Chapter Communities: A Flexible Tool to Keep Your Chapter Connected
Lead & Succeed | Chapter Leader Toolkit
Your chapter does not need a complicated digital setup to stay organized and connected. AMPP Chapter Communities give members a central place to find updates, discussions, events, files, and other chapter information without requiring your volunteer team to build everything from scratch.
The Key Idea
Think of your Chapter Community as the member hub: one reliable place where people can find what is happening, connect with one another, and access the information your chapter wants them to have.
What You’ll Get From This Guide
- A simple explanation of what Chapter Communities are
- Ideas for what your chapter can use the space for
- Guidance for using a Community alongside a chapter website
- A practical setup and maintenance checklist
- Ideas for encouraging members to actually use the space
- AMPP’s Quick Guide to Chapter Communities
What Is an AMPP Chapter Community?
An AMPP Chapter Community is an online space within the AMPP platform where chapter members can connect and access chapter-specific information.
Depending on how your chapter uses the space, it can help centralize things like:
- Chapter announcements
- Event information
- Member discussions
- Shared files and resources
- Photos and chapter updates
- Leadership or volunteer information
- Links to other chapter resources
The biggest advantage is that your chapter is not starting from zero. The platform already exists, which can reduce the amount of technology your volunteer team has to manage.
THINK OF IT AS
Your chapter’s digital member home base.
Why Use a Chapter Community?
Chapter leaders already have enough to manage. A useful digital space should make communication easier, not create another system that constantly needs attention.
Chapter Communities can be especially helpful when you need a simple way to:
USE YOUR COMMUNITY TO
- Share chapter news and reminders
- Promote upcoming events
- Keep useful chapter files in one place
- Start conversations among members
- Highlight member and volunteer accomplishments
- Share photos from recent activities
- Direct members to important AMPP or chapter resources
The Real Benefit: Fewer Places Members Have to Look
One of the most common communication problems for volunteer organizations is information being scattered everywhere.
The event details are in an email. A flyer is on social media. A document is in someone’s personal folder. The latest update is buried in a message thread.
A Chapter Community gives your chapter an opportunity to create a more consistent source of information.
THE GOAL
Members should know where to go when they ask, “Where can I find that?”
What Should You Put in Your Community?
You do not need to fill every available section immediately.
Start with the information members are most likely to need.
| Area | Useful Content |
|---|---|
| Home | Welcome message, upcoming priorities, key links, and chapter contact information |
| Events | Upcoming meetings, technical programs, networking opportunities, and registration information |
| Discussions | Questions, member conversations, reminders, and useful local industry discussion |
| Library | Reusable chapter documents, helpful resources, meeting materials, and other approved files |
| Member Activity | Recognition, chapter photos, volunteer highlights, and opportunities to participate |
Quick Tip:
Start with a small amount of useful, current information. A simple Community that stays updated is more valuable than a complicated one filled with outdated content.
Do You Still Need a Chapter Website?
Maybe.
A Chapter Community and a public website can serve different purposes.
| Chapter Community | Public Chapter Website |
|---|---|
| Member connection and discussion | Public discovery and visibility |
| Shared chapter resources | Information for prospects, partners, and the broader public |
| Member conversations | Searchable public content |
| Lower technical maintenance | Greater design and content flexibility |
Some chapters may find that a Chapter Community meets most of their needs. Others may benefit from using both.
A SIMPLE WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT
Website: Help people discover your chapter.
Community: Help members participate in your chapter.
If You Use Both, Give Each One a Job
Problems usually start when the exact same information lives in several places and no one knows which version is current.
If your chapter has both a website and a Community, decide what belongs where.
DEFINE YOUR SOURCE OF TRUTH
Public information: [WEBSITE / OTHER APPROVED LOCATION]
Member discussion: Chapter Community
Shared member files: Chapter Community
Event registration: [APPROVED REGISTRATION LOCATION]
Keep the Community Current
A Community only feels useful when members trust that the information inside it is current.
You do not need to update it every day. You do need a simple maintenance habit.
MONTHLY COMMUNITY CHECK
- Remove or archive outdated announcements
- Confirm upcoming event information is current
- Check chapter leadership and contact details
- Review shared files for outdated versions
- Add any useful new member resources
- Make sure important links still work
Give Someone Ownership
“Everyone can update it” often turns into “no one updates it.”
Assign responsibility for the Community just like you would assign responsibility for email, event registration, or social media.
SIMPLE VOLUNTEER ROLE
Role: Chapter Community Coordinator
Goal: Keep the chapter’s online member space useful and current.
Responsibilities: Post important updates, maintain key information and files, remove outdated content, and help chapter leaders use the Community consistently.
Do Not Expect Members to Find It on Their Own
Launching or updating the Community is only the first step.
Tell members why they should use it and what they will find there.
SAY THIS
“Looking for chapter updates, upcoming events, shared resources, or a place to connect with other members? Visit our AMPP Chapter Community and bookmark it so you always know where to find the latest chapter information.”
Then reinforce the habit:
- Include the Community link in chapter emails
- Mention it during meetings
- Add it to new-member communications
- Use it when sharing files instead of creating new locations
- Point members there when discussions continue after an event
Give Members a Reason to Return
Members will not visit simply because the Community exists.
Give them useful reasons to come back.
EASY ENGAGEMENT IDEAS
- Post an event recap and ask members for their biggest takeaway
- Welcome new members
- Recognize a volunteer
- Share a useful industry resource
- Ask members what topic they want at a future event
- Post photos from a chapter activity
- Continue a question or discussion from a technical meeting
Quick Tip:
Do not create posts just to make the Community look active. Share things members will actually find useful, interesting, or worth responding to.
Make It Easy for the Next Leadership Team
One of the biggest advantages of using an established chapter platform is continuity.
Avoid building a system that only one person understands.
DOCUMENT THESE BASICS
- Who is responsible for Community updates?
- What information belongs there?
- How often should it be reviewed?
- Where should important chapter files live?
- What should be archived or removed?
- Who can help if access or platform questions come up?
READY-TO-USE RESOURCE
Quick Guide to Chapter Communities
Use AMPP’s Chapter Communities guide for step-by-step help and additional ideas for making your chapter space useful to members.
YOUR 30-SECOND COMMUNITY CHECK
Can Members Find What They Need?
- Is the latest chapter information easy to find?
- Are upcoming events current?
- Are key links working?
- Are old files or announcements creating confusion?
- Is chapter contact information current?
- Does someone clearly own Community maintenance?
- Do members know the Community exists?
TRY THIS THIS WEEK
Give Your Community a 20-Minute Refresh
- Review the home area and remove anything obviously outdated.
- Confirm the next event is easy to find.
- Check your most important links.
- Add one useful member resource or update.
- Post one question or chapter conversation starter.
- Share the Community link in your next member email.
What to Take Away From This
Your chapter does not need the most complicated digital presence. It needs one that members can understand and chapter volunteers can realistically maintain.
Use your Chapter Community as a reliable member hub, keep the information current, give someone ownership, and repeatedly show members why the space is useful. A simple system that people actually use is far more valuable than several disconnected platforms.
AMPP CAN HELP
Need Help With Your Chapter Community?
If your chapter is unsure how to organize its Community, what information belongs there, or how to make the space more useful to members, reach out to the AMPP chapter team.
Email
chapters@ampp.org
.
We’re here to help.
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