Pull back the curtain, and you’ll find that associations and Hollywood studios have some similarities. Behind the scenes on movie sets, an army of staff members scurries about preparing for scenes, shouting phrases and terms unique to the filmmaking industry. Likewise, behind the scenes at many associations is a dedicated group of component or chapter relations professionals (CRPs) that works with the association’s traditional geographic-based chapters, as well as various other communities, councils, and special interest groups. They are “jacks of all trades” (akin to producers) due to the wide breadth of knowledge they need to help the leaders of these affiliated groups succeed.

For every Hollywood director that has yelled, “Where is the stack of dailies from the green screen re-shoots?” there is a CRP on your staff asking, “Do we have a CoP SME that could spearhead creating position descriptions and affiliation agreements with the various association SIGs?” You’ll hear this jargon as they scramble to pull off epic productions of their own—from getting chapter leaders onboarded for a legislative fly-in to ensuring that membership campaigns and five-year strategic plans alike reach the local levels.

Here are some key words and phrases that are common in the CRP world but might not be familiar to you in the context of components.

Affiliation agreement: Outlines obligations for both sides to ensure a healthy partnership. Often includes, but is not limited to, licensing of the national organization’s logo; fees and dues; permitted activities; and national obligations. 

CoP (community of practice): A subcommunity of individuals that shares a mutual passion for their profession or area of expertise, and that learns how to perform better through regular engagement and interaction with each other

Chapter handbook: A compilation of important association information such as membership criteria, policies and procedures, reporting, and succession planning.

Chapter health assessment: A checklist to evaluate chapter performance. Criteria may include finances, communications, board meetings, member participation, activities, satisfaction, etc. 

Component: An affiliated or independent society, chapter, branch, special interest group, committee, section, or division of an international, national, state, regional, or local organization. Component structure varies by association: Some have staff, while others are led by volunteers; some are linked to the parent organization by governance or tax status; others operate independently from the association.

Component recognition program: A process to acknowledge and thank high-performing components that have met identified standards.

Engagement scoring: A system that assigns a value to activities demonstrating volunteer involvement; provides data to help the association make business decisions. 

Component structure varies by association: Some have staff, while others are led by volunteers; some are linked to the parent organization by governance or tax status; others operate independently from the association.

LDP (leadership development program): A system of critical training, resources, mentoring, and tools to equip individuals to succeed in chapter leadership roles.

Microvolunteering: Opportunities that allow members to get involved without making big time commitments such as serving on a committee. Examples include reviewing membership applications, writing an article, and responding to interview requests from industry publications. Also called ad hoc volunteering.

Position descriptions: Written statements that describe the duties, responsibilities, required qualifications, and reporting relationships for association and component roles such as president, chair, treasurer, and director.

SIG (special interest group): An association subcommunity whose members share an interest in advancing a specific cause or area of knowledge. Members may communicate virtually or meet in person.

SME (subject matter expert): An authority on a particular topic.

Stakeholder management: The process of creating positive relationships with invested key players through the appropriate management of their expectations and agreed objectives.

Virtual component: Online chapters or communities that provide online engagement opportunities and may or may not have a governing board.

Volunteer Appreciation Week: Typically held the third week in April to recognize and thank the volunteers who support the association’s mission.

Volunteer Protection Act: Enacted in 1997, it provides certain protections to volunteers, nonprofit organizations, and governmental entities in lawsuits based on the activities of the volunteers.

Volunteer risk management: Policies and procedures put in place to limit the organization’s liability related to the use of volunteers, claims of volunteer negligence or wrongdoing, volunteer injury, or claims from unhappy volunteers.