ALDA Policy:  ALDA Chapters and Groups
General Policy:
It is the policy of ALDA to encourage the establishment and maintenance of ALDA Chapters and Groups in various locales around the country in order to pursue the general objectives of ALDA and provide support services to people who are late-deafened.  ALDA Chapters and Groups may be a lot alike, except that ALDA Groups have a less formal structure than ALDA Chapters and are not required to have any face-to-face meetings.  They may conduct their affairs entirely online.  Below are the current requirements for ALDA Chapters and Groups.
Policy Details:
Chapter Group
1. Number of names required on Petition requesting Chapter/Group approval 4 3
2. All persons named on the Chapter/Group Requesting Petition must be 18 years of age or older Yes Yes
3. All persons named on the Chapter/Group Requesting Petition must be paid-up members of ALDA, Inc. Yes Yes
4. Requesting Petition must include names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of all officers/petitioners Yes Yes (a)
5. Requesting Petition must include a brief summary of past group activities Yes Yes
6. Must pursue one or more ALDA objectives Yes Yes
7. Must accept ALDA Chapter Bylaws Yes No (b)
8. Must abide by all policies adopted by ALDA, Inc concerning Chapters/Groups Yes Yes
9. Must elect a Board of Directors consisting of five (5) people Yes No (c)
10. Must elect a president, vice president. secretary and treasurer Yes No (d)
11. Minimum number of members 5 3
12. Must hold regular membership “meetings” (minimum of 2 per year) Yes (e) Yes (f)
13. Must hold an annual business meeting Yes No
14  Must send out regular “mailings” to all members (minimum of 2 per year) Yes (g) Yes (g)
15. Must maintain an outreach program to identify and recruit new members Yes Yes
16. Must have their own EIN in order to come under the ALDA, Inc. tax-exempt umbrella Yes Yes
17. Must submit an ALDA Chapter/Group Renewal Form every two years Yes Yes
18. Must not name anyone on their Chapter/Group Charter Petition or Renewal Form who is at the same time Yes Yes
      already named on either the Charter Petition or Renewal Form of another Chapter/Group
Notes:
(a) ALDA Groups are not required to have any “officers”
(b) ALDA Groups are not required to have any Bylaws
(c) ALDA Groups are not required to have a Board of Directors
(d) ALDA Groups are required to only have a “Leader”
(e) “Meetings” include educational field trips, house parties, captioned movies or plays, dinners at restaurants, etc.
(f) ALDA Groups may have only online meetings (no face-to-face meetings are required)
(g) “Mailings” may include mail sent via the United States Postal Service (USPS), email, or newsletters
Latest Revision: 9/22/2018