Chapter Rules and Regulations

1. Leadership: Chapters will select leadership by a process determined by each Chapter. Selected leader names will be submitted to the APNA Board of Directors for endorsement and approval.
2. Terms: Chapter leaders may serve three-year terms, and may serve two consecutive terms if selected by the members.
3. Infrastructure: APNA will provide services to enable the chapter to function. These services will be coordinated through APNA staff.
4. Meetings:
   1. Each Chapter will gather during the state-focused event at the APNA Annual Conference each year. The event will focus on networking and recruitment and be open to all conference attendees who reside or work in the Chapter’s state.
   2. Each Chapter shall determine its own rules or procedures for making decisions necessary to carry out Chapter business, provided, however, that all such rules and procedures must be consistent with these Rules and Regulations, the Agreement, the APNA Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, and any additional rules, policies, or regulations adopted by the APNA Board of Directors. These rules and procedures can be outlined in a Chapter Governance Policies document.
   3. All Chapter meetings, whether in person or virtual via telephone call, video streaming, or other electronic methods such as APNA websites, shall be scheduled in advance. If practical, an agenda will be circulated to attendees in advance and written minutes will be prepared and circulated to the APNA Board of Directors and to attendees via the chapter’s online community.
5. Communications: Each Chapter shall conduct its activities throughout the year utilizing a variety of communications channels as appropriate. The Chapter Leader (or designated member of the chapter leadership team) will coordinate with APNA staff on these efforts.
   1. All Chapter documents, including but not limited to position or policy statements, shall not be released to the Chapter membership without prior review and approval of the APNA Board of Directors. The Executive Director is authorized to review and approve all chapter emails that fall within APNA policy on behalf of the board. Any emails that fall outside of APNA standard policies will be brought to the Board for review.
6. Finances: Chapter leadership will designate an individual who will have responsibility of the financial affairs of the Chapter and will work with APNA staff in exercising stewardship of the funds. APNA will maintain a separate account for each chapter and will send reports to the Chapter leadership on revenues and expenses. APNA will not disperse any chapter funds without written authorization from the Chapter via an expense disbursement form, signed by 2 chapter leaders who will not receive the funds and the APNA Director of Finance & Administration.
7. Annual Report: Each Chapter shall submit an Annual Report to the APNA Board of Directors. The Annual Report shall be submitted by chapter leaders via chaptersupport@apna.org or other specified online form. Failure of a chapter to submit an Annual Report for 3 years in a row will activate the Chapter Suspension policy. The Annual Report shall be in a preferred format provided by APNA and shall include:
   1. A summary of yearly activity respective of APNA strategic goals including specific outcomes.
   2. Information about meetings, programs, and other efforts the chapter engaged in throughout the year.
   3. Any additional information requested by the APNA Board of Directors.