What does a Chapter do?

Every Chapter has similar goals, generally expressed as "promoting development of skills needed to conserve biodiversity, providing a forum for awareness of regional issues, articulating positions on matters of public policy, and fostering high standards of professional integrity."  Each Chapter translates these laudable general goals into selected activities it wants to do well by identifying one or two niches or key services that the Chapter can provide.  Some activities of successful chapters include annual local conferences, regular seminar series, electronic or paper newsletters, environmental education in elementary schools, and field events such as oak restoration naturalist trips.  The keys are to identify a realistic scope and scale for the Chapter and then to tailor the activities so that they meet the members’ needs.  Doing one or two things well and consistently year after year creates a long-lasting Chapter and gives it a unique identity locally and within SCB. 

Lots of great information about starting and running a Chapter can be found in the Guidebook.