A Provisional Chapter shall be formed when a group of less than 25 members in a specified geographical area are working toward the formation of a regular Chapter of the Association.

Provisional Chapters may be authorized by the Association's Board of Directors upon written petition of 15 or more voting members of the Association residing in the area to be served by the proposed Provisional Chapter. Approval of a Provisional Chapter is limited to two years unless the Board agrees to a two-year extension. The Board also has the right to dissolve a Provisional Chapter.

Origin of Petition

Petitions may originate in one of two ways.

1. By action of interested members in any region. They may appoint their own temporary chairman at an informal meeting of the group, or they may call upon the Chapter Cabinet Chair to name a representative to act as the temporary chair for purposes of organization.
   
   

2. By action of the Board of Directors through arrangements made by the Chapter Cabinet Chair.
   
   

(Note: It is recommended, although not required, that an Association member who has previously served as president of a Chapter, or in some other capacity at the Association level, be invited to be present at any organizational meeting(s) to act as informal advisor to the group. This person need not be a potential member of the proposed Provisional Chapter. Also, advice may be obtained from the Association Office and/or the Chapter Cabinet Chair.)

Responsibilities of the Temporary Chair

1. Call an informal meeting of Association members in the area and preside at this organizational meeting.
   
   
2. Keep records of any meetings and other transactions.
   
   
3. Handle necessary correspondence with the Association Office and the Chapter Cabinet Chair.
   
   
4. Forward the required written petition to the Association Office.
   
   

Suggested Form of Petition

"We, the undersigned members of Special Libraries Association, do hereby petition for the formation of the (name) Provisional Chapter of Special Libraries Association."

"There are presently (number) members residing within the proposed geographical area which would include: (geographical description)"

"The Chair of this Provisional Chapter will be (name)."

One of the signatories must be a member who will assume the Chair of the provisional Chapter after approval by the Board of Directors. This person must be named in the petition to the Board of Directors.

Responsibilities of the Chair

1. The Chapter Cabinet Chair is responsible for guiding the Provisional Chapter toward the goal of establishing a new regular Chapter, however the Chair of the Provisional Chapter should keep the Chapter Cabinet Chair advised of progress made and problems encountered.
   
   

2. The Chair shall preside at all business meetings of the Provisional Chapter.
   
   

3. The Chair's term of office may be decided by the provisional Chapter membership. If desired, a new Chair may be elected each year on a schedule similar to that of regular Chapters.
   
   

4. Minimum administrative requirements shall consist of minutes of meetings, an annual financial report to the Association office, an annual report to the Chapter Cabinet Chair, and a roster of officers, if any.
   
   

5. The Chair may appoint other officers such as secretary and/or treasurer to assist in the business of the Provisional Chapter, or such officers may be elected by the membership of the Provisional Chapter.
   
   

Allotments

An annual allotment equal to the manum allotment for regular Chapters will be provided to a Provisional Chapter to cover costs of meetings, mailings, and other expenses. The allotment will be sent from the Association Office after the approval of the Provisional Chapter by the Board of Directors. It will be calculated on the basis of the number of Association members in the geographical area of the Provisional Chapter, and will be prorated depending on the amount of the Association's fiscal year remaining after the approval.

Provisional Chapter Activities

Provisional Chapters may undertake as many of the types of usual Chapter activities as they wish, but such activities should be conducted in accordance with the Association Bylaws and the Guidelines for Chapters.

Provisional Chapters shall not be entitled to representation in the Chapter Cabinet. They are invited to attend Chapter Cabinet meetings and informal Chapter officers meetings, but are not authorized to vote.

Formation of a Regular Chapter

Formation of a new, regular Chapter shall be accomplished through the procedures detailed in Guidelines for Chapters, but cannot occur until the membership of the Provisional Chapter has reached 25 and remained at or above that level for twelve months.

Approved: June 1981