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How to Organize a New CEC Chapter

1. Contact CEC for the chapter organizational kit at 888/232-7733 or e-mail service@cec.sped.org. Please specify whether you want the kit for a student chapter or professional chapter (their constitutions are different).
   
2. Contact the CEC president in your state/province to find out what requirements you’ll need to meet to become officially recognized. Please note that recognition of your chapter comes from your CEC state/provincial unit – not CEC Headquarters.
   
   CEC state/provincial presidents list
   
   Student chapters should also check with the student activities office on your campus for information on how to become a recognized organization at your college/university.
   
3. Schedule a meeting and invite everyone who might be interested! At this meeting, appoint or elect officers, establish committees, and sign up new members.
   
   You’ll need at least 15 members to start your chapter. These can be both new members and transfers from other chapters. For new members, you’ll need to send their membership application and payment to CEC; for members transferring into your chapter, complete the membership transfer form.
   
   

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   Students—Please Note: Not all university students qualify for student membership in CEC. CEC defines as student member as: “…a person enrolled in The Council who is a full-time student during the academic year as defined by an accredited college or university or a person enrolled in The Council who is a part-time student who is not engaged in full-time employment as a certified professional in the field of education.”
   

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4. 
   A. Complete and submit these materials to your CEC state/provincial unit:
   • Chapter application
   • List of officers
   • Constitution and bylaws
   • List of new members who are submitting membership applications to CEC
   • Photocopy of membership transfer form
   
   B. Submit these materials to CEC:
   • Membership applications and payments from new members
   • Membership transfer form

That’s all there is to it! Your CEC state/provincial unit will contact you if they have any questions and notify you when a chapter number has been assigned.

Questions? Please contact your CEC state/provincial unit. For CEC membership information and materials, contact CEC’s Constituent Services Center at 888/232-7733 or service@cec.sped.org.