How To Start A Filitalia International Chapter

Forming A Chapter
 

To begin the process of establishing a Chapter, the following steps must be completed:

1. Assemble a Temporary Board of Directors

2. A Chapter must present a minimum of 12 people to serve on its founding Board of Directors. This Board is responsible for steering the Chapter through its formation process. Required Officers:

   • President

   • 1st Vice President

   • 2nd Vice President

   • Secretary

   • Treasurer

   • Legal Counsel (Attorney)

   • **Membership Committee Chairperson

   • **Language & Culture Committee Chairperson

     • **At minimum the Membership Committee and Language & Culture Committee are required. You can also add additional standing committees that are represented on the International level HERE

   • Board Members (minimum of 4 – maximum of 10)

   • All Committee Chairpersons are to be elected to the board and then appointed by the President of the Chapter

3. Additional Requirements:

   • Submit photos and resumes/CVs of each proposed Board member

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Approval Process

1. Participate in a meet and greet with the Filitalia Founder and Assistant Director (Italy) to introduce your team and review obligations before going through approval process

2. Expansion Committee Review

   • The Chapter President attends the Expansion Committee meeting (held monthly)

   • The Expansion Committee, consisting of current Chapter Presidents, will vote on the preliminary approval of your Chapter

3. International Board of Directors Approval

   • Following Expansion Committee approval, the Chapter President will be invited to present at the Filitalia International Board of Directors meeting (held four times per year)

   • The Board of Directors includes all Chapter Presidents, Committee Chairs, and Past Presidents

   • Upon final approval, your Chapter will officially become part of Filitalia International

 

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Initial Setup Requirements

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Once you receive Expansion Committee approval, you may begin preliminary operations:

1. Incorporate your Chapter as a legal entity (LLC or equivalent)

2. Open a bank account in your Chapter’s name

3. Begin recruiting members and marketing your Chapter within your community and creating social media accounts

4. Meet with key Filitalia leaders:

   • Membership Committee Chairperson → training on membership flow and use of the Filitalia membership CRM

   • CRM Onboarding → Utilizing the CRM by the organization 

   • Legal Counsel → guidance on incorporation requirements

   • Communications Committee Chairperson → updates for the international website and social media support

 

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Ongoing Responsibilities of A Chapter

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Chapter Board of Directors

1. Each officer and board member has defined responsibilities. To ensure proper governance, all members of the Chapter Board must:

   • Review the Responsibilities of Board Members of The Chapter document provided by Filitalia International to understand their role

   • Actively participate in board meetings and carry out their assigned duties

   • Represent the Chapter in alignment with Filitalia’s mission of service, tradition, and heritage

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Chapter Operations

1. Membership: Maintain accurate membership records using the system provided by the Mother Organization.

2. Meetings: Hold monthly Chapter meetings (note: Filitalia observes a break in July and August).

3. Events: Organize a minimum of 2 cultural, educational, or humanitarian activities consistent with Filitalia’s mission

4. Support: Support and attend mother organization events and activities (Gala, Scholarship Ceremony, Heroes Award, Columbus Day Parade etc…)

5. Reporting: Provide updates on Chapter activities during Expansion Committee and Board of Directors meetings

6. Per Capita Tax: Paid 2x a year to the mother organization based on your total membership for that time period (January - June / July - December). New Chapters are exempt from this tax for the first Calendar year

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Chapter President Responsibilities

1. Attend monthly Expansion Committee meetings

2. Attend quarterly Filitalia International Board of Directors meetings

3. Serve as the primary liaison between your Chapter and Filitalia International leadership

4. If Chapter President is not available you are able to send one of the 2 Vice Presidents on your behalf. That person has no voting rights