Lead & Succeed

Marketing With a Mission: Sharing Your Chapter’s ‘Why’ to Inspire Attendance and Action

Written by Lydia Prazak | Apr 28, 2025 2:00:00 PM

When you’re promoting your chapter, it's easy to focus on the logistics—what time your next event starts, where it’s being held, or how to register. But if that’s all you’re communicating, you’re missing a powerful opportunity.

What really draws people in—and keeps them coming back—is the why behind what you do.

In a world full of options and information overload, your chapter's mission is what sets you apart. It’s the heart of your marketing, and when you lead with purpose, people notice.

Why Your 'Why' Matters

People don’t just want information—they want meaning. They want to connect with something bigger than themselves. As leadership expert Simon Sinek famously says, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.”

Your chapter's “why” is your chance to tell members:

  • Why your community exists
  • Why it matters to the industry
  • And why they should be a part of it

When members and potential attendees understand your mission, they’re more likely to attend events, volunteer, and share your work with others.

How to Define Your Chapter's 'Why' 

Not sure how to express your chapter’s purpose? Start by asking a few key questions:

  • What value does our chapter bring to local professionals?
  • What problem are we solving or what opportunity are we creating?
  • Why did our leadership team get involved?
  • How do our events and activities support the bigger AMPP mission?

Bring your team together or even ask a few longtime members to help you brainstorm. You might be surprised by the passion and insight that surfaces when people reflect on why they joined and stayed.

Turning Your 'Why' Into Messaging

Once you’ve defined your mission, the next step is to share it—clearly and consistently. This doesn’t need to be a long statement. A few heartfelt lines are often more powerful than a polished paragraph.

Here are a few examples:

  • “We’re here to build a strong local network of materials protection professionals who learn from each other and raise industry standards.”
  • “Our mission is to connect and support corrosion experts in [City/Region] through meaningful events, education, and collaboration.”
  • “We create space for early-career professionals and veterans alike to share knowledge and keep critical infrastructure safe.”

Once you’ve written yours, sprinkle it throughout your materials:

  • In email invites and newsletters
  • On your social media profiles
  • At the beginning of presentations
  • On your chapter community or landing page
Use Storytelling to Reinforce Your Mission

Don’t just tell people your mission—show them. Use real member stories and local impact examples to bring your purpose to life.

Ideas to try:

  • Post monthly “Member Spotlights” showing why people participate
  • Share testimonials after events (what they learned, how it helped them)
  • Highlight the outcomes of a community service project or technical training

Stories make your mission tangible and help others picture themselves getting involved.

Promote with Purpose

Before sending that next event email or flyer, pause and ask: Does this clearly reflect our mission?

Here’s a quick checklist to help keep your promotions aligned with purpose:

✅ Does the message explain why this event or activity matters?

✅ Does it mention how it benefits members or the community?

✅ Is our chapter’s purpose statement included or implied?

✅ Are we inviting people to belong, not just attend?

You don’t have to overhaul everything overnight—just start infusing mission-driven language into your regular communications. Over time, it will strengthen your chapter’s identity and inspire deeper connections.

Final Thoughts

Your chapter's mission isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a guiding light. It gives your promotions meaning, attracts the right people, and reminds your team why your work matters.

Start with your “why,” and everything else—attendance, engagement, excitement—will follow.

We’re committed to helping your chapter succeed. Got a topic you want us to explore? Let us know—we’d love to hear from you.