The SPA Charter
This set of guidelines governs all official activity within the group. The current version will always be displayed on this page. Any and all discussion and proposed changes/ additions to the charter take place in our Forum: Click Here!
1.) Definition of group. The Self Publisher Association (SPA) is a membership-based support group for projects that have been voted into active status. The focus of the group is: all things Self Published: comics, zines, music, motion picture. The SPA exists to promote an air of community, co-operation, and development of materials that all can use in the learning and development of their talents and companies, making it more likely that people can survive in an ever changing market.
2.) Membership. To be considered a member of the SPA, in good standing, your dues must be paid for the desired level of Membership, and you maintain a level of professionalism as detailed in the Code of Conduct. There shall be no refunds of dues if you are asked to leave the group.
A.) Founder: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The Founder Co-ordinates and delegates for all projects of the SPA. He does not VOTE, but has final veto power in all maters. Should the Founder relinquish this position or should he die, the SPA's Current Administrators will have the task to create a new position or positions to replace him, which will need to be voted into the Charter by the general membership. The person or persons who fill that position/positions will need to be voted in to that/those position/s by the general membership also.
B.) Supporting Member: Dues to be in this level of membership are $10.00 a year. Supporting members will be able to vote in all matters that are brought up to official vote, from proposed changes to the charter or projects, and voting for Inductees into the Hall of Fame. Supporting members will be able to download any and all SPA-supported materials, including how-to booklets, and Self Publisher! Magazine issues.
C.) Creative Member: Dues to be in this level of membership are $15.00 a year. In addition to supporting member benefits, Creative Members will be given a Card in the year's Hall of Fame card set. Included in their membership will be the printing of their official Proof Sheet of their card, which will be kept in the Hall of Fame archive, as well as one sheet of cards that will be trimmed and sent to them. Additional cards will be available for order at cost as described in the Card Project wording, throughout the year, until the card is retired and the next year's set is begun. Creative members in good standing will also be able to promote a project they are working on, free of charge, one time in the weekly SPA Kick Start newsletter, with a banner ad.
D.) Publishing Member: Dues to be in this level of membership are $20.00 a year. In addition to supporting member benefits, a publishing member will have 2 cards made: One for their Company, one for them personally. If the publishing member uses their actual name as their company name, then they will still get 2 cards, with different sets of information focus on them. The cards will officially and physically be in separate series of cards, when complete sets are made. Publishing members will also be given the banner ad in one Kick start, and be given a Half Page ad in one of the print edition SP! Magazines, to use at their discretion. Publishing Members will also be able to upgrade their free listing in the Hall of Fame records, with Logos for their company and publications.
E.) Administrators: Administrators are members of any level, that have been voted into or appointed to the running of a project within the SPA. Administrator requirements and duties will be addressed individually on a per project basis.
F.) Treasurer: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The SPA Treasurer is a position of utmost importance and responsibility. The Treasurer will keep track of all money that is paid into and spent out of, the SPA Fund. Use of the SPA Fund for anything must be controlled by an official project, voted active by the membership, and otherwise shown publically to be for the SPA by the SPA. The SPA Treasurer must be voted into office on a yearly basis, voting held at the end of each year for the term to run through the next year. The Treasurer will be sent all money taken in from SPA activities, and will write the checks for all expenditures, with a public report for members available at all times.
3.) Procedure for updating/ Changing/ Adding to the charter. All members are welcome to submit ideas. This can be done online by posting a proposal in the Handbook section of the SPA Forum, or by sending it in writing to SPA HEADQUARTERS/ P.O. Box 214. Madison, OH 44057, and it will be posted there for you. Proposals need a second from another member, and then a period of discussion as needed to refine the proposal into the form to be voted into the charter by the membership.
4.) SPA Projects. An SPA Project is defined as a group activity that in some way generates publicity or funds for the SPA. Any member can propose a project, and the membership will be asked to vote on it after a period of discussion determined by the SPA leadership. The project must be presented with an Administrator in mind, and if it is something that will cost money to complete, a plan for raising the $$ for the project is needed, it must be worded into your proposal.
A.) Weekly Chats: The Small Press Association gathers every Tuesday Night in a chat room (currently hosted on the Dimestore site), to enjoy idea sharing, camaraderie, and keep in touch. Project Administrator: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
B.) SPA Cards: The SPA offers it's active members SP!/HOF Cards that they qualify for, based on the guidelines for the card system put out by Dimestore for the SPA. No Purchase necessary, beyond SPA Membership dues. Project Manager: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
