The Chapter Competition

When the Institute established chapters, it assumed an obligation to assist them in meeting their responsibilities to their members. At first, assistance was accomplished through memoranda and correspondence. A system was developed early for periodic payments to chapter treasuries based on their membership. To guide more clearly the concept of chapter operation, however, an annual competition among chapters was begun in 1924, at the suggestion of Charles R. Stevenson who donated a trophy to be awarded to the winner. The following year, a system of payments to chapters was incorporated. Since then, various other trophies and awards have been introduced to provide additional recognition for high performance and excellence of operations. The competition is directed toward stimulating chapters to promote IMA’s objectives and provide a broad spectrum of activities and services to members. Planning of each year’s chapter activities by officers and directors in the late spring and early summer is thus encouraged. The Chapter Competition, there-fore:

• Establishes standards of good performance through constant appraisal of chapter programs and activities.

• Measures actual performance against these standards by awarding credit for activities reported by each chapter. Monthly standings are published which effectively rate every chapter’s success in meeting these standards.

• Provides incentives such as trophies, banners, and awards for excellence in planning, performance and reporting of chapter activities.

• The competition is credited with having fostered a remarkable esprit de corps and kinship between the chapters and individual members. It has long been considered a sound and basic influence on the continued growth and advancement of the Institute