Welcome to your Chapter Leader Toolkits! These toolkits contain a wealth of resources, tools and guidance to help chapter officers implement new programs aimed at stronger member engagement. They will help you with recruitment, programming, effectively managing your chapter’s finances and will streamline processes to minimize the effort it takes to get things done. These templates and worksheets will continue to evolve and improve as we receive feedback.
Please submit your chapter’s resources and best practices by email so that they may also be included.
Chapter Specialist Support Teams
One of the key membership goals noted in the American Guild of Organists 2021-2024 Strategic Plan is to help chapters of all sizes function effectively. The creation of Chapter Specialist Support Teams will provide direct support in key areas, providing solutions and sharing resources as needed. Chapter Specialist Support Teams will work in teams of subject matter experts, assisted by standing AGO committees, that address the critical needs of a chapter. These teams will support:
Marketing and Communications
Technology
Programming
Education and Certification
Membership
Chapter Leadership: The Responsibilities and Dynamics of Serving as an Officer
Financial Development
Does your chapter need help in a particular area of support? Please submit you request here.
Download the digital new membership brochure here: AGO Membership Brochure.
To request hard copies, please contact Phylicia Ross, 212-870-2311, ext. 4321. Email
AGO Chapter Logos: Please contact J.W. Arnold, jwarnold@agohq.org
The Board Team Handbook
November 1, 2021 Webinar: How To Be a Board Without Being Bored
August 2023 Membership Dashboard
Click here to view the
Chapter Management Handbook
Chapter Leadership Newsletters July 2023 April 2023 Chapter Leader Profiles Leadership Training for All Officers Please click on the ˇ to expand the menu associated with each of the topics listed below. Membership Dashboards June 2022 Management and Governance Sample Chapter Operating Procedures Certificate-of-Appreciation-for-Chapter-Leader October 30, 2020 Webinar Chapter Officer Installations Elections and Voting Procedures Descriptions of Officer Responsibilities AGO Member Communities Structure – learn more about this new member community option for extra small chapters that are struggling. Membership: Recognize and Renew using ONCARD August 9, 2021 October 9, 2020 Webinar Membership Recruitment and Engagement Recruitment Monday, March 21, 2022 AGO Chapter Flyer**Please download and save, in order to insert your chapter information. Renewing Members
Programming August 16, 2021 Webinar April 19, 2021 Webinar ZOOM CHECK LIST Finance September 25, 2023 June 14, 2021 Webinar Handout of Budget Financial Statement Examples August 28, 2020 May 6, 2021 Webinar May 3, 2021 Fox Valley AGO Annual Financial Report–FY2019 (Redacted) Technology Monday, July 17th, 2023 Communications September 13, 2022 April 25, 2022 April 26, 2021 Responsibilities of the Newsletter Editor Social Media Resources How to Use Facebook Stories How to Target Audiences in Facebook 2021 AGO Leadership Conference documents are listed below. The link to the recording of January 24th can be found here.
Are You Ready for Officer Transitions
How Writing Paper Checks Can Expose You to Fraud and Theft – The Wall Street Journal May 25 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 22
May 22
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020.
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
July 19, 2021
Indiana Jones and the Quest to Find Resources on the AGO Website
Presented by Elizabeth George, Director of Member Engagement and Chapter Development
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
Brooklyn Chapter Operating Procedures Rev2018-09-18 (Small Chapter)
San Diego AGO chapter Operating Procedures Adopted 1-16-18 (Medium Chapter)
Chapter Policies for San Diego AGO – approved May 2018 (Medium Chapter)
St. Louis Chapter Operating Procedures (Medium Chapter)
Boston Chapter Operating Procedures 22.06.30 (Large Chapter)
Chapter Liability Insurance Information
Chapter Leader IRS Filing Resources
Fox Valley Policy Travel Subsidy for AGO Conventions
The Benefits and Challenges Serving as Dean
Karl Bruhn Speaking Points October 30
Benefits and Challenges of Being a Chapter Dean SH presentation
Webinar Handout Resources for Chapter Deans and Chapter Leadership
Webinar, November 8, 2021:
Now Is the Time to Form Your Chapter’s Nominations Committee
Handouts:
Recommended-Chapter-Operating-Procedures_2018-01_updated-2021-11
Chapter Elections-March to June
ChapterElection_What-To-Do-When
Election Balloting
The-Value-and-Benefits-of-Serving-as-a-Chapter-Leader
Updating the Officer Roster
Responsibilities of Serving as Dean
Responsibilities of Serving as Sub-Dean
Responsibilities of the Registrar_Membership Coordinator
Duties of the Chapter Education Coordinator
Responsibilities of the Treasurer
The Value and Benefits of Serving as a Chapter Leader
Building-a-Leadership-Pipeline
Sample Board Meeting Consent Agenda
Certificate of Appreciation
Strategic Plan Template
Strategic Planning Exercise
FVAGO Operating Pray 2018ocedures –
Everything You Need to Know About Using ONCARD
Presented by Molly Davey, AGO Membership Coordinator
Tour of Chapter Administration Handout
Chapter Membership Dues Reconciliation & Income Records
ONCARD Revenue Reconciliation Webinar Slides 2020-10-9
Chapter Dues Reconciliation 2
Presented by Molly Davey, AGO Membership Coordinator, and
Eric Birk, Executive Assistant
Responsibilities of the Registrar_Membership Coordinator
How to access ONCARD to Pull Member Reports
New Member Welcome Email_Letter
Sample script_new member welcome phone call
Sample script to recognize new members at a chapter program
Creating-a-Chapter-Ambassador-Program
Success Stories in Recruiting and Retaining Young Organists
Presented by deans of the Los Angeles, Denver Rocky Mountain and Central North Carolina chapters.
Suggestions for Growing and Strengthening Your Chapter
AGO SAN DIEGO IN-SPIRE
Follow up Email to Prospective Member
Sample Postcard_Letter_Email Prospect Follow up
Sample Letter to Clergy
Officer Training for Sub-deans: Chapter Program Ideas for the Upcoming Year
Panel discussion with officers who are in charge of programming representing extra-small, small, medium and large chapters.
Re-Igniting, Re-Imagining and Re-Emerging from COVID-19
Presented by the Committee on Membership Development and Chapter Support with chapter leaders who participated in the breakout sessions during the 2021 AGO Leadership Conference share their chapter’s creative programming.
Responsibilities of Serving as Sub-Dean
Duties of the Chapter Education Coordinator
Program Budget Worksheet
Program Evaluation Survey
Creating a Spectrum of Events that Teach, Reach and Spark Innovation
Programming Resources and Guidelines
2019-2020 Tulsa Chapter Program Flyer (2)
Chapter Programming Ideas
Key Responsibilities Serving as Chapter Treasurer
Presented by the Chapter Specialist Support Finance Team
Handout of Budget Financial Statement Examples
The Top Four Things Your Chapter Must Do to Be Financially Responsible
Handout
Banking Issues for Chapters
Presented by Eric Birk, Executive Assistant, American Guild of Organists
Handout
There Must Be 50 Ways to Raise Some Money
Presented by John Dixon, AGO Councillor for Finance and moderated by AGO Executive Director James E. Thomashower, CAE. This webinar was designed to assist chapter leaders in learning best practices for raising money to support chapter programs and activities. Handout
Robust Chapter Scholarships
Presented by the AGO Task Force for Gender Equity, whose mission is to bring more women into the Guild and to attract a new generation of young women organists. Hear from a panel of chapter leaders who have successful scholarship programs and learn how they promote their programs and discuss opportunities to attract more female organists to participate.
Robust Chapter Scholarships Handout
Sample Chapter Budget_Worksheet_Balance Sheets
1099 MISC Reporting
Webinar
How to Use Excel for Chapter Reports
Handout
Additional Excel Resources
Social Media Marketing for Chapters
Presented by Michelle Klima Thomas
Handout
The Power of Publicity: Promote Your Chapter Events Through Media Relations
Presented by J.W. Arnold
The Power of Publicity Handout
The Do-Re-Mi’s of Website Design
Presented by the AGO Technology Committee, this webinar covered creating, posting and the importance of keeping your website up-to-date. Handout.
Chapter Newsletters – What to Include
Requesting AGO Mail Lists
Maximizing Social Media
How to Use Instagram Stories
How to Use Facebook Live
How to Use Instagram Live
How to link an Instagram Account to a Facebook Page
How to Boost a Post on Facebook?
How to Create a Business Facebook Page
Maximizing Social Media
Core Audiences
Custom Audiences
Lookalike Audiences
How to Place Facebook Pixels
How to Run Ads in Facebook’s Ads Manager
Agenda
Strategic Goals Template
Chapter Ambassador Program
Suggestions-for-Growing-Your-Chapter
Financial Responsibilities Top Four Things Your Chapter
Collaboration Handout Skye Hart
Leadership Motivation and Evaluation