Your Chapter’s January Kickoff Checklist

January sets the tone for your entire year as a chapter. It’s a fresh start, a clean calendar, and the perfect moment to get organized before things get busy again. The good news? You don’t need a complicated plan—or a full marketing department—to launch a strong, productive year.

This simple January Kickoff Checklist is designed specifically for AMPP chapter leaders. Whether you’re brand-new to your role or returning for another year, these steps will help you start 2026 with clarity, momentum, and confidence.

Update Your Chapter Information

January is when members look for updated details—new officers, events, meeting locations—so this is the perfect moment to make sure everything is accurate and easy to find.

Update the basics:

• Officer names and positions
• Contact email for your chapter
• Website content/AMPP Community Page and upcoming events
• Social media “About” sections
• Meeting schedules or preferred locations

Example:

If you’ve elected a new Chair or added a Young Professionals Liaison, be sure to update your chapter webpage so members know who to contact.

Helpful Resources:

You can find templates for various items on the AMPP Chapter Resources page.

Set Your First Quarter Events

You don’t need your whole year mapped out—but January is a great time to finalize what you want to do in the first three months.

Think in simple terms:

• One technical meeting
• One networking opportunity
• Optional: One special activity (facility tour, coating demo, student outreach, etc.)

Example Q1 lineup:

• February: Technical dinner with a local coatings expert
• March: Facility tour hosted by a sponsor
• April: Networking social at a local restaurant

Locking in early helps your chapter promote events sooner—and gets you better attendance.

Create a Simple January-March Marketing Plan

Your marketing plan doesn’t have to be fancy. Just decide what you want to communicate each month—and stick to a manageable routine.

Sample 3-Month Plan:

January

• Welcome Back email
• Social posts introducing your 2026 officers
• Promote February event (flyer + reminder posts)

February

• Event reminder emails
• Event photos posted afterward
• Sponsor shout-out on social media

March

• Member spotlight
• “Save the Date” for your next technical meeting
• Quick chapter update on upcoming activities

When you know what you’re sending and when, it’s much easier to stay consistent.

Helpful Resources:

• Email and social media templates
• Canva graphics for flyers and announcements
• Past webinars like Social Media Made Simple: Boosting your chapter’s visibility & events
   and Canva Made Simple: Create Flyers, Posts, and More for Your Chapter

Engage Members Early

Ways to reconnect:

• Send a “Welcome to 2026” email
• Ask them what topics they’d like to learn about this year
• Encourage students and young professionals to join your events
• Share one or two photos from last year's highlights

Example:

“Bring a colleague to our February event—visitors are always welcome!”

Small invitations like this go a long way in increasing attendance and expanding your community.

Confirm Your Sponsorship Opportunities

Steps to take this month:

• Review your sponsorship levels and benefits
• Add any new perks (e.g., logo on flyers, speaking opportunities, sponsored facility tour)
• Make a list of 10–15 local companies to reach out to
• Assign an officer or volunteer as the “Sponsorship Lead”

Example:

Offer a New Year Sponsorship Special—companies that sign up in January receive an additional social media spotlight or recognition at the first event.

Helpful Resources:

Check out the Smart Sponsorships: Building Chapter Support that Lasts webinar to learn how to build out sponsorship packages for your chapter. 

Clean Up Your Digital Spaces

Digital cleanup checklist:

• Remove outdated flyers
• Archive 2025 content
• Update banners and profile photos
• Ensure links and QR codes still work
• Organize your chapter’s shared Google Drive or OneDrive folders

Example:

Swap last year’s holiday photo for a clean, simple January or “Happy 2026” graphic.

Set Up Your Leadership Team for Success

Start the year with a clear understanding of responsibilities—this prevents confusion, burnout, and duplicated effort.

Have your first committee meeting to:

• Review your 2026 goals
• Assign tasks (emails, social media, sponsors, photography, etc.)
• Discuss the Q1 calendar
• Confirm how and when the committee will communicate (text thread, Teams, email)

Example:

• One officer handles all email communication
• Another owns social media posts
• Another ensures event photos are taken and uploaded
• Treasurer coordinates sponsorships

Clear expectations make the year easier for everyone.

Celebrate and Build Momentum

Ways to spark excitement:

• Post a New Year message from your chapter officers
• Thank your members, volunteers, and sponsors
• Share a “What’s Coming in 2026” preview
• Highlight a member, volunteer, or partner company

Example:

Post a simple graphic:
“Here’s to a safe, successful, and engaging 2026! We can’t wait to see you at our February event.”

Creating excitement early encourages attendance and signals that your chapter is active and ready for the year ahead.

Start Your Year Strong

You don’t need big budgets, perfect planning, or elaborate strategies to have a successful chapter year. With a few simple steps—updating your info, planning Q1 events, engaging members early, organizing your team, and refreshing your digital spaces—you’ll set your chapter up for a smooth, productive, and engaging 2026.

And remember: you never have to start from scratch.
The AMPP Chapter Resources page is full of templates, examples, webinars, and tools designed to make your role easier.

Have question or need help getting started? Reach out to chapters@ampp.org. We are here to help!

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