Communications

Stay up-to-date on ASTD by accessing the latest Leader Connection Newsletter (LCN), networking through social media groups, and gain local and national recognition through Chapter of the Month (COM), and Chapter Excellence Awards (CEAs) programs.

Click here for National ASTD Press Releases.

Leadership Connection Newsletter (LCN)

This monthly newsletter offers YOU the news you need to run a successful chapter! Check your inbox the second Friday of each month for the LCN. Access past issues below.

Not getting the LCN? Make sure your ASTD email preferences aren't set to opt-out of newsletters.
Click here to download job aid instructions for checking your ASTD email preference settings.

2013 Archived Issues

Social Media

Like ASTD Chapters on Facebook and check for updates!

Network with Chapter Leaders on Linkedin!

Follow @ASTDCHAPTERS and Click here for a list of Twitter chapter names.

Subscribe to us on Youtube at ASTD123 and view the ASTD Chapters Playlist.

Click on the group names above to connect with ASTD chapter leaders! Looking for more help? Download job aid directions on how to join the LinkedIn or Facebook ASTD chapter leaders groups. For updates on new chapter resources and events, follow @ASTDCHAPTERS on Twitter!

Social Media Toolkit- This toolkit serves as a guide to help your chapter engage with members and your community through social media.

Branding

Branding Guidelines

ASTD provides chapter logos for all chapters to meet the branding guidelines. To download a 150 jpg logo for your chapter, click here. If you need the chapter logo in a different format, please contact your chapter relations manager.

Chapters interested in printing ASTD branded business cards, letterhead, or envelopes can now download template files that can easily be modified to include your chapter's logo and contact information. To access these files, please click on the appropriate link below:

ASTD Business Card Template
ASTD Letterhead Template
ASTD Envelopes Template

Chapter of the Month

Congratulations to the Maryland Chapter for being named the October 2013 Chapter of the Month!

ASTD highlights chapters that shine! See the Chapter Locator to link to all chapter webpages.

Your chapter can be profiled as the Chapter of the Month on the ASTD homepage as well. If you’ve had a Sharing Our Success (SOS) submission accepted, are CORE compliant and innovative, and have not been featured recently as Chapter of the Month (within 18 months), you might be the next chapter for this award!

Each Chapter of the Month receives the following:

$500 cash prize
profile on the ASTD website, and the COM homepage
letter from the ASTD CEO/president
use of press release banner and press release
public recognition at ALC
listing in the ALC program
use of Chapter of the Month logo
recognition in the LCN, Leader Connection Newsletter.

So, begin with submitting to SOS, make sure you are CORE compliant, and wait to hear if you will be the next Chapter of the Month.

2013 Award Winners

January - Chicagoland
February - Central Florida
March - Central Iowa
April - Puerto Rico
May - Southeastern Virginia
June - Baton Rouge
July - Central New York
August - New York Metro
September - Smoky Mountain Chapter

Previous Chapter of the Month Winners

2012 Award Winners

January - Greater Cincinnati
Febuary - Golden Gate
March - Nebraska
April - Arkansas
May - Greater Cleveland
June - Northern New Jersey
July- Hawkeye
August- Central Ohio
September- Puget Sound
October- Cascadia
November - Austin
December - Greater Atlanta

2011 Award Winners

January - Central Florida
Febuary - Central Iowa
March - Central Indiana
April - Kansas City
May - Northern Rockies
June - San Diego
July - Mississippi
August - Middle Tennessee
September - Fort Worth/Mid-Cities
October - Corpus Christi
November - Central New York
Decemeber - Eastern Pennsylvania

Chapter of the Month Testimonials

See what chapters are saying about COM:

“This is great motivation in developing and implementing new programs or member services.” ~Don Bolen, President, Greater Atlanta

“We have created a scholarship fund for college students the money helped us set up the fund.” ~Mike Hodge, President, Sacramento

“The Chapter of the Month designation serves as a way of letting others know that we're nationally recognized for our activities and services rather than as a way of expanding services.” ~Paul Signorelli, President, Mount Diablo

“…The award has brought recognition to the chapter and has placed us in high regard with current members, plus it has helped in recruiting new members… The award only helps to strengthen the ASTD National/Chapter Partnership as a strong professional brand.” ~Peter Rizza, Mid-New Jersey

“…Helped us take pride in the Chapter. It is posted on our website along with other awards and potentially helps viewers think of us as an outstanding organization. It has given us an avenue for networking with other Chapters and having something to share with them - a wonderful benefit. ~ Mary Rydesky, Alaska

Please click here for additional COM testimonials.

For more information or questions about the COM program

The COM program is managed by the Chapter Recognition Committee (CRC). Visit the CRC webpage for more information about COM and committee contact information.

If you have questions, please see the FAQs or contact your chapter relations manager. We look forward to working with you!

Chapter Excellence Awards

The ASTD Chapter Excellence Awards (CEA) recognize chapters that have achieved excellence in three key areas of chapter development: strategic partnership, the advancement of the profession through CPLP, and joint chapter-national membership growth. ASTD awards a $1,000 cash prize for each award of excellence in three chapter size categories (for a total of nine awards).

The 2014 Chapter Excellence Awards online application, for programs executed in the 2013 calendar year, will open in October 2013. The deadline to apply is January 10, 2014. Winners will be recognized during Chapter Leader Day at the ASTD International Conference and Exposition on May 4, 2014, in Washington DC.

Get Started on Your 2014 Application! Plan ahead and start documenting your chapter's programming by using these planning worksheets.
Advancing the Profession Through CPLP Worksheet Strategic Partnerships Worksheet

Categories

Excellence in Strategic Partnership
Chapters that make a significant impact on local businesses and communities.

Excellence in Advancing the Profession Through CPLP
Chapters that significantly foster workplace learning and performance in their community and for professionalizing the industry through promoting the Certified Professional in Learning and Performance CPLP™.

Excellence in Joint Membership Growth*
Chapters that demonstrate the highest overall growth rate of joint chapter and national members.

*No application required to be considered for Excellence in Joint Membership Growth. Chapters submitting CORE rosters using the CORE roster template by January 31, 2014 will be considered for this award.

Eligibility

Chapters are eligible to win consecutively in the strategic partnerships and advancing the profession categories as long as they are submitting applications for a different program/project than the previous year. Chapters are eligible to win only every two years in the membership category. For example, if a chapter won in 2012, its next year of eligibility is 2014.

The size categories are:

Small – Chapters consisting of 100 or fewer active members on January 1, 2013.
Medium – Chapters consisting of 101-300 active members on January 1, 2013.
Large – Chapters consisting of 301 or more active members on January 1, 2013.

Minimum Criteria

100% CORE achievement (chapter must achieve 100% by CORE deadline of January 31, 2014)
Efforts focused on the past year (application must focus on activities executed in 2013)
Measureable results with specific examples
Initiative supports ASTD's and the chapter's mission/vision
Demonstrates how the chapter advanced the ASTD brand

Excellence in Joint Membership Growth

How can my chapter apply for the Excellence in Joint Membership growth award? No application is required to be considered for this award. Only 100% CORE achieved chapters that submit a complete member roster through CORE by January 31, 2014 using the CORE roster template will be considered for the award.
My chapter uses Wild Apricot, do we need to submit our roster to be considered for the CEA? No, chapters participating in the Wild Apricot (WA) partnership program do not have to upload their current chapter membership roster as part of the CORE submission process or to be considered for the CEA. Chapter services can pull that for you if you have provided Natasha Porter, Senior Coordinator, with “Full Rights” access to your account (required for all chapters participating in the WA discount partnership program). If Natasha does not have rights to pull rosters from your WA account, your chapter must submit a roster with CORE to be considered for this award.
How is the joint membership calculation conducted to determine Excellence in Joint Membership winners? Through a match key comparison, ASTD will determine net growth of joint members from 2012 to 2013 using the chapter member rosters submitted through CORE. The chapter in each size category (small, medium, large) with the greatest net growth will be awarded the Excellence in Joint Membership Growth.
What happens if more there is a tie for greatest net growth? In the case of a tie, the chapter with the greatest percentage growth will be selected. Should a tie still occur, the chapter with the most consecutive “CORE Achieved” years will be declared the winner.

Chapter Excellence Award Recipients

2013
Excellence in Strategic Partnerships
Hawkeye
Central New York
Greater Atlanta

Excellence in Joint Membership Growth
Lincoln
Puget Sound
Northeast Florida

Excellence in Advancing the Profession Through CPLP
Orange County
Metro DC

2012
Excellence in Strategic Partnerships
Hawaii
Middle Tennessee
Greater Atlanta

Excellence in Joint Membership Growth
Central Ohio
Greater Atlanta

Excellence in Advancing the Profession Through CPLP
Southwest Florida
Puget Sound
Greater Atlanta

2011
Excellence in Strategic Partnerships
San Antonio
Central New York

Excellence in Joint Membership Growth
Central Massachusetts
Rocky Mountain
Metro DC

2010
Excellence in Strategic Partnerships
Greater Atlanta
Heart of Illinois
Puget Sound

Excellence in Joint Membership Growth
Utah
Greater Boston
Greater Philadelphia

Excellence in Advancement of WLP
Fort Lauderdale

2009
Excellence in Membership Growth
Valleys of Virginia
Eastern Pennsylvania
Metro New York