Contact ZFA
Be sure to get in touch with a ZFA organizer so he or she can help you through the process of starting a campus chapter. You can contact us at info@zionistfreedom.org and the appropriate staff member will get back to you shortly.
Identify Potential Leadership
Try to find at least one dependable like-minded student to help you get the chapter off the ground. Politically aware and/or socially outgoing students who can commit to dedicating their time to the cause are always good candidates to help get things started.
Get to Know Your Campus
Before starting a chapter or building a presence on your campus, it is important to understand the particular character of your school and its student body so that you can adapt your goals, strategies, programming and activities accordingly. By getting to know your campus, you can also find out what has worked and what has not worked for student activists in the past (see Get to Know Your Campus).
Identify Key Allies
Allies can be fellow students, existing student groups, professors, campus administrators and professionals in the local community. Use the questions below to think about who might be a useful ally on your campus. It is often a good idea to meet with potential allies before your first chapter meeting. In some cases, however, it is preferable to have an official group before meeting with allies and discussing your chapter’s goals. In both cases, potential allies might have great insights about how to be most effective (see Using the Spectrum of Allies for more ideas).
Who are your potential allies within the following groups on campus?
• Anti-War activists/Progressive student groups
• Hillel/Chabad/Jewish groups
• Minority rights groups
• Political groups
Hold Your First Meeting
Your first meeting can either be open for anyone on your campus to attend or an invitation-only meeting for a small group of like-minded students that have expressed an interest in starting a ZFA chapter. A large meeting allows you to gage campus-wide interest in ZFA and a good turnout can help build energy and momentum. But keep in mind that getting a large turnout for a first meeting can be difficult and the meeting could get heated if everyone in attendance is not already on the same page. Many chapters prefer to start small, build a solid team and grow from there (see First General Meeting).
Become a Recognized Student Group
Contact your Student Association or Student Government to find out how to become an official student group on campus. Ask for rules and guidelines for starting an organization that are specific to your campus. Some schools may require you to fill out forms, get signatures or be voted in. Make sure you know about all of the requirements ahead of time. Have a mission statement, faculty advisor and a contact list of interested students readily available.
Identify Potential Sources of Funding
Every campus is different. Learn how to obtain funding through your school once you are a recognized campus organization. The Student Government usually allocates funding from the student activities budget to all student groups. Some schools require groups to submit a budget. If so, think about the activities you want to organize throughout the year and estimate the costs. Experienced activists on your campus can be great tools for gaining a better insight to your school’s resources.