Starting a Chapter

Organizing a NANN chapter is an important step toward developing and maintaining the professional skills necessary to meet the increasing demands of neonatal nursing. There are social benefits as well. Bringing together neonatal nurses in the community helps build a personal as well as professional network.

First Steps

Get a core group of individuals interested in working with you. Ideally, members should represent several hospitals.

• Set a date for a meeting.
• Solicit interest in membership – post notices at facilities, do a mailing, contact drug and medical supply companies, send press releases
• Draw up an agenda for your meeting. The following are important issues that will need to be discussed at upcoming meetings:
  • Chapter name – acronym must be unique
  • Short term and long term objectives addressing educational plans, membership drives, leadership development
  • Officers – can be temporary at this point
  • Committees
  • Geographical Boundaries
  • Dues
  • Development of Chapter Insignia, if desired
  • Chapter bylaws – A set of sample bylaws can be found here. Your officers should vote to approve the bylaws.
  • NANN requires a minimum of ten chapter members before approving a chapter. Remember, chapter members must be NANN national members!
  • Once you have a group that is serious about starting the chapter, you should call the local IRS office for an EIN (identification number that you will use to open a bank account, and for tax records). NANN requires that your chapter be set up with a fiscal year January 1–December 31. This should be reflected in the paperwork that is submitted to the IRS.

Guide to the Development of Chapter Insignias

Overall design criteria:

• Includes upright print of NANN footprint.
• Includes full name of chapter in print large enough to be easily read.
• If the name of your chapter does not include the state or an easily recognized region of your state, this should be represented graphically in the logo.
• Must not include any emblem or logo known to be copyrighted by or commonly associated with another group, company, or corporation.
• Must not include any words other than the full name of chapter written out.

A copy of the draft insignia should be sent to the national office for approval. If, at any time following charter, a chapter wishes to revise its registered insignia, it should submit a written request with justification.

Required Materials

• Petition for Charter Application
• $25 Application Fee
• Copy of Chapter Bylaws
• Chapter Membership List
• Chapter Logo (if applicable)

When you have prepared the above materials, you are ready to submit your chapter application!  Please submit all materials together to the NANN office. The NANN Board of Directors will vote on your chapter charter at their next regularly scheduled meeting.