Dear Mr. Haslage:
Welcome! I see that your dream is finally reaching fruition. I just
got word that the LaPorte is now the first Cyber-Chapter in IFT. In
case you were wondering, I am Captain Marva Imel and I will be your
advisor for your first year of commissioning as a Chapter. There are a
few things you need to know right at the beginning of your tour. Please
read this letter carefully because this is your basic guideline for the
administration of your Chapter.
This paragraph is in addition to the normal welcome letter I send out.
To paraphrase a quote I got directly from IFT Operations.... "A
CyberChapter is governed by the same rules as the real-world (probably
to be called something like land-based chapters). IFT CyberChapters
must report monthly per standard protocols. In addition, all members
that comprise the CyberChapter must be registered IFT members, as with
all chapters. IFT has a standard policy of public service for all
chapters. Currently, all chapters are required to perform at least two
public service/charity missions per year. CyberChapters are not exempt
from this rule, as no IFT chapter can be. We will be studying ways for
that to be possible in CyberSpace; this is one of the protocols that
has yet to be developed."
You will shortly receive two items: IFT By-Laws and the Accepted Ranks
Listing. Because your Shuttle/Chapter has already received approval,
you will receive a few more items from this office such as the Monthly
Report Form and the Discrepancy Report Form. These are for your benefit
to aid you in the beginning of a very fun-filled, challenging future.
Later, you will also receive by snail-mail a frameable Commissioning
Certificate for your Chapter.
The first item you should read at this point is the IFT By-Laws. This
is a guideline for the whole IFT organization and your Chapter. You
may set your Chapter up any way you and your members choose, provided
you follow this guide. You will find that the guideline leaves plenty
of leeway in the design of your Chapter.
To organize a Shuttle, you must have two (2) to four (4) full officer
members. For organizing a Chapter, you must have a minimum of five (5)
full officer members. These members will be the leaders and foundation
of your Shuttle/Chapter.
Every time you have a meeting, senior staff meeting, officer's meeting,
general membership meeting, charity activity, community activity, or
chapter activity - write it down and keep the meeting minutes. Keep
attendance records of everything.
As Chapters of IFT, our goal is to plan events that include community
involvement and charity activities. This includes. any charity event
with the words "...A-Thon" attached to it, park, alley, street, or
highway cleanups; blood drives, food drives, clothing donation drives,
disaster relief efforts, First Aid or CPR certification, recycling, or
participating in a community parade.
Other group fun activities you could plan include: picnics, dinners,
games, bowling or dart leagues, movie premier's, decorating the local
library for Christmas, or the local Zoo for Halloween; in this
particular category, the sky is (almost) the limit.
Don't forget to include the children in your planning of activities.
They want to be involved also. This is a good activity for the whole
family.
In conclusion, I am your Chapter advisor for the next year. If there is
anything I can do to aid you or your Chapter, just contact me.
LIVE THE DREAM
Captain Marva R. Imel
IFT Ship Services
