Membership

CHAPTER LEADERSHIP AND MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Please complete this Google form to update your local chapter leadership! Then, email your respective regional directors at region#@apamsa.org (insert your region number for #), membership@apamsa.org, and database@apamsa.org. 

Don’t know your region #? Check out the APAMSA regional map HERE (scroll to the bottom)!
Have Questions? Contact our Database Director (database@apamsa.org).

We are no longer asking local chapters to complete an Excel sheet to update membership. Instead, we will be replacing it with a new membership process.

We highly encourage ALL local chapter officers/members to SIGN UP NOW for our official membership through JoinIt as a paying member! Please join in order to continue receiving exclusive newsletters about national and regional APAMSA events. For more information, including membership benefits and general FAQs, check out our updated website HERE.

To sign up for ONLY general newsletters without membership benefits (non-paying), click HERE.

ABOUT:

APAMSA is a national organization of health professional students and pre-health students committed to addressing the unique health challenges of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. With an organized membership system, we are able to support APAMSA, our chapters, and our mission. All membership fees go back to chapter funding and will support scholarships for the communities we serve.

If you have any questions, please email membership@apamsa.org.

Congratulations on being elected a chapter officer. Here’s a timeline of events to help guide you through the year. Feel free to adapt it so it meets the needs of your chapter.

After being elected, make sure you speak to the old officers and get their old files and advice about how to be a good officer.

1. Submit your Leadership Transition and updated rosters with the new officer contacts. Get the supplies, financial reports, and other contacts from previous officers.

2. Register your new officers with your Student Activities office, if required.

3. Include a welcome letter from APAMSA in the new student’s packet mailer, if your school permits.

4. Subscribe yourself to the chapter officers list serv by submitting the Leadership Transition form.

5. During the summer, prepare your recruitment supplies such as fliers and posters so you can post them when new students arrive.

Everyone’s now back at school and things are moving fast.

1. Plan on recruitment activities

2. Hold your first general meeting.

3. Prepare ahead to attend the national conference.

4. Subscribe yourself to the list serv: www.apamsa.org

5. Register your group with Student Activities office if you haven’t already.

6. Represent your chapter at your Student Activities Fair

National Conference is usually in the Fall

1. Announce if your chapter is going to National Conference this year, and solicit attendees

2. Get the Treasurer to file for Travel Funds with your school

3. Look for sample Fundraising Ideas & Resources.

4. Book your flights, accommodations, and make sure your attendees have registered for the National Conference ahead of time.

5. Submit proposed amendments to the Constitution, Letters of Intent, CV if you want to run for National Positions or change the Constitution.

6. Remember to submit MCCs every month!

At National Conference:

1. Attend the workshops and keynote talks, bond with your chapter, see the sights!

2. Run for National or Regional Office, talk about APIA health, and have FUN!

1. Get in contact with your newly elected Regional Directors. Contact membership@apamsa.org for their contact information.

2. Try and hold an observance for Diwali/other APIA cultural holidays.

3. Start planning to participate in the National Hepatitis B campaign and Bone Marrow Drive.

1. Participate in the National Hepatitis B campaign and Bone marrow drive.

2. Stay tuned for info from your regional directors to participate in regional conferences.

1. Hold elections for new chapter officers and do your best to give them as much information as possible, so that your APAMSA chapter can remain active.

When asking for or raising money, show your dedication and enthusiasm for APAMSA. You should show sponsors and buyers that you want to make your plans a reality and that you have a well thought out plan for accomplishing those goals. You need to clearly state your reasons for why you think your APAMSA programming is needed at your school and what benefit the organization would bring to your school.

Establish A Budge

Make a list of all tentative events and determine estimated costs each event. Don’t forget to include:

• Food

• Room booking fee

• AV fee

• Thank you cards/gifts for speakers

Seeking Grants and Sponsors

Funding Resources at Your School

Don’t be afraid to ask: Most medical schools, both public and private, are happy to support APA medical student organizations. Be sure to emphasize that your events are open to all members of your medical school. Similarly, select events that will appeal to all your classmates.

Start with school offices which usually have money set aside to fund student organizations. They include:

• Student Council

• Office of Student Affairs

• Office of Diversity

• Dean’s Office

• Alumni Association

• Ask a specific academic department related to your event (for example, the Infectious Disease department or Microbiology department for a Hepatitis B education lecture).

Contact them with details of your events, which should include:

• Amount of funding requested and cost breakdown

• Event descriptions

• Dates

• Locations

• Estimated attendance

You can also find local businesses/organizations to support your chapter and events. Use our Sponsorship Guidance Document for instructions on how to work with Sponsorship Directors to contact businesses and seek funds.

Fundraising Ideas

Fundraising in Your Community

Be creative. Planning a fundraiser in your community can be fun, lucrative, and productive. It gives you an opportunity to explain what APAMSA is about and garner support. Some successful ideas from years past include: Charity dance or dinner, Cash / prize raffles, silent auctions, and more.

Consider selling food or items to raise additional funds. They can be related to Asian holidays (ex. Lunar New Year), Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, etc. Make sure you advertise your event with an eye-catching visual!

• School clothing gear: Patagonia sweaters, t-shirts, crewnecks, etc.

• Asian-themed snacks: bubble tea, mochi, onigiri, etc.

• Multicultural potluck lunch

• Bake sale

Finding Partners

It’s always a good idea to co-sponsor events with other student organizations, particularly if you’re just starting an APAMSA chapter. This fosters collaboration and introduces you to the specific requirements for planning an event at your school. Partner with other student organizations who share similar missions and are willing to split the costs. Ideas include:

• SNMA, LMSA, AMWA, etc. on talks concerning diversity in medicine

• Infectious Disease, Endocrinology, Psychiatry, etc. on talks about hepatitis, diabetes screening (Screen at 23), mental health in Asian communities.

• Free Student Clinics if you are considering community health screenings

Other Questions?

Please contact Sponsorship Directors (sponsorship@apamsa.org) and/or Membership Directors (membership@apamsa.org) if you need additional help with fundraising for your chapter!

Other Potential Funding Resources

AMA-Medical Student Section Policy Promotion Grant: Available to medical student groups interested in conducting projects and activities designed to further AMA policy. Grants awarded are $250 per project. For more information and an application, please call 1-800-AMA-3211 Ext. 4742.

MCCs detail your chapter’s activity for each month that’s due the 3rd of every following month and can be submitted HERE

• This is a form REQUIRED for a chapter to maintain active status. Reactivation fees may be necessary after missing >3 captures, however you may back submit MCCs at any time. MCC submissions are also used to select events to feature on the APAMSA newsletter, and we also use them to select Chapter Awards at the yearly APAMSA National Conference.

• Activity includes chapter meetings, fundraising events, volunteer events, etc. If you have no activity/events, the form is still to be submitted (most of the sections will be empty). A late submission is better than no submission!

MCC Tips

• Include photos/videos with your events if you can!

• See below for Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).

MCC FAQ

1. What is the Monthly Chapter Capture?

   • A chance to request support from national/regional board, to share exciting news/events from your chapter and to give feedback!

2. Where can I access the form?

   • CLICK HERE

3. Issues with emails?

   • Update your roster by emailing database@apamsa.org. For other support, email membership@apamsa.org

4. What is this used for?

   • Chapter awards, allocation of resources/support, sponsorship, project ideas, social media, and more!

5. How long will this take?

   • < 10 min. if you have events/news to share with us and/or if you have support to request! < 3 min. if you have neither.

6. Should I submit if I don’t have anything new to share?

   • Yes! We want to make sure that we haven’t lost communication. In this case, the capture takes < 3 mins!

7. What happens after?

   • A pdf of your responses will be sent to you and the national and regional board.

   • Your regional director will contact you for any requested support. Please email them or the national membership director for any issues.

   • Your event may be selected to be featured, so stay tuned to APAMSA emails, social media, and website!

Get to know us more through these amazing videos!

• A 1-minute introduction to APAMSA

• An 8-minute introduction to APAMSA

• Additional videos

Follow us on Facebook to get the most updated information on our events/activities and meet other members!

Join (and ask your members to join) your Region’s FB to get connected to other APAMSA members! You can also check out what other Regions are doing via their groups.

• Region I/II

• Region III

• Region IV

• Region V

• Region VI

• Region VII

• Region VIII

• Region IX