Chapter Outline
FIRST OF ALL:
SET UP AN EMAIL ACCOUNT. This helped us a lot. We set up this account then put the address on flyers that solicit membership. Interested people and different people in the community will be able to contact you easily. Make that account the prime source of communication.
This will help with membership. People love to write checks so this will help a lot.
Identify your leaders.
Make sure that every decision will be on or a conflict will arise within the group. Also, be close to your fellow executives. Go out to a movie; hang out with them. However, let one another know that you are serious about the NAACP and that your friendship relationship will be separate from your NAACP relationship.
Publicity:
This is something that will make or break your chapter. Do not be afraid to get together at events and hand out flyers publicizing your interest meeting. You will need to identify someone that is very creative and understands that with publicity; MORE IS BETTER. You can never have enough publicity. Make calls to local Black talk radio shows telling about the chapter. Because I made a call to one of the shows at 11 one night, we were invited to sit in on one of the shows to tell of our efforts on the number one radio station in the state (98.7 KISS FM). We do press releases for all of our events. Surf the web of the TV & radio stations. Look for contact information on the site. Because of the press releases that we send out, the media in the city know of us, they even know our names. You can send the releases through email.
Also, identify a slogan for the chapter. We have the slogan “DON’T TALK ABOUT IT, BE ABOUT IT. That caught a lot of the students’ attention. We got one of our flyers blown up for 3 dollars at Kinkos and put it in the student center.
With publicity, you have to make sure that every corner of the campus will be with flyers. Flyers that we put up last year are still up on the polls around the campus today. People will see those flyers and contact you. Also, put flyers on cars about interest meetings and about the new chapter.
Get a website on geocities.com. Our website is free. However, to register it you as www.chaptername.com will have to pay a fee. I donated my own money to register it.
Membership
recruitment:
Get all of your members together whether it is 3-5 or whatever number you may
have and get out with flyers about the new chapter. Set up an interest meeting that is well
planned and rehearsed. After our
interest meeting, when we were starting, enough people joined to reactivate the
chapter. We also had information tables
with voter registration and membership applications. In addition, go to meetings of different
organizations to give you awareness on campus.
Set up an event that will draw in members. We planned a gospel concert that gave us
enough money to pay conference fees and other needs. Make sure to spend
frugally. Do not spend money on things
that you can get free.
Identify
campus/community leaders:
Get in touch with the city councilman about the chapter’s needs. They allocate funds to events and other organizations. Also, contact the SGA at your school. They also allocate funds. If there is another Black organization, contact them. They may or may not help you. We had an experience where the Black Student Awareness Committee members perceived us to be competition. You have to take that chance and make those connections to build up the chapter’s image. I ended up being a member of it and our chapter ended up co-sponsoring our MLK Unity Celebration with them. It also ended up being at no cost to us. Do not be afraid to go after NPHC help. Ask the NPHC advisor to email all of the Greek chapter presidents about what you are trying to do. They will help you in getting membership. In addition, get involved with community service organizations/churches in your area they will provide you with the help you need to be effective in the community. You may be able to pull off a canned food drive.
Set up facility space for events that you may want to hold. Hold events that are already on campus, but do not have the Black point of view. Meeting space is necessary. People want to know when the next meeting or event will be. Once you have harvested an abundant amount of space, you can input events and meetings into that meeting time.
It was my pleasure to help you all
with your chapter. It has been very hard
for us. I pray that it will work out for you all. Remember that whatever you donate to your
NAACP Chapter is going to a good cause.
Also, most importantly, keep in touch with your Youth and College
Division Regional as well as State executives.
You can reach my Regional Youth & College Director, Ms. Bonello, at 1-866-562-2275. She
can direct you to the person you will need to talk to. Remember to be CIVIL RIGHTS, SERVICE &
SOCIALLY oriented. These are the three
components that you will need to be successful.
ALWAYS KEEP GOD FIRST. Pray before and after every meeting. Invite God in the meeting and thank him when
you are going out and I am sure you will be successful. Call me at 205-249-1747 or email me at [email protected] anytime. I am always open to give advisement to any
one or any chapter.
PEACE AND POWER,