The monthly chapter meeting

Founder THOMAS MONAGHAN writes that Legatus lives and dies by its monthly meetings . . .

Thomas Monaghan

by Thomas Monaghan

The Legatus experience is full of many blessings and opportunities — opportunities to attend the Annual Summit, to go on pilgrimages, to have access to concierge health services, and the list goes on.

Yet the heart of the Legatus experience has and always will be the monthly chapter meeting. This is where we as members come together, have an opportunity to go to Confession, attend Mass, have a date night with our spouse, be inspired/educated by a speaker, and have that invaluable opportunity for fellowship with other members.

What has the greatest impact on members’ experience of Legatus? Of course it’s the chapter meeting. As we continue to look at ways to support and enhance each member’s experience of Legatus, there are numerous things we will improve or develop. But none is as important as the monthly meeting.

This is one of the reasons that this past month we introduced a new initiative — the Chapter Coordinator Plus program — aimed at assisting chapter coordinators through shared resources, best practices and networking. We recognize that as an organization we want to assist each chapter in making their monthly meeting a masterpiece, and we understand that the chapter coordinator is absolutely central to making that happen.

Of course it goes without saying that dedicated chapter boards and officers are at the heart of any thriving chapter. Just as success in our respective businesses emanates from good leadership, so too does success in Legatus chapters.

If you look at any thriving chapter, I can assure you that it has a fully engaged board that is meeting regularly and taking proactive and intentional steps to make each chapter meeting a first-class experience for their members. These officers take pride in the quality of their events and work hard to ensure that monthly meetings are special. They are looking and planning ahead and are not satisfied with mediocre events.

So let me take this opportunity to thank all of you — especially the chapter officers and board members — for all that you continue to do to make the chapter meeting what it was always meant to be: the heart of the Legatus experience. If for one reason or another your chapter has lost focus, do not be discouraged. But let me encourage you to do something about it: Volunteer to help bring that spark back to the chapter meeting!

TOM MONAGHAN is Legatus’ founder and chairman. He is a member of Legatus’ Ann Arbor Chapter.