An ARS chapter is a group of ARS members that operates publicly in furthering the goals of the
ARS. Chapter status entitles the group to name itself an ARS Chapter, if it
wishes, and to receive certain benefits.
There are currently over 90 chapters scattered throughout the U.S. and Canada (see the list of
ARS chapters). About half of all ARS members also belong to a chapter, a statistic that has held
true for many years.
An ARS chapter is
obliged to:
- accept
all applicants for membership
- actively
recruit new ARS members
- publicly promote the
recorder and the goals of the American
Recorder Society
|
This is usually
done through activities such as:
- regular
playing meetings (most commonly held
each month from September-May or June)
- officers
and elections
- local dues
- a
newsletter
- a
music library for members
- classes,
concerts and other special events
- workshops
ranging from part of a day to an
entire weekend
- special events in conjunction with
Play-the-Recorder Month (held each March)
|
Benefits
of Being an ARS Chapter -
10 or more ARS members in good standing
- Listings
of the groups' representatives on page
two of each issue of American
Recorder, in the geographical section
of the ARS Directory, and on the ARS
web site
- Up to 1000 free mailing labels each year from the ARS membership database to promote chapter
activities
- Assistance
from the ARS Chapters & Consorts
Committee
- Regular communications from both the ARS office and the Chapters & Consorts Committee, including
a Chapter Handbook and full planning and promotion packet for
Play-the-Recorder Month
- Eligibility for
chapter grants
|
Chapters with
three to nine ARS memberships receive benefits 1
through 3 above, regular communications from the
ARS office, a Chapter Handbook at nominal cost and
a reduced packet for Play-the-Recorder Month. To
receive these benefits, an annual activity report
must be submitted to the ARS.
Groups of at least three ARS members that do not wish to recruit or to operate publicly, or that
wish to be selective about whom they accept, can still have ARS status as
Consorts at a lesser
benefit level. Consorts may accept new members, but are not required to do so and may reject
applicants if they wish.
Steps to form an ARS
Chapter or Consort
|
|
- Meet
with those interested in forming a
group, and record their names, addresses
and telephone numbers.
- Choose a
name for the group, and elect a
presiding officer who will serve as a
Representative to the ARS. No other
officers are required. It is a
requirement that all ARS chapters and
consorts, no matter how informal, have
an active and responsible Representative
to serve as liaison for two-way
communication between the group and the
ARS. The Representative must be an ARS
member in good standing.
- Complete and mail the Application for Group Status form: PDF or Word doc.
PDF
or Word doc.
- Complete individual
membership
applications and dues for all those participants
who are not currently ARS members. (Both
group status and individual membership
applications may be printed out from
this site.)
- The
Representative should submit the
Application for Group Status to the ARS
office communicating the following
information about the new chapter or
consort:
- a
list of members*
- the
group's name
- the
group's plans and resources
|
New ARS members' applications and dues should be attached.
Group status and benefits will be determined based on information submitted on the application.
Future renewals of local group members may be handled for the group by the Representative or may be sent directly by each member to the ARS office, depending on the preference of the members. Options include:
- the
Representative or other group leader
collects individual ARS dues, deposits
them to a group bank account and writes
a check to the ARS for the total
- the
Representative or other group leader
collects individual dues checks (payable
to the ARS) and forwards them to the ARS
all at once on behalf of the group's
members
- the
group encourages members to renew
directly on their own, indicating the
appropriate group affiliation*
|
|
|
(*ARS members who
belong to more than one chapter must list one
group as home chapter.)
There is no charge for any group affiliation with
the American Recorder Society.
Visit Resources
to learn more about ARS Chapter
Grants.
|
|
 |
