Chapter Organizer Handbook

What is a 99% Reset Chapter?

A chapter is a local node of the global movement—10-1000 members executing Phase 1-3 tactics in their city/region. Chapters are:

• Autonomous: You choose priorities (bank switches, union drives, CLTs)
• Democratic: One member, one vote on strategy
• Networked: Share toolkits, coordinate national campaigns
• Action-oriented: Not a book club—you build power

Why Chapters?

• Scale: 100 chapters with 100 members each = 10,000 activists → tipping point for policy wins
• Resilience: Decentralized (no single point of failure)
• Legitimacy: Elected leaders,transparent finances → credibility with media/politicians

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Chapter Lifecycle (3 Stages)

Stage 1: Launch (Months 1-6, 10-25 members)

Goal: Prove concept; complete 1 visible campaign

Activities:

• Weekly meetings (8-10 attendees)
• First campaign: Bank switch pledge drive (target: 50 switchers)
• Social media presence (Instagram, Twitter/X)

Structure:

• Informal: Rotating facilitator, shared Google Drive
• Funding: $0 (potlucks, free spaces)

Stage 2: Growth (Months 7-18, 25-100 members)

Goal: Win policy or build institution (CLT, co-op)

Activities:

• Monthly general meetings (30-50 attendees)
• 3 working groups (finance, labour, housing)
• Major campaign: Municipal vacancy tax or union drive

Structure:

• Semi-formal: Elected steering committee (5-7 people)
• Funding: $5K-$20K/year (membership dues, small donations)

Stage 3: Institutionalization (18+ months, 100-1000 members)

Goal: Permanent infrastructure (office, staff, multiple campaigns)

Activities:

• Quarterly assemblies (100+ attendees)
• 5+ working groups; paid organizers (1-3 staff)
• Multiple campaigns running simultaneously

Structure:

• Formal: Incorporated nonprofit, board of directors
• Funding: $50K-$500K/year (grants, dues, events)

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Launching Your Chapter (60-Day Plan)

Weeks 1-2: Recruit Founders

1. Target: 5-10 trusted people

   • Criteria: Reliable, diverse (age/race/class), share values
   • Where: Friends, coworkers, union hall, activist networks

2. Pitch:

   "Hey, I'm starting a local chapter of the 99% Reset—it's about shifting power from billionaires to workers via boycotts, unions, co-ops. Interested in helping launch? First meeting next Friday."

Weeks 3-4: First Meeting

3. Agenda (2 hours):

   • Intro (15 min): What is 99% Reset? (Use plan page)
   • Icebreaker (15 min): "One systemic problem you want to fix"
   • Brainstorm (45 min): "What should our first campaign be?" (Vote on top 3)
   • Next steps (15 min): Assign roles (facilitator, note-taker, social media)
   • Socialize (30 min): Snacks, get to know each other

4. Location: Free spaces (library, park, someone's home)

Weeks 5-6: Build Infrastructure

5. Communications:

   • Signal group for core team (secure, encrypted)
   • Public channels: Instagram + Twitter/X (post 3x/week)
   • Email list: Substack (free) or Mailchimp

6. Branding:

   • Logo: Use 99reset.org/press templates
   • Name: "99% Reset [City]" or "[City] Reset Chapter"

Weeks 7-8: Launch Campaign

7. Pick One: Choose simplest win

   • Bank switch pledge drive: 50 people commit to switch in 30 days
   • Union info session: Host speaker at local union hall (50 attendees)
   • CLT research: Publish report on vacant lots in your city

8. Announce:

   • Press release to local media
   • Social media launch: "We're the [City] chapter. Our first goal: [X]. Join us."

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Running Effective Meetings

Preparation (1 week before)

• Agenda: Sent 3 days in advance (email or Signal)
  • Example: Welcome (5 min) → Campaign update (20 min) → Working group reports (15 min) → Discussion (40 min) → Announcements (10 min) → Social (30 min)
• Roles: Assign facilitator, note-taker, time-keeper (rotate monthly)
• Location: Accessible (transit, wheelchair-friendly); free or cheap

During Meeting

• Start on time: Don't wait for stragglers (rewards punctuality)
• Stack: Use a "speaker stack" (hand-raising list; facilitator calls on people in order)
• Time limits: 2-3 minutes per person on contentious topics
• Decision-making: Consensus for major votes (campaigns, bylaws); majority for routine

After Meeting

• Notes: Shared within 24 hours (Google Doc, Notion)
• Action items: Who does what by when? (tag people)
• Follow-up: DM anyone who volunteered but seemed hesitant (check in)

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Growing from 10 to 100 Members

Recruitment Tactics

1. Events: Host monthly public events (film screenings, speakers, panels)

   • Example: "Housing Crisis Town Hall—feat. CLT organizer from Burlington"
   • Turnout: 30-50 people; convert 10% to members (3-5 new)

2. Tabling: Set up at farmers markets, university campuses, union rallies

   • Materials: Flyers, sign-up sheet, QR code to Signal group
   • Pitch: "We're organizing to tax billionaires and build co-ops. Want in?"

3. Partnerships: Co-host with aligned orgs (unions, tenant unions, climate groups)

   • Example: Joint protest against RBC fossil financing → recruit their members

4. Digital: Social media contests (tag 3 friends), local influencer shout-outs

Onboarding

• Welcome email: Within 24 hours (intro, next meeting, how to help)
• Buddy system: Pair newbies with veterans (coffee chat, answer questions)
• Quick win: Give new members easy task (e.g., "Can you post this on Instagram?")

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Campaign Planning (90-Day Cycle)

Month 1: Research & Strategy

• Working group: 5-8 people research issue (e.g., bank switch feasibility)
• Deliverable: Campaign plan (goal, tactics, timeline, resources needed)
• Vote: Present to general meeting; 66% approval to proceed

Month 2: Execution

• Weekly actions: Tabling, lobby meetings, social media blitz
• Track metrics: Sign-ups, media hits, petition signatures
• Adapt: If tactic fails (e.g., turnout low), pivot quickly

Month 3: Wrap-Up & Celebrate

• Win or learn: If goal hit (e.g., 50 bank switchers), celebrate publicly; if not, debrief what went wrong
• Media: Press release, photos, testimonials
• Rest: Take 2-week break before next campaign

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Working Group Structure

Chapters scale via working groups (5-15 people focused on one domain):

Coordination: Working groups report to general meeting monthly; steering committee ensures alignment.

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Governance Models

Informal (10-25 members)

• Meetings: Weekly, rotating facilitator
• Decisions: Consensus or majority vote
• Pros: Fast, flexible
• Cons: Can be cliquey; personality conflicts

Steering Committee (25-100 members)

• Structure: 5-7 elected leaders (6-month terms); general meeting votes on major decisions
• Roles: Coordinator, treasurer, communications lead, campaign leads (x2-3)
• Meetings: Steering meets weekly; general meets monthly
• Pros: Scalable, accountable
• Cons: Can become top-down if leaders don't listen

Board of Directors (100+ members)

• Structure: 7-11 elected board (1-year terms); staff handle operations
• Roles: Board sets strategy; ED (paid) executes
• Meetings: Board monthly; general quarterly
• Pros: Professional, sustainable
• Cons: Can lose grassroots feel

Best practice: Start informal → steering at 25 members → board at 100.

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Funding (Budget Tiers)

Tier 1: Shoestring ($0-$5K/year)

• Sources: Potlucks, free venues, volunteer labour
• Spend on: Domain name ($20), printing ($500), snacks ($300)

Tier 2: Sustainable ($5K-$50K/year)

• Sources: Membership dues ($10-$50/month × 50 members = $6K-$30K), small donations
• Spend on: Office rental ($5K), paid organizer ($20K part-time), events ($5K)

Tier 3: Institutionalized ($50K-$500K/year)

• Sources: Grants (foundations, unions), major donors, fundraising events
• Spend on: Staff ($150K for 2-3 FTEs), office ($15K), campaigns ($50K)

Transparency: Publish budget quarterly (Google Sheet); treasurer reports at meetings.

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Coalition-Building

Who to partner with:

• Labour: Unions (CUPE, Unifor, UFCW)
• Housing: Tenant unions (ACORN, Vancouver Tenants Union)
• Climate: 350.org, Council of Canadians
• Faith: Kairos, Islamic Relief
• Student: Canadian Federation of Students

How to collaborate:

• Co-host events: Split costs, cross-promote
• Shared campaigns: E.g., joint lobby day for vacancy tax
• Avoid: Turf wars (credit should be shared); mission drift (stay focused)

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Conflict Resolution

Common conflicts:

1. Personality clashes: Mediate privately (steering committee); if unresolved, suggest one person step back
2. Strategic disagreements: Vote (66% majority for major decisions); minority can dissent but must respect outcome
3. Burnout: Enforce term limits (no one stays in leadership >2 years); redistribute tasks

Red flags for toxicity:

• One person dominates every meeting
• Decisions made outside meetings (cliques)
• Retaliation for dissent

Fix: Address immediately (steering committee); if unresolved, remove toxic member (66% vote).

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Success Metrics

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Case Studies

Detroit People's Platform (Michigan—adapt for Canada)

• Founded: 2010 | Members: 1,000+ | Budget: $500K/year
• Wins: Community Benefits Ordinances (mandate local hiring); CLT with 50 units
• Lesson: Coalition power (15+ orgs) wins policy

Greater Toronto Workers' Assembly (Ontario)

• Founded: 2017 | Members: 200+ | Model: Federated chapters (Scarborough, Etobicoke)
• Wins: Support for 12 union drives; worker co-op incubation
• Lesson: Federation model scales without centralization

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FAQs

Q: How much time does organizing take?
A: Launch phase: 5-10 hours/week. Growth: 10-20 hours/week. If you have a job, share leadership (co-coordinators).

Q: What if no one shows up to first meeting?
A: Reschedule; personally invite 10 people (1-on-1 is more effective than mass invite).

Q: How do we handle infiltrators/trolls?
A: Membership approval process (steering committee votes on new members); code of conduct (ban harassment).

Q: Should we incorporate as nonprofit?
A: Not until 100+ members (legal/tax overhead). Before that, fiscal sponsor via allied nonprofit.

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Next Steps

1. Recruit 5 Founders: Text 10 people this week; aim for 5 "yes"
2. Schedule First Meeting: Pick date/location; send calendar invite
3. Register Chapter: 99reset.org/chapters/apply
4. Download Toolkit: Meeting agendas, campaign templates at 99reset.org/resources

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Resources

• Training Webinars: Monthly sessions for chapter leaders (99reset.org/training)
• Organizer Slack: Join #chapter-leaders channel for peer support
• Templates: Agendas, bylaws, budgets at 99reset.org/resources
• Case Studies: Beautiful Trouble (tactics library)

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Last Updated: November 2025
Difficulty: Medium (ongoing)
Impact: Very High (builds durable power)

Questions? Email info@99reset.org or book a 1-on-1 with national organizers.