Chapter Board Member's Manual

Basic Information for Chapter Board Members

Introduction

Thank you for serving as a chapter board member of a DAMA International Chapter. The officers of DAMA International would like to offer you some basic information to make your transition and service on the chapter board easier. This list of resources should serve as a starting point for compiling a resource list for your chapter, to maintain continuity of information across board terms of office.

DAMA International Board of Directors (Chapter Liaison)

The DAMA International Board of Directors, as part of its duty to serve the affiliated DAMA International chapters, acts as liaison to the DAMA chapters. Each International officer serves as liaison for several chapters. The list of chapter liaisons can be found on the Board of Directors and Advisors List. Please invite your liaison to attend your chapter meetings, send them copies of your meeting and event notices, and most important, contact them with questions on DAMA, requests for assistance in performing chapter duties, and for contact with other chapters that the liaison has responsibility for. Chapter liaisons can be a valuable resource for new chapter officers!

Chapter Bylaws

Each chapter is required to have a formal set of bylaws, separate from the DAMA International Bylaws. Each officer of a DAMA chapter board of directors is required to have a copy of their chapter’s bylaws, either electronically or on paper. If the chapter has a web site, it is recommended that the chapter post their bylaws on their web site. It is recommended that each chapter list the responsibilities of each officer of that chapter’s board of directors, and that this list is distributed to each new chapter officer at the start of their term of office.

DAMA International Code of Ethics

All chapter officers of DAMA International affiliated chapters are required to sign a copy of the DAMA International Code of Ethics, and to submit these signed copies to their chapter liaison. If you are a new DAMA chapter officer, please secure a copy of this Code of Ethics from the DAMA International web site, sign the Code and deliver it to the VP Chapter Services.

Chapter Documentation

DAMA International strongly suggests that each chapter appoint an officer to act as the chapter’s archivist, safely storing copies of all important documents. These documents would include, but are not limited to:

• Chapter incorporation papers
• Chapter Federal Tax ID notice
• Chapter federal and state income tax filings
• Chapter financial statements for all years of the chapter's existence
• Chapter Bylaws and Handbook
• Current full contact information for all chapter officers
• Current chapter membership lists (name, mailing address, email address, phone number, etc...)
• Minutes of all chapter Board of Directors' meetings
• Other relevant documentation pertaining to the activities of a thriving DAMA chapter

Benefits of DAMA International Affiliation

Periodically, members of DAMA International chapters inquire about the benefits of membership as an affiliated chapter of DAMA International. To answer this question, the Board of Directors of DAMA International has complied these benefits of membership and affiliation.

Board Member Interactions with DAMA International

Here are a several of the ways in which Chapter board members interact with DAMA International board members. This list is not exhaustive.

Chapter Mentoring

DAMA International chapters go through stages, from formation to novice to thriving and occasionally struggling. In an attempt to assist formation and struggling chapters, the VP Chapter Services can offer assistance in various areas of chapter activities (attracting chapter volunteers, soliciting membership, recruiting superior quality speakers, revenue generation, financial assistance, etc.). If you feel that your chapter could benefit from some mentoring activities, please contact the VP Chapter Services.