PFLAG Arizona > Start a Chapter?

 

At PFLAG, we ARE fam-i-ly!

 

 

 

No PFLAG group in your area?

 

Why not start one?!

 


Join our family of
PFLAG Arizona chapters!

 

 

What If There's No PFLAG Chapter Near Your Community? 
 

Well, we'd certainly like to help you change that.  Just because there's no PFLAG chapter nearby, that doesn't mean that there isn't a need for PFLAG in your community.  There are probably others in and nearby your community who could use the services of PFLAG.  So, what to do?

 

First, if you are in need of PFLAG support yourself, please be sure to contact someone at one of our other Arizona PFLAG chapters.  We may not be right there in your area, but that doesn't mean we won't talk with you (or exchange email) about the issues you are dealing with.

 

However, if you're like us and wish to help others who may need the support of PFLAG, why not consider starting a chapter in your area?  Or, if the thought of starting a chapter feels a little too ambitious, why not consider becoming a PFLAG Representative for your area?

 

Option 1:  Start a PFLAG Chapter

 

This option is ideal when there are three or more people in your area who are interested in working together to start a PFLAG group that will eventually hold monthly support meetings in your community, and who are interested in furthering PFLAG's mission of support, education, and advocacy in your community (and/or beyond). 

 

At minimum, there must be a chapter president, a secretary, and a treasurer (i.e., three different people).  For your chapter to be able to accept tax-deductible donations, you'll either need to incorporate your new group as a non-profit organization, or you'll need to register as such under PFLAG National's non-profit, tax-exempt umbrella group.

 

 

Option 2:  Become a PFLAG Representative

 

This option may be ideal when you (or your immediate family) are the only known person(s) in an area who is interested in seeing a PFLAG presence in your community. 

 

A PFLAG representative offers support (usually via email and/or phone, but occasionally in-person) on a one-on-one, as-needed basis.  The representative uses their own discretion to determine whether to meet someone in need of support for coffee, etc., when the situation warrants. 

 

Under this option, you wouldn't be able to hold PFLAG support meetings or accept tax-deductible donations in support of your PFLAG work.

 

 

Requirements to Become a PFLAG Chapter or Representative  (Subject to occasional revision by PFLAG National)

 

You can read more about starting a PFLAG chapter or becoming a PFLAG representative on the national PFLAG website.  If you're interested in starting a chapter or becoming a representative, you can either contact PFLAG National directly (see their website for current contact information), or you can contact us at PFLAG Phoenix and we will make the introduction to PFLAG National for you. 

 

Once PFLAG National learns of your interest, they will email you a short document that explains the registration process.  In a nutshell, if you want to become a PFLAG chapter, there are about 8 forms that will need to be completed -- but, the good news is, PFLAG National will help you complete those so that you don't have to complete them from scratch.  If you want to become a PFLAG representative, you'll complete only 3 forms -- slightly modified versions of the longer packet.  And, those 3 forms are quite simple:  They include signing a letter of commitment, signing a trademark form (stating that you'll use PFLAG's trademarks properly), and filling out a simple leadership roster (to provide your name and contact information for PFLAG National).  Either way, it's really quite simple. 

 

A PFLAG chapter is required to remit a portion of their members' dues each year to PFLAG National.  A PFLAG representative must pay a yearly member dues fee to PFLAG National ($15 as of 2009).  In return for remitting the appropriate amount of dues, PFLAG National will include your "chapter" (whether a chapter or representative) in the list of active Arizona PFLAG chapters on the PFLAG National website.  PFLAG representatives will be clearly identified as "representatives" on that listing so that people who contact you will know that no support meetings are held in your area.

 

Help and Support Along the Way

 

In addition to the great folks at PFLAG National who will be there to assist you with any question or need that may arise, you'll also have the support of a dedicated Western Region Field & Policy Manager, and a dedicated Mountain West Regional Director.  We, the other PFLAG chapters in Arizona, will also be there to offer support, assistance, and guidance along the way.  So, with all this available help, you won't have to feel that you're totally going this all alone.  And, hopefully, it won't be long before you'll come across other kindred souls in your area who will want to help as well.  As we said earlier, at PFLAG, we ARE fam-i-ly!

 

So, think about it.  Ask us questions.  Then, register and join our PFLAG Arizona family!  We're here waiting . . . Come on, do it!

 

 

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