Start a Chapter

Choose a place - in person or virtual In person:

Most people feel more comfortable attending a new meeting in a public place rather than a private home. Meeting rooms at community centers, libraries, and religious centers are often available at no charge. It may be helpful to mention that you are part of a nonprofit national organization.

You can also try your local yarn/craft shops, cafes, or restaurants, as they are usually happy to offer support to groups that bring them new customers. It can be a win-win for the chapter AND the shop, as long as each has a good understanding of what the arrangement parameters are.

It is best to have the meeting at the same place and the same time each month so people can plan to attend.

Virtual:

Virtual chapters can be on Facebook, Discord, Ravelry, Reddit, Slack; any publicly accessible place where people can congregate online. There are pros and cons to all platforms so it’s important to think about what you have the skill to do, or bandwidth to learn. On the chapter application form, list your platform in the field labeled "Web Meeting Info".

Publicize your meetings:

• Posters - these can be simple - with just your name, location, date, time, and contact information. Try hanging them in libraries, coffee shops, local businesses, senior centers, recreation / community centers, visitors centers, or craft/yarn shops. Remember to get permission before hanging your poster.
• Online - there are online event calendars, often through the city, or local newspapers, which allow you to share events for no charge. Social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and NextDoor also provide ways to set up events and promote your meetings.
• Press Release - a press release is anything newsworthy about something going to happen or that has happened. You can send them to local newspapers or public access TV stations.

Make connections:

To grow your group, be on the lookout for other crafty folks. Our chapters have found their people by:

• Joining local needle arts social groups
• Attending craft shows and chatting with fellow makers
• Befriending yarn shop owners
• Posting on social media
• Participating in county and state fairs
• Researching craft class offerings in your area
• Crocheting in public!

 A note about membership: 

According to the CGOA bylaws, official members of your chapter are those who are both chapter members and members of the national CGOA organization. You are welcome to have guests and non-members at your meetings. In fact, CGOA encourages it. There’s no better way for someone to learn all the amazing things CGOA has to offer than to see it first hand.

Plan Activities

There are many ideas for what to do during your chapter meetings! First, remember to spend some time on introductions to make sure everyone feels welcome. Next, consider adding some activities that happen at every meeting, such as:

• Show and Tell - Members bring their current projects, or recently finished items, to show to the group.
• Q&A - This is time to help beginners get their questions answered, or to troubleshoot any crochet confusion.
• Lessons - You and/or your fellow members may decide to teach a technique, share a helpful tip, or learn something together. Chapters can bring in a teacher to give a presentation or teach a class.
• Charity - Many members are inspired to work together on a group project that benefits national or local charities.

Beyond your meetings, your group might also enjoy additional gatherings and outings, such as visiting local cafes and restaurants, participating in yarn crawls, attending nearby yarn conferences, volunteering together, or entering crocheted pieces into the county fair.

Select Leadership

When you first start a chapter, you only need a President or Co-Presidents. As your chapter grows, you can add additional roles such as Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, if your group chooses. Choose roles and responsibilities that work best for your group’s needs and interests.

Complete an Application

To become an official chapter of the Crochet Guild of America, you must submit an application. There is a one-time registration fee of $40, due when you submit your application. Renewal fees are $10 a year.

Please note it can take 7-10 business days for your application to be processed. Once it has been processed, you will receive a welcome email from the Chapters committee.

Being an official CGOA chapter means your group will be listed on the crochet.org website, on the CGOA Local Chapters page.

The president of the chapter will be given access to resources such as the Chapter Chatter newsletter, promotional materials, and the Chapter President Facebook Group.

Apply Now!

Additional Considerations

Chapters can be informal or formal. Some chapters choose to have officers, while others may poll the membership when a decision needs to be made. Some chapters choose to collect chapter dues to fund group activities and pay for meeting space.

It is very helpful for all chapters to have an online presence. Meet in person, *and* have a Facebook group. Have your monthly meetup *and* a Reddit group. 

Many chapters have a mission statement. The missions of vibrant chapters reflect the passions and curiosities of its members. Interacting and connecting with your members will help you to collectively craft your chapter's unique mission.
Here are some sample missions from other chapters: 

• Promoting community and charity through crochet.
• The purpose of our guild is to have fun while growing our local crochet community through education, community events and projects, and gathering together to crochet.
• Our meetings are dedicated to supporting one another in enjoying and excelling in the art and craft of crochet.

Larger chapters can choose to incorporate as a nonprofit, acquire insurance when necessary for meeting space, open a bank account, or establish their own bylaws. If your chapter has questions about these issues, the president can email Cgoa@Crochet.org for assistance in locating the proper professional to consult.