JAVS Summer 2000

ExPANDING AVS CHAPTERS

41

Viola Club of MD/DC & VA Margaret Motter "Peggy'' Ward 11101 Luttrell Lane Silver Spring, MD 20902-3556 301-649-7150

Washington State Viola Society Helen Callus 512 NE 82nd Street Seattle, WA 98115-4156 206-526-8157

AMERICAN VIOLA SOCIETY General Information Sheet for Chapter Start-up

1. Organize an initial meeting-you need at least ten members. 2. Make sure all members of your proposed viola society are members of the AVS or will be when the material is submitted. 3. Elect the required officers. 4. Read and carefully fill out the Bylaws and Application Form. Fill in all the blank lines with your geographical name, i.e. The Los Angeles Viola Society. These forms can be obtained from William Preucil, Vice President ofAVS. 5. Decide to incorporate or not. You do not have to incorporate. Incorporation is sim ply a way to be more independent-your chapter becomes a legal entity and files its own tax returns ill addition to other advantages and responsibilities. Incorpo ration laws are slightly different in every state and there are costs involved. Please check with your appropriate governmen tal agency and legal counsel. 6. Application can be made for an AVS con tribution grant to assist in start-up expense. 7. Open a checking account. Again, all states are different-you may need an authorizing letter from national. If that is the case, contact either Peter Slowik, President, or Catherine Forbes, Secretary. Either person can send the required doc umentation by fax or post.

8. Organize an initial activity. Suggestions include: *Bring in a local guest artist for a recital or clinic; *Do an evening of chamber music; viola duets or whatever you wish; *Plan a reception for a visiting artist; *Plan a theme concert, i.e. a transcrip tion night or a Baroque evening, for those who wish to perform; *Organize a local viola competition. *N.B. An AVS contribution grant to assist ill start-up expenses can be applied for. 9. Decide on an appropriate amount for your local dues. 10. Collect dues from all members. Each member will write one check to include annual dues for the Chapter and annual dues for the AVS. 11. Send the completed application form, the Chapter Bylaws, the Articles of Incorpo ration (if required) and required national and local membership dues and applica tion forms to:

Ellen Rose, AVS Treasurer 2807 Lawtherwood Place Dallas, TX 75214