Mission and Purpose
NALIP’s mission is to promote the advancement, development and funding of Latino/Latino film and media arts in all genres. NALIP encourages the formation of chapters that will, through their programmatic activities and governance, aid in the identification and development of Latino/Latina media artists –writers, producers, directors- as well as leaders.
Communication Policy
Communication between the Board and the membership is a crucial part of a successful organization. NALIP’s Board and its membership will communicate through a wide range of means, including but not limited to:
A. Website: The website will maintain updated information about programs, jobs, opportunities, membership services, and upcoming events. It shall also house background information and organization documents such as history, mission, Board minutes, membership benefits and by-laws.
B. Annual or bi-annual Letter from the Chair: To detail the organization’s activities, progress and new initiatives.
C. Conference: The National Conference will include a Town Hall meeting in which members can discuss and relay matters of mutual concern.
D. Chair Access: Individual members may relay their ideas or concerns by attending the NALIP quarterly Board meetings and/or by communicating in writing with the Chair.
E. Executive Director Access: The Board requires that the Executive Director writes a quarterly letter to the Membership, as well as to disseminate timely information regarding opportunities, services or new benefits as these become available.
F. Membership handbook posted on the website.
Member Chapters
Members may organize as NALIP regional Chapters to further the empowerment of Latino producers in their regions. NALIP Chapters may not incorporate as a separate organization, but can organize internally as best suits their objectives.
A. Chapters will be comprised of dues paying members in good standing of NALIP National
B. Chapters shall be entitled to the use of the NALIP name, access to NALIP’s not-for-profit status and fundraising under NALIP’s 501-c-3, start-up and organizing support, an annual stipend towards marketing and networking gatherings, a web page at the National website and priority to their applications for support from the Program Fund
C. Chapters will agree to operate in accordance with the mission and guidelines prescribed by NALIP National as set forth in Membership Handbook
D. Chapters will be formed according to geographic / regional interests. Under special circumstances, chapter may be formed according to other "special" interest areas as determined by membership; in these cases, chapter application will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
E. Chapter Formation will be initiated by the filing a Letter of Intent that will be reviewed by Chapter Review Committee, an ad-hoc committee of the Board and membership that will review Letters on a quarterly basis.
F. Chapter applicants will work with the Executive Director to complete the Chapter Application process which shall include, but not be limited to:
a. Letter of Intent.
b. Petition of support with 10-12 member signatures.
c. Operating budget.
d. Proposed list of chapter activities for 18 month/ period
e. Proposed Fundraising Plans.
f. Signed statement of proposed officers to serve for a minimum of one-year upon approval of application
g. Submission of annual chapter fee, the amount to be determined by the Board of Directors which may be waived by the NALIP National Executive Director and/or the NALIP Board, upon request and review.
G. All chapters will have ample latitude in raising operational expenses and additional programmatic funds above their annual allocation on a local level. No local chapter shall seek funding or in-kind contributions from any entity with a national presence or which is a subsidiary or partner of a national entity unless approved IN WRITING by NALIP National Executive Director. Fundraising proposals must be submitted in draft form to the NALIP National Executive Director for review and corrections prior to application for funding; a file copy of all final proposals must be sent to the NALIP national office for the corporate records.
H. All chapters will be required to submit an annual report and fiscal accounting of activities and expenditures, including a plan for the upcoming years budget and activities,, in order to continue as a chapter 'in good standing.' Failure to submit required information on a timely basis will result in suspension of chapter affiliation and possible revocation of chapter membership with NALIP National.
I. Board of Directors shall publish on the website and also distribute a Membership Handbook that will include criteria for approval of chapters, revenue sharing, chapter operating procedures and fiscal management, and Chapter fee levels, if any.
Guidelines for Developing a Local Chapter
NALIP Chapters will be comprised of dues paying members in good standing of NALIP National. They will agree to operate in accordance with the mission and guidelines prescribed by NALIP National as set forth in the Bylaws and Membership Handbook, and will be formed according to geographic/regional interests. Under special circumstances, a chapter may be formed according to other "special" interest areas as determined by membership; in these cases, chapter application will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
These are recommended guidelines for developing a local chapter, and can be modified according to the expressed concerns of membership in Chapter area:
A. Develop a start up committee of 5-7 individuals.
B. Develop a statement of purpose (e.g. To expand professional development opportunities for Latino media makers and their supporters in Texas.)
C. Start-up committee to host a networking reception to introduce potential members to organization (Reception to be co-hosted with support from representatives from national).
D. Follow NALIP’s National by-laws and guiding principles.
E. Establish Membership Committee.
F. Establish Membership Services (Sample list provided below):
• Host networking events quarterly (open to members & non-members)
• Agree to participate in NALIP Job Bank (e.g. through usage of listserv / identification of resources)
• Initiate professional development workshops/seminars for members in good standing in conjunction with NALIP National
G. Establish formal protocols regarding chapter meetings, events and services
H. Enter into a fiscal sponsorship agreement with NALIP National to be sponsored for the purposes of doing business as not-for-profit entity.
Criteria for Approval of Chapter
1. Start-up Committee must be comprised of members-in-good standing (i.e. dues paying members)
2. Start-up Committee must articulate how chapter establishment and services further NALIP National mission and service goals
3. Start-up Committee must evidence demonstrable support for the establishment and maintenance of chapter (i.e. critical mass of dues paying members in specific region or organized around specific special interest area)
4. Members of the Start-up Committee must have a track record of a minimum of one-year of organizing activities in conjunction with NALIP National and/or other media/entertainment entity
5. The Start-up Committee must commit to serve for a two year period in leadership roles (i.e.: officers) until chapter is approved and has completed one full fiscal year cycle
6. Start-up Committee must submit financial materials (including operating budget and financial planning documents) that demonstrate sound fiscal goals
7. Annual Chapter fee may be waived by NALIP Board or Executive Director
8. Start-up Committee should be designated as such: they may be the NALIP Chapter Steering Committee, the Chapter Organizing Committee, Leadership Council, or some other name that suggests a pre-election leadership for the Chapter-in-formation. The Start up Committee may be organized with titles, agreed upon by all members of the Committee, each member receives one vote; or they may operate as a title-free committee where each member takes leadership responsibility for an area of development (e.g. Fundraising, Membership, Communications, Nominations & Governance, etc).
9. Start up Committee must develop a plan for participatory elections to determine leadership titles and roles in the Chapter. No titles (e.g. Chair, President, Officer, etc.) may be used or assigned in association with a Chapter until approved by a majority of the Chapter members following the guidelines set forth below (“Operating Procedures”).
Chapter Benefits
Chapters and chapters-in-formation recognized by NALIP National and operating in accordance with the NALIP Bylaws and Handbook shall be entitled to the following:
1. Use of the NALIP name in identifying their Chapter
2. Use of the NALIP not-for-profit status on proposals approved by the Executive Director
3. $250/year for networking, marketing and other start-up costs
4. Page on the NALIP Website
5. Organizing support from staff and Board
6. Scholarship for at least one Chapter founder or President to attend National Conference
Chapter Operating Procedures
Elections:
1. Chapters and Chapters-in Formation must hold regular elections to establish or confirm leadership structure and responsibilities to the Chapter each year. Failure to hold participatory elections within an 18 month period may result in decommissioning of an approved Chapter.
2. Chapters must hold an Open Call for Nominations which includes a formal public announcement to all Chapter members in good standing. It should seek viable candidates who wish to participate in some leadership capacity for a specific term. The announcement should outline clearly the roles and responsibilities for open seats in the Chapter management structure determined by the Chapter-formation committee or the current membership. If there is some disagreement about the titles or structure most appropriate for a given Chapter, then the various proposals shall be written up and put to a vote of the membership prior to the nomination call for open seats and elections for specific candidates.
3. Interested candidates should submit their Letter of Intent (LOI) to a designated Nominations member of the Steering Committee or current leadership committee, in order to be considered for a specific post of interest. This Letter should include a brief biography and vision platform for the post.
4. A paper or email vote shall be held after public dissemination of candidate platforms with a finite date for voting. Where the process for or results of a Chapter leadership election are contested by some member or group of members within the Chapter, neutral elections will be administered by the NALIP Executive Director and Membership Coordinator.
5. Votes will be tabulated and results publicly announced to all Chapter members on a timely basis. The NALIP Board and Staff will be copied on the results of all elections within a Chapter or Chapter-in-formation.
6. Elections are ratified and formally approved by NALIP National, thereby vesting Chapter leadership with the legal authority held by NALIP. (??) NALIP National will officially recognize the elected leadership on all NALIP National materials (LMRG, Website, etc.), as well as in regional points-of-contact.
Start-up Committee Responsibilities
1. As representatives of NALIP National, all start-up committee members and all Board Members must be conversant with the names and bios of NALIP National Board members and staff, as well as NALIP National mission, programs and services.
2. Boards should be responsible for the following – the titles may be chosen by individual chapters, and board positions may be merged, but all functions must be maintained and carried out.
• President/Chair - Supervise, coordinate, oversee, and provide organizing and leadership support for all Board positions as well as maintain communication with NALIP National and local chapter. Identify new opportunities for partnerships with local organizations and institutions.
• Secretary/Treasurer - Maintain a record (minutes) of all meetings of the chapter and start up board. Organize and keep track of all financial transactions, including setting up a bank account (unless using NALIP-National’s), record income and expenses, and report financial status to the Start- up or leadership Committee.
• Marketing/Outreach/Communications – Build bridges to partner organizations, publicize events to the community through listservs, and notices in the media, market organization and local members’ activities and successes through press releases, placing of articles in publications or websites, etc., The public face of each chapter lives permanently on the NALIP National website. Someone in each chapter must be responsible for helping build, maintain, and encourage local members to submit to the Chapter web pages.
• Membership – help serve, communicate with, recruit and develop new members by organizing at least quarterly membership events and promoting participation in the organization.
• Programming - initiate and organize professional development opportunities, screenings, panels, or other events.
3. Board members must make an effort to attend all local NALIP member events and to attend the National conference yearly.
Download a PDF of the NALIP Chapter Handbook
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