guide to founding partnerscampus student chapters

PARTNERSCampus

Founding a

Student Chapter

Guide to

Table of Contents

About Partners of the Americas ............................................................. 1

Why Organize a PARTNERSCampus Student Chapter? ...................... 2

Student and University Benefits ............................................................ 3

Steps for Student Founders ................................................................... 4

Steps for Non-student Founders ........................................................ 16

Appendix .............................................................................................. 26

Introductory Information Sheet ...................................................... ii

Chapter Development Form .......................................................... iv

Information for Faculty/Staff Advisors .......................................... vi

Faculty/Staff Advisor Orientation Exercise .................................. viii

Charter Application ........................................................................ x

Membership Application .............................................................. xii

Annual Plan Exercise ................................................................... xiv

Membership Roster ...................................................................... xx

Chapter Dues Submittal Form ................................................... xxiv

Standard Chapter Constitution .................................................. xxvi

Promotional Poster .................................................................. xxxvi

Promotional Brochure ............................................................ xxxviii

Guide to Founding a Chapter 1

About Partners of the Americas

Founded in 1964, Partners of the Americas is an international

network of over 100 chapters dedicated to connecting individuals,

volunteers, institutions, businesses, and communities to serve and

to change lives through lasting partnerships. For almost 50 years,

Partners has worked to build an interconnected hemisphere that

maximizes the social and economic potential, and leverages the

full diversity, of the Americas.

At the heart of Partners is the “people-to-people” philosophy that

grew out of a 1962 call by President John F. Kennedy for citizens

of the Western Hemisphere to work together.

In accordance with that philosophy,

Partners connects the Americas to

address issues in fields such as

education, culture, health, youth

development, leadership, agriculture

and economics.

Men and women from all walks of

life – doctors, artists, high school

students, foresters, city

administrators, business owners,

professors,– are part of the

Partners family. Through Partners’

campus chapters, university

students now have the opportunity

to create and implement their own

innovative development and service

projects and change the lives of

people throughout the Americas.


Why Organize a PARTNERSCampus Chapter?

Partners’ campus chapters provide students with a unique

opportunity to utilize and develop their own particular skillsets

while engaging in important service and development programs.

Members choose, design and implement their own projects and

fundraisers while changing the lives of people throughout the

Americas. Through service learning, leadership development

programs and hands on implementation, members gain valuable

hands on experience in fields as diverse as Foreign Policy,

International Development, Social Enterprise, Finance, Marketing

and International Relations.

In addition to the students, campus chapters welcome a variety of

university-affiliated individuals, including faculty, administrators

and alumni. Members have access to extensive professional

training opportunities as well as support and guidance on

managing programs, conducting meetings and identifying

opportunities for development and service projects.

Universities partnered with a campus

chapter enjoy access to a rich and

diverse network of students,

professionals, volunteers,

businesses, NGOs, government

officials and other universities,

united through a common vision

of a more interconnected and

equitable hemisphere. Campus

chapters contribute to this vision

by nurturing cultural exchange,

leadership development and a

service mentality within the

campus community.


Student Benefits

Opportunity to serve communities

throughout the Americas

Design and implement innovative

service and development projects

while still in school

Improve professional skills, such as

public speaking, management,

foreign language and finance

Access to an extensive network of

chapters, individuals, businesses,

NGOs, universities and government

officials as well as Latin American

communities

Grant opportunities supplied by the

Partners of the Americas

Foundation

Resume building, professional

networking and research

opportunities

International exchange, internship

and service learning opportunities

Benefits to the College or

University

Access to international network

of chapters, individuals,

businesses, NGOs, universities

and government officials

Membership in a well-recognized

service organization

Positive public relations with

diverse communities throughout

the Americas

Unique opportunities for the

student body

Opportunities to attend or host

Partners of the Americas events

International exchange or service

opportunities


PARTNERSCampus

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Steps for Student Founders

Founding a campus chapter of Partners provides the university

community with a great opportunity to serve and aid the people of the

Americas, but setting up a new organization is not always easy. As a

student, you are already better equipped than most to handle the

unique policies of your school and generate interest among your friends

and classmates. Remember that we are here to help, and as you delve

into the foundation process, follow these eight easy steps to successfully

create a chapter at your university.


“Let us once again transform the American Continent into a

vast crucible of revolutionary ideas and efforts, a tribute to

the power of the creative energies of free men and women, an

example to all the world that liberty and progress walk hand

in hand. Let us once again awaken our American revolution

until it guides the struggles of people everywhere - not with

an imperialism of force or fear but the rule of courage and

freedom and hope for the future of man.”

President John F. Kennedy

Speech on the Alliance for Progress, 1961


STEP 1: Get to Know Us

We are excited that you are interested in starting a new

PARTNERSCampus chapter! This handbook is designed to be as

straightforward as possible and will be your guide as you take the

next steps in founding a new chapter. The first step is to make

sure that you are well acquainted with Partners of the Americas

and the mission of its chapters. Explore our website at

Partners.net and check out our “Get to Know Us” page. Take a

look at what other university chapters are doing by visiting

PARTNERSCampus Facebook pages and websites. Most

importantly, make sure you read through the Guide to Founding a

Chapter and familiarize yourself with the process. If you are

convinced that a PARTNERSCampus chapter

could make a difference at your

university, then go on to step two and

get things started!

STEP 2: Contact Partners

Now that you have read up on Partners

and have a good idea of what is involved

in founding a chapter, you probably have

lots of questions. We are here to help!

Email the completed Introductory Information

Sheet to [email protected] and we will get

in touch with you to schedule a conference call

with Partners of the Americas staff. Be sure to

prepare your questions in advance and involve

any fellow officers you might already have

recruited.


STEP 3: Contact the University

Universities usually have their own guidelines for student

organizations and a representative of the Student Activities or

Student Affairs Office should be able to help you navigate the

university policies. Schedule an appointment with the director or

other staff member and talk to them about the chapter you would

like to start. Bring along a copy of the Guide and make sure to

cover the following questions:

a) Is the contact familiar with Partners of the Americas? If not,

tell them about us! You can use the following points as a

guide:

Founded in 1964, Partners of the Americas is an

international network of over 100 chapters dedicated to

connecting individuals, volunteers, institutions,

businesses, and communities to serve and to change

lives through lasting partnerships. For almost 50 years,

Partners has worked to build an interconnected

hemisphere that maximizes the social and economic

potential, and leverages the full diversity, of the

Americas.

PARTNERSCampus chapters are volunteer service

organizations that galvanize student innovation and

determination to connect communities across the

Americas and promote friendship, volunteerism,

communication and understanding.

Campus chapters provide students with a unique

opportunity to utilize and develop their own particular

skillsets while engaging in important service and


development programs. Members choose, design and

implement their own projects and fundraisers while

changing the lives of people throughout the Americas.

In addition to the students, campus chapters welcome a

variety of university-affiliated individuals, including

faculty, administrators and alumni.

Partners of the Americas provides members with

excellent opportunities for professional and leadership

development. Mention the Sustainable Network

Training Programs and the PartnersConnect Peer-

Learning Events.

Due to the size and scope of Partners of the Americas,

the university chapter can be organized and maintained

with very little assistance from the school.

b) Does the college or university encourage student involvement

in Latin American development and partnership activities? If

yes, ask about the programs offered and if the Partners

campus chapter could get involved or expand the effort. If

not, explain that a Partners campus chapter could provide

this opportunity to the campus community.

c) Are there any specific requirements for student organizations,

such as a faculty advisor or official reporting requirements?

If requirements exist, ask for a written or online copy. Ask for

faculty advisor recommendations and make sure to write

down their names and contact info. Unless you already have

a faculty advisor in mind, make sure to get as many

recommendations as you can.


d) Do any limitations exist that would restrict membership to

students and exclude faculty, alumni and others? Partners

campus chapters are open to all university-affiliated

individuals, but must abide by the policies of their hosting

school. Make sure to get clear instructions about who the

school will allow to join the chapter.

e) How can the chapter be promoted on campus? Perhaps the

chapter could be showcased at a special event or publicized

in a school newspaper. Take a moment to discuss

promotional ideas and take note of any recommendations.

Ask about faculty announcements, manned display tables

during fall registration or rush week, placing posters on

campus and any other ideas you may have for promotion.

f) Are there any student leaders or student groups who may be

interested in participating? If the student activities

staff is aware of potential members or contributors,

obtain their names and contact information and be

sure to follow up with those individuals.

STEP 4: Build Leadership Team

While running a campus chapter can be a lot of

fun, there is also a bit of work involved.

Building an effective leadership team can

help to spread the work load and create a

more efficient and successful chapter.

a) Start with the Officers – Campus chapters

must have a minimum of four officers:

President, Vice-President, Treasurer and

Secretary. Search among the interested


students and elect candidates for these positions based on

their abilities and dedication to the chapter. These should be

motivated members who want to have a leadership role in the

new chapter and are willing to dedicate time and energy to

their positions.

b) Recruiting a Faculty/Staff Advisor – Campus chapters are

required to partner with at least one Faculty or Staff Advisor

to serve as a liaison between the chapter and the school and

ensure that the organization represents the entire campus

community. A Faculty/Staff Advisor also ensures the

continuity of the chapter as students come and go over the

years. Choosing a Faculty/Staff Advisor is a very important

task that can greatly affect chapter operations. In addition to

seeking the advice of the Student Activities Office, reach into

your network of former professors, friends and colleagues to

find potential candidates. Once you have some

candidates in mind, make an appointment to

discuss the new chapter. Use the

following points as a guideline for

your discussion.

Introduce yourself and

explain how you learned of the

potential candidate’s name and

information.

Lay out the basics of

Partners of the Americas and the

campus chapter you want to start.

Present the benefits of having a

Partners campus chapter at the

university or college and discuss

some of the possible projects and


activities for the chapter. Explain why the mission of

Partners is important to the student body.

Explain that you are looking for someone to serve as a

Faculty/Staff Advisor. Briefly review the Faculty/Staff

Advisor Orientation Exercise and let the candidate know

that they are welcome to be as involved as they would

like. Emphasize the support that Partners of the

Americas will provide via professional training programs

and peer events.

Ask if the individual is interested in serving as the

Faculty/Staff Advisor. If they are interested, proceed to

the Faculty/Staff Advisor Orientation Exercise or

schedule a time to come back. If not, ask the individual

to recommend someone else and, if possible, show

support for the chapter by joining as a member.

Ask about students and other faculty who may be

interested.

Make sure to leave something tangible that the

individual can look at later on such as the

PARTNERSCampus brochure.

STEP 5: Hold Informational Meeting

The objectives of the informational meeting are to promote the

formation of a new club and sign up as many potential members

as possible. This is your chance to show the campus

community why the mission of Partners is important and how

they can contribute by founding a Partners campus chapter.


Steps to Hosting a Successful Informational Meeting

a) If you have not already filled the chapter’s officer positions,

make sure to identify and recruit a core group of students

who will help organize the club and who might serve as

officers. Begin recruiting by developing a list of potential

members from your discussions with the student activities

staff, your Faculty/Staff Advisor, student organizations and

any other contacts you may have.

b) Promote the Informational Meeting through school

newsletters, newspapers, e-mails and bulletin boards.

Distribute brochures and hang posters with information about

the meeting. Most colleges or universities have a campus

listserv that sends daily or weekly messages about campus

events. Ask the student activities staff for help placing an

ad. Ask faculty members to make an announcement in their

classrooms and give them copies of the brochure. If

possible, place a table in a high traffic area and ask a key

student or faculty member to staff the table and promote the

chapter.

c) Contact the potential members to explain that you are

founding a Partners campus chapter and that they were

identified as having interest in the mission of Partners.

Invite them to the informational meeting and encourage them

to invite other students, faculty and alumni. Mail or e-mail

each prospect a short note confirming the meeting date and

location.

d) Develop a presentation about Partners of the Americas and

PARTNERSCampus chapters. You may want to include the

following in your presentation:


Brief History of Partners of the Americas

How PARTNERSCampus chapters operate

Benefits of joining a PARTNERSCampus chapter

Service and development projects that you already have

in mind for the chapter or examples from other chapters

Leadership and professional training offered by Partners

of the Americas

Dues structure

Q & A session

e) Make sure to distribute member applications to all who

attend and indicate how they should submit them.


STEP 6: Submit Charter Application via

e-mail, fax or regular post to:


PartnersCampus Chapter Unit

1424 K Street NW, Suite 700

Washington DC 20005

[email protected]

Phone: (202) 628-3300 Fax: (202) 628-3306

Append the following to the Charter Application:

Faculty/Staff Advisor Orientation Exercise

Roster with a minimum of seven (7) members

Dues Submittal Form with enclosed payment

Annual Plan Exercise

Chapter Affiliation Agreement

Signed and Ratified Chapter Constitution

Though normal processing time is usually very short, please

allow up to 45 days after the application is received by

Partners of the Americas to process the charter application

and to receive the official charter and chapter supplies.

STEP 7: Contact Partners Again

We want to hear about your progress and help you keep moving

forward as your chapter comes together. Once you have

submitted your completed charter application, contact us to

schedule another conference call so that we can give you some


feedback on your Annual Plan and support the planning of your

Informational Meeting and Launch Event.

STEP 8: Host Launch Event

It’s official – you’re a PARTNERSCampus chapter! Now it is

time to host a launch event to raise awareness about the

chapter, recruit new members, get the campus community

excited and maybe even do a little fundraising.

Launch events can take just about any form. Reach out to the

Partners network and your local connections and find out who

would like to contribute to the event. How could the event

represent your chapter? Perhaps most importantly, how can the

event be fun and still accomplish the goals of a launch event?

Chapters are free to design their own launch events, but here

are a few suggestions:

Happy Hour Party

Bowling Party

Date Auction

Trivia Night


PARTNERSCampus

Steps for Non-student Founders

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Founding a campus chapter of Partners provides the university

community with a great opportunity to serve and aid the people of the

Americas, but setting up a new organization is not always easy. Since

you are not a student, the burden of carrying out the foundation process

will largely be out of your hands once the student body becomes involved.

You, however, have a crucial role to play and you may continue to be an

important contributor to the chapter for years to come. Remember that

we are here to help, and as you delve into the foundation process, follow

these five easy steps to successfully create a chapter.


“We propose to complete the revolution of the Americas, to

build a hemisphere where all can hope for a suitable

standard of living and all can live out their lives in dignity

and in freedom.”

President John F. Kennedy

Speech on the Alliance for Progress, 1961


STEP 1: Get to Know Us

We are excited that you are interested in starting a new

PARTNERSCampus chapter! This handbook is designed to

be as straightforward as possible and will be your guide as

you take the next steps in founding a new chapter. The first

step is to make sure that you are well acquainted with

Partners of the Americas and the mission of its chapters.

Explore our website at Partners.net and check out our “Get to

Know Us” page. Take a look at what other university

chapters are doing by visiting PARTNERSCampus Facebook

pages and websites. Most importantly, make sure you read

through the Guide to Founding a Chapter and familiarize

yourself with the process. If you are convinced that a

PARTNERSCampus chapter could make a difference at a

local university, then go on to step two and get things started!


STEP 2: Contact Partners

Now that you have read up on Partners and have a good idea

of what is involved in founding a chapter, you probably have

lots of questions. We are here to help!

Email the completed Introductory Information Sheet to

[email protected] and we will get in touch with you to

schedule a conference call with Partners of the Americas

staff. Be sure to prepare your questions in advance and, if at

all possible, try to include someone from the university in the

conference call.

STEP 3: Approach the Prospective

School

Once you have identified a prospective college or university,

contact the Office of Student Affairs to schedule an

appointment with the student activities director. This is your

chance to get acquainted with school policies and procedures

regarding student activities and explore the available

resources for new student organizations. Make sure you bring

along the Guide to Founding PARTNERSCampus chapters as

well as the Campus Chapter Development Form. Both can be

used to help guide your conversation, but you should be sure

to cover the following points as well:

a) Is the contact familiar with Partners of the Americas? If not,

tell them about us! You can use the following points as a

guide:


Founded in 1964, Partners of the Americas is an

international network of over 120 chapters dedicated to

connecting individuals, volunteers, institutions,

businesses, and communities to serve and to change

lives through lasting partnerships. For almost 50 years,

Partners has worked to build an interconnected

hemisphere that maximizes the social and economic

potential, and leverages the full diversity, of the

Americas.

PARTNERSCampus chapters are volunteer service

organizations that galvanize student innovation and

determination to connect communities across the

Americas and promote friendship, volunteerism,

communication and understanding.

Campus chapters provide students with a unique

opportunity to utilize and

develop their own particular

skillsets while engaging in

important service and

development programs.

Members choose, design

and implement their own

projects and fundraisers

while changing the lives of

people throughout the

Americas.

In addition to the

students, campus

chapters welcome a

variety of university-


affiliated individuals, including faculty, administrators

and alumni.

Partners of the Americas provides members with

excellent opportunities for professional and leadership

development. Mention the Sustainable Network

Training Programs and the PartnersConnect Peer-

Learning Events.

Due to the size and scope of Partners of the Americas,

the university chapter can be organized and maintained

with very little assistance from the school.

b) Does the college or university encourage student involvement

in Latin American development and partnership activities? If

yes, ask about the programs offered and if the Partners

campus chapter could get involved or expand the effort. If

not, explain that a Partners campus chapter could provide

this opportunity to the campus community.

c) Are there any specific requirements for student organizations,

such as a faculty advisor or official reporting requirements?

If requirements exist, ask for a written or online copy. Ask for

faculty advisor recommendations and make sure to write

down their names and contact info. Unless you already have

a faculty advisor in mind, make sure to get as many

recommendations as you can.

d) Do any limitations exist that would restrict membership to

students and exclude faculty, alumni and others? Partners

campus chapters are open to all university-affiliated

individuals, but must abide by the policies of their hosting

school. Make sure to get clear instructions about who the

school will allow to join the chapter.


e) How can the chapter be promoted on campus? Perhaps the

chapter could be showcased at a special event or publicized

in a school newspaper. Take a moment to discuss

promotional ideas and take note of any recommendations.

Ask about faculty announcements, manned display tables

during fall registration or rush week, placing posters on

campus and any other promotional ideas you may have.

f) Are there any student leaders or student groups who may be

interested in participating? If the student activities staff is

aware of potential members or contributors, obtain their

names and contact information and be sure to follow up with

those individuals. This is particularly important for non-

student founders of campus chapters. Although non-students

are welcome to join and participate, PARTNERSCampus

chapters are primarily student organizations and only a group

of student officers can officially found a chapter. The

student activities director can be an invaluable resource when

searching for these potential student leaders.

STEP 4: Hold an Informational Meeting

The objectives of the informational meeting are to promote the

formation of a new club and sign up as many potential members

as possible. This is your chance to show the campus

community why the mission of Partners is important and how

they can contribute by founding a Partners campus chapter. In

addition, non-student founders need to locate students who are

interested in carrying out the rest of the founding process and

becoming officers in the new chapter.

Steps to Hosting a Successful Informational Meeting


a) If you have not already filled the chapter’s officer positions,

make sure to identify and recruit a core group of students

who will help organize the club and who might serve as

officers. Begin recruiting by developing a list of potential

members from your discussions with the student activities

director, student organizations and any other contacts you

may have.

b) Promote the Informational Meeting through school

newsletters, newspapers, e-mails and bulletin boards.

Distribute brochures and hang posters with information about

the meeting. Most colleges or universities have a campus

listserv that sends daily or weekly messages about campus

events. Ask the student activities staff for help placing an

ad. Ask faculty members to make an announcement in their

classrooms and give them copies of the brochure. If

possible, place a table in a high traffic area and ask a key

student or faculty member to staff the table and promote the

chapter.

c) Contact the potential members to explain that you are

founding a Partners campus chapter and that they were

identified as having interest in the mission of Partners.

Invite them to the informational meeting and encourage them

to invite other students, faculty and alumni. Mail or e-mail

each prospect a short note confirming the meeting date and

location.

d) Develop a presentation about Partners of the Americas and

PARTNERSCampus chapters. You may want to include the

following in your presentation:


Brief History of Partners of the Americas

How PARTNERSCampus chapters operate

Benefits of joining a

PARTNERSCampus chapter

Service and development

projects that you already

have in mind for the chapter

or examples from other

chapters

Leadership and professional

training offered by Partners of

the Americas

Dues structure

Q & A session

e) Make sure to distribute member

applications to all who attend and

indicate how they should submit

them.

STEP 5: Guide Student Officers

Through the Steps for Student Founders

Once you have identified a core group of students who are

interested in becoming officers, it is time to hand over

responsibility for the chapter’s founding to these student

leaders. Although your role as a non-student founder has been

an important one, it is crucial at this point to allow the student

leaders to take ownership of the chapter and manage the rest of

the foundation process. Your supporting role may continue to

be vital to the chapter’s operations, but in the end, the students

will be responsible for the chapter’s success or failure.


Appendix

Introductory Information Sheet ...................................................... ii

Chapter Development Form .......................................................... iv

Information for Faculty/Staff Advisors .......................................... vi

Faculty/Staff Advisor Orientation Exercise .................................. viii

Charter Application ........................................................................ x

Membership Application .............................................................. xii

Annual Plan Exercise ................................................................... xiv

Membership Roster ...................................................................... xx

Chapter Dues Submittal Form ................................................... xxiv

Standard Chapter Constitution .................................................. xxvi

Promotional Poster .................................................................. xxxvi

Promotional Brochure ............................................................ xxxviii

ii

PARTNERSCampus

Introductory Information

We are excited that you are interested in starting a new PARTNERSCampus

chapter! As a first step, please complete this document and submit it to

[email protected]. Once we have received your information, we will contact you

to schedule an introductory conference call to discuss the process of founding a

chapter and answer any questions that you may have.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

First Name Last Name

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Street Address City/State/Country Postal/Zip Code

Phone ___________________________________________ E-mail address______________________________________________

Preferred mode of communication: ☐Mail ☐E-mail

University and Department ___________________________________________

☐ Student ☐ Faculty ☐ Staff ☐ Other

Class Year (if applicable) ___________________________________________

1. Why do you want to found a PARTNERSCampus chapter at your school and why do you think

that your school would be a good host to a chapter?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. How does your school support student organizations on campus? For example, does your

school provide funds or facilities for meetings?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What is the process, including the timeline, for starting a new student organization at your

school? Have you already begun this process?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Are you as an individual already affiliated with Partners of the Americas? If so, how?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For Student Founders Only:

1. While running a campus chapter can be a lot of fun, there is also a bit of work involved.

Building an effective leadership team can help to spread the work load and create a more

efficient and successful chapter. How do you plan to recruit your leadership team?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Each campus chapter is required to partner with at least one Faculty or Staff Advisor to

serve as a liaison between the chapter and the school and ensure that the organization

represents the entire campus community. What faculty/staff do you plan to approach for

this position?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For Non-student Founders Only:

1. Although your role as a non-student founder is an important one, it is crucial to understand

that the student leaders must take ownership of the chapter and its activities. How will you

recruit students to lead and join a PARTNERSCampus chapter?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. How will you support the chapter once it is up and running?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

iv

PARTNERSCampus

Chapter Development Form

PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT CLEARLY

Name of Campus Chapter ___________________________________________________________________

Located in ________________________________________________________________________________ City State, Province or Country

_______________________________________________________ First Name Last Name

_____________________________________________________

Phone Number

____________________________________________________

Title or Position

____________________________________________________

E-mail address

How could the Chapter benefit the school?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How could the Chapter benefit the students and/or faculty and staff?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What requirements must the Chapter meet?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Is a faculty/staff advisor required by the school? ☐Yes ☐No

In any case, what faculty/staff members might be interested?

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Name Title E-mail/Phone

The membership may include (check all that apply):

☐Students ☐Faculty ☐Staff ☐Alumni

Other:________________________________________________________________________________________________

How can a new Chapter be promoted on campus? Dates for promotion

☐Manned display in high traffic area ____________________

☐Rush week or spring and fall registrations ____________________

☐Special event ____________________

☐Campus newsletter ____________________

☐Campus newspaper ____________________

☐Post on the University’s Facebook page ____________________

☐Department list serves ____________________

☐Posters on campus bulletin boards ____________________

☐Presentation to students ____________________

☐Announcement in classes ____________________

☐Online community calendar ____________________

☐Other ____________________

Key students who can help form the Chapter:

Name Title E-mail

Date of Informational Meeting:________________________________

Notes:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

vi

PARTNERSCampus

Information for Faculty/Staff Advisors

PARTNERSCampus Chapters

Partners of the Americas is an international

network of over 100 chapters partnered with

individuals, NGOs, private sector organizations,

educational institutions and governments to

promote friendship, volunteerism,

communication and understanding among the

peoples of Latin America, the Caribbean and the

United States. Partners initiatives address

issues in fields as diverse as education, culture,

health, youth development, leadership,

agriculture and economics. Through Partners’

campus chapters, university students have the

opportunity to create and implement their own

innovative solutions in these fields and change

the lives of people throughout the Americas.

Campus chapters are open to a variety of

university-affiliated individuals, including

students, faculty, administrators and alumni.

Members have access to extensive leadership

training opportunities as well as volunteer

support and guidance on managing programs,

conducting meetings and identifying

opportunities for development and service

projects.

As a member of a PartnersCampus chapter,

students will be able to help determine the types

of services and development projects to carry out

based on their own innovative project designs

and the perceived needs of the target

community. The possibilities are endless and

may include technical assistance programs,

exchanges, youth development programs,

microcredit loans or any other project that

would support the mission of Partners.

Members may even decide to simply

fundraise for a Partners of the Americas

signature program, but they are

encouraged to develop their own

projects.

Partners’ campus chapters provide students with

a unique opportunity to utilize and develop their

own particular skillsets while engaging in

important service projects. Through service

learning, leadership development programs and

hands on implementation, members will gain

valuable experience in fields of study as diverse

as Foreign Policy, International Development,

Social Enterprise, Finance, Marketing and

International Relations.

Faculty Involvement

It is required that PartnersCampus chapters be

allied with one or more Faculty/Staff Advisors

who serve as a liaison between the chapter and

the school and ensure that the organization

represents the entire campus community. A

Faculty/Staff Advisor also ensures the continuity

of the chapter as students come and go over the

years.

It is also recommended that the Faculty/Staff

Advisor become an active member and

participant in the chapter leadership, offering

guidance and advice where needed.

Faculty/Staff involvement is highly encouraged

and appreciated, but less active advisors are

welcome to participate at whatever level they

prefer. If they wish, advisors may simply oversee

the meetings and activities of the chapter.

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Student Benefits

Opportunity to serve communities throughout the

Americas

Design and implement innovative service and

development projects while still in school

Improve professional skills, such as public

speaking, management, foreign language and

finance

Access to an extensive network of chapters,

individuals, businesses, NGOs, universities and

government officials as well as Latin American

communities

Grant opportunities supplied by the Partners of the

Americas Foundation

Resume building, professional networking and

research opportunities

International exchange, internship and service

learning opportunities

Suggested Duties of the

Faculty/Staff Advisor

A simple process for establishing advisor

responsibilities is provided in the Faculty/Staff

Advisor Responsibilities Orientation which serves

as a starting point for the advisor’s relationship

with the chapter. While advisor involvement will

vary from chapter to chapter, there are a few

suggested responsibilities that most advisors will

embrace.

Ensure that chapter activities are managed

according to school policy and that the

constitution and bylaws conform to the

guidelines governing student organizations.

Monitor the chapter’s financial records to

ensure they comply with campus regulations.

Aid recruitment through contact with faculty

members and students.

Inform members of campus activities and

events.

Facilitate communication with campus

departments, faculty and administration.

Funnel suggestions for service and

development projects from university staff

and other contacts.

Help the chapter publicize its activities and

accomplishments in campus publications

and web sites.

Collaborate with advisors from other

organizations to form joint projects.

Encourage club members and officers to

participate in Partners of the Americas

events, especially leadership development

programs.

Help obtain meeting space for regularly

scheduled meetings.

Chapter Support

Partners of the Americas and its extensive

network will support the campus chapter by

providing:

Professional Training and Support – Each

chapter will have opportunities to participate in

professional development programs offered by

Partners of the Americas. These training

programs cover topics such as leadership,

finance and marketing and might also be tailored

to a chapter’s specific needs.

Local Chapter Liaison – Campus chapters located

in or near one of the over 100 cities with local

Partners chapters will receive support and

guidance from the local chapter’s leadership and

will have access to chapter events and activities.

Partners of the Americas International Office –

Through professionally developed materials,

members will learn how to design effective

service and development projects, carry out

effective recruitment strategies and learn

valuable chapter management techniques.

Benefits to the College or University

Access to international network of chapters,

individuals, businesses, NGOs, universities and

government officials

Membership in a well-recognized service

organization

Positive public relations with diverse communities

throughout the Americas

Unique opportunities for the student body

Opportunities to attend or host Partners of the

Americas events

Exchange or service opportunities

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PARTNERSCampus

Faculty/Staff Advisor Orientation Exercise

The role of a faculty/staff advisor varies, but it is always an important one.

Advisors form a vital part of

PARTNERSCampus chapters and provide

guidance and continuity for a highly fluid

group of student members. The scope and

frequency of a chapter’s activities, the

effectiveness and commitment of its

officers, and a host of other factors all

influence an advisors level of activity

within a chapter. However, an advisor

should always be committed to the

chapter’s success and should be willing to

work with the student leadership to reach

the chapter’s goals in a variety of areas.

With their expertise and experience,

advisors can often provide significant

insights on chapter issues such as

fundraising, recruiting, project design,

implementation, conflict resolution and

changes of leadership. One of the

advisor’s most important tasks is providing

continuity as student leaders and members

graduate or become less involved. In

addition, an advisor is a rich source of

institutional memory for the chapter and

can be a great resource for the members.

Faculty/staff advisors and the chapter’s

student leadership must create a pattern of

teamwork specifically tailored to the

personalities and needs of both parties. In

the development of such a relationship, it

is important to have a reference to help

guide each party’s expectations. Listed

below is a set of duties and activities

which frame the involvement of an advisor.

These are expectations which can be

negotiated between the chapter leaders

and their advisor to help both parties arrive

at a clear and mutually agreeable advisor

role.

Separately, the advisor and the chapter

officers should complete the exercise by

ranking each item from 1 to 5, with 1

being an essential duty of the advisor and

5 being absolutely not an advisor’s duty.

Once each party has completed the

exercise, compare results and discuss any

disparities. Try to reach an agreement on

each item that will allow the advisor to

participate at their desired level but ensure

that the needs of the chapter are met.

Once the exercise is complete, both parties

must sign below and submit the document

with the charter application.

1-5

1) ___ Attend all general meetings

2) ___ Attend all executive committee meetings

3) ___ Call meetings of the executive committee when necessary

4) ___ Explain university policies and procedures when relevant to the discussion

5) ___ Ensure that the officers observe university policies and procedures

6) ___ Meet with the chapter president before each general meeting

7) ___ Help the president prepare an agenda before each general meeting

8) ___ Speak up during discussion when the chapter may be making a poor decision

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Name of Chapter: _______________________________________

Host University: _________________________________________

Faculty/Staff Advisor: First Name: __________________ Last Name: ______________________

Signature: ________________________________ Date: ___/___/___ Phone: ________________

E-mail: _______________ Mailing Address: _________________________________________________

UniversityAffiliation________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Officers:

President: First Name: __________________ Last Name: ______________________

Signature: ________________________________ Date: ___/___/___

Vice President: First Name: __________________ Last Name: ______________________

Signature: ________________________________ Date: ___/___/___

Treasurer: First Name: __________________ Last Name: ______________________

Signature: ________________________________ Date: ___/___/___

Secretary: First Name: __________________ Last Name: ______________________

Signature: ________________________________ Date: ___/___/___

9) ___ Take an active part in forming the goals of the chapter

10) ___ Take an active role in determining the types of events that the chapter sponsors

11) ___ Check/edit all official correspondences sent on behalf of the chapter

12) ___ House and maintain all chapter materials, records, supplies, etc. during the summer

and during officer transitions

13) ___ Inform the chapter if they violate their own constitution or standing rules

14) ___ Mediate interpersonal conflicts between members

15) ___ Assist the chapter in the development of its leaders

16) ___ Evaluate events, projects and programs as well as the people responsible for them

17) ___ Take initiative in developing teamwork and cooperation among the officers

18) ___ Represent the chapter in any conflict with members of the university administration

19) ___ Gain familiarity with university resources and procedures that affect chapter activities

20) ___ Establish and maintain a relationship with the university’s Student Activities Office

21) ___ Take an active part in assuring orderly leadership transition

By signing this agreement, the Faculty/Staff Advisor and the chapter officers agree to maintain a

positive working relationship and meet the agreed upon expectations. In addition, the advisor and

officers agree that they will communicate with each other if expectations are not being met or need to

be revised over the course of the relationship.

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PARTNERSCampus

Charter Application

Please return with

1) Faculty/Staff Advisor Orientation Exercise

2) Roster with a minimum of seven (7) members

3) Dues Submittal Form and payment of $150

4) Annual Plan Exercise

5) Chapter Affiliation Agreement

6) Signed and Ratified Chapter Constitution


Date _______________________

Name of Proposed Campus Chapter ______________________________________________________ Partners Campus Chapter

University

Located in ___________________________________________________________________________________________________

City State, Province or Country

If you are affiliated with a Partners of the Americas Chapter, please include their name: __________________________________

NEW CHAPTER OFFICERS

President ____________________________________________


________________________________________________________

Street Address

________________________________________________________

City/State/Country Postal/Zip Code

________________________________________________________

Phone

* Please include area codes and country codes if outside the USA

E-mail address___________________________________________

Preferred communications via: ☐ Mail ☐E-mail

Secretary ___________________________________________


________________________________________________________

Street Address

________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________

Phone


E-mail address___________________________________________

Preferred communications via ☐Mail ☐E-mail

Vice-President______________________________________


________________________________________________________

Street Address

________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________

Phone


E-mail address___________________________________________

Preferred communications via: ☐Mail ☐E-mail

Treasurer ___________________________________________


________________________________________________________

Street Address

________________________________________________________


________________________________________________________

Phone


E-mail address___________________________________________


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PARTNERSCampus

Membership Application


Name of Campus Chapter _______________________________________________________________________________________

Located in ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

City State, Province or Country

Member Status: ☐New Member ☐Existing Member

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Street Address City/State/Country Postal/Zip Code

Phone ___________________________________________ E-mail address______________________________________________


ENROLLMENT STATUS

School Name: ___________________________________________________ Anticipate Graduation Date: __________/___________

Included Proof of Enrollment: ☐ ID ☐ CS ☐ TR ☐ BL ☐ OT

Key Codes for Proof of Enrollment

ID – Student Identification Card

CS – Class Schedule

TR – Transcript

BL – Bill

OT – Other

CERTIFICATION

By signing below, I certify that the foregoing information is true and correct.

_________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________

(applicant’s signature) Date

For the purpose of the Partners of the Americas’ Partners Campus Program, eligible members are students who are enrolled in an educational

institution, alumni, faculty and staff from said host institution.

Dues: Membership processing cannot be completed until dues have been paid in full to your elected officers.

(For Officer Use Only) Dues Status: ☐ Paid in Full ☐ Paid in Part (Amt. Paid:___________) ☐ Unpaid

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PARTNERSCampus

Annual Plan

Name of Campus Chapter ___________________________________________________________________________

Annual Plan for Academic Year: 20__ - 20____

I. Chapter Mission:

THE MISSION of __<Chapter Name>_is (1) To promote international relationships through joint initiatives of the

people of the Americas in an active volunteer association so that through common efforts, interchange and mutual

cooperation, the common goal of advancing the social and economic well-being of the peoples of the Americas based

upon considerations of human dignity and mutual responsibility may be encouraged and otherwise fostered; (2) To

work together on common interests such as the educational, cultural, health, social, agricultural, and economic fields,

and to aid in every possible manner in the implementation of projects of mutual interest for the American

communities; (3) To establish additional avenues of friendship, understanding, involvement, and mutual respect

among the peoples of the Americas.

II. Chapter Officers

President __________________________________________


Email____________________________________________________

Secretary __________________________________________


Email____________________________________________________

Vice-President _______________________________________


Email______________________________________________________

Treasurer ____________________________________________


Email______________________________________________________

Additional Officers

Position_________________________________________________

__________________________________________________


Email___________________________________________________

Position_________________________________________________

__________________________________________________


Email___________________________________________________

Position_________________________________________________

__________________________________________________


Email___________________________________________________

Position_________________________________________________

__________________________________________________


Email___________________________________________________

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Faculty/Staff Advisors

Advisor__________________________________________________


Email_________________________________________________________

Position at University___________________________________________

Advisor_______________________________________________


Email_______________________________________________________

Position at University_________________________________________

III. Executive Committee Meeting Schedule

Holding frequent meetings of the Executive Committee will allow your chapter to maintain healthy communications

and ensure that your annual goals are being met. These meetings will be crucial in organizing events, planning

activities, reestablishing priorities, updating the chapter on local and network-wide activities, and developing new

initiatives.

Date or Frequency Purpose Location

IV. Chapter Goals for the Year:

Please reference your chapter’s mission statement in developing your chapter’s goals for the year. The goals

submitted to Partners should contain the following components: objectives, activities, the resources required and

timeline of activities.

Objective(s): These should be specific, related to the overall goal and reasonable for your chapter.

Activities: What must take place for the objectives to be reached? What activities will your chapter hold in order to

accomplish the committee’s objectives?

Resources: Indicate financial and in-kind support required to carry out the plan.

Timeline: Set a realistic timeline for your goals that can be completed within the duration of the annual plan or as

part of a larger initiative. Include tentative dates for initiation and completion of activities.

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Below we have provided four goals which we strongly suggest you set for your chapter. Modify them as necessary for

your chapter, including objectives, resources and a timeframe.

Goal 1 – Build Membership

Building a strong and active network is central to achieving Partners’ mission. By expanding your membership, you

will have the ability to raise awareness of your Chapter’s activities, engage new audiences and organize activities that

will have a greater impact in your community.

Objectives to Achieve Goal

Resources

Timeline

1. <Define step to reach goal> For example, “Collaborate with

two additional chapters to build a relationship and cross

promote events (all events are recruitment opportunities!)”

2. <Define step to reach goal> For example, “Gain 15 new

and consistent members by the end of fall semester by

hosting two unique social events and encouraging current

members to recruit 3 people each to come. “

3. <Define step to reach goal> For example, “Create incentive

system for members to return (i.e. Northeastern

University’s Stamp for Raffle incentive program)”

Goal 2 – Actively Engage and Build Faculty/Administrative Support


Resources

Timeline

1. <Define step to reach goal> For example, “Reach out to and

meet with six faculty members to introduce them to

Partners and propose that they participate on the Advisory

Board. They may also participate by promoting Partners

Campus in their classroom, supporting your chapter’s

initiatives, providing their network as speaker resources, or

brainstorming further activities on campus.”

2. <Define step to reach goal> For example, “Meet with an

administrator in the career development center to develop a

strategic plan for providing your members with resources

and opportunities for careers/professional development.”

3. <Define step to reach goal> For example, “Contact your

admissions office to find out how to get your chapter’s

information included in freshman orientation week

activities.”

Goal 3 – Establish a Relationship with a Partners’ Chapter or Partners Campus Chapter


Resources

Timeline

1. <Define step to reach goal> For example, “Reach out to

a member of your local Partners Chapter or other

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Partners Campus Chapter for a 20 minute Q&A to learn

more about their chapter and their activities.”

2. <Define step to reach goal> For example, “Contact the

Chapter’s Executive Officers to develop joint activities

or identify projects that could benefit from the support

of your Chapter.”

3. <Define step to reach goal> For example, “Co-host an

event to share information about your activities or to

address a subject of shared interest.”

Goal 4 – Maintain Long-term Chapter Vitality


Resources

Timeline

1. <Define step to reach goal> For example, “Implement

use of Google docs as a communications/planning

platform for leadership team.”

2. <Define step to reach goal> For example, “Create ‘how-

to’ processes documents for leadership transition,

election, event planning, and fundraising (e.g.

administrative tasks) that includes important contact

information for pre-established

administrator/vendor/corporate partners.”

3. <Define step to reach goal> For example, “Establish

committees to work closely with each chair, that way

there is a strong group of eligible applicants for the

following year’s chair positions.”

V. Chapter Events and Initiatives

A core chapter activity is to provide well planned and professionally executed events to educate and bring members

together. We recommend that these events be a mix of professional development, education, community involvement,

and social outings. Suggested activities include: monthly speaker series, social hours with alumni, volunteer days,

chapter participation in Partners of the Americas events and programs.

Event/Initiative 1

Name of Event:

Description of Event:

Date/Month:

Chairperson managing event:

Event Category: For example, Professional Development

Event/Initiative 2

Name of Event:


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Date/Month:


Event Category: For example, International Project Development or Alternative Break Planning

Event/Initiative 3

Name of Event:


Date/Month:


Event Category: For example, Networking

Event/Initiative 4

Name of Initiative:

Description of Initiative:

Timeframe:

Chairperson managing initiative:

Event Category: For example, Curriculum Change

Event/Initiative 5

Name of Initiative:


Timeframe:


Event Category: For example, Leadership Development

Event/Initiative 6

Name of Initiative:


Timeframe:


Event Category: For example, Service Projects

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PARTNERSCampus

Membership Roster


_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Name of Campus Chapter Date

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Host University Name & Address City State, Province or Country

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Website Chapter E-mail Address Chapter Phone

Title: ☐ Mr. ☐ Mrs. ☐ Ms. ☐ Miss ☐ Other_______________ Status: ☐ New ☐ Renewal. ☐ Transfer

Name ______________________________________________________________ Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy) _____/_____/______

Address ____________________________________________________________ Amount Paid _______________________________

City _______________________________________ State/Province/Country_________________________ Zip Code ________________

Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________

University Affiliation: ☐ Student ☐ Faculty ☐ Staff ☐ Alumni





Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________






Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________


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Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________






Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________






Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________






Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________






Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________


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Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________






Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________






Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________






Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________






Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________


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Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________






Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________






Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________






Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________






Home Phone________________________________ Email _________________________________________________________________


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PARTNERSCampus

Chapter Dues Submittal Form

Dues submittal for Academic Year: 20__ - 20____

I. Chapter Name:

II. Chapter Officers

President __________________________________________


Email____________________________________________________

Secretary __________________________________________


Email____________________________________________________

Vice-President _______________________________________


Email______________________________________________________

Treasurer ____________________________________________


Email______________________________________________________

Additional Officers

Position_________________________________________________

__________________________________________________


Email___________________________________________________

Position_________________________________________________

__________________________________________________ First Name Last Name

Email___________________________________________________

Position_________________________________________________

__________________________________________________


Email___________________________________________________

Position_________________________________________________

__________________________________________________ First Name Last Name

Email__________________________________________________

III. Amount Enclosed: ______________________ Date: _____________

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PARTNERSCampus

Chapter Constitution

June 13th, 2011

Preamble

Partners of the Americas – and therefore, the PARTNERSCampus chapter – is a private,

apolitical, nonsectarian, non-profit organization, whose purpose is to promote friendship, volunteerism, communication and understanding among the peoples of Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States. Partners of the Americas links Partnerships representing countries and regions from the Americas for the following purposes, among others: (1) To promote international relationships through joint initiative of the people of the Americas in an active volunteer association so that through common efforts, interchange and mutual cooperation, the common goal of advancing the social and economic well-being of the peoples of the Americas based upon considerations of human dignity and mutual responsibility may be encouraged and otherwise fostered; (2) To work together on common interests such as the educational, cultural, health, social, agricultural, and economic fields, and to aid in every possible manner in the implementation of projects of mutual interest for the American communities; (3) To establish additional avenues of friendship, understanding, involvement, and mutual respect among the peoples of the Americas.

ARTICLE I—Definition and Mission Section 1–This organization shall be known as the ____________________ _______________________________________ Student Chapter of Partners of the Americas, a non-governmental, non-political and not-for-profit organization, organized under the guidance of the International Office located at 1424 K Street NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005 USA.

Section 2– THE MISSION of Partners of the Americas—and therefore, the PARTNERSCampus

chapter—is (1) To promote international relationships through joint initiative of the people of the Americas in an active volunteer association so that through common efforts, interchange and mutual cooperation, the common goal of advancing the social and economic well-being of the peoples of the Americas based upon considerations of human dignity and mutual responsibility may be encouraged and otherwise fostered; (2) To work together on common interests such as the educational, cultural, health, social, agricultural, and economic fields, and to aid in every possible manner in the implementation of projects of mutual interest for the American communities; (3) To establish additional avenues of friendship, understanding, involvement, and mutual respect among the peoples of the Americas.

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Article II—Affiliation

Section 1-- The __________________________Student Chapter of Partners of the Americas is

affiliated with the parent organization, Partners of the Americas, and will have the following

privileges and responsibilities:

A. Privileges a. Access to the Partners of the Americas Database of programs, chapter

leaders and partnerships, including those with organizations, institutions and individuals.

b. Access to all training programs and other Network Innovator opportunities offered by Partners of the Americas.

c. Access to domestic and international events sponsored by Partners of the Americas, including the PartnersConnect Peer Learning Events, at the chapter’s expense.

d. Guidance and assistance regarding leadership, programming and chapter operations. Other topics may be addressed upon the chapter’s request, and upon agreement to assist by Partners of the Americas International Office.

e. Speakers, representatives and/or information from the International Office for special programs, when available. If a cost must be incurred by the chapter at any time during this process, the International Office will provide this rate prior to any commitment being made.

f. A link on the Partners.net website to the PARTNERSCampus chapter

website or Facebook/LinkedIn page. g. Free access to the Partners of the Americas Seal and Logo as adopted by

the Board of Directors. No liberties may be taken with the logo’s form, color or text without the express permission of the parent organization.

B. Responsibilities – Each PARTNERSCampus chapter must perform the following:

h. Feature the Partners of the Americas Logo or PARTNERSCampus Logo

on all promotional publications if one of those logos is not already featured in the Chapter’s logo.

i. Pay annual dues in the amount of $150 to the International Office of Partners of the Americas.

j. Maintain at least 7 dues paying members. k. Submit annual chapter reporting to the International Office to record

chapter activities over the past year. Section 2–The chapter shall have the option of carrying out Partners of the Americas programs or establishing its own programs so long as all activities are consistent with the mission statement and promote the core values of Partners of the Americas.

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Article III – Partnerships Section 1– The strength of Partners of the Americas lies in the efforts and activities of members working to promote social and economic development in the Americas. To achieve this goal, Partners of the Americas operates through a network of semi-autonomous, North American chapters, each of which is partnered with a Latin American chapter. In addition, each chapter may informally partner with individuals, NGOs, private sector organizations, educational institutions, governments and other social actors interested in promoting innovative solutions that change lives.

Section 2— Although it is not required, a PARTNERSCampus chapter may elect to enter into

a partnership with another PARTNERSCampus chapter at the discretion of the chapter

members. A supermajority vote of 2/3 or more of the membership in both chapters must approve of the partnership for it to take effect and a Partnership Agreement must be signed and renewed annually by the President and Vice-President of both the involved

PARTNERSCampus chapters.

Section 3—No vote will be necessary for renewal of the Partnership Agreement.

Section 4—A partnership between PARTNERSCampus chapters may be nullified by either

party with a supermajority vote of 2/3 in favor of nullification. Prior to a vote for nullification, a

majority of the officers for each PARTNERSCampus chapter must meet, either in person or

via phone or online media, to discuss and attempt to resolve the partnership’s issues.

ARTICLE IV—Equal Opportunity

Section 1—Partners of the Americas and its affiliate PARTNERSCampus chapters will allow

and encourage participation in all of its programs and endeavors by all students, faculty, staff and alumni without regard to and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, physical handicap or disability, age, marital status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other areas of discrimination prohibited by applicable law.

ARTICLE V—University Policies and Local Laws

Section 1—The PARTNERSCampus chapter and its individual members will abide by all

policies and restrictions of the hosting university and will uphold all local, state and national laws which apply in the chapter’s area of operations.

ARTICLE VI—Membership

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Section 1–Any person affiliated with the chapter’s hosting university, whether staff, alumnus,

faculty or student, may become a member of this PARTNERSCampus Chapter upon payment

of established dues to the Treasurer, and may continue such membership by the annual payment of dues. No person shall be denied membership for reasons associated with physical characteristics or personal beliefs. Section 2–Special dues, assessments or contributions—that are above the required dues set by Partners of the Americas—received by the chapter for the purpose of supporting the chapter activities shall be the property of the chapter and must be deposited in the chapter treasury.

Section 3– PARTNERSCampus Chapter membership entitles the individual to: participate in

Partners of the Americas programs, attend meetings of the general membership and of any committees to which the member is assigned, be elected as a chapter officer, and vote at chapter/committee meetings as allowed by their status within the chapter or committee.

Section 4– PARTNERSCampus Chapter membership may be revoked by the chapter or by

Partners of the Americas for failure to pay membership dues or for actions deemed detrimental to the mission and goals of Partners of the Americas and this chapter. Revocation of membership by the chapter requires a majority vote of the chapter’s Executive Committee. Section 5– Attendance at all club meetings shall not be a condition for membership, but prolonged absences shall be a condition for dismissal of a member.

Section 6– PARTNERSCampus chapter members may resign at any time, but forfeit any dues

or other monies already paid to the chapter and deposited in the treasury.

ARTICLE VII—The Chapter Section 1—The function of the chapter, as stated in Article I, Section 2, shall be to support and strengthen the mission of Partners of the Americas. The chapter shall do so as a self-sustaining, but affiliated unit. The chapter shall be chartered by Partners of the Americas in the manner prescribed in Article IV Section 2–The officers of this chapter shall be the Adult Advisor, President, one or more Vice President(s), Secretary, Treasurer, and other officers as deemed necessary by the chapter. A person can hold only one (1) office within the chapter at a given time. The officers shall constitute the chapter’s Executive Committee (or Executive Board). Section 3–The officers of the chapter shall be elected by the membership annually during the month of December, and shall hold office for a term of one (1) calendar year. Vacancies may be filled or new offices may be created and filled at any meeting of the chapter. Each officer shall hold office until his/her successor has been elected and installed. Chapter officers may not

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serve in the same office for more than two (2) successive terms. Officers may be removed from their office by a majority vote by the Executive Committee. Any change of officers shall be reported to Partners of the Americas as they occur. Section 4– At least thirty (30) days prior to the chapter election, nominations for the election must be made and announced at a chapter meeting. All nominees, officers, and committee members must be members in good standing with Partners of the Americas, the hosting

university and with the PARTNERSCampus chapter, which includes the current payment of

chapter membership dues. Section 5– Only votes from members in attendance when a vote is taken shall be counted. There shall be no absentee or proxy votes counted in the final outcome. Section 6–The President is the International officer of the chapter. He/She shall preside at all meetings and, in coordination with the Adult Advisor, shall perform general supervision of all chapter affairs. Ultimately, the performance of all chapter offices and duties is the responsibility of the President. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all chapter committees, and shall submit an Annual Report to Partners of the Americas. Section 7–The Vice President(s) shall be designated 1st, 2nd, etc. or as Vice-President of a topical area (Finance, Recruitment, etc.), and shall exercise the functions of the President in cases of absence or disability. The Vice President shall have such powers and discharge such duties as may be assigned by the President, such as acting as overseer of various chairpersons and their committees. (The Vice President may be designated as President-Elect, for the purpose of learning presidential duties and establishing a succession plan for chapter leadership). Section 8– The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping minutes of each meeting, submitting membership updates and other reports as needed to Partners of the Americas, overseeing the chapter’s historical files, and leading all public relations efforts—including chapter newsletters, press releases, and web site. Please note that additional officers may be installed to perform a portion of these duties, as determined by the chapter’s Executive Committee. Section 9–The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection, administration and distribution of all chapter funds. Included in these duties is the collection of membership dues, a portion of which must be sent to Partners of the Americas. He/She shall make regular financial reports to the membership and at other times as may be requested. Section 10– All other officers will function in a manner to be determined by the chapter’s Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VIII—Chapter Activities

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Section 1– A minimum of four (4) activities, to be selected and designed by the chapter, must be completed each year:

A. One (1) Fundraiser B. One (1) Recruitment Event C. Two (2) Development or Service Projects

ARTICLE IX—Committees Section 1– The chapter may establish any number of committees as needed to successfully promote the Partners of the Americas mission and to successfully execute planned chapter activities. Committees shall remain in effect until they have completely fulfilled their intended purpose and are no longer necessary, a period of time to be determined by the chapter’s Executive Committee. Section 2–The committees shall be directed by a Committee chairperson, who shall be appointed by and responsible to the President or a specified Vice President.

ARTICLE X—Meetings Section 1–The chapter shall hold one (1) meeting annually to elect officers. The nomination and election process shall be executed as dictated in Article VII of these Bylaws. Section 2–A minimum of one (1) general chapter meeting shall be held each month of the calendar year, and shall be open to all members in good standing. Student Chapters may hold a bi-monthly or quarterly meeting only if necessitated by school or family vacation schedules (Example: summer vacation). Meetings shall be held at a venue to be determined by the chapter’s President and/or Executive Committee. The chapter’s membership shall be notified of the place, date, and time of the chapter’s monthly meeting. This notification can be done in writing or verbally, and shall be made far enough in advance that all chapter members have the opportunity to attend. Section 3–Special meetings may be called by the President and/or Adult Advisor or, on written petition, by one-fifth (20%) of the chapter’s current membership. As with general meetings, this meeting shall be announced well in advance. In addition, the topic of the meeting shall be made known at the time of notification. Section 4–At all chapter meetings, one-third of the total membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the members present at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the membership. Section 5– The Executive Committee shall meet no less than four (4) times per calendar year to plan and execute the business of the chapter.

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Section 6–All meetings shall proceed under the guidelines provided in Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised Edition.

ARTICLE XI—Faculty or Staff Advisor

Section 1– Each PARTNERSCampus chapter is required to have at least one (1) Faculty or

Staff Advisor to facilitate chapter activities and strengthen affiliation with the host university. There is no limit on the number of Faculty or Staff Advisors a chapter may have. Section 2– Faculty or Staff Supervisors must be full-time employees of the host university. Section 3– Faculty or Staff Advisors must complete the Faculty/Staff Advisor Responsibilities Orientation Exercise with at least two (2) of the Chapter’s officers, one of which must be the President. Each of the participants must sign and date the Orientation Exercise document and a copy must be submitted to Partners of the Americas along with contact and employment information of the proposed Advisor. The Advisor will have all the privileges and responsibilities agreed upon in the Orientation Exercise. Section 3– A two-thirds vote of both the general membership and the Executive Committee is necessary to dismiss a Faculty or Staff Advisor. A Faculty or Staff Advisor must be given fourteen (14) days notice before a vote of dismissal is carried out and must be afforded an opportunity to meet with the Executive Committee to resolve any issues.

ARTICLE XII—Advisory Board Section 1– If a chapter should have three (3) or more Faculty/Staff Advisors, those Advisors may choose to form an Advisory Board. Section 2– The Advisory Board may make its own rules and establish its own procedures and will meet at such dates, times and places as it determines; provided, however, that the Advisory Board is expected to meet at least two (2) times annually. A majority of the Advisory Board will constitute a quorum, and in every case the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting will be necessary for the adoption of any resolution except as otherwise provided herein. No action of the Advisory Board at which a quorum is present will be invalidated because of a vacancy on the Advisory Board. Section 3– The duties, responsibilities and authority of the Advisory Board will be, in addition to those of Faculty/Staff Advisors:

A. To aid the Executive Committee in determining general and specific guidelines and long-term goals for the Partners of the Americas Campus Chapter and to monitor their implementation;

B. To assume a leadership role in raising the funds necessary to assure the success of the chapter;

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C. To advise and assist in the management of all chapter functions, as the Executive Committee shall have need.

D. To seek out other potential board members who could aid the organization in a variety of areas including recruitment, fundraising, program design and implementation, publicity, management, finance and any other area of need.

ARTICLE XIII—Fiscal Year Section 1– The chapter’s fiscal year shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31 of the calendar year. Section 2–Upon completion of the fiscal year, a financial statement shall be submitted to Partners of the Americas as part of the chapter’s Annual Report.

ARTICLE XIV—Charter

Section 1–An official PARTNERSCampus charter shall be issued to a chapter by Partners of

the Americas, upon receipt and approval of the following information: A. Chapter Bylaws, with written acceptance by all first-term officers of the chapter; B. Completed Charter Application; C. Chapter Officer Form listing the first-term officers; D. Membership Roster, noting a minimum of seven (7) student members and one (1) adult

advisor; E. Completed Faculty/Staff Advisor Orientation Exercise F. Membership dues, as required by Partners of the Americas. G. Program of Activities Form.

Section 2–Issuance of a charter is based solely upon the discretion and prerogative of Partners of the Americas. Section 3–A chapter’s charter may be revoked by Partners of the Americas at any time if a chapter has in any manner failed to perform its required functions, properly promote the mission and beliefs of Partners of the Americas, or comply with any of the terms, conditions and limitations imposed upon the chapter by the Bylaws and/or Constitution of Partners of the Americas. In addition, the charter will be automatically revoked if chapter membership falls below the required total of seven (7) current members, attempts to operate without an adult advisor, and/or fails to complete the required annual programming and reports mandated by Partners of the Americas.

ARTICLE XV—Process of Chapter Closing

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Section 1–In the event of a chapter closing, including the revocation of a charter by Partners of the Americas, the procedure shall be as follows:

A. All chapter files at Partners of the Americas will be closed, and contact information will be removed from Partners of the Americas mailing lists, web sites and directories. The chapter will immediately be considered defunct and/or inactive. In the case of United States-based chapters, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service will be notified and the chapter’s 501(c)(3) status will be revoked.

B. The chapter’s charter and all manuals, brochures and documents must be returned to Partners of the Americas.

C. The chapter treasury shall be closed immediately, as there will be no purpose for the chapter funds. Chapter funds accumulated during the lifetime of the chapter and used for membership, administration, meeting and mailing expenses, insurance, etc., are property of the chapter. When the chapter ceases to function there is no longer a need for such funds. The chapter will work with Partners of the Americas to decide how funds in the chapter treasury will be distributed. If a decision is not reached regarding distribution of remaining funds within one month of the chapter’s closing, the funds will automatically be placed in the Partners of the Americas Foundation Endowment and marked as a contribution from the chapter.

ARTICLE XVI - Amendments Section 1– These Bylaws are subject to such future amendments as may be later enacted by Partners of the Americas, its Board of Directors, or Board of Trustees, and shall be binding upon each chapter. When an amendment is made, the chapter is expected to comply with the amendment within one (1) calendar year of the amendment date. Any circumstance whereby the chapter can not comply with an amendment shall be addressed on a case-by-case basis between Partners of the Americas and the chapter’s Executive Committee. Section 2– Amendments to the constitution not deriving from Partners of the Americas, but rather from within the chapter membership shall be presented in written form and voted upon by the current members of the chapter. Such amendments will apply only to the constitution of the chapter in which they originated. Section 3– Proposed amendments must be made available to all current club members to review for a period of no less than 14 days prior to the meeting at which ratification or rejection of the proposed amendment takes place.

Section 4– An amendment must receive at least a two-thirds majority of all votes cast by members in attendance at the meeting during which the ratification or rejection vote is taken. Section 5– Only votes from members in attendance when a vote on a proposed amendment is taken shall be counted. There shall be no absentee or proxy votes counted in the final outcome.

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Section 6– No amendment to the constitution shall be counter to or replace the conditions and

terms of the PARTNERSCampus basic constitution, submitted with the original charter

application. Amendments proposed by chapter membership may only append or refine the basic constitution. Section 7– An updated and current copy of the PartnersCampus constitution shall be kept with

the official records of the university chapter and shall be made available to any properly authorized university official upon their request.

Authorization

We, the undersigned, acknowledge and hereby accept these Bylaws as they are written: Faculty/Staff Advisor: ____________________________________________________________ Printed Name Signature Date Chapter President: ______________________________________________________________ Printed Name Signature Date Chapter Vice President: __________________________________________________________ Printed Name Signature Date Chapter Secretary: ______________________________________________________________ Printed Name Signature Date Chapter Treasurer: ______________________________________________________________ Printed Name Signature Date

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Connect, Serve and Change

Lives Throughout the Americas

PARTNERSCampus Chapters

COME TO OUR

MEETING!

Place:_________________

Date & Time:___________

For more information:


PARTNERSCampus Coordinator

1424 K Street NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20005 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (202) 628-3300 Fax: (202) 628-3306

mailto:[email protected]

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PARTNERSCampus

Connect, Serve and

Change Lives Throughout

the Americas

PARTNERSCampus

1424 K Street, NW, Suite 700

Washington, DC 20005

Phone: 202-628-3300

Fax: 202-628-3306

E-mail: [email protected]

University Chapters

PARTNERSCampus chapters

allow students to utilize and develop

their own particular skillsets while

engaging in important service and

development programs that change

lives throughout the Americas.

Through service learning,

leadership development programs

and hands on implementation,

members gain valuable hands on

experience in fields as diverse as

Foreign Policy, International

Development, Social Enterprise,

Finance, Marketing and

International Relations.

Student Benefits

Opportunity to serve communities throughout

the Americas

Design and implement innovative service and

development projects while still in school

Grant opportunities supplied by the Partners of

the Americas Foundation

Resume building, professional networking and

research opportunities

International exchange, internship and service

learning opportunities

Access to an extensive network of chapters,

individuals, businesses, NGOs, universities

and government officials as well as Latin

American communities

Improve professional skills, such as public

speaking, management, foreign language and

finance

PARTNERSCampus chapters are

university-based extensions of Partners

of the Americas, a non-profit NGO

dedicated to creating an interconnected

hemisphere that maximizes the social

and economic potential, and leverages

the full diversity, of the Americas.

Through campus chapters, students

design and implement their own service

and development projects, while

leveraging Partners’ expansive network

of NGOs, businesses, individuals,

universities, government officials and

international communities.

Campus chapter projects address issues

in fields as diverse as education, culture,

health, youth development, leadership,

agriculture and economics, but are all

focused on promoting innovative

What is

? PARTNERSCampus

Contact your local campus

chapter to get involved and

join our online communities at

Facebook and Partners.net to

network with Partners’

members and learn more

about our campus chapters.

guide to founding partnerscampus student chapters

Documents

partnerscampus chapter

student chapter guide

partnerscampus student

heart of partners

partners family

partners campus chapters

chapter development

student founders