The
Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups, Inc.
An International Professional Organization
Advocacy and Action in Support of Group Work Practice, Education, Research, and Publication
|
An International Professional Organization Advocacy and Action in Support of Group Work Practice, Education, Research, and Publication |
|
Standards for Social Work Practice with Groups Commission on Group Work in Social Work Education |
CHAPTER ORGANIZING MANUAL Questions to be
addressed when organizing a Chapter of AASWG
·
Who is taking the initiative for
formation of this unit? Is there a
sufficient number of people who are already members of AASWG ready to make a
commitment and who will form a working group? ·
If the interest in formation of
this unit comes from having an International Symposium in the area, can the
local interest be sustained? ·
Is there a base from which the unit
can function?
·
Does the organizing group have the
capability to organize programs?
I.
Procedure for Application as an Organizing Unit
Contact
the Chair for Organizing Chapters who will supply a form which will ask for the
following information. (See Form A) ·
Names and addresses of individuals
comprising the Organizing Committee who are willing to take local (city,
state/provincial, regional) initiative to organize group workers in your area.
Ten members of AASWG must be identified in order to receive seed money to
help with your organizing effort. ·
The name you have chosen for your
organizing unit (most reflect the geography of your organizing unit but that is
not necessarily the only way to choose a name). ·
The territory you wish to include
in your organizing (specific boundaries). ·
Resources that you are intending to
use for your efforts. ·
Estimated timeline for your
organizing efforts. ·
Name and address of individuals
taking responsibility for membership communication. ·
Availability of representatives to
come to a meeting with AASWG Board members at the Symposium or other regional
gatherings. This Application is sent
to the Chair for Organizing Chapters. It
is reviewed by the Chapter Development Committee and a recommendation is made to
the AASWG Board. This process
will take 3 to 6 months. Activity by
AASWG in response to your application as an organizing unit.
·
The Chair for Organizing Chapters will contact the General Secretary who
will give to you names and addresses of present and past members as well as
prospects who have lived in your area and are known to AASWG. ·
You will be made aware of the
procedures for accessing information and resources from the International Board
of Directors (methods of organizing that have worked for other organizing units,
resources for funding preliminary programs). Additional AASWG
Assistance with Organizing
· Technical assistance is available from the Chapter Development Committee via the Chair for Organizing Chapters. Up to $250 seed money is available from AASWG for start-up spending to Organizing Units which have a minimum of 10 AASWG members. Specific guidelines are available from the Chair for Organizing Chapters upon request. · The General Secretary’s office will assist with membership lists and membership recruitment material. The General Secretary’s office must be consulted regarding membership policies and procedures. ·
The Chapter Development
Committee and the General Secretary will assist with writing bylaws. ·
The AASWG Chapter Chairs List,
located on the AAWG Web Page, (www.aaswg.org.)
can be used to get information about how others have gone about
organizing. Requirements for
AASWG Chapter Recognition
·
25 members in good standing in a
defined Organizing Committee unit ·
Officers and a regular meeting
(preferably monthly) of an Executive Committee to continue Chapter needs for
organization. ·
Regular programming occurring over
time (workshops, “Brown Bag Lunches”, conferences) to improve and promote
group work practice, education, research and publication and to bring all the
members together as a group (i.e. an annual meeting). ·
A depository or an account with a
designated responsible person (usually a Treasurer). ·
A plan for fundraising. ·
Diversity should be reflected in
the organizing of the chapter. ·
Bylaws in accordance with the
International organization bylaws. ·
Regular communication with the
membership via a newsletter or reports from the Chair. II.
Procedures for AASWG Chapter Recognition (See Form B)
·
If needed, apply for seed money
to support chapter development. ·
Apply for Chapter Recognition to
the Chapter Development Committee. ·
Submit final copies of your
bylaws for clarification of compliance with AASWG International bylaws. ·
Verification from the General
Secretary that you have 25 paid members in good standing within your designated
geographical area. ·
Submit outline of organizational
and program goals. ·
Chapter Development
Committee’s submission of application to AASWG Board, where final vote for
approval takes place. Expectations of Board Approved Chapters ·
Recognized Chapters will receive regular support payments
which are based on dues paid by membership in that geographic area.
All Chapter Members must be AASWG members, but all participants in
Chapter activities do not need to be members.
Members usually pay discounted fees for activities. ·
A Chapter Representative will be selected to attend Board
Meetings (June in New York City and October at the Symposium).
A minimal subsidy for travel to Board Meetings (if the cost exceeds $100)
may be made available. It is up to
the individual and the Chapter to cover additional funds needed for attending
these meetings. ·
The Chapter Representative will become a fully functioning
member of the International Board of Directors including participation on at
least two Committees. ·
Each Chapter will maintain communication with the General
Secretary regularly concerning programming & membership issues. ·
Chapters are expected to help remind members to pay their
annual dues. ·
Chapters must submit a written Annual Report to the Chapter
Development Committee and to report on the Chapter at Board Meetings.
The Annual report is due by February 15th of each year.
Failure to meet this deadline will result in deferred support payments. If no report is submitted in a given year, support payments
will be forfeited. ·
Regular reports on the Chapter to the “ Social Work with
Groups Newsletter” are expected. III.
The
minimum operational capacity of Chapters recommended by AASWG
·
25 AASWG members. ·
A core of officers, A Board of
Directors or Executive Committee, and committees to carry out various functions.
Officers include a President or Chairperson, Vice President or
Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.
Additionally, the positions of Membership Chair, Program Chair,
Newsletter Editor, and Advocacy Committee Chairs could be important. ·
An active planned program of
meetings and workshops to present and discuss group work practice, teaching and
other concerns of the membership. ·
An active membership chairperson
and committee. This person needs to
actively seek and involve new members and to secure their renewals of
memberships on an annual basis. Attention
needs to be paid to the inclusiveness of members of diverse group work settings,
various religious, ethnic and class groups in the area. ·
A newsletter or other means of
formal communication with the membership on a regular basis – at least three
times per year. Some groups
supplement this with Home Pages on the World Wide Web and with e-mail discussion
groups or other electronic communications. The basic communication needs to be paper, so that it can be
distributed to non-members as a promotional piece. ·
A program of action in support of
group work practice, teaching, research and publication.
Advancement of knowledge and skill in good group work education and
practice are essential to the future of group work and AASWG. ·
Chapter Bylaws which reflect the
chapter’s developed operational and programmatic structures as well as the
relationship to the overall AASWG. These
need to conform to the basic purposes and policies of AASWG as stated in the
bylaws. |
