Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

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Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up!

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
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Please enter a valid zip code

Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up!

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a valid zip code

Never Miss a Chance to Do the Most Good

Please enter your name, email and zip code below to sign up!

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New Chapter Application and Strategy Guide Image

New Chapter Application and Strategy Guide

Welcome! We are so excited that you are developing an Echelon Chapter in your community. This guide has been developed to walk you through this process and answer questions along the way.  Let us know if you need any assistance in the process at [email protected].

TSA Mission 

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name without discrimination. 

Echelon Mission 

Echelon seeks to mobilize the next generation for The Salvation Army by providing opportunities for young adults to engage with the organization through fellowship and networking, donations and fundraising, and service and volunteering. 

The Salvation Army has discovered a viable model to engage the emerging professional demographic and mobilize them in a valuable partnership through meaningful service, fundraising, and networking opportunities. This brief is designed to help local Salvation Army commands strategically plan and implement a professional young adult auxiliary called “Echelon.” Included in this guide you will find worksheets and templates that have been developed to help you implement the outlined strategy as it relates to your specific locality. 

As is true in any strategy, the global blueprint needs to be customized to the local reality. The ideas and templates contained within are resource based upon previous experiences. However, there must be great trust placed upon the prospective local command to imaginatively make this plan their own. 

Ultimately it is the submission of your Charter application and affirming you have met the 5 benchmarks below that will formally charter your chapter. This guide is intended to assist you in preparing for success. While every item is not required, the greater the preparation, the more successful the outcomes. Chapters are far more prepared and find success when this process is undertaken robustly. 

As you read through this brief and carefully consider Echelon in your command, we pray that God will richly bless you.

New Chapter Framework 

While the impact of this effort begins early on, we ask that developing chapters meet the following benchmarks before applying for their official charter. These are the key standards in order to submit your application: 

Membership Target: the developing chapter must target emerging professionals. 

Plan of Events: the developing chapter must include a strategic plan and schedule for events (networking, fundraising, service).

Membership Requirement: the chapter must indicate the standards of membership commitment (paying dues or participating in Echelon activities).

Membership Count: the chapter must have minimum of 10 committed members.

Echelon Board Requirements: the chapter has a board of at least 5 Echelon leaders.

This guide will provide guidance for your team on how to reach these goals, though personal dedication and local creativity will be essential. Once you have met the benchmarks above, the chartering application. should be completed as a collaborative effort between the key stakeholders involved in the chapter formation process. 

1. Initiating Agreement
  • Build a Steering Committee
  • Develop a Vision
  • Agree on the Process
Begin Section
2. Investigation
  • Assess Stakeholders
  • Analyze local environment
Begin Section
3. Strategic Formation
  • Weave Strategy
  • Strategy Map
  • Communication Plan
Begin Section
4. Structure and Application
  • Chapter Leadership Structure
  • Standards of Membership
  • Articles of Organization
  • Charter Application
Begin Section