Purpose
To enable state, local and regional childbirth education groups to be affiliated with Lamaze International by establishing a chapter.
Requirements
To establish and maintain chapter status a chapter must:
- Elect four officers: President; Vice President; Treasurer; Secretary.
- Adopt a constitution and bylaws.
- Incorporate as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
- Pay a $100 one-time affiliation fee to the Lamaze Administrative Office.
- Hold at least one annual meeting.
- File an Annual Report with the Chapter Formation and Development Committee on chapter activities.
- Meet requirements as defined in the Licensing Program.
- Abide by the bylaws of Lamaze International; in particular, the sections pertaining to chapters.
Procedure
The application for chapter status will be processed as follows:
- The local group completes the application form and submits it to the Lamaze Administrative Office with the required materials.
- The Lamaze Administrative Office forwards the application to the Chapter Formation and Development Committee members for review and recommendation to the Board of Directors.
- Upon approval of the application, the Lamaze Administrative Office will send a welcome letter along with the following:
- Mailing labels for area Lamaze International members and mailing label rental information (initial set of labels will be provided at no charge to encourage chapter development)
- Contact hours criteria and application
- Copies of recent Lamaze International publications
Benefits
The benefits of forming a local Lamaze International Chapter are as follows:
- Formal affiliation of local groups with the Lamaze Administrative Office.
- Chapter liability insurance coverage under an umbrella policy for Chapter Board of Directors, programs, events and functions.
- Opportunity to offer Lamaze International contact hours for local programs that qualify under the guidelines as a recognized Lamaze International representative, and access to resources for developing and presenting seminars and workshops.
- Initial list/mailing labels of area Lamaze International members provided at no charge, and a discount on future rental of Lamaze International member mailing list.
- Annual exchange of updated list of area Lamaze International members with chapters membership list (to include names and addresses).
- Discount on exhibiting at the Lamaze Annual Conference at the established book rate.
- Supply of current Lamaze International printed material.
- Information on chapters will be included in membership materials, and chapter news and updates will be included in Lamaze International publications.
Approved: April 1992
Revised: October 1997