CoachVille Chapters???

Dear R&D Team Member:

I'm a little stuck on this one and would appreciate your thoughts.  I'm just going to lay out bullet points/streams of consciousness.  I am looking for a win-win-win strategy...

1. Between the ICF and Coach U, there are about 250 chapters in 30+ countries.  Many of these coaching chapters meet monthly or quarterly.

2. Some chapters are growing/active; others are not there yet.

3. There has been some divisiveness between some of the ICF and Coach U chapters.

4. ICF has made the chapter chartering process cumbersome, although the chapter does get $25 back per member as a rebate on the $175 annual fee that the ICF charges its members.

5. One large ICF chapter has become the first chapter to register as an affiliate of CoachVille (not affiliate like a chapter-affiliate, but affiliate as in a $39.50 referral fee type of affiliate.  They did this as a winning fundraiser for their chapter. (most interesting!)

6. Within a couple of weeks, CV will have more members than the ICF and by end of summer CV will have more students than even Coach U.  I say this because as we reach toward 10,000 members, I think we need a local way for them to hang out.  Some of these 10,000 members will be CUers and ICFer and CTIers, etc.  But many won't be and there needs to be a CV-centric or at least a CV-respected place for them to hang.  

7. We could refer them to the existing CU/ICF/CTI chapters and there would be probably be enough CoachVille members at these meetings to make a CV-only member feel welcome.

8. But as we reach 25,000 members, the vast majority of folks attending local meetings/study groups/cells will be CV members who are NOT Coach U, CTI or ICF members.  This is important.

9. I am loath to go anywhere near starting up independent CV Chapters.  I'd prefer that the existing CU/ICF chapters call themselves by their 'local' name, like Philadelphia Area Coaching Alliance (PACA) or Eastern Tennessee Coaching Association. That way, they are known as independent bodies who just HAPPEN to be affiliated with ICF or CU.  Some of the chapters are already going in this direction and don't really push their CU or ICF affiliation. This way, they can also say they are affiliated with CoachVille as a chapter (not necessarily as a $39.50-referral fee affiliate but that would be fine, too).

10. That way, we can put together a zipcode/country code database of all chapters/meetings whether they are ICF/CU/CTI oriented.  This is 'missing' in our community given the turf problems.  CV is here to serve the coach whether they are a CV member or not.  And, given, we'll soon be the largest group of coaches, I think we need to start putting together this database so the public -- using CoachVille as a portal even before/if they join -- can get connected with coaches locally, no matter what their flavor.

11. The other option IS to set up CV Study Groups or a monthly party/get-togethers or even chapters (vs meeting) or do something DIFFERENT than the traditional chapter meetings.

12.  If you're a chapter host for CU or ICF, I'd be particularly curious what your thoughts are.  But every idea is most welcome.

13.  Heads up:  I am not interested in the line of thinking that says we should refer everyone to the ICF or not broach this chapters topic.  You need to understand that the growth rate of CoachVille is significant and that we have to find a way to serve our members, particularly the ones just coming in who are new to coaching.  We DO want to tap into the existing chapters if they want us to.  But I want to make sure that there is a CoachVille presence at these meetings/get-togethers.  Fast Company does a pretty good job with their Cells -- eager entrepreneurs looking to connect and learn stuff.  I don't believe their meetings are political in nature which DOES seem to happen with some of the ICF/CU chapter meetings.  I'm trying to avoid all of that.

Remember, 99% of those who will be coaches in the next 20 years haven't even begun their journey.  So, as you think this through, think ahead/fresh, not historical/political.

I am seeking your strategies, advice, observations and reactions.  Again, we ARE going to do something BIG in the chapter area, but I want to make sure we do it SMART and make it a win-win-win for all concerned.

Best,

Thomas
thomas@thomasleonard.com