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  1. Membership
  2. Chapters
  3. Resources for Chapters

Resources for Chapters

Use SfN's information and resources to successfully establish, manage, and grow your chapter.

Best Practices for Chapters

  • Encourage active participation in activities run by your chapter and SfN
  • Hold a professional development activity at least once a year
  • Hold a public outreach and education event at least once a year
  • Conduct at least two business meetings every year
  • Utilize SfN resources on Neuronline and participate in the Chapters Workshop at the annual meeting
  • Engage in public advocacy efforts (in accordance with applicable governmental regulations)

Chapter Financial and Funding Administration

  • U.S. chapters must have their own federal employer identification number and are eligible for tax exempt status as an SfN subordinate.*
  • Email SfN's Membership department prior to soliciting funds to determine whether the supporter made an earlier commitment to SfN (this is a must).
  • Seek matching funds for support from various foundations and local companies.
  • Include all foundations, companies, and noninstitutional contributors that support SfN chapter activities in the Annual Report.
  • Soliciting chapter donations:
    • Share with potential donors a list of activities needing sponsorship, such as travel awards, receptions, meetings, poster sessions, Brain Awareness Week activities, etc. Include details on sponsorship pricing.
    • Develop a list of benefits organizations would receive in return for their donation, such as acknowledgment in event marketing materials, name recognition, etc.
    • Prepare a legal contract binding the institution to the commitment after an institution has agreed to make a donation. Include:
      • Sponsorship amount, including the duration of sponsorship
      • Date sponsorship amount is due
      • Details on sponsorship benefits
      • Permission for chapter to use company logo for any advertisement related to sponsored activity
      • Rights of both the institution and chapter in regard to said activity
      • Liability if activity is cancelled or postponed
      • Options in renewing sponsorship from institution
    • Overall, make the case that donations contribute to the education and development of neuroscience and the community.

Donation Letter of Agreement Template (PDF)

*Note: Chapters outside the U.S. do not require an employer identification number (EIN).

Chapter Representative Responsibilities

  • Submit a chapter annual report online through the submission portal every year. Chapters may set their own reporting cycle.
  • Report any change in the stated purposes, character, or method of operation relative to SfN’s statement of purpose, as described in chapter bylaws
  • Maintain a roster of membership
  • Communicate regularly with chapter members and keep them informed of chapter activities
  • Assist with new member sponsorship requests
  • Ensure a successor is found before the end of your term to allow for a smooth transition for the incoming chapter representative
  • Provide leadership transition updates to the SfN Chapters by emailing chapters@sfn.org

Chapters Resource Kit

Download the Chapters Resource Kit.

Guidelines for Chapter Governance

SfN recommends these actions to govern your chapter:

  • Hold at least one meeting per year.
  • Reappoint or elect a chapter representative by a majority vote of the membership yearly.
  • Chapter representatives should serve terms no longer than three consecutive years. At the end of the three-year term, members must elect a new chapter representative by a majority vote.
  • Adopt an organizational structure that includes a president or chairperson, secretary, and treasurer.
  • Elect officers by a majority of votes. Bylaws should define election procedures.
  • Appoint/elect a council or committee to help with special programs and activities.
  • In times of leadership transition, ensure outgoing and incoming officers work together to exchange important information, including any existing files and establishing a “training period” for the new officers.

Chapter Engagement

Chapter email accounts:

  • Consider using Gmail or Yahoo to create a free email account.
    • Use the dedicated account to store chapter members’ contact information, correspondence, a history of chapter activities, and annual reports.
    • This approach also ensures communication between the chapter and SfN continues uninterrupted following a change in chapter leadership.

Email blasts:

  • Submit text, subject line, etc. to be included in an email that SfN will distribute to members in the chapter’s region.

Digital Newsletters:

  • SfN sends a quarterly digital newsletters to all chapter representatives. Email chapters@sfn.org to feature your chapter's news.

Member Recruitment and Engagement

Target students

  • Share job opportunities within the field, scientific findings, and other updates.
  • Volunteer to speak to college groups.
  • Contact college career centers and student advisers to share new developments in the field and participate in college student job fairs.
  • Co-sponsor events on campus or offer internships.

Establish a strong and active governance group

  • Encourage members to volunteer for chapter leadership.
  • Ensure leadership transitions are smooth.

Foster member contributions

  • Ask members for their opinions.
  • Use surveys to gather information on preferences and why they joined the chapter.

Use meeting time wisely

  • Keep meetings short and effective.
  • Adhere to an agenda to ensure meetings are concise and well-prepared.

Collaborate with others

  • Join with other programs to co-sponsor Brain Awareness Week and other activities.
  • Ask successful chapters what works; start a discussion thread on Neuronline’s Chapter Community.
  • Look outside the neuroscience community; faculty/students who have a science background outside neuroscience may attend lectures/seminars.

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Build an SfN Chapter

Network, Share Information, and Educate the Public

Get Started

Contact us if you have questions

Email membership@sfn.org or call (202) 962-4911

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