Affiliate Structure Information
There is a lot of confusion about the difference between Affiliates and Chapters! They are not the same. This document will explain the difference and inform you how to become involved in local activities of your Affiliate, as well as how to participate in leadership opportunities. An Affiliate is not a lesser order of representation than a chapter, but an independent partner of the national organization with a synergistic mission. Affiliates, as in this case, usually have larger budgets, staffing and a wider scope of programs than chapters.
According to the Memorandum of Understanding that USGBC executes with Affiliates, an Affiliate of the USGBC is a non-profit organization that operates for the sole purpose of advancing green building principles and practices in its regional marketplace (in this case Massachusetts). The Affiliate is an organization that has independent membership, budget, bylaws and came into existence at the same time as the USGBC. The USGBC and Affiliate have synergistic missions and commit to promoting each other’s shared goals and collaborating to advance market transformation to green building. The Affiliate promotes membership of USGBC, endorses and promotes the LEED ™ Rating Systems, hosts LEED ™ workshops, educates the community about LEED™ and green building, notifies the community of events and activities and provides a forum and/or committees to allow participation by USGBC members in the planning and delivery of some aspects of the Affilliate programs. The Affiliate provides at least one representative for each standing committee of the USGBC.
A Chapter is literally an outgrowth of the national organization, in most cases providing the primary means of organizing the community. A Chapter’s structure, programs, management and communication methods are strictly dictated by the national organization and the national office does not provide any funding or local resources for staff or administration of the chapter activities.
USGBC and Affiliate – Structure and Leadership Opportunities
(Please refer to the attached diagram of the relationships of the USGBC, Affiliate and committees for a graphic representation of the relationship). The Affiliate has a direct relationship with the USGBC National Organization through a Memorandum of Understanding executed by both organizations. Green Roundtable (GRT) runs local USGBC events, trainings and membership and participates directly with programming and management. GRT staff support all of these activities and are paid for by GRT. The USGBC Affiliate consists of an Executive Committee made up of one GRT staff liaison and other USGBC members representing different stakeholder groups (similar to a chapter board of directors), which oversees the committees. There are a number of committees that operate within the Affiliate each focused on a different activity: Membership, LEED, Greenbuild, Networking/Events and Emerging Green Builders. Each of these committees is made up of 2 co-chairs who are elected annually and a number of members. Each committee meets once per month with conf calls as needed in between conducted by the co-chairs.
The following list describes the USGBC Affilliate committees that are the local means for USGBC participation and leadership. Each committee shall have 2 co-chairs who serve a term of one year*:
1. Executive Committee:
This committee oversees and communicates between all of the sub committees. The Executive Committee must have one GRT representative as a member at all times to act as a liaison and coordinate staffing, budget and program issues.
This committee shall set yearly goals and priorities for USGBC activities (in coordination with the sub committees), establish workplans and oversee budgets when that is appropriate.
This committee should have one spot taken by an EGB representative as well as other representative stakeholder groups.
2. Regional Council: One member of the Affiliate will be elected to fill a position on the Regional Council (2007 position is filled)
3. Networking/Events: The purpose of this committee is to organize, plan and execute events (non educational) that provide an opportunity for social and professional networking of USGBC members. This committee will execute a yearly workplan (and budget if appropriate) in detail, which is coordinated with the Executive Committee.
4. Emerging Green Builders: This committee is a specific outgrowth of the national committee planning and organizing events for the emerging green professionals. One co0chair of this committee will sit on the Executive Committee. Please refer to EGB overview separately for details. This committee will execute a yearly workplan (and budget if appropriate) in detail which is coordinated with the Executive Committee.
5. Membership: This committee promotes USGBC to increase growth and retain members of USGBC. This committee will execute a yearly workplan (and budget if appropriate) in detail which is coordinated with the Executive Committee.
6. Greenbuild The purpose of this committee is to plan and organize activities at each annual Greenbuild for Massachusetts members and organize representation of member firm’s work in some way at the conference. This committee will execute a yearly workplan (and budget if appropriate) in detail, which is coordinated with the Executive Committee.
7. LEED Committee: This committee will focus on specific LEED related activities, including but not limited to: organizing LEED study groups, promoting LEED on projects, collecting LEED case studies – and any other activity specifically related to the increased success of the program(s). This committee will execute a yearly workplan (and budget if appropriate) in detail, which is coordinated with the Executive Committee.
* The Greenbuild Committee will be an exception with a standing committee for 2 years to work on Greenbuild 08 which will be in Bosot.
Communication between local and National USGBC
The flow of communication is from the co-chairs to Affiliate Staff Liaison, who communicates directly with the USGBC Staff Liaison. Communication from National goes to Affiliate staff and then directly to members. The reason there is local leadership is to facilitate clear and consistent structure for communication in both directions – to and from the National office. As stated in regards to EGB
“Emerging Green Builder groups work first and foremost through their local USGBC chapters (or affiliates), because of the wealth of resources they can provide to local EGB groups in the form of relationships, organization, financial stability and green building contacts.”
(from: USGBC Emerging Green Builders Guidelines & Toolkit)
Financial relationship
The Affiliate maintains and operates all programs related to USGBC activities. The committees can create events and otherwise raise money for ongoing programs and those revenues and expenses will be approved and managed by the Affiliate staff. All fundraising will be coordinated to avoid any conflict of interest and insure the best possible financial picture for all USGBC related activities. Money raised by Committee events will be used for committee related activities. Again, as with EGB:
The Affiliate will represent the USGBC’s best interest at all times and bears all responsibilities for that role. Therefore, final determination in the case of conflict will be resolved by the Affiliate. All policies and procedures are set by the Affiliate, in the context of National’s policies and are subject to change.