The vision of the Fort Worth Mid-Cities ASTD Chapter is to establish ourselves as a resource to the business community, to be recognized oganization that sets the standard for trainers; to be seen as a resource to the DFW area in training, to have “Companies connect with us and our Chapter connect with them.”

The goals of the Chapter are to:

 

1. Create a presence within the State of Texas in ASTD and other training and development organizations.
2. Practice the highest codes of ethics in all our affairs, including maintaining a functional budget that is monitored monthly.
3. Establish ourselves as a resource to the business community, to be recognized oganization that sets the standard for trainers; to be seen as a resource to the DFW area in training, to have “Companies connect with us and our Chapter connect  with them.”
4. Provide for the exchange of information on training and development experiences, on professional ideas and on practical methods.
5. Provide for the discussion of training and development concerns and interests
6. Stimulate interest in effective, systematic employee training and development.
7. Further the professional improvement of training and development.
8. Develop and maintain a succession and development plan for continuity of Chapter leadership.
9. Develop partnerships and strong networking links with universities.
10. Develop partnerships and strong networking links with other professional societies.
11. Provide a mentoring program

Our three simple, sustainable, high-touch strategies and their measurable goals are:

 

• Keep ( retain ) 70% of our members

 

• We ended 2008 with 88 members. We will meet or exceed the expectations of 70% of those resulting in 62 membership renewals.

 

•  Win 50 new members

 

• 42 people joined ASTD Fort Worth Mid-Cities for the first time in 2008. We want to improve that number by 20% in 2009 to 50 new members.
• We had 11 prior members whose membership expired re-activated in 2008. We want to re-activate 12 prior members whose membership has expired.

 

Success in executing these two strategies will result in a total chapter growth of 38.6%. We will grow from 88 members to 122 members in 2009.

 

• Provide Better Value

 

• By improving the experience at our meetings, we will grow attendance by 41% as well. We had an average attendance of 25 at our monthly chapter meetings in 2008. We will average 35 attendees per meeting in 2009. This will be achieved by:

 

• A more central location
• Better parking
• A more professional environment
• Better quality food
• The option of “program only”
• Professional development opportunities prior to the program
• A larger role for members to “ share “ ( presenting at a PDN )
• Greater opportunity to network ( PDNs, a fixed-time after meetings)
• A continued emphasis on quality speakers that match ASTD and CPLP core subjects
• High-Touch invitations

 

Larry Wilson is in a new position – Chapter Manager. He will continue to play a key role in providing member value, particularly as it relates to supplemental learning and workplace performance programs and workshops.

 

High-Touch Strategies

 

Our board is committed to reaching out to each and every member. We plan on creating an environment that encourages meaningful and lasting relationships.

 

These strategies are simple, although execution is not easy. We believe they are sustainable and we will get better at them every year. After the initial growth spurt of 38.6% in 2009, we expect a 20% compounded growth rate on meeting attendance and membership over the next four years.

                                   Attendance              Membership

09                              35                               122

10                               42                              146

11                               50                               175

12                               60                              210

 

The key to all of this is the high-touch part. How we make members and guests feel will determine our success.