Establishing a HOSA Chapter

IV. Establishing a HOSA Chapter

Please review the entire chapter affiliation process before you continue. If you have questions about any aspect of the process, please contact the HOSA Headquarters at its toll-free number: (800) 321-HOSA or (972) 874-0062 or via E-mail at hosa@hosa.org.

Step #1

Secure a copy of the following materials to affiliate your HOE program with HOSA.

Chapter Affiliation Application - contact HOSA Headquarters if additional applications are needed for multiple chapters or supplemental memberships, or affiliate online at www.hosa.org.
HOSA Handbook - available from HOSA Headquarters.
HOSA: Learn, Grow and Become - a curriculum package (with a teacher's manual and a student workbook) that will help integrate HOSA into the HOE classroom. For more information, call toll-free (800) 654-4502 or on the Internet at http://www.okcareertech.org/cimc/index.htm.

Step #2 Contact the HOSA State Advisor and indicate your interst in affiliating your school/college and students with the state association and national organization. The state advisor is an excellent source of information regarding state and national activities, projects, meetings, and services available to chapter advisors and members. Please contact HOSA Headquarters if you need the name and telephone number of your state advisor. (If your state does not offer a state association, your chapter may affiliate directly with the national organization.) Step #3 Decide which method your institution will use to organize one or more HOSA chapters.

Classroom based chapter. A HOSA chapter is formed for each class of five (5) or more students. This is a preferred method in institutions where students are unable to meet together regularly. For example, a vocational center might offer a HOE program in the morning, afternoon, and evening. The instructor could organize multiple chapters that will conduct their business meetings and activities independant of each other; HOSA Chapter #1 (a.m.); HOSA Chapter #2 (afternoon); and HOSA Chapter #3 (evening-adult.) Each chapter elects an officer team and develops its program of work. For large projects, chapters can collaborate. Business meetings and programs can be held during class time since HOSA is "curricular" and not "extracurricular."

Instructor based chapter. A chapter is formed by one instructor for all students enrolled in his/her classes. While chapter meetings with all students may be difficult to schedule, individual classes can form in-class committees to plan and organize projects and activities. Each class can elect a vice president (class representative) that serves on a HOSA Chapter Council, the steering committee for the chapter.

Institution wide chapter. A single chapter is formed for all students in all classes regardless of the number of instructors. This is the preferred method for post high school institutions (community colleges, technical schools, and four-year colleges) where multiple courses are offered by multiple instructors. If this method is adopted, every effort must be made to get 100% active involvement by all students and instructors.

Step #4 Contact local school/college officials (e.g. activity directors, Dean of Student Activities) and make certain all information is properly submitted and on file. (A sample constitution for a HOSA chapter is available in the HOSA Handbook.) Step #5 Review the instructions for completing the Chapter Affiliation Application on the backside of the pink copy of the form or on the web site. Please give special attention to the following guidelines.

Affiliation fees for all fall semester students must be received by HOSA on or before January 1 of the membership year.
Affiliation fees for students who enroll after January 1 must be received by HOSA on or before March 1 of that same year.
Students who do not affiliate by the appropriate date shall be ineligible to participate in the HOSA Competitive Events Program or seek national office.
National competitors must be affiliated with the national organization prior to their state conference to be eligible for participation at the National Leadership Conference.
All state members are to be affiliated with National HOSA.
Do not mix membership divisions on one application. If you serve more than one division (secondary, postsecondary, collegiate), request additional applications from the HOSA Headquarters.
Each chapter must have at least one dues paying advisor. List the chapter advisor as a professional member.
Chapters may pay their total fees by check or purchase order. HOSA will bill the school or chapter. Payment must be received within 30 days of the stated deadlines (January 1 and March 1) for the chapter to remain in good standing.
Affilation fees for postsecondary/collegiate students who enroll in a program after January 1 must be received by HOSA on or before March 1. These students are members until December 31 of the same year.
If your chapter was affiliated during the previous membership year and you send the affiliation form, make certain to apply the peel-off address label on your envelope to affiliation application (#15.0 address label.) In doing so, it will be much easier for HOSA to track the membership record for your chapter. If the peel-off address label is not provided but your chapter was previously affiliated in good standing, pleas indicated your correct national charter number on the affiliation application (#5.0 - chapter affiliation status) to expedite the processing of your application.

Step #6 Review the member services provided by HOSA.

National Organization. Founded in 1976, HOSA provides an array of services and support to its chartered states and affiliated chapters and members. The maintenance and expansion of the national organization provides maximum visibility for Health Occupations Education and the health care industry. Greater visibility attracts attention and support for the organization (HOSA) and the instructional program area (HOE.)

National Competitive Events Program. The competitive events program should be used by a chapter advisor to motivate HOE students to prepare for competition at district, state, and/or national conferences. HOSA does not provide competitive events for competition's sake. Rather, HOSA provides a national program as a means of recognizing those students who pursue excellence by preparing for competition and having the determination to attend a conference - district, state, and/or national - and demonstrate those competencies gained through the HOE classroom. The Competitive Events Committee, working with Technical Advisory Committees, is constantly reviewing the national events to provide members and advisors with the most comprehensive and modern competitions available to HOE students. The current events include:

Category I - Health Occupations Related Events

Dental Spelling
Dental Terminology
Medical Spelling
Medical Terminology
Medical Math
Knowledge Tests

Category II - Health Occupations Skill Events

Administrative Medical Assisting
CPR/First Aid
Dental Assisting
Dental Laboratory Technology
EMT
*First Aid/Rescue Breathing
Medical Assisting - Clinical
Medical Laboratory Assisting
Nursing Assisting
Opticianry
*Personal Care
Physical Therapy Aide
Practical Nursing
Sports Medicine
Veterinary Assisting

Category III - Individual Leadership Events

Extemporaneous Speaking
Job Seeking Skills
Prepared Speaking
Extemporaneous Writing
Extemporaneous Health Display
Researched Persuasive Speaking
*Interviewing Skills
*Speaking Skills

Category IV - Team Leadership Events

Community Awareness
HOSA Bowl
Parliamentary Procedure
Creative Problem Solving
Biomedical Debate
Medical Reading
Career Health Display
Health Education

Category V - Recognition Events

Outstanding HOSA Chapter
Outstanding HOSA Member
National Recognition Program
Kaiser Permanente Healthcare Issues Exam
National Service Project
Barbara James Service Award
Chapter Newsletter

* Only for students certified with special needs.

National Leadership Conference. In June, National Leadership Conference is held annually to recognize outstanding performance in leadership and competitions. While at the NLC, members and advisors are provided oppurtunities to learn about current health care issues. During the national conference, the leadership of HOSA, Inc. and HOSA meets and elects new representatives and officers. The National Leadership Conference is not only the capstone of the year for the students and instructors in attendance, it is the spark for the new membership year. All HOSA members in good standing are eligible to attend the National Leadership Conference if approved by their state associations and local chapters.

National Publications. The National HOSA Handbook is the primary document needed by all chapters and state associations. Other publications and visual products are available to integrate HOSA into the HOE classroom and to organize and develop effective local chapter and state association. A web site is maintained to provide HOSA members with a wide variety of up-to-date materials and information.

Emblematic Services. The HOSA, Inc. Board contracts with Awards Unlimited to provide the HOSA Supply Service. A current catalog is available from the HOSA Headquarters.

HOSA Travel Service. This service is provided under a contractual arrangement with a travel service as negotiated by the HOSA Headquarters staff. State associations are encouraged to use the service since the official airlines for the conference can provide a 5% discount below the best discount fare available if booked through the HOSA Travel Service.

Scholarships. HOSA members are eligible for the Lois B. Graham Scholarship and Catherine B. Junge Scholarship. Additional sponsors are being sought to expand the scholarship program.

Step #7 Solicit membership fees from all HOE students or hold a fund-raising project to pay the affiliation fees for all members and advisors. Special recognition is given to 100% chapters at the National Leadership Conference and in the NLC Program. If you are a 100% chapter, you will receive a recognition certificate along with your membership cards. Step #8 Submit the initial application promptly to avoid deadline conflicts. Be among the first one hundred chapters that submit chapter applications to HOSA and you'll receive a certificate as a HOSA-100 Club Chapter. HOSA-100 Club Chapters are also recognized in the Spring issue of the HOSA Magazine. Step #9 Submit supplement applications when students enroll in the HOE program. Supplemental applications are accepted until March 1.

Please be aware that substitutions are not allowed. Membership cards cannot be transfered to other students once they are issued.

Step #10 Get students actively involved in local, state, and national activities through attendance:

Local chapter meetings.
Local committee meetings.
Area, district or state officer training meetings (if available.)
State Leadership Conference (review the competitive events and workshops in which members can participate.)
National Leadership Conference (held in June each Year.)

Step #11 Develop a meaningful program of work that includes the following types of activities:

Leadership development
Community service
Social and recreational activities
Professional development.

Step #12 Adopt a budget and identify fund-raising projects that can generate sufficient revenue to support the student-developed program of work. Step #13 Receive the chapter affiliation packet from HOSA Headquarters that includes:

Current membership cards
100% Affiliation Certificate (if qualified.)
HOSA-100 Club Certificate (if qualified.)
HOSA Leader's Update (Fall Issue.)
HOSA Charter (new chapters only.)
HOSA promotional poster
Assorted other materials and other mailings.

Step #14 Prepare students to participate in the HOSA Competitive Events Program. Contact your state advisor for the dates for district, state, and national competition. Step #15 Hold fund-raising projects to sponsor all students who qualify to attend the National Leadership Conference in June. Funds permitting, at least one student should apply to attend the NLC Leadership Academy, held in conjunction with the NLC Competitive Events Program. The Leadership Academy will be an excellent training program for students who will return and be a chapter leader the next school year. Step #16 Develop, practice, and refine leadership skills in the HOSA chapter. Step #17 Hold chapter meetings in the summer for next year's members and alumni to maintain momentum and enthusiasm for the next year. Step #18 Receive the initial chapter affiliation application in late August or early September and begin the process of leadership development with your students. Contact HOSA Headquarters if you do not receive the Chapter Affiliation Application by mid-September.