Starting a HOSA Chapter
Now that youve decided to sponsor a HOSA chapter, there are a few necessary steps you need to take to get started.
If this is a new chapter, contact Georgia HOSA headquarters and indicate your interest in affiliating a HOSA chapter. The Georgia HOSA headquarters will add you to the mailing list. If this is a new chapter at a school or college, be sure you have the proper authorization from administration to have a HOSA chapter.
A membership application form that you will create should be completed with the names of those students that have indicated that they want to join the HOSA chapter. You will need their name, address and e-mail when you register them for HOSA online. It is highly advised that all students become members of HOSA as it is important to integrate HOSA into the classroom so all students can take advantage. It is important to give students a deadline for paying their dues and affiliate those members who paid. You can submit a supplemental application to submit those members paying after the deadline.
There are guidelines for membership in Article 3, Section 9 of the HOSA Bylaws at http://www.hosa.org/natorg/hosabylaws.pdf
Call National HOSA at 1-800-321-HOSA to request your affiliation number and password. Detailed instructions for online affiliation can be found at http://www.hosa.org/join_hosa/affiliation_process.pdf
Its as easy as 1, 2, 3, and you have a HOSA chapter. If you came to a program that already has a HOSA chapter, your next steps will involve learning about the HOSA chapter from last years members. Most existing chapters have chapter officers, which is an excellent place to start. They should share with you the history of the HOSA chapter and their expectations for the coming year.
Organizing Your New Chapter
If you are starting a new HOSA chapter, you have a wonderful opportunity to create an exceptional student organization.
The good news is.you can lead the chapter in a direction that clearly supports the purpose of HOSA.
FIRST GET APPROVAL. Make sure you follow the rules of your institution and get the support of your administrators. This may include asking a professional colleague to serve as a co-sponsor of your HOSA chapter.
SECOND DEVELOP INTEREST. Tell your students about the purpose of HOSA, and refer them to the HOSA website for more information. Give them an assignment to surf the HOSA website and then suggest ideas for their HOSA chapter. Begin explaining the importance of a being a member of an organization such as HOSA. Most students today are very computer literate and will find this an easy assignment.
THIRD HAVE A START-UP PLAN. One option would be to have interested students choose a planning committee to put together the pieces such as:
Constitution and bylaws
Plan for electing officers
FOURTH EMPOWER THE STUDENTS TO LEAD. Students need encouragement, guidance, and responsibility. If you let them know what they need to do, they will get it done. Your job is to give them a helping hand to get them started and guide them along the way.
FIFTH AFFILIATE. Collect dues and complete your online chapter affiliation. Your students are not HOSA members unless they pay their dues and are properly affiliated.
FINALLY GIVE THEM THE RULE BOOK. The best resource for organizing a HOSA chapter is the HOSA Handbook Section C, which can be found on the HOSA website at http://www.hosa.org/natorg/SectionC.pdf This is an excellent resource for everything HOSA members need to know to lead a HOSA chapter.
Online Affiliation
The HOSA, Inc. Board of Directors has endorsed the continued use of the online affiliation system due to its success. Many of your suggestions to improve the system have been implemented and we appreciate your feedback for continued improvement.
The HOSA, Inc. Board of Directors requested the collection of additional information for membership to use in building an alumni database for future mailings and HOSA promotional activities. Therefore, it is vitally important that ALL information on the Affiliation Application be completed, WHICH INCLUDES THE HOME ADDRESS OF ALL MEMBERS, to build the national database with the same information collected in HOSA's internet system. Through online affiliation, chapters are able to take full advantage of HOSA membership. The online system allows chapter advisors the ability to view their affiliated HOSA members, print invoices, print membership rosters, register for the National Leadership Conference and much more.
Chapter affiliation is quick and easy using National HOSA's Online Affiliation. Before you begin, be sure you have your chapter's charter number and password, and a list of members to affiliate. For each member, you will be asked to provide:
- Classification (grade or class in school)
- Organization and title (for professional members)
- Address
- Phone and Fax
- E-mail address
If you used online affiliation last year, your password will be the same for this year. If you don't know your chapter's charter number and password, or if you are a new chapter, call National HOSA headquarters at 1-800-321-HOSA for assistance.
Georgia is a Category I Chapter Affiliation state, meaning all fees ($5.00 for state fees and $10.00 for national fees, totaling $15.00 per member) should be sent directly to HOSA, Inc. Most chapters add additional money to the $15 dues to stay in the local treasury for snacks during meetings, purchasing banners or other PR materials, etc. If your chapter adds additional money, such as $5 to stay at the local level, you will only send $15 per student to National HOSA and keep the $5 per student in the local treasury.
Tips for Online Affiliation
- Gather all your information before you begin.
- Enter complete information about all members. This will provide a concise and useful list for you to use throughout the year - and in the future.
- Empower a HOSA member with the responsibility for online affiliation. He/she will be able to provide you with a complete chapter list and billing statement when the task is complete.
