[Bldg-sim] Cracking the Code - IBPSA Chapters Growing

[Steven Ayala]

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*IBPSA-USA Chapters Crack the Code**Strategies for engaging local members
and preventing burn out*In 2018 new IBPSA-USA chapters started in Phoenix
and Madison, and several chapters re-started in areas such as Washington
D.C. and Boston. This activity indicates growing regional interest in
energy simulation and a strong desire to engage with peers in the energy
simulation space.
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*Madison Chapters Has First Meeting Tonight*
<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ibpsa-usa-wisconsin-chapter-sip-and-sim-happy-hour-tickets-52101026573>
<https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ibpsa-usa-wisconsin-chapter-sip-and-sim-happy-hour-tickets-52101026573>
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Defeat the Death/Rebirth Cycle!Since the first regional chapter of
IBPSA-USA was established in Boston in 2010, some  chapters have
experienced periods of near death and rebirth. In many cases, a small group
of highly engaged volunteers took the lead in founding a chapter and
organizing regular events, holding formal meetings, and electing
leadership. That model worked very well as long as the core of dedicated
people were able to invest time and other resources in planning,
organizing, promoting and running local events. This worked well until this
core group got busy, changed jobs or just got burned out. Eventually
meetings became more sporadic, attendance dropped off and excitement faded.
The chapter would limp along, only to be revived when another group self
organized to start the process all over again. The Solution to Chapter
Sustainability
*It's not Energy Simulation nor Rocket Science. *Sharing responsibilities
and simplifying the whole meeting coordination process is one key to
chapter success. We were looking for examples of chapters that had avoided
the death/rebirth cycle. The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter offered us a
couple of solid lessons. First, they organized themselves in a less formal
manner. There is no “President” or “Treasurer”. Instead there is a small
flexible group of 3-4 people who take on the responsibilities usually
reserved for a single person. When someone gets busy or moves away, there
are still 3 people who can get the work done. In the meantime, these 3-4
folks are asking others to join their small team.

A chapter event does not have to be a formal get together requiring a
venue, food, drink, a speaker and all the coordination that requires.
Instead, an event can be simply a “meet up” in a local coffee shop or bar
for an hour or two of networking. That simple gathering can be just as
valuable and requires far less time coordinating and planning.

TIP: At every event, the planners of that event must recruit at least one
other person to commit to helping plan the next event
Leverage another chapter’s content to avoid having to find a speaker or
decide on a topic,  and avoid all the planning and time this can consume.
Most chapter presentations are now online, and chapters need only look at
the chapter events calendar to see what's coming up, send a message out to
their group and “meet up” somewhere to watch live or view the recording
together.

Emphasize the value of getting together. Meeting with peers should be
enjoyable and something people look forward to, with social benefits as
well as career benefits (networking, learning, career advancement etc.) If
it’s a “chore” to plan a meeting or attend one, then the benefits have to
outweigh the cost of time to plan and attend. Otherwise, you are engaging
in a losing proposition and should expect dwindling attendance and interest.

Work with other local organizations such as ASHRAE, AIA, USGBC, BOMA etc.
who have overlapping interests in energy simulation and help them by
bringing your IBPSA-USA members to their event and vice versa. We do not
exist in a vacuum and attending a local ASHRAE chapter event for example,
allows you to invite people you meet to your next “meet up”. A word of
caution here. We do not suggest diverting another groups members to
IBPSA-USA but rather any subset that could benefit from a deeper
relationship with a group of professionals working in the energy simulation
and building performance fields. IBPSA-USA is NOT for everyone…yet.

Ask for help. You are not running your chapter in a vacuum. We encourage
you to reach out to IBPSA-USA staff with questions and for access to
resources. You can get help with marketing your events, handling money,
finding content, selling tickets, coordinating venues or just acting as a
sounding board for ideas. Be sure to attend our quarterly chapter leader
calls (open to everyone, not just chapter leaders) to hear what others are
doing and how you might work together to coordinate efforts and make
running your local chapters easier and more fun.

Yours truly,
Mike Wilson
Executive Director
IBPSA-USA
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