Section Five: Using Your Campus "Home"

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Introduction

A great boon to new and existing SEDS chapters can be found in creating a positive relationship with the student union or student government. You will find that the people in the offices that coordinate student activities can solve nearly any problem you face in starting your chapter. Get to know the members of your campus administration as people. If you take the time to explain, they may become interested in SEDS and its activities and go out of their way to help you and support the group's endea vors. Always remember to approach these people with courtesy and respect.

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Administration and Paperwork

Though many campuses are different, you will most likely need to take care of the following:

• File a SEDS Constitution with your host institution, (more about this in Section XV)

• Fill out campus registration forms,

• Attend student/union government committee meetings.

Your SEDS chapter's establishment, continuance and campus-wide reputation are all directly related to your chapter's handling of these responsibilities.

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Facilities and Resources

Campuses may have various services and facilities for student groups. A little research, time and effort could supply your chapter with the following:

• Office space and mailboxes,

• Financial assistance,

• Meeting rooms,

• Printing and copying,

• Audio/Visual equipment,

• Computer accounts.

Responsibilities come with each of these, but through organization and distribution of responsibilities, challenges can be met with few complications.

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Other Space Groups

Sometimes, your new chapter will have to compete for resources and members because there are other space groups on campus already. One option is to merge your two groups so that they become a chapter of SEDS-USA and of the other organization. In thi s case, be sure that SEDS-USA is aware of your joint chapter status. Another option is to meet with the other group to discuss the focus of each organization. When you leave, be sure that you and the other chapter's leaders know which activities each gr oup will sponsor so that there is minimal overlap. Be sure to continue communication with that and other chapters. In all cases, cooperation and friendly relations are very important for the health of all space organizations on campus.

Be willing to work with other space groups. There are a lot of them out there!