freedom in learning and exchanging knowledge and views.
4. Do not mind the attendance, even one or two participants are precious for the meeting because although coaching is hit in Hong Kong among the people industry but no for everybody yet. They will come when time goes by.

If you have a vision to expand your coaching network, to crystalize meaningful project(s) with passionate coaches, to assist your society to apply coaching culture, to realize your coaching leadership, please come and join us to host your local chapter.

I would be delighted to assist coaches in below areas to start up their IAC local chapter(s):

Shenzhen, China (set up in 2008)
Guangzhou, China (received enquiry)
Shanghai, China
Beijing, China
Taiwan
Singapore
Tokyo, Japan
Osaka, Japan

Interested parties please email me with English or Chinese (中文) or Japanese(日本語) at bonnie@coachlite.com and check here.

Kerri told me that their Chapter has newly developed 3 committees in interact with the IAC members and the interested public, they are:

• Education Committee
• Certification Committee
• Business Development Committee

I believe when time goes by, our Hong Kong Chapter could also expand to follow their foot print in interacting with our members.

The more I invlove in the Local Chapter preparation, the more I feel the excitement of how impactful of IAC in the coaching profession. My intuition tells me:

• to review on the IAC-CC certified coaches list and/or the IAC members list to segmentise them into cities. Then send sharing emails to tell them what our existing chapters are doing and see their interest in hosting a Chapter.
• to identify the top 10 languages in the world and strategically planning where for another new 10 Chapters...........

I will build my sharing as time goes by:

1. By initiating to host a new Chapter, I got to contact Kerri Laryea (The Chapter Committee Leader in IAC) for details. I was amazed to have chance to communicate with and being guided by a masterful coach who is the ever highest scorer in the IAC Certification for 99%. Isn't it COOL!? Please see Kerri's sharing in her co-authored e-book.

2. As a member of the Hong Kong International Coaching Community (HKICC), I took the initiative to asking for collaboration and cooperation between IAC HK Chapter the HKICC. HKICC suggests to organize a special workshop to let their members to know the first hand information about the first IAC certified Hong Kong coach. It is my honor to sharing with them. I always believe that "Just be bold to ask and the answer will be there."

3. Through the continuous connection with the IAC voluntary officials, I found myself is in paralle pacing with the international coaching update in an effortless manner.

4. Once I decided to establish a local Chapter, the topic itself has already helped me to attract like-mind allies. By the invitation of HKICC management committee and voluntary coordinator Lorraine Lee, the VP membership, I was able to meet with 20 people on Sep 6, 2007 who are interested in knowing more about IAC. I also got voluntary coaches in joint effort with me to fine tune the Chinese translation of the 9 Masteries.

5. The Presence of IAC HK Chapter was listed on the IAC Website.

6. After several months in preparing and kicking off the IAC HK Chapter, today I browsed the internet to see how is the ranking of IAC HK Chapter Blog. I was extremely amazed to find "IAC HK Chapter: xxxxx" are listed on the first page of many searching keywords : including coaching in Hong Kong, executive coaching in HK, CEO coaching in HK, bonnie chan, bonnie chan coaching

1. How could I know I am qualified to be a local Chapter host or not?

According to March issue of VOICE, IAC has stated that the purpose of establishing a local Chapter is for (1) to strengthen IAC membership on a local level, (2) to connect on an international level and (3) to support the IAC's mission to inspire the on-going evolution and application of universal coaching standards, we believe whoever are IAC members and have a passion and vision of the mentioned points are well beyond the qualification. However, before you commit to be a local Chapter host, there should be a clear understanding on how much time you could and willing to share with and what is your vision and goal. Well, we like IAC's practice by putting up powerful questionnaire for us to think deeper. Click here to see the HK Chapter's feedback on the questionnaire.

2. Will I have financial support in running a local Chapter?

The answer we got so far is "none" in an aspect of monetary support at this early stage of the exercise. However, we are still having a passion to run a local Chapter for building a supportive environment for coaches and potential coaches who are serious to become a masterful coach and about certification in assuring the benifit of their clients.

3. Can I run my local Chapter in my local language?

IAC is an international organization and they welcome us to run our local Chapter in our local language. Therefore, we plan to run HK Chapter in Chinese (Cantonese) first. When we are getting more structural, we may extend to bilingual according to the resourses and needs. We also let our Chapter Blog to naturally running in multi-language (Chinese, English and Japanese) . We feel its fun!

4. How to get people joining my first kick off meeting?

I believe "Nobody can fight alone." Therefore, no matter how many friends and coaching buddies I have and to whom I will send invitation for attending my first kick off Chapter meeting, I need to open up myself first in order to welcome new comers. Thus, I was bold enough to give a workshop at HKICC to sharing my certification journey and there I have made at least over 10 new friends who are interested in IAC Certification.

5. Am I still fit after running the Chapter for 6 months?

It's a good question? I found the purpose of the attendants coming to the Chapter have shifted a bit. At the beginning, they came to see what is IAC HK Chapter and how this Chapter could help them in their coaching learning and development. After 6 months, we have gathered a group of experienced and new coaches who are serious about the IAC Certification and learning of the 9 Masteries. About 9 people has joined the IAC membership from here. Isn't it something for celebration!? I, therefore would like to answer you that I am fit and progressing in hosting the IAC HK Chapter. And I foresee that, upon several coaches get certified, they may like to develop a buddy circle in their coaching business development. From there, we may advance to covering some topics on business development.

Commit to leadership – Starting a new chapter requires a significant investment of time and energy to properly market, recruit, organize and administer information rich meetings that support IAC member.

1. Acquire approval through IAC to start a new chapter.
2. Read policy information and guidelines and commit to adhere to them.
3. Clearly define your vision and goals for the chapter you wish to start.

Preparation – Before launching your first meeting, consider establishing these support tools:

• Another supportive member or coach to collaborate with and provide additional perspective.
• Determine meeting times and secure a meeting room location that you can expect to repeatedly reserve.
• Start a COG as a communication vehicle for launch information and follow-up with your members.
• Prepare an invitation message to send to potential participants.
• Prepare a questionnaire to send to potential participants.
• Design a plan for handling email, paperwork, and phone inquiries regarding chapter information.

Advertise – Work with the IAC to distribute your meeting information to IAC subscribers in your area.

• Submit invitation message to the IAC for distribution.
• Advertise locally via a press release, posting at local coaching schools, universities, and professional organizations.
• Follow up with meeting details prior to the first meeting.

Launch – To successfully launch your first meeting, complete these administrative and organizational tasks:

• Print a sign-in sheet to collect participant information.
• Print copies of policy information for participants to review and agree to.
• Create an agenda (see sample agenda).
• Foster introductions and a sense of acceptance (easy to do with a coaching organization!)
• Collaborate on the vision, mission, and culture of your chapter with the chapter members.
• Commit to action items in the first meeting to set the stage for forward momentum.
• Delegate responsibilities to foster teamwork and collaborative growth and development of the chapter

source: IAC - Chapter Committee