BRANCH SECTION GUIDELINES

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the Branch Section concept is to conveniently and economically promote the objectives of the Society to groups of members and potential members whose distance from usual Section meeting locations precludes participation in these Section meetings.

OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES

1. A Branch Section is an integral part of the established Section in whose area it meets.

2. The parent and Branch Section should coordinate meetings so that it could be possible to have the same speaker on subsequent nights, or perhaps utilize the speaker at luncheon at the Branch Section meeting and at dinner the same night at the regular Section meeting.

3. The prime responsibility for development of a Branch Section should be assigned to a Board member of the parent Section. It is desirable that a Branch Section has one or two of its Officers on the Board of the parent Section.

4. The parent Section is expected to lend continuing financial support to its Branch Section. An agreement should be reached between the Branch and parent Sections pertaining to all financial matters before the Branch is organized.

5. The Branch Section may become an independent section if the parent Section agrees to relinquish the geographical territory involved.

6. The parent Section should be absolutely certain that there is a supportive group in the proposed branch area, plus a strong liaison within the parent group. There is also the need that the parent Section be dedicated to actively guiding and directing the Branch Section.

The SPE Sections Committee is ready and willing to help establish Branch Sections. By working together, it is hoped to make attendance at monthly Section meetings more convenient, economical and fruitful.