LOPSA Policies/Locals program

Locals program

Policy approved by the Board on 12 June 2006.

Policy amended on 14 April 2008.

Purpose of "LOPSA locals" program

The purpose of the LOPSA Locals activity is to give LOPSA members a "local community", local support and local activities. The concept of "year round hallway track" is major component of the locals philosophy.

The local organizations provide much-needed local support to our members, and the LOPSA organization supports those efforts.

Kinds of Local Organizations

There are two kinds of local groups that can have a relationship with LOPSA: local chapters and local affiliates. Chapters are part of LOPSA and their members are LOPSA members. LOPSA supports the Chapters so that they can support the members.

Affiliates are not part of LOPSA, but undertake activities that are in some way supportive of our community, members, or mission. LOPSA may provide some support to specific activities of these organizations.

LOPSA has a policy of forming mutually beneficial relationships with other organizations that support our mission and our members and letting each group choose the relationship that works best for LOPSA and themselves.

LOCAL CHAPTER

A LOPSA Local Chapter is a local presence and part of LOPSA. Local Chapters carry on the goals and programs of LOPSA at a local level. Its members are LOPSA members, and its elected officers are covered by LOPSA's insurance. Chapters are bound by the LOPSA Bylaws. A Chapter must have at least SIX paid members. Provisional chapters (for the first 12 months) must have at least THREE paid members.

• BENEFITS TO EACH CHAPTER
  • Directors and officers covered by LOPSA insurance
  • Chapter Membership dues (if any) handled via LOPSA's web site and credit card processing
  • Online resources such as:
    • Dedicated area on LOPSA web site
    • Hosted mailing lists dedicated to the chapter
  • Chapter fund management (separated funds and reporting for chapter dues, income, and expenses) if requested

• BENEFITS TO LOPSA
  • Chapters support the local members
  • Chapters strive to sign up new members
  • Mission of LOPSA completed at the local level.

• INITIAL APPLICATION
  • A Chapter may make application to the LOPSA Board of Directors by sending a letter or email to the Board President and/or Executive Director. Applications should include: names of chapter members and their individual LOPSA membership status, a list of goals and objectives, local dues (if applicable) and a meeting schedule. After review by staff, the application will be put on the Board agenda for vote. If approved, a set of draft bylaws will be supplied to the Chapter for approval.

• REVIEW MECHANISM
  • Each chapter will be reviewed annually by the Board. Revisions to the bylaws, chapter affiliations, number of paid members, and minutes will be reviewed.

STUDENT CHAPTER

A LOPSA Student Chapter is a local presence at an educational institution and part of LOPSA. Student chapters carry on the goals and programs of LOPSA at a local level with an emphasis on education. Its members are LOPSA Student members, and its elected officers and Student Chapter Advisor(s) are covered by LOPSA's insurance. Student Chapters are bound by the LOPSA Bylaws as well as the institution's rules for student organizations. A Chapter must have at least SIX paid members and one paid standard member as a Student Chapter Advisor. Provisional status can be granted with THREE paid student members (plus the Advisor) for the first year.

• BENEFITS TO EACH STUDENT CHAPTER
  • Directors and officers covered by LOPSA insurance
  • Student Chapter Membership dues handled via LOPSA's web site and credit card processing
  • Online resources such as:
    • Dedicated area on LOPSA web site
    • Hosted mailing lists dedicated to the chapter
  • Student Chapter fund management (separated funds and reporting for student chapter dues, income, and expenses) if requested

• BENEFITS TO LOPSA
  • Student Chapters support the local members
  • Student Chapters strive to sign up new members
  • Capture new members as they begin their career
  • Educational mission of LOPSA completed at the local level.

• INITIAL APPLICATION
  • A Student Chapter may make application to the LOPSA Board of Directors by sending a letter or email to the Board President and/or Executive Director. Applications should include: names of student chapter members and their individual LOPSA membership status, name of Student Chapter Advisor(s) (must be a LOPSA member), a list of goals and objectives, local dues (if applicable) and a meeting schedule. After review by staff, the application will be put on the Board agenda for vote. If approved, a set of draft bylaws will be supplied to the Chapter for approval.

• REVIEW MECHANISM
  • Each student chapter will be reviewed annually by the Board. Revisions to the bylaws, chapter affiliations, number of paid members, and minutes will be reviewed.

LOCAL AFFILIATE

Local affiliates are independent local groups that share similar goals with LOPSA and in some way serve the system administration community and our members in their area. Affiliates are NOT part of LOPSA and will receive support from LOPSA primarily to assist them in providing services to our members and the community.

• BENEFITS TO Local Affiliate
  • LOPSA may provide limited sponsorship of specific activities that serve the community and our members. For example, LOPSA might co-sponsor an "install-a-thon", local sysadmin gathering or conference. LOPSA might provide refreshments for selected affiliate meetings where presentations or activities are focused on the community or LOPSA goals.
  • Access to LOPSA to provide input on national programs and services

• BENEFITS TO LOPSA
  • Affiliate agrees to inform their membership of the advantages/benefits of joining LOPSA.
  • LOPSA can send information on programs to Affiliates for distribution to their members.
  • LOPSA can gather information which can be used to design programs, services, conference topics.

• APPLICATION & REVIEW
  • Affiliates can apply to be a LOPSA Affiliate by sending an email to the President, Executive Director or the Board of Directors for LOPSA.
  • Affiliates will be initially reviewed and approved by the LOPSA Board of Directors.
  • Renewals will be reviewed annually by the LOPSA Board of Directors.

Revocation

The LOPSA Board of Directors reserves the right to revoke Chapter status.