Thank you for showing an interest in becoming a chapter leader for the World Future Society. This document will give you a brief overview of the objectives, activities, and functions of our chapters, as well as some idea of the responsibilities of chapter leaders.
OBJECTIVES:
Futurists are concerned about the world as a whole, but that effective action to achieve a better future generally takes place in one's local area. A local futurist group enables futurists in a given area to get to know each other, share ideas, and work together to educate the community about future possibilities.
A local chapter affiliated with the World Future Society is expected to support the Society's objectives:
1. To contribute to a reasoned awareness of the future and the importance of its study, without advocating particular ideologies or engaging in political activities.
2. To advance serious and responsible investigation of the future.
3. To promote the development of methods for the study of the future.
4. To increase public understanding of future-oriented studies.
5. To facilitate communication and cooperation among organizations and individuals interested in studying or planning for the future.
A local chapter should focus its attention on the future but not become over-specialized in any one aspect of the future. It is also extremely important that the local group not align itself with any particular political party, religious group, or other outside enterprise so that potential members or participants will not feel that their viewpoints would not receive a fair hearing.
ACTIVITIES:
Meetings. Most active chapters hold monthly or bi-monthly meetings with programs. Some chapters also hold "networking" meetings, where members meet with each other without a formal program.
Field trips. Many chapters sponsor trips to local facilities of interest, such as museums, exhibits, animal reserves, observatories, etc.
Conferences. Chapters also sponsor small conferences, usually one- or two-day affairs, inviting speakers from the local community and from around the world to discuss topics of interest to the local area. Conferences like these offer a good opportunity to attract new members and make a contribution to the local community.
Speeches. Chapter members can be recruited to give presentations to local civic organizations and high school classes in order to "spread the word" about futures-oriented topics to potential new World Future Society members.
Newsletters. Many active chapters publish printed or electronic newsletters on a regular basis to keep their members informed of upcoming activities and to publicize their events.
FUNCTIONS:
Futurists in a given city or area can meet each other face-to-face or electronically and discuss the issues that concern them.
Local experts can be identified and their expertise shared with people in the locality.
A knowledgeable person can make a presentation before people in the community who are interested in what he or she may have to say.
Government officials, business leaders, educators, and others in the local area can become acquainted with the work of the World Future Society and the general field of futures studies.
Local talent can be identified and made known to the World Future Society's headquarters and the global network of futurists. This may lead to important articles in THE FUTURIST and an invitation to speak at a Society General Assembly, Annual Meeting, or at other meetings.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE SOCIETY AND ITS CHAPTERS
A local group affiliated with the World Future Society is basically an independent entity. It elects its own officers, levies its own dues, organizes its own meetings, etc. The World Future Society's headquarters may offer support in a number of areas, but the success or failure of a group depends upon the local members. The Society does not run the meetings of its affiliates and cannot assume responsibility for the actions of a local chapter or individual members. The Society only requires that all coordinators be a Society member in good standing.
The Society's headquarters does not require that local affiliates provide any funds to headquarters, nor does it supply funds to local groups. Each chapter must stand on its own feet financially. The Society may, however, assist the local group's finances by offering advice and providing mechanisms for mutually advantageous projects.
Chapters and affiliates may levy dues to pay for local activities. In addition to dues, participants in local activities are expected to pay additional fees for restaurant meals or other costs associated with the activities.
GETTING STARTED
After approval by WFS headquarters, the coordinator maintains a liaison with headquarters and, depending on the establishment of a local committee, organizes meetings and other activities. In areas where there are large numbers of members, a coordinator is expected to organize a committee and hold at least one meeting within six months following his or her appointment.
The recommended procedure for forming a local committee is for the local coordinator to get in touch with other interested members in the community and try to recruit those members who may be interested in serving on an organizing committee. He or she may do so by calling an initial meeting of local members on his or her own initiative, or by sending out an announcement in the name of a committee s/he has assembled.
PROCEDURES FOR AN INITIAL MEETING
Experience has demonstrated that not many members are likely to attend an initial meeting advertised as solely for organizational purposes. Many coordinators have found an e-mail questionnaire helpful in early organization efforts. Results of the questionnaire sometimes enable the coordinator to form an organizing committee before the first public meeting--usually a luncheon or dinner speaker on some futurist topic of general interest. If there is sufficient interest, further meetings should be planned. As interest grows, the coordinator and the organizing committee should raise the question of formal organization of a chapter with elected officials.
ORGANIZATION OF A FORMAL CHAPTER
When a local group decides it wishes to organize formally, it should adopt a constitution and bylaws and apply to the Society for formal chapter status. Many chapters postpone formal organization until sufficient members have been attracted to promise a viable future.
ASSISTANCE FROM SOCIETY HEADQUARTERS
§ Society headquarters can help local groups to get organized in the following ways.
§ Membership lists. The Society's staff can send an announcement about your event to WFS members in your area. Contact us for more information.
§ Information material. The Society can supply local coordinators with brochures and other promotional literature that describe the Society and its purposes and contains a membership application.
§ Model constitution and bylaws. When a local group is ready to organize itself as a futurist group, headquarters will be glad to supply a model constitution and bylaws based on the one used by the Washington, D.C. Chapter.
§ Visiting speakers. Occasionally the Society can arrange for visiting futurists of prominence to meet with local chapters. The Society cannot pay travel expenses, but if the Society knows that a local group wants outside speakers it can sometimes arrange for a speaker who is traveling to the area to make himself/herself available. In general, local groups will do best to tap their own resources, calling on local experts in future-related professions.
§ Personal guidance. Society headquarters designates one or more staff members to facilitate support for the futurist groups. Contact Jeff Cornish, business manager, for more information (jcornish@wfs.org or 301-656-8274).
§ Clearinghouse functions. The Society tries to make the experiences of local chapters available to other chapters. At conferences, opportunities are provided for chapter officers to meet together and exchange ideas.
TOPICS FOR LOCAL MEETINGS
Since any local organization of futurists is likely to contain a wide diversity of professions, local programs should also be diversified, moving from field to field to touch on all interests.
Some local groups meet most often at lunch; others prefer dinner meetings. Another pattern is for small groups to meet in one another's homes. Members might also meet at local organizations in order to observe some concrete aspects of the emerging future.
PUBLICITY AND RECRUITMENT OF NEW MEMBERS
Newspaper and other publicity will help put a local group in touch with persons in the area who might be interested in the Society. Favorable attention from the local media is highly desirable and should be cultivated.
One of the big benefits of WFS activities for many people is the diversity of viewpoints represented among the members, and it is important that the local chapter capitalize on this. The Society will publicize chapter activities in Future Update and will announce upcoming activities on this Web site when we are duly informed.
A brochure describing the Society and its programs can greatly assist the recruitment process. Please contact WFS headquarters for more information about available brochures.