How do I form a Chapter?

1. Contact the New Chapters Coordinator of the Chapters Committee and let them know your interest in starting a chapter.  
2. Check out the "Guide to Starting and Running an SCB Chapter." Lots of helpful and detailed information is provided there.  Also explore the rest of this site.
3. Poll local and regional interest in forming a chapter to confirm that there is likely to be a large enough group (at least 20) to make the chapter viable. Recruit from a broad pool of conservation biologists and practitioners, including those from agencies, non-governmental organizations, and academia (students and faculty). More information is in the Guidebook. 
4. Hold start-up meetings with your founding members, those who are the core activists (those who generated the initial inquiry) and enthusiastic respondents to that initial inquiry.  Typically these members quickly develop an initial slate of temporary officers. Don’t feel embarrassed about the appearance of a "power grab" - experience shows that 95% of members will be grateful for your initiative, and the chapter will benefit from the quick start.
5. Download the Chapter Agreement, Bylaws, and Charter (ABCs) and Chapter Handbook. Review all documents with the group, fill out the ABCs and adjust them accordingly, and return the ABCs as e-mail attachments to the Chair of the Chapters Committee (or fax them to 1-703-995-4633) for review and ratification by the SCB President. 
• Be sure to sign the last page of all 3 ABC documents where appropriate. 
• Chapter by-laws must be submitted in English, but a Spanish version is available for your reference. 
• Please note that all Chapter members must be members of the parent SCB (Article I, Section 1). The options for membership are described at https://www.conbio.org/join and include a $10 membership with no publications. 
• The signed, ratified copies of your Chapter's ABCs constitute your authorization to form a local chapter.
6. Create a website. Each Chapter is required to maintain a web site that provides current names and contact information for officers. SCB can help you develop and host a site for you or you can create your own. Please contact the Chapters Webmaster for assistance or with the URL of your site so it can be linked from the global SCB site.