In the five short years since its formation, USGBC's chapter network has grown to 60 and has become vital to the organization's mission. Chapters deliver green building education, provide a sense of community to local members, and give presence to the green building movement in cities and states around the country.  

Locally delivered programs such as LEED Workshops have been successful in giving chapters a base from which to grow. In green building's high-growth climate, however, a comprehensive approach to building strong local organizations is clearly needed to maintain USGBC's momentum.  

Sandy Wiggins, USGBC board member and chair of the  Delaware Valley Green Building Chapter, explains, "With the deployment of Regionalism and Dynamic Governance, we're creating the connective tissue and nervous system for the next step in USGBC's evolution. Integrated Business Planning is the circulatory system that will ensure this organism is supplied with the nutrients needed to reach its fullest potential to transform our world."  

To create this system, USGBC's board of directors formed a National/Chapter Task Force to align business planning across the organization. Framed by USGBC's strategic plan goals and led by USGBC Board Vice-Chair Tom Paladino, the task force's aim has been to define national and local roles, to create a roadmap for revenue sharing, and to develop a business planning process across the whole of the organization.

"The IBP process gives chapters a voice in the development of national programs and initiatives, and helps national better understand what is happening in the field," commented Paladino. "Everybody gains through this important effort, and there's been a lot of give and take by all involved."

Betsey del Monte of the Lone Star Region continued, "After our discussions, I appreciated the fact that a great deal of time was devoted to listening to the concerns of the chapter representatives, both by the board and by the staff."

Meeting throughout the summer, task force participants elected from each of the USGBC's emergent regions gave clarity to how USGBC's national and local elements work together to fulfill the organization's goals. Inspired by the dialogue during this year's Chapter Retreat in April, the task force defined the role of chapters as being the "front door" of USGBC. Chapters connect USGBC's highly diverse membership, reach out to new communities, and build relationships with other local organizations involved in the built environment. Chapters also play a critical part informing and educating the marketplace about green building. Through their programs, chapters are the place professionals go to learn more about green building practices.

USGBC national's role emerged as a hub for research and development, for the creation and propagation of national programs and governing policies, and for the deployment of technology and other elements of infrastructure that help the whole of the organization work better. The task force also acknowledged the importance of USGBC's national office in creating strong relationships with other large enterprises, including professional associations, environmental groups, government agencies, and large building owners.

United within this straight­forward framework, the task force has also created a practical structure to link annual business planning across the organization. "We're helping chapters move more quickly from one volunteer's great idea to vital, sustainable local organizations," concluded Paladino.

Once implemented, this integrated planning process - together with the newly formed regions and enabled by dynamic governance — will link the national and local elements of USGBC so that it can function as a single organization in pursuit of its mission. "Imagine a flock of birds or a school of fish," elaborated Wiggins. "Each is comprised of distinct individuals, but they work as one."  

Brace Hostetter from the West Coast Region and Orange County Chapter shared his enthusiasm about the new integration. "Having served on both the Regional and the IBP Task Forces, what impresses me is how nimble this organization is. The relationship between staff, the board, the Chapter Steering Committee, and the task forces is so much in the spirit of self-organization, it gives me great confidence as we go forward."

For a full copy of the Task Force Report, contact chapters@usgbc.org.

This is the fifth in a series of articles detailing the latest news and information that was released at Greenbuild 2005. All comments are the sole responsibility of the author. 

This article was originally posted 12/13/05.