YOUR CHAPTER TIME LINE

While we understand that each chapter has different needs and will operate at a different pace, 
we have found that the following this time line helps ensure a chapter’s success. 

August

A member of the chapter leadership team attends the Annual Best Buddies Training Conference.

September

Recruitment – Recruitment – Recruitment

September is a great time to recruit your chapter leadership team and executive members. 
Once you have a leadership team, get out there and recruit students.

By month’s end, the matching process between students and buddies should have begun. 

October

First group event:
Meet and Greet: students and buddies get together for the first time. 
Invite parents, service clubs, media and anyone else who might be interested.

November

Second group event:
Time for the entire chapter to meet and have fun. November is also a good time to hold rap sessions, 
separate sessions for buddies and peer buddies to see how things are going.
 - have students fill out the friendship update form 
 - prepare a mid-year report 

January

Follow up on any paperwork. Reinvigorate the chapter with a welcome back event.

February

The chapter leadership team should be moving ahead with plans for Best Buddies Month in March, 
and should almost have everything in place for the chapter’s event.

Have chapter members visit the Best Buddies website and fill out the friendship update forms.

March

  Host a great Best Buddies Month group activity and be sure to take lots of pictures! 
Also, please keep track of the amount of people that participate in the event.

Start thinking about next year and who will be running the chapter. Start handing out application forms and 
information to students that might be interested in being part of next year’s chapter leadership team.

April

Next year’s chapter leadership team should be selected. One member of the CLT should 
apply to head to the national leadership conference in August.

For college and university chapters, host one last event before everyone heads out for 
the summer and make sure your annual report is in.

High school chapters, continue to have group events. Now would be a good time for a 
rap session and to begin considering who will be taking over the chapter next year

May

Complete the Year End Report.