How to Start a Chapter

  1. 3-5 volunteers willing to take a leadership role in organizing the chapter and its activities.
  2. Communicating to other interested parties that a DESA chapter is being formed in their community/market.
  3. DESA will send out an announcement to current members in the community/market.
  4. Convenient meeting day/date, time and location.
  5. Hold first meeting(s).  It may take more than one meeting to get started.
  6. Schedule meetings and activities – topic speakers; exercise, sport or other physical activities that the group, or segments of the group, are interested in participating in as an activity of the local DESA chapter.
  7. Meetings and activities need to be regular and consistent to maintain the development of the local chapter and the interest and participation of local members and interested parties.
  8. DESA will assist in identifying topics and speakers for presentations on those topics.
  9. DESA is limited in current resources (staff and financial) that it can provide to local chapters.  We are however developing a tool kit for chapter start-up and development that may be utilized by volunteers at the local level.
  10. Conference calls will be hosted by the DESA staff for local chapter volunteer leadership to share best practices and to develop a network of idea sharing and support.

Chapter Objectives

  1. Raise awareness of:
    • "Exercise for Life!"
    • the importance of exercise in managing diabetes
    • the Diabetes Exercise and Sports Association
  2. Reach people with diabetes, and those affected by diabetes, delivering programs and services designed to meet the mission and objectives of DESA.
  3. Recruit volunteers to carryout the activities of the chapter.
  4. Raise money to support the activities of the local chapter and DESA's nationwide initiatives.
  5. Reach health care providers with information about the role of exercise in enhancing health.
  6. Recruit new members to DESA.

DESA • 310 West Liberty, Suite 604 • Louisville, KY  40202

Toll Free: 1-800-898-4322 • Fax: 1-502-581-0206 •