Volunteer Chapter Members > Start a New Chapter

Procedures for Starting a New Volunteer Chapter

I. Criteria for forming a new chapter

• Determine a qualified chairman
• Establish a minimum of 20 interested people for the nucleus
• Gain permission from the President of Freedoms Foundation to start a Candidate Chapter
• Maximum time of 18 months to organize
  1). Elect officers
  2). Learn about and participate in the FFVF’s programs
  3). Expand membership

II. Steering committee appointed by the chairman nominates a slate of Officers for forming the new chapter

• Chapter Board consisting of:
  1). President
  2). 1st Vice President
  3). Vice President-Programs
  4). Vice President-Awards
  5). Vice President-Continuing Education
  6). Vice President-Membership
  7). Treasurer
  8). Secretary
• President may appoint the following additional officers with board approval
  1). Parliamentarian
  2). Chairman of Fund Raising
  3). Editor of the Chapter Newsletter
  4). Other necessary positions as deemed appropriate

III. First year planning by board members

• Establish chapter’s key operations
  1). Dues
  2). Number of meetings
  3). Calendar of events for the next twelve months
  a). New Membership functions
  b). Award Presentations
  c). Annual Meeting (including election of officers, Board Meetings,
  And New Membership Meetings
  4). Review (together)
  a). Foundation programs
  b). Membership development
  c). Chapter management
  d). Policies & reports
  e). Bylaws & standing rules 
  f). Volunteer operations and the Strategic Plan
• Select two projects
  a). National Awards or either a teacher or a student conference
• Chapter responsible for developing our Programs in keeping with the FFVF objectives and principles
• Maintain communications with the host chapter (if available), the Region Advisor, the National Chair Person and the FFVF representative at Valley Forge

IV. Each chapter is self supporting

• Candidate chapters retain all dues for the first two years
• Thereafter, $10/chapter member is forwarded annually to Controller at the FFVF Headquarters in Valley Forge (IAW Policy Statement dated May 19, 1999)
  a). Plan and conduct fundraising events necessary for awards, educational programs and to sustain group’s administration

V. Attendance at Annual Volunteer Chapter Conferences

• President and one board member are to attend the first two years
• As a minimum one board member, thereafter

VI. Stationery, promotional and information materials are available from the chapter representative at the FFVF Headquarters