Generally speaking, EMSA members are “clustered” together in the form of Branches. Although it doesn’t affect the rights and privileges as members, yet, this subdivision is of key importance to improve communication, facilitate the way we organize our work and ensure the proper representations of members.

Building an EMSA Branch...

1) The Epiphany:
It all begins with a member and an epiphany. Every single EMSA member is entitled to create an EMSA branch, no matter where he comes from, no matter how long he has been an EMSA member, all he has to have is the “idea”, the will and the motivation.

2) Gathering Support:
The “Member with the Idea” meets with the Networking Arm Councilors, discusses his idea of the branch and is guided throughout the steps of the creation, he then begins to gather people who support the idea of the branch, those people can either be EMSA members or non EMSA members who would later become members. The “founding president” and the “founding board” are the outcome of this phase.

3) Drawing the Dream:
Those “founders” meet, brainstorm, and decide upon the Identity Statement of their branch. This Identity Statement is a sentence that describes the identity of this branch and defines it broadly yet precisely. They also decide upon a characteristic symbol for that branch to be added to the EMSA logo in order to create their unique Branch logo.

4) Giving birth:
The Networking Arm issues an EMSA Branch Birth Certificate barring the branch founders’ names, date and place of branch birth, branch identity statement and its new logo. After a branch creation ceremony, the new EMSA branch can now enter in action.

5) Planning for the future:
The founding board finally begins writing the internal branch bylaws, creates the strategic plan for the branch first year, and begins creating their job descriptions and work dynamics. Ongoing reporting and follow-up by the Networking Arm is vital to make sure the branch is going in the right direction and gets all the supports it needs to pass from forming to performing.

In EMSA there are two types of EMSA Branches: EMSA Local Branches and EMSA Clubs. Each branch passes by the same process of creation, share many common features yet have some vital differences between both. They both have their own internal bylaws, structure and goals. The networking Arm is in charge of the creation, maintenance, evaluation and follow-up of those entities.