Thank you for your interest in starting a local chapter of Slow Food USA. Members and leaders carry out our mission in communities around the country. Local projects and events are unique to each chapter and include anything from starting Slow Food in Schools projects to monthly potluck gatherings to events that bring food producers, chefs and eaters together. (and much more!) As a volunteer-run organization, Slow Food USA relies on the time, passion and creativity of members and local leaders at the grassroots level. If you are thinking about what a local Slow Food chapter could do in your community, please read through this information and follow the application process by getting in touch with other local chapter leaders and your Regional Governor to find out more about Slow Food in your area. Then, get in touch with the national office through the New Chapter Inquiry Email.

What local chapters do

• Create projects and plan initiatives and events that fill a need in the community, and engage in at least one Slow Food USA program or project area, including biodiversity, education, food policy and advocacy, food access and security, and producer-co-producer connections (Terra Madre).
• Raise public awareness of local, seasonal and sustainably grown food, and support local food producers.
• Create a large and diverse leadership team that values shared responsibility and is able to cultivate member enthusiasm and participation.
• Grow the movement. New chapters grow to 20 members or more during their first year, and continue to grow over time.
• Work collaboratively with other chapters and local partners to share resources and ideas.
• Convene an annual meeting with all members during which leadership team elections or confirmations are held.
• Communicate with the regional governor and national office informed about your chapter's activities, and comply with organizational policies and protocol.

New chapter application process

• If you are not yet a member, join Slow Food USA today!
• View our Local Chapters index to find out if there is a chapter near you. Rather than start a new chapter, contact the leader and ask to get involved in the leadership team or to start a project in your area of interest.
• If there is not a local chapter near you, fill out the New Chapter Inquiry Email (below) and tell us about your interest in starting a chapter. Each chapter requires a team of between five to ten founding members, so make sure you are also gathering interests from a diverse range of people in your community.
• After your inquiry form is received, we will put you in touch with your local Regional Governor or area chapter leaders to have a conversation about starting a chapter, if you haven't yet been in touch with them. This is a great time to ask questions and learn more about the organization from current volunteers. After connecting with local leaders, you will have the opportunity to talk to a Slow Food USA staff member more about your interests.
• The written New Chapter Application is the next step. The application asks for information about your community and region, the chapter's goals and about your founding team (between 5-10 members).
• Upon approval of your application, you will receive information about how to set up a bank account and apply for an EIN, which should be completed within 6 weeks of approval.
• Get started! Hold a potluck or gathering in your area to announce the new chapter and welcome volunteers to begin working with you.

What is a chapter's relationship to Slow Food USA?

• National Programs and Campaigns: Slow Food USA creates opportunities for chapters to engage in programs and campaigns such as starting a Slow Food in Schools project, participating in advocacy campaigns such as the Time for Lunch campaign, nominating an endangered food to the Ark of Taste, sending delegates to participate in Terra Madre, and more.
• Membership: Slow Food USA processes all memberships at the National Office. Chapter membership lists are maintained by Slow Food USA and updated lists are sent to chapter leaders once a month.
• Materials and Resources: Materials including membership brochures and publications are available for download as well as in paper format. A leaders-only web site features a growing number of resources and how-tos for projects and programs.
• Communication and Networking: Slow Food USA sends out monthly leader updates, and leaders may be asked to participate in regional or national phone calls. Participating as a leader will also connect you to the larger Slow Food network of people and projects.
• Promotion: Slow Food USA's web site has a calendar where leaders can submit your chapter events and projects to be listed. Publications such as the Slow Food USA Blog, THE SNAIL and FOOD CHAIN will also feature information about your chapter's initiatives.
• Feedback and Participation: Feedback from volunteer leaders is essential to national projects and programs. Your regional governor and the national office staff are available to collect feedback, guide projects and answer questions.

Volunteering for the leadership team

• The success of a local chapter depends on its leadership team. A large leadership team that is representative of the community and whose members have myriad talents will be effective. Recommended term lengths for positions are 1-3 years, and succession planning is important to keep the vitality of the chapter strong. A Chapter board should consist of a minimum of five members who fill the general office positions: Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and Membership. The chapter will also be asked to create by-laws to manage chapter activities. Volunteering for an organization requires a lot of passion and commitment! We have an important mission and a big job to do, and we will be able to meet our mission with more and more member and leader participation.

Using the Slow Food name and logo

• Active chapters are authorized to use the chapter logo provided to you (the snail with the name of your chapter) for events related to chapter activities only. The Slow Food name and logo may not be used for personal or business purposes. The snail graphic should never be used without the name of the chapter.

Non-profit protocol and responsibilities

• Slow Food USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Every local chapter has an EIN (Employer Identification Number) and is defined as a "subordinate organization" by the IRS. Slow Food USA has a federal tax exemption which all chapters in good standing are granted.
• A chapter must establish a bank account for chapter funds that is separate from the personal or business accounts of any member. The account must have two signers.
• A chapter must report to Slow Food USA and the IRS on an annual basis. Slow Food USA's report requires annual financial revenue and expense reports to be submitted. The IRS filing is the 990-N, an annual electronic notice, filed in May of each year, unless the chapter grosses more than $25,000, in which case the chapter must file a 990.

How can I learn more?

• Send us a New Chapter Inquiry Email (see below).
• Contact area chapter leaders - click here to view a list of local chapters.
• Contact your regional governor - click here to view a list of regional governors.
• Learn more about Slow Food USA's organizational structure by reading the National Statute.
• Learn more about Slow Food USA's projects and programs by visiting our Programs page.
• Questions? Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

New chapter inquiry email

Please send an email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and answer the following questions:

Name:

Mailing Address:

Daytime Phone Number:

Evening Phone Number:

Email Address:

Are you currently a member? Have you attended a chapter event or meeting in past year?

Tell us about yourself and why you are interested in starting a local chapter.

In what city/county/area would you like to start a local chapter?

What are your areas of particular interest within the organization?

If there are members in your area who are also interested in starting a chapter, do we have your permission to share your email address so we can put you in touch with them? Y/N

Thank you! This information will be reviewed and sent on to your Regional Governor or local chapter leaders in your area so you can set up a conversation.