Thank you for your interest in the Campus Alliance of La Raza (CALR).  The Board of Directors of the La Raza Alumni Association (LRAA) is currently working with the National Council of La Raza to expand the CALR across the United States.

The information provided below will guide you with respect to establishing a chapter of La Raza on your university campus.

Step 1: Secure Charter Consideration
Familiarize yourself with the National Council of La Raza and the Campus Alliance of La Raza.  Understand the missions of these organizations and the contributions that they have made to the Latino community.

Email LRAA requesting charter consideration.  This can be done by emailing the following information: your name, university name, expected graduation date, major(s), minor(s), contact information (email, cell phone, address), and reason(s) why you want to establish a chapter of the CALR on your university campus.  Please submit your email to expansion@larazacenter.org.  It is important to include an updated resume as an attachment to your email.

An expansion officer will contact you within 3-5 business days.  He/She will have you demonstrate your knowledge of the work of the NCLR and CALR and will explore in detail your intent to establish a chapter of La Raza at your respective institution.  Please allocate approximately 60 minutes for this interview.

With the approval of the expansion officer – you will be granted the status of “interest group” and a CALR website for your organization will be established.

Step 2: Website Photos
Your website will serve as an important selling point for your organization.  Secure 15 photos of you, possible La Raza members, and your campus’ facilities and title them “pic1”, “pic2”, “pic3” … “pic15”.  Log on to facebook.com.  Add “Craig de Mariana Aleman” from the University of Delaware as a friend.  Post your 15 photos in a facebook album entitled “La Raza Photos”.  Craig will use these photos to personalize your interest group’s website.

Step 3: Facebook.com
Create a CALR facebook group for your interest group.  Spread the word and build up interest in your organization.

Join the CALR National Chapter facebook group.  This group serves as a networking mechanism for the executive boards of current chapters and interest groups.

Step 4: University Recognition
Begin your university’s recognition process for new student organizations.  This process can usually be started online.  If you need assistance, please email us and an expansion officer will contact you.

Step 5: Identify Your First Executive Board
After you have built up enough interest, send us an email (expansion@larazacenter.org) with the following information about your chapter’s first executive board.  Please include the names, classifications (freshmen, junior, etc), academic majors/minors, email addresses and phone numbers of the below officers.

President
Executive Vice President
Vice President of Finance
Vice President of Administration
Vice President of Delegation and Latino Affairs
Any other officers who you have identified

The responsibilities associated with each CALR position can be found on our website (http://www.campuslaraza.org/ud/involvement.html).  Feel free to modify positions as you see fit.  Our chapters are designed to be very similar, but there is flexibility built in so that the needs of each chapter are individually met.

Step 6: Finalizing Your Constitution:
Using these two items as templates, please complete your Constitution.  If you prefer, we can establish one for you.  If you would like to exercise this option, please email your request to expansion@larazacenter.org.

http://www.campuslaraza.org/ud/Constitution.html
http://www.campuslaraza.org/wcu/Constitution.html

Once your constitution is finalized, please email it as a word document to expansion@larazacenter.org.

Step 7: Internal and External Agendas
You should work with your executive board to define an internal and external agenda for your CALR interest group. 

An internal agenda identifies what you want to accomplish on campus for the semester.  Examples include building relationships with the African American community, securing office space, or aggressively promoting La Raza to make it a well known entity on campus. 

An external agenda identifies what you want to accomplish off-campus, such as building strong relationships with regional NCLR affiliate non-profit organization, establishing relationships with regional politicians, establishing relationships with regional newspapers, radio stations, and other media.

After you have been recognized by your host university, have a LRAA approved constitution in place, and have a LRAA approved internal and external agenda established, your interest group will be granted a formal Campus Alliance de La Raza Charter.

Congratulations – the La Raza Alumni Association warmly welcomes you into our family and eagerly anticipates your contributions to the struggle.