Thinking of starting a local HOSA Chapter at your postsecondary/collegiate institution? You are to be commended, since there are so few organizations which embody so many possibilities for individual growth, including service to others, enhancement of occupational skills, and the cultivation of leadership qualities, to name a few. HOSA membership can have a tremendously positive impact on all future health care professionals and, as postsecondary/collegiate students, you are that much closer to actually joining the health care team. Yet HOSA's slow increase at the postsecondary/collegiate level is astonishing, with secondary students outnumber postsecondary/collegiate students at a ratio of almost ten to one. Considering the number of postsecondary collegiate institutions in this country, our opportunity for growth is immense. So, let's get started.

The following checklist is designed to help you maneuver successfully through some of the "red tape" you are likely to encounter at this level:

1. Commit yourself to the task that lies ahead. Be prepared to dedicate a minimum of one semester to "getting started."
2. Find out your institution's requirements for establishing a new club and/or campus organization. Talk with a dean, school administrator, or someone at the Office of Student Affairs to determine how to proceed.
3. Assemble a small membership initially. Talk to your friends and fellow classmates about the opportunities HOSA has to offer. Identify people who will be willing to help you with the remaining steps. Also, you may want to locate people who are former HOSA members.
4. Find a willing advisor. This will probably be one of your more difficult tasks, but don't give up so quickly! Talk to every faculty member you know, and even those you haven't met, either in person or via e-mail. Explain what HOSA is and that a group of your fellow students have already committed to the idea. If they say no, ask for the names of other faculty members who may be interested. Perhaps the Academic and/or Student Affairs Office at your institution would be willing to help with this task.
5. Draft a Chapter constitution/bylaws. If possible, obtain a copy of another local Chapter's bylaws and use it as a guide. Remember that it should include such items as the official name of the organization, purpose, membership, dues, local officers, meetings, finances, voting rules, and how to make amendments.
6. Fill our the necessary state and national HOSA paperwork. Contact your state advisor or the National HOSA Headquarters for these forms. And remember that there are state and national dues, as well as local fees, that must be mailed with these forms according to the time frame indicated.
7. Meet your particular institution's requirements (which may be the same or different from the state and national requirements). For example, additional requirements might include filling out more paperwork, submitting your constitution/bylaws for review, signing "No Hazing" statements, meeting with a committee, etc.

Additional "survival tips" include the following:

• Don't try to recruit too large a membership to begin with. A small, committed group of a dozen or less is a good size, allowing frequent informal meetings and delegation of startup responsibilities. But remember, in order to be considered a HOSA Chapter, you must have at least five members.
• Remember that HOSA is a tax-exempt organization, a 501(c)3. Call National Headquarters for the appropriate documentation. Your school will probably need proof of this, and your Chapter should keep a copy as well.
• At most postsecondary/collegiate institutions, the school's name or logos cannot be used in connection with HOSA due to copyright laws. For example: NOT ALLOWED: University of Louisville HOSA, U of L HOSA ALLOWED: University HOSA, HOSA at The University of Louisville, or simply, HOSA.
• Remember to include a nondiscrimination clause in your constitution/bylaws.

Good luck as you conquer the next frontier and reap the rewards of increased postsecondary/collegiate membership and participation!

Imagine, for just a moment, where will you be one year from now? What accomplishment have you made? Who have you met along the way? In answering these questions, there is one organization that has a positive outlook for each of them. There are many advantages that the HOSA has to offer.

HOSA Is an organization that helps improve leadership skills. As a member, you have the opportunity to run for an office at the local, state, and national levels. This allows you to help make important decisions and a real difference in the organization. Even if you choose not to serve as an officer, you still have the opportunity to be a leader, just by taking an active role in your local Chapter or state.

HOSA also offers the opportunity to be involved in competitive events. Through these events, you have a chance to compete in an area that you are interested in and place at a regional, state, and national level. The experience that you gain will not only help you excel as a health occupations students, but also in your future career goals.

Your involvement in HOSA will bring you across many paths. This gives you a chance to meet those who are interested in the same things that you are. Through this organization, you will meet many people and make friendships that last a lifetime.

Looking back on the year, have you accomplished all that you wanted? Have you reached the goals you set before yourself? By taking advantage of what HOSA has to offer, you can answer those questions with confidence. Through leadership, competitive events, and memorable friendships, HOSA Can make a difference in your life and allow you to make a difference in the lives of others.

As a state officer, I have come to realize the importance of recruitment. This does not only happen at the local and regional level, but at the state and national level as well. Recruitment is an implied duty of all HOSA members. It is our duty to reach out to other students the way they have reached out to us. Not one of us got here by our own hand; someone spoke to us, shared an experience, or showed us the benefit of belonging to the HOSA organization. Now it is we who must go out and help other people realize their dreams and expectations. We can do so by speaking and sharing with other students. Nothing works better than personalized contact. Keep in mind that by sharing what HOSA is about and what membership has done for you, it will convince others to join. If you believe in HOSA, I feel certain others will believe, too.