Here is everything you need to know about starting a new IDSA Professional or Women in Design Chapter in your city.
Don’t worry, it looks a lot more daunting than it actually is. The value of IDSA exists because thousands of people like you have taken the lead by leveraging the resources of IDSA to create community in their local city.Â
Benefits of Serving
Bring the vision for your community to life.
Gain leadership experience and advance your career.
Give back to your community and profession.
Gain exposure for yourself and your company.
Recognition from your peers.
Basic Requirements
Chapters are required to have a Chair and Vice Chair (however, the most successful chapters have 3-5 officers on their Board to maintain consistent programming throughout the year).
At the start Chapter officers are appointed to the role by IDSA’s Board of Directors. In successive years, Chapter officers are elected into place via a Chapter member voting process.Â
Only IDSA Professional and IDSA Young Professional members can serve as officers.
All new Chapters must receive support from at least 20 voting members of IDSA during the community petition process. If successful, then establishing the new Chapter can be approved by the Board of Directors.
The makeup of each Chapter's Board is unique, but we've listed the most common positions and their responsibilities.
Chapter Chair (required)
- Serves as leader of the chapter, establishing and implementing its overall strategy
- Responsible for overall execution of chapter events
- Maintains ultimate responsibility for chapter finances
- Leads all meetings of the chapter Board
- Manages succession planning efforts, ensuring a pipeline of individuals ‘ready and able’ to lead the chapter into the future
Vice Chair (required)
- Assists the Chair with all chapter functions
- Assumes the duties of the Chair in their absence
- Performs the duties of the Secretary / Treasurer in the absence of that position
Secretary / Treasurer
- Maintains chapter Board meeting minutes
- Maintains the chapter’s general and financial records; ensures integrity of fiscal affairs
- Works with IDSA HQ related to the chapter credit card, reimbursements, vendor payments and contracts
Events Coordinator
- Plans chapter events, coordinates logistics (food and beverage, etc.)
- Develops and maintains a list of volunteers and supporters that can assist with planning and execution
- Serves as the point of contact for event registration / sets up event registration sites (e.g., Eventbrite)
Communications Coordinator
- Promotes all chapter activities via newsletters and social media
- Maintains credentials for all websites and social media platforms
- Works with IDSA HQ to update content on the chapter’s idsa.org webpage
Student Chapter Liaison
- Coordinates with local university student chapters
- Provides programming, mentoring and support
Ready to take the next step?
NEW PROFESSIONAL CHAPTER PROPOSAL
IDSA Professional Chapters are communities of industrial designers and individuals interested in industrial design in cities around the world. They exist in places where there are clusters of industrial designers and other design professionals. These chapters provide professional development as well as personal and professional networking opportunities.