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COMSEC How to Start A Local COMSEC Chapter
How to Start A Local COMSEC Chapter
Are you interested in establishing a COMSEC chapter? If so, follow
the steps below. First contact the COMSEC association, PO Box 7069,
Gaithersburg, MD., 20898-7069 for a 'starter kit'. This kit will contain
all the materials needed to form you local chapter. The kit includes
membership applications, a chapter application, COMSEC chapter Pro Forma
constitution and bylaws. All these items must be filled out and
returned.
The Pro Forma bylaws will allow you to begin the organization. Once
you have a board established and functioning, the bylaws may be changed
to fit your groups needs by appropriate vote of officers. The Pro Forma
bylaws are sufficiently complete enough to keep you honest with the
national COMSEC association.
Now you need to round up friends or associates with an interest in
communications security. This is a broad enough field so you should
easily find four others with your same interests. The national
association may also be able to help by identifying COMSEC members in
your area that might be interested in joining you. If you have friends
who would be eligible to join the local chapter but are not COMSEC
members all they would have to do is join the national COMSEC
association. All application forms must be sent in with the filled out
bylaws.
Plan on a minimum of three months from the time you make up your mind
to make the chapter happen until the chapter has its first meeting. A
lot will have to be done such as mailing in the applications and locating
members.
You'll also have to start planning for your first chapter meeting.
Decide on a meeting agenda, location and date. Basically, get organized.
Its important to make each meeting as interesting as possible for the
chapter members. And meetings can be scheduled as frequently as members
want.
Your board and initial officers will be found at the first meeting.
One of the first people you will need is a program chairman- someone to
attract and organize meeting speakers. You'll need someone with a PC to
keep a mailing list. All in all, it will take some work but you'll
benefit and help other COMSEC professionals in your area benefit by
associating with one another. COMSEC CHAPTER FORMATION PROCEDURE
The following is a general outline of the procedure that will be followed
for the formation of a local COMSEC Chapter showing the person
responsible and the action.
CHAPTER FOUNDER(S)
Completes the application and prepares proposed chapter bylaws and sends
them with names of COMSEC members, signed membership applications, or a
combination of both or at lease 5 members, to the COMSEC Executive
Director.
COMSEC Executive Director
Approves Application. Sends Chapter Founder a letter, any comments on
bylaws.
COMSEC Board of Directors
Approves chapter bylaws and grants chapter status.
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COMSEC CHAPTER APPLICATION
Principal City___________________________________________________________
Founding Board of Directors:;
(Same person may hold more than 1 position)
President________________________________________________________________
Vice President___________________________________________________________
Treasurer________________________________________________________________
Recording Secretary______________________________________________________
Corresponding Secretary__________________________________________________
Number of initial members________(Minimum of 5 required)
Required documents:
1. Proposed Chapter Bylaws and Constitution - approved by the Chapter's
Founding Board of Directors.
2. Proposed Chapter Boundary - a map outlining the city of the proposed
chapter.
3. Member Applications - at least 5 completed, signed membership
applications or, if the person is currently a national COMSEC member,
only their name and address or a combination of both.
The applicants whose membership applications or names are enclosed
hereby authorize me to request preliminary chapter status for the area
outlined in the map.
Signature_________________________________________, Founding President
Date______________________________________________
PROPOSED LOCAL COMSEC BYLAWS
1. BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ELECTION
The members of the Board of Directors will be elected by the members
of the chapter. Method of voting, times of elections, dates of
installation of new members and all other details will be decided each
year by the chapter.
2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS, NUMBER
The number of directors to be elected at the time of formation of the
chapter is 2. At the first general membership meeting, the board may be
increased to 5.
3. BOARD OF DIRECTORS, TERM
Each Director will be elected for a one year term. The initial Board
of Directors will establish varied terms for themselves so that each year
new directors will be elected by the membership.
4. BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MID-TERM VACANCIES
In the event of a mid-term vacancy, the board has the authority to
elect a member to serve out the term of the departed member.
5. OFFICERS, TITLES AND DUTIES
The titles and duties of the officers are as follows:
Chairman. The Chairman of the Board will normally preside at chapter
meetings. He will offer advice and guidance to the other officers based
on his experience.
President. He is the Chief Executive Officer of the chapter. He will
exercise the normal duties of the Chief Executive Officer. He will chair
meeting of the chapter in the absence of the Chairman.
Executive Vice President. He will perform such duties as assigned by the
President, and will chair meetings of the chapter in the absence of the
Chairman and the President. He will be an ex-officio member of all
committees.
Vice President, Membership. He will manage all affairs relating to
membership activities. He will chair meetings of the Board in the
absence of the Chairman, President and Executive Vice President.
Vice President, Finance. He will manage all financial affairs of the
chapter.
6. COMMITTEES AND SPECIAL FUNCTIONS
Committees and special functions will be established by vote of the
board, and managed by chairman appointed by the president.
PROPOSED LOCAL COMSEC CONSTITUTION
1. NAME The name of the organization shall be (City)
COMSEC Chapter.
2. AIMS This Communications Security chapter is formed to provide an
organization for persons having an interest in communications and the
protection of communications and information. The aims of the
association are:
"To provide a forum for the exchange of information, and to
foster the highest level of ethical and professional conduct
among all who work in this field".
3. ACTIVITIES The chapter will undertake all activities that the
membership, through its elected leadership, deems proper to accomplish
the aims of the association.
4. NATURE The chapter will be operated as a non-profit membership
association, and will not engage in any partisan political activity.
5. MEMBERSHIP To be a chapter member you must be a national COMSEC
member.
6. VOTING RIGHTS Each member of the chapter shall be entitled to one
vote on each issue before the general membership.
7. BOARD OF DIRECTORS The affairs of the chapter will be managed by a
Board of Directors elected by the membership.
8. OFFICERS The Board of Directors will elect, from among their
membership, the officers of the chapter as defined in the Bylaws.
Officers will serve for a period of one year or until their successor is
elected and installed under the Bylaws of the chapter.
9. COMMITTEES Committees will be established by the Board of Directors
as needed from time to time.
10. STANDARDS AND DISCIPLINE Policies and procedures will be established
by the Board of Directors to ensure that the chapter can remove any
member found to lack the ethical standards demanded by the association.
11. DUES AND FEES A schedule of dues and fees will be established by
the Board of Directors, and may be changed from time to time by the Board
of Directors.
12. AMENDMENTS This constitution may be amended by a majority of
members attending a regular meeting with proper notice as specified in
the Bylaws.
