Starting a new chapter

NNLAMS provides the following checklist to start new chapters.
If you already have a chapter at your school and want to be actively involved with the network, email us at contact@nnlams.com. We are more than happy to help!

PHASE I

1. The primary contact to start a chapter will be the national membership chair. You can email us at contact@nnlams.com to get things started.

2. Familiarize yourself with your school's protocol regarding student organizations.

3. You will need the NNLAMS Constitution and your Region's constitution.

4. Create by-laws for your chapter. (To the right you can download a sample by-laws document)

5. Registering your chapter with your school's student organization section. Usually you will need the National and Regional Constitution, chapter by-laws, school registration forms, and a faculty advisor.

PHASE II

6. Creating Officer positions: (Suggested positions; you can modify to best fit the needs of the chapter.)
   - Co-presidents
   - Treasurer
   - Secretary
   - Parliamentarian
   - Regional Delegate
   - Membership Chair
   - Fundraising Chair
   - Community Service Chair
   - Publication Chair
   - Mentorship Chair
   - Webmaster
7. Don't forget to designate a faculty advisor if you have not done so already
8. Assemble a general meeting to assess interest in the chapter
9. Hold elections to fill officer positions
10. Register Chapter and individual members with NNLAMS

For individual registration CLICK HERE
For chapter registration CLICK HERE

PHASE III

At this point the following items should be completed:
- Chapter registered with the school
- Faculty Advisor appointed
- Officers appointed
- Members and chapter registered with NNLAMS

The next step is to set a yearly and monthly agendas. It is important to hold a general assembly meeting to gather input from all interested individuals.

Monthly Meetings: You can format meetings to best fit your chapter's need. Some examples:
   - Monthly General Assembly meetings
   - Officer only meetings
   - Special events meetings

Regional House of Delegates Meeting (Regional delegate position): Once a year the appointed NNLAMS delegate for each chapter travels to the regional house of delegates meeting to discuss regional/national issues. This position ensures your chapter's voice at the regional and national level. An alternate delegate should be in place in the event the designated delegate can not attend. In the event that neither of the delegates can attend, the chapter's co-president(s) should make the regional meeting.

Regional and National Conference: Every year the 5 regions of NNLAMS hold an annual regional conference with their respective agendas; primarily to promote medical student leadership, networking, and educational opportunities. The regional conference also gives you the opportunity to run for regional positions, including regional board member. The regional board members are comprised of 2 individuals per region. These 10 individuals (2 X 5 REGIONS) make up the voting entity of NNLAMS at the national level.

Additionally, NNLAMS has its National conference in conjunction with the National Hispanic Medical Association. All medical students are invited and encouraged to attend the national conference. Students in the past have recieved funding from their schools and their regions to attend this event. The national conference is also an opportunity to run for a national officer position and assume a broader role among the Latino(a) medical student community.