What
does it take to form a chorus? A love of singing... Dedication...Determination...
Community Service... Competition... Four-part Harmony... Barbershop...A
cappella... A hobby...A gift
A dream...A talent...
How
does the Steps Program work?
This
information should help clarify some of the questions you may have.
For more information and a complimentary introductory packet, contact
the Membership Coordinator, Ann-Marie Dowling, at 800-992-Sing (7464)
ext. 103, or at
ann-marie@sweetadelineintl.org. Your regional marketing/membership
coordinator or regional education coordinator are also excellent resources.
After
you complete and return the Request for Prospective Status form,
you are considered an official prospective chorus in Step One of the
Steps Toward Chartering Program! Another package will be mailed
to you which will contain music, videos, brochures, an International
Directory, Chapter Guide and various flyers.
-
Click here for the Choosing
Your Chapter Name form, and begin thinking about a
name for your new group. When you have completed this form, mail
it to your regional marketing/membership coordinator. You can
find your region's contact information in your Step One materials.
During
Step One, you should:
-
Apply for an EIN with the
IRS (U.S. chapters only). The forms are included in the materials
you will receive.
-
Invite
your regional marketing/membership coordinator for an administrative
visit, and our regional education coordinator for a musical visit.
Your MMC will help with ideas about organizing your paperwork,
teach you how to prepare a budget, and will have excellent ideas
for recruiting new members. The ED can approve your group for
public performance, and will educate your group and director about
the barbershop style.
To apply for Step Two,
-
Complete
the Request for Step Two
form, and return it with your second $25.00 non-refundable charter
fee installment to international headquarters. Note: You
should first consider if you are ready to make the commitment
to charter within two years. All groups entering Step Two are
given two years from the application date to apply for chapter
membership.
-
When
you are ready, you will need to complete the form and return it
to headquarters. More details are below.
When
your Request for Step Two form is received by headquarters,
your chapter contact will receive another package of materials including
a Members Count! Toolkit, Selling Sweet Adelines, music,
flyers, and a membership kit. The membership kit contains all the
forms you will need when applying for chapter membership. Please be
sure to keep it in a safe place so you will have it when you are ready
to apply for chapter membership. Before you mail your application,
be sure to review the checklist so you know that you have met all
the requirements.
During Step Two, you should:
-
Gain
enough members to charter (you will need 15 plus the director),
-
Save
money for chapter membership which is due when the application
is submitted ($80.00 per member [$40.00 Satellite] plus your third
and final $50.00 charter fee installment - this is $100.00 total),
-
Create
and vote on chapter Standing Rules and Bylaws, and have them approved
by the regional team coordinator,
-
Choose
a chapter government, and elect officers,
-
Select
a permanent chorus director,
-
Pay
annual (May 1) liability insurance fee to international (North
American chapters only).
Groups
in Step Two should also have another musical and administrative visit
from the regional MMC and ED. This will fulfill the required two musical
and two administrative visits to charter.
We
want to make sure you are successful in your endeavor to become a
chartered chapter. We enjoy hearing from you, especially to learn
how things are going for your group. If you find that there ís a bump
in the road to chartering, there are many people who are eager to
help you. We also want to hear any suggestions you might have about
improving our Steps Toward Chartering Program.
Good
Luck!
