Where to get the right support?

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.

Sharing of Experience - Q & A

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. 19 April 2008

How To Set Up a New Chapter

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

How we would see the HK Chapter looks like?

IAC Hong Kong Chapter

“Here is an open chapter that welcomes coaches and potential coaches who are serious about developing their coaching profession, get certified and continue to grow.”

Powerful Questions to interested parties:
1. How to distinguish a good coaching and masterful coaching?
2. Where do you see beyond your current coaching practices?

Our Culture and Mission:
1. We build our dream house on strong coaching foundation – 9 Masteries
2. We design supportive environment for our creative growth
3. We contribute as a way to reciprocal
4. We care the core of coaching and simplify the rest

Our Format:
1. We meet once a month on a fix venue for 1.5 hours
2. We take turn to host the gathering
3. We have a theme for each gathering
4. We are a circle of collective wisdom, no teaching but coaching and sharing
5. We ask permission
6. We respect every opinion
7. We donate to maintain the running of the Chapter

Our Notice Board:
1. We run a Blog to list events and capture the inspirations

Our Founding Members:
1. Bonnie Chan
2. You
3. You............

If you are interested to join with us to grow, please email me at bonnie@coachlite.com for details.

Our GO-al Statement

Dear Kerri,

I admire your endeavor and like the idea of IAC Chapter, in particular to create the presence of IAC worldwide and let more coaches and potential coaches to know about this profession and be attracted together for our/their personal and professional development.

My vision is to set up a HK Chapter this year, and then extend to have 2 more IAC Chapters in China, say Shenzhen and Shanghai in 1-2 years time. I would also like to liaise with any of our member(s) located in Japan (or even VOCIE subscriber) to give him/her support to create a Tokyo Chapter. Kerri, I agree with you that a guideline and a successful Model is a must to kick off. Let’s dream to double and triple our Chapter in the upcoming 2 years.

Cheers, bonnie

First Step to a Chapter

From: Coach Bonnie [mailto:bonnie@coachlite.com]
Sent: Sunday, April 15, 2007 1:21 AM
To: kerri@thecoachingweb.com
Subject: IAC Local Chapter

Hi Kerri,
I am Bonnie Chan, an IAC-CC from Hong Kong. I am glad to learn of your Local Chapter topic in VOICE Mar Issue. I would have interest to follow your footprint to extend our experience sharing with my local coaching buddies. To let you know more about me, I answered your listed questions as below.
Cheers, bonnie email: bonnie@coachlite.com


· Why do you want to start a chapter?
Bonnie>> I found the factual information and experience sharing about IAC certification are not clear and insufficient in this part of the world. Thus, un-clarity creates fear and hesitation. Moreover, the language barrier defeats many passionate attempts. Being the first IAC-CC in Hong Kong and China areas who spent her lonely journey for 8 months wants to share the HOPE to those interest and serious players in IAC certification.

· What is your motivation?
Bonnie>> My motivation is to fan the flame. I am a small potato but I am growing so as to attract those who want to grow in this remarkable coaching profession.

· What would be the benefits to chapter members?
Bonnie>> I dare not to say what benefit I could provide for the chapter members at this moment. Yet, I believe a Chinese saying that “Path is built by people who walked it through.” I believe my open sharing and supportive encouragement would be one of the environmental supports for coaches here. And usually coaches are life learners and creative leaders, I believe they will create their own dreams. I just am the starter who is lucky to have a lighting match in hand. Or as a bottom line, I need them to around me too in order to sustain.

· What would be the defining characteristics of your local chapter?
Bonnie>> My local chapter will be a chapter which shares coaching as a life style in both profession and private life. As a professional coach, we are willing to challenge the masterful standard of IAC for personal growth and assurance to our clients.

History in the Making - The First Local IAC Chapter Launch by Kerri Laryea, IAC-CC

My IAC certification journey provided a rich, distinctive texture to the fabric of my coaching and my life. If I hadn't worked so hard at mastering the proficiencies, I wouldn't have experienced the same level of personal growth and professional confidence. I might even have missed out on friendships I expect will last a lifetime. I've noticed that when coaches on this certification journey get together, exchange stories and celebrate the moment, we embroider beautiful accents into our "coaching" fabric. My inspiration for starting the first IAC local chapter was to weave an even richer brocade of connections into my life.

This month we launched the first ever IAC sanctioned chapter meeting here in Phoenix, Arizona. Invitations were sent out to all Arizona coaches in the IAC database. I looked forward to many eager coaching souls from every part of the state flocking to a function that promised, above all, face-to-face connections, fun and celebration.

We were a smaller group than I'd hoped for, but those who did attend brought with them the excitement, enthusiasm and energy so often found when people connect in meaningful, soulful ways. We shared visions for local collaboration and ways of promoting excellence in coaching; we traded stories about our coaching professions and we basked in the pleasure of each other's company.

Here's what Pat Beck of Phoenix, Arizona commented: "It is so nice to make face-to-face connections with coaches who are really serious about our profession. I'm looking forward to the next meeting!"

For those of you IAC members interested in starting your own local chapter, I'd like to support you. Let's work together to strengthen our membership on a local level, connect on an international level, and support the IAC's mission to inspire the on-going evolution and application of universal coaching standards. If you think you're ready to start a chapter, ask yourself these questions (questions asked of me by my coach in Scotland):

Why do you want to start a chapter?
What is your motivation?
What would be the benefits to chapter members?
What would be the defining characteristics of your local chapter?

Please let me know how I can support you.
Kerri Laryea, MPA, IAC-CChttp://www.thecoachingweb.com/, kerri@thecoachingweb.com.
Kerri is a coach, mentor, wife and mother living in Scottsdale, AZ. Her passion is spinning a web of connections - threads that connect clients to coaches, employers to employees, collaborators to projects, and resources to seekers.

source: IAC VOICE March 2007 issue