AIS Community Revitalization

Thank you for considering taking a leadership role in revitalizing a dormant chapter, college, or SIG! AIS Communities are a great way for you to connect with local members, share research with like-minded colleagues, gain leadership experience in AIS, and get the most out of your membership in AIS. But things don't always go as planned. Groups started with great intentions may loose momentum, struggle to fill leadership roles, or fail to gain new members.

AIS Communities must maintain minimum standards. Closing a community is always a last resort. AIS Council and staff stand ready to assist any Community seeking to improve. Below is the necessary information and forms to revitalize a chapter, college, or SIG to meet AIS's minimum standards. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact the AIS Communities Manager.

Process

When AIS becomes aware that a Community may be dormant, every effort will be made to find members willing to take the lead in revitalizing the group. Once leaders are identified, they will work with the relevant Vice President to determine a mutually agreeable time frame (typically 12 months) to achieve the minimum Community standards.

To document that the group meets these standards, an AIS Community application must be submitted no later than the deadline agreed upon with the Vice President. This is the same application that new AIS Communities submit; however, revitalizing Communities do not need to be presented to the full AIS Council for approval again.

The amount of information needed per section varies, but at most a few paragraphs. Guidelines are given in the application for the length of each section.

Depending on how long ago your Community was initially founded, we may have the original application documents on file for you to reference. Contact the AIS Community Manager to inquire about the availability of historical documents.

Click here to complete the online application! 

Click here for information to collect before completing the application. Please note that the form must be completed in one session, so it is helpful to gather all the information before starting.

• Name of the chapter/college/SIG
• Names and institution information for 10 active AIS members who will act as the officers and active members of the chapter/college/SIG
  
• Draft bylaw document. Communities must adopt the AIS bylaws template. Communities are free to add to it as they see fit, but not remove any sections from the document.
  
• Background Statement
  • Chapters: define the regional area and who you will serve
  • Colleges : define the professional interest or role of the target audience
  • SIGs: define the content area of the SIG
• Positioning Statement
  • Chapters: describe similar chapters in other associations, and related AIS groups, if any, and how the overlap should be managed
  • Colleges: describe similar groups in other associations, other associations, or related AIS groups, if any, and how the overlap should be managed
  • SIGs: describe similar SIGs in other associations, and related AIS SIGs, if any, and how the overlap should be managed
• Summary of proposed benefits/services and costs (resources and dues for members)
• Resources needed to start chapter/college/SIG (anticipated costs)
• CV of the member leading the revitalization

Review Criteria

The following criteria are considered in reviewing Community revitalization applications:

• AIS membership status of founding members
• Definition and positioning
• Appeal
• Services promised
• Costs (in light of services promised)
• Leader's knowledge/experience in the group's content area

Timeline

After you submit the application, AIS staff will review and follow up with you about edits or missing items within three to five business days.

Once all items are verified by staff:

• The information will be reviewed by the VP of SIGs and Colleges or by the VP of Members and Chapters. Chapters will also be reviewed by the relevant Regional Representative.
• The VP will then consider the criteria above and accept the application or ask for clarification or modification.
• After all final edits are made, the VP will either decline the application or place it on the agenda for the next AIS Council meeting.

Once the revitalization application is verified by staff and approved by the VP, the Community will be considered to be in good standing with AIS.

Should the revitalization effort not be completed successfully within the agreed upon time frame, the VP will present a proposal to the AIS Council to close the Community.