What is a PTPI Chapter?

Chapters are volunteer organizations consisting of at least 10 people. Chapters are the backbone of People to People International since they actualize the idea of increasing international understanding and education at the local level.

There are more than 200 PTPI Chapters throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Mid East and the United States. Chapters create community action by bringing international relations to students and adults interested in the various cultures and peoples in the world. In other words, chapters think globally and act locally!

Chapters accomplish their goals by sponsoring special events, including hosting of international students, international military officers, diplomats, and other international visitors. Chapters participate in a wide variety of special programs, including those developed of their own initiative, and often support the PTPI Student Ambassador Program through student interview screening, loans and scholarships.

What Does a Chapter do?

• Offer Homestays and day hosting through the International Visitors Program.
• Organize community missions for travel abroad, frequently involving Homestays by international chapters.
• Introduce international students at local colleges and universities to your culture and everyday life and you to theirs.
• Sponsor a young professional on a short-term study mission to work with professional counterparts in another country.
• Participate in the Matching Grant Program. Matching Grants are designed to enable all Chapters an opportunity to promote PTPI programs, assist in local efforts while networking with other organizations, and facilitate exchange between the people of all nations.
• Sponsor or co-sponsor local community events whose purpose is to increase international understanding.
• Host the visit of a foreign diplomat through the Meet the Diplomats Program.
• Promote People to People International programs such as the School & Classroom Program.
• Network with other organizations with similar purposes and goals: Sister Cities, Rotary, Friendship Force.
• Create a "Sister Chapter" relationship with other chapters which will help facilitate opportunities for exchanges and travel.

How Does a Chapter Finance Itself?

• Mainly through chapter dues and local fund-raising. In accordance with the Internal Revenue Code §170 regulations, contributions to PTPI chapters are tax deductible.
• When chapters assist with Student Ambassador Program Interviews they receive $10 per student who travels in the program.
• If a chapter participates in the International Visitor Program they receive $30 per visitor.
• Sponsor a young professional on a short-term study mission to work with professional counterparts in another country.
• Participate in the Matching Grant Program. Matching Grants are designed to enable all Chapters an opportunity to promote PTPI programs, assist in local efforts while networking with other organizations, and facilitate exchange between the people of all nations.
• Sponsor or co-sponsor local community events whose purpose is to increase international understanding.
• Host the visit of a foreign diplomat through the Meet the Diplomats Program.
• Promote People to People International programs such as the School & Classroom Program.
• Network with other organizations with similar purposes and goals: Sister Cities, Rotary, Friendship Force.
• Create a "Sister Chapter" relationship with other chapters which will help facilitate opportunities for exchanges and travel.

Chapter Membership Dues

• Recommended dues are $35.00 per family, $20.00 per adult and $15.00 per student. The chapter forwards a portion of these dues to Headquarters--$20.00, $10.00 and $5.00 respectively. This ensures their receipt of PTPI publications and newsletters.
• Recommended international chapter dues are $10.00 per family and $5.00 per individual or student membership. $1.00 is sent to International Headquarters, per person.
• Each chapter is responsible for collection of dues from each member. This includes notifying members of membership expiration, reporting their status to Headquarters, providing adequate addresses so the members will be placed on the PTPI mailing list. Membership Report Forms are provided by Headquarters for use when reporting chapter dues to Headquarters. Dues should be reported once a year.

How is a Chapter Organized?

• Contact friends, community leaders and others you believe would be interested in forming a chapter.
• Seek out a core group of at least 10 people.
• Hold a planning meeting of your core group.
• Elect officers and decide on a name for the chapter.
• Develop the chapter's bylaws, set programs and membership goals for the first year.
• Submit to Headquarters a copy of the by-laws, programs, a request for a charter and the membership dues, including a list and dues of your members.

Chapter Requirements

• A minimum of ten members are required to begin a chapter
• The appointment or election of at least four officers.
• Chapter by-laws which are consistent with the by-laws of PTPI.
• A statement of the projected activities intended to be undertaken by the chapter.
• Application for Charter
• Membership list

Chapter Officers

Each chapter shall have a minimum of a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. These officers should oversee the appropriate chapter committees. The officers shall make up the Board of the Chapter. The Board should meet no less than four times a year. The officers shall be elected at least every other year. The President and Vice President shall not serve more than two consecutive terms. At each change of officers, either permanent or interim, a list of the officers shall be sent PTPI Headquarters.

The following materials must be submitted before the application for chapter will be considered:

Charter application
Membership list
Officer list
Membership dues
Program of activities
Bylaws