Items to Address Before Forming a Chapter

If your association is considering the possibility of merging or forming a chapter, address these items first. 

Reasons to consider a merger with a resulting chapter structure:

• Geographic isolation
• Lack of financial resources
• Limited staff support
• Limited volunteer leadership
• Maintaining identity and sense of community
• Other

Potential association partners when considering forming a chapter:

• Contiguous local association(s)
• Non-contiguous local association(s)
• State association (if you are considering that your state association might serve as the host, keep in mind that your geographic territory will be unassigned and eligible to be applied for by another local association, per NAR policy)
• Other

Do you have unique programs, services or an identity within your community that you want to preserve?

What degree of autonomy would your chapter need or desire?

Does the potential association partner have the staff and volunteer resources to effectively service a chapter?

Who would be involved in discussions about a potential chapter?

• Key local association elected leaders
• Chief staff executive
• State association chief staff executive
• State association president and president-elect
• Legal counsel
• Accountant/financial advisor
• Others

Does the association have an MLS? If so, what becomes of the MLS if there is a merger?