A Look at the Chapter Rules

The Chapter Rules and Rebate Program was developed to protect the
interests of the Society as a whole and to provide certain minimal
support needed by any chapter.  This is a summary of the current rules:

a)  We have an incentive program.  The Society returns to the Chapter
a portion of dues paid by new members joining at the Regular and above
levels who are recruited by the Chapter.  A new member is anyone joining
the Society who has not been a member during the previous six months.
If a person joins as a Student, we return $10 to the chapter. If the
person joins at any other rate (Regular, Supporting, etc.) we return
$20 to the recruiting chapter.

b)  There is a minimum requirement of three regular National Space Society
members needed to start or maintain a recognized Chapter.  A regular
member is defined as anyone who receives the NSS publication, Ad Astra.

c)  The chapter application and the chapter bylaws must be submitted to
the U.S. Chapters Coordinator and copied to the National Space Society,
Attn: Chapters.  The U.S. Chapters Coordinator is responsible for
reviewing the chapter documents and recognizing the new organization.

d)  The application must include a proposed name which includes the
term "NSS."  Geographical descriptions are preferred, with the obvious
exception of school names for campus based groups, but should not cover
an area greater than that from which members may reasonably be expected to
travel for regular meetings (e.g. not Great Britain NSS or NSS Eurasia).

e)  The chapter must have a democratic set of bylaws.  The definition of
"democratic" is left flexible but must include provisions for periodic
elections of officers.

f)  The chapter must not engage in any activities that are prejudicial
to the purposes and interests of the Society, nor shall it represent
itself as an authorized representative of the Society unless specific
permission to do so is received from the Society.

g)  The chapter must provide the Society with at least one name of a
primary contact for the chapter, including mailing address, phone number
and e-mail address.  One person in the chapter must have access to e-mail.
It is preferable that this information be provided for all officers.

h)  The chapter must submit an initial list of member's names and
addresses with the chapter application.  This list must be updated as
requested by the Society.  Any updates in the contact information for
the chapter, which is posted on the NSS website and in Ad Astra, can be
done by the chapter any time at <http://www.nss.org/chapter>.

i)  Chapters are not granted an exclusive territory.  Other chapters
may form in any given area.

j)  Chapters must provide the Society with a maximum of four copies of
the chapter newsletter (if available), to be sent to the address on the
attached list.

k)  Chapters must submit an annual report in the format specified each
year by the Society.