WSTA West Sound Technology Association

1. Contact the WSTA office or a member of the Board of Directors (BoD). You will then be provided with guidelines or information in order to start a local Chapter. Once agreed upon, you will receive a Chapter Agreement, and the WSTA BoD will decide regarding approval of Chapter status.
2. Round up three to five volunteers in your area who are interested in a Local Chapter initiative. This is the core team, or Steering Committee, that will help you prepare the constituting meeting. It may also be smart to arrange one or more informal sessions prior to the constituting one. This allows you to gauge local interest and see how many WSTA members there are in the region (you need 10 members to petition for Chapter status).
3. Prepare a tentative plan for future meetings and other chapter activities to present at the constituting meeting.
4. Complete an application for forming a Local WSTA Chapter, including a suggested Chapter name, Chapter boundaries and interim Chapter leadership. Depending upon constituent size, this can be officers (President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, or a Secretary/Treasurer), or a Steering Committee.
5. Language regarding the Chapter will need to be drafted, approved, and inserted into WSTA's Bylaws.
6. Organize a constituting meeting with at least ten people who either currently are, or prepared to become, WSTA members in your Chapter. These parties should complete WSTA member applications and submit the appropriate annual fee.
7. Submit the Plan and other documents above to the WSTA BoD for approval.

These easy steps will help you build the necessary infrastructure and also advise you on how to make your Chapter grow and prosper.

The Organization of a Local Chapter

The Chapter is a vital part of the WSTA, and its leadership occupies the most prominent leadership position in the Chapter. In addition to being a key to the success of the Chapter's programs, it can make important contributions to the success of Association-wide programs. Most Chapters start out with a small Council consisting of four to five officers/leaders.

Also important is the Chapter Sponsor. He or she is sometimes a veteran WSTA member elected by the WSTA's Board of Directors, and is responsible for overseeing the operation and activities of one or more Chapters. The Chapter sponsor will be an essential part of helping you to get a Chapter started. The Chapter Sponsor is also a link to the Association's Board of Directors and, as such, is the conduit to a wealth of WSTA services and opportunities.

A Local Chapter is part of the WSTA organization, but responsible for collecting fees and submitting them to the WSTA Treasurer, along with member applications, for the determination of budgets. Most chapter activities will be self-sustaining; that is, each activity pays for itself.

Sharing Experience Between Chapters

In order for the Local Chapters effort to be successful, there is a need to quickly share experiences with other Local Chapters and their officers. WSTA will help to organize a workshop for Chapter Officers at future WSTA conferences. The goal is to ensure that the WSTA provides the best service possible through the Local Chapters. We will also continue to organize Special Interest Group (SIG) meetings to introduce new members to the concept of Local Chapters and to encourage them to start new chapters in their hometowns.

• More details concerning the chapter organization, operation and roles of the chapter officers are described in the WSTA Chapter Handbook.
• For additional questions, please use the contact us form.