Amnesty UMD Manual for Future Presidents

Amnesty International
at the University of
Maryland President’s
Manual
To Be Delivered to Future Amnesty UMD Presidents
By Vanessa Jarnes
December 17, 2015

1
ABOUT THIS MANUAL
Table of Contents
ABOUT THIS MANUAL..............................................................................................................1
Table of Contents.........................................................................................................................1
A Letter to Future Amnesty International at UMD Presidents ....................................................3
INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................4
Background Information about Amnesty International ...............................................................4
Information about this Manual.....................................................................................................4
HOW AMNESTY UMD IS ORGANIZED .................................................................................5
Executive Board Positions ...........................................................................................................5
How to Renew and Register for Student Organization Status at UMD.......................................6
How to register the chapter with Amnesty International USA ....................................................8
SETTING-UP WEEKLY MEETINGS........................................................................................9
Setting Weekly Meeting Times....................................................................................................9
Reserving a Classroom for Meetings.........................................................................................10
CHAPTER OUTREACH TO STUDENTS, GROUPS AND OTHERS .................................12
Email Listserv............................................................................................................................12
First Look Fair ...........................................................................................................................13
Registering for the First Look Fair ....................................................................................13
Obtaining Volunteers for the Table ...................................................................................13
Materials for the Fair..........................................................................................................13
Talking Points for Conversations with Potential Members ...............................................14
Social Media ..............................................................................................................................15
Facebook............................................................................................................................15
Twitter................................................................................................................................17
Instagram............................................................................................................................17
Outreach to Other Student Organizations ..................................................................................17
Outreach to Academic Programs ...............................................................................................18
Outreach to Amnesty International USA...................................................................................19
HANDLING GROUP FINANCES.............................................................................................19
Using University Money............................................................................................................19
Student Government Association Funding through Budget Application ..........................20
Student Government Association Funding through Emergency Funds.............................21
Pepsi Enhancement Fund...................................................................................................21
Money for Printing Services ......................................................................................................21
Using a Bank Account with SECU............................................................................................21
Fundraising for the Chapter .......................................................................................................22
Fundraising for Other Organizations .........................................................................................23
HOW TO PLAN A SUCCESSFUL EVENT .............................................................................24
Figuring Out Event Focuses for the Semester ...........................................................................24
Steps of Putting Together an Event ...........................................................................................25
Reserving Event Rooms.............................................................................................................26

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Typical Event Needs ..................................................................................................................27
Electronic Equipment.........................................................................................................27
Food ...................................................................................................................................27
Planning Write for Rights ..........................................................................................................28
Registering for Write for Rights through Amnesty International......................................29
Printing Out Letters and Materials.....................................................................................29
Reserving a Table Outside of Stamp .................................................................................29
Obtaining Volunteers for the Table ...................................................................................30
Sending Out Letters to the Governments...........................................................................30
CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................31
APPENDICES ..............................................................................................................................32
Appendix A: Images Used .........................................................................................................32
Appendix B: Annotated Bibliography .......................................................................................33
Amnesty Balloons at an Amnesty International Event
Figure 1. An image of balloons with Amnesty’s logo on them at an Amnesty International event.
(Image by Amnesty International.)

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A Letter to Future Amnesty International at UMD Presidents
Dear Future Presidents of Amnesty International at the University of Maryland:
Congratulations on taking on this role of responsibility in such an important organization!
Amnesty International will not only positively impact your life; it will also impact the lives of
countless individuals around the world. If you ever question your impact as a leader of the
University of Maryland student group chapter of Amnesty International, think again.
The advocacy work you do on campus to spread human rights around the world will impact
countless individuals and will help to save innocent lives here in the United States and abroad.
The letters you write and send to governments during Write for Rights could be a determining
factor in whether or not the government decides to free someone wrongfully prisoned. The
speaker you bring to campus that informs students about reproductive and sexual health as a
human right might enflame the passion within another student to travel to Burkina Faso to
advocate against child marriages. The refugee awareness event you host on McKeldin Mall
might spark an interest in a previously unaware student who will then decide to volunteer with
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Just because you are a student
group on a college campus does not mean that your impact in the world is any less than a
professional’s impact.
I hope that you always stay inspired and willing to advocate for those who cannot advocate for
themselves. Amnesty UMD has an important mission and the influence of the group wholly
depends on how well the group is run. With this manual, the workings of the organization should
be fairly straightforward. Now, take charge of this organization and inspire change!
Best regards,
Vanessa Jarnes
Current Co-President of Amnesty International UMD
Image and Statement from Moses Akatugba
Figure 2. Moses Akatugba, a Write for Rights case from 2014, who was released from death row
in Nigeria. (Image from Amnesty International Write for Rights Action Guide.)

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INTRODUCTION
Background Information about Amnesty International
Amnesty International has been actively working to promote human rights and justice throughout
the world for over 50 years. There are over 3 million supporters of Amnesty International in
more than 150 countries. Hundreds of school groups around the country and the world advocate
Amnesty’s message of global rights to the student population.1
Amnesty International approaches its task of expanding the human rights provided to all humans
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through research, action and advocacy. The
organization first behaves like a watchdog in exposing human rights violations through research
and reports. Amnesty then takes action by creating campaigns and publicizing cases of human
rights violations in the attempt to get governments to act. Lastly, Amnesty advocates on behalf of
legislation that will have a direct impact on human rights.2
Through the mobilization of singular voices, Amnesty International has created one powerful
voice of persuasion and pressure. With this voice, Amnesty International has succeeded in
having tens of thousands of prisoners of conscience released from detention. Amnesty has
pushed for the adoption of the United Nations Convention Against Torture and the establishment
of the International Criminal Court to fairly punish those responsible for genocide. These
accomplishments are just a few of the triumphs for mankind that Amnesty International has
helped to bring about in the group’s existence.3
Information about this Manual
Information for new presidents had previously been passed down through neglectful oral
traditions that often left new presidents feeling overwhelmed and confused. To relieve incoming
presidents of this confusion, this manual has been created with the approval of Co-President
Heather Moldofsky to clarify any responsibilities and information that a president should know.
In this president’s manual, you will find information on:
 Amnesty International as an organization
 The organizational set-up of the group and any pertinent group logistics
 How to set up the pesky but important weekly meetings
 How to outreach to new students, other student groups and Amnesty International’s DC
office
 How to handle the group’s finances and fundraise
 How to plan successful events that will be bountiful in quantity and quality
1 “Who We Are,” Amnesty International, http://www.amnestyusa.org/about-us/who-we-are
2 “Our Mission,” Amnesty International, http://www.amnestyusa.org/about-us/our-mission
3 “Who We Are”

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This manual will serve to help you become an effective leader within Amnesty UMD. My hope
for you is that you utilize this manual to run the group to the best of your abilities and, when it is
time, you pass this document along to the next president. This manual will need periodic
updating as websites and rules change for student groups on campus. Please feel free to update
any information that needs updating and to make this manual your own as you figure out your
own leadership style.
HOW AMNESTY UMD ISORGANIZED
In order to efficiently run Amnesty International at UMD, there are a few necessary initial steps
to take. These steps include having a successful executive board and ensuring that the
organization is officially registered with both the University of Maryland Student Organization
Resource Center (SORC) and with Amnesty International USA. Without official registration
status in both instances, access to potential funds from the University of Maryland Student
Government Association and assistance from Amnesty International USA will be cut off.
Executive Board Positions
As any successful leader can note, an important task of being a leader is to be able to adequately
delegate tasks and to not micromanage every aspect of the workings of the organization. In order
to spread out the responsibilities of the group, there should be an executive board of the
organization that holds positions according to the needs of the group. In Amnesty UMD, these
positions can change over the years depending on what is needed. However, there are some
positions that will be helpful to maintain moving forward.
Some crucial executive positions in Amnesty International at UMD:
 President (yourself) or Co-Presidents
o The president (or co-presidents) makes all final decisions for the organization and
must make sure that the jobs of all the members and the executive board are being
executed. The president (or co-presidents) represents the organization on campus
and must be passionate and committed to the work of Amnesty International for
the organization to be successful.
 Vice President (unless there are Co-Presidents)
o The vice president assists the President with any issues that may arise or with
large tasks that the President cannot do alone. The vice president helps to manage
the organization and make sure everything is running smoothly and that others are
doing their jobs for the group as well.
 Treasurer
o The treasurer should manage everything related to funding and expenses of the
organization. The treasurer should mainly handle applying for program funding.
Additionally, the treasurer should be involved in planning fundraisers and
ensuring that all money that is raised through fundraisers gets to an Amnesty bank
account or gets cashed. The treasurer should work very closely with the president
and should work with the community outreach chair in planning fundraisers in the
community. The treasurer is also crucial in the planning of events that have costs

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associated with them. It is still necessary, however, for the president to know
everything that is happening with funds for the organization and to be tuned in to
all transactions and fundraisers.
 Secretary
o The secretary handles note taking at weekly meetings. This can be helpful if there
is a large number of people that are interested in being involved in the
organization but cannot attend the weekly meetings. Secretaries can also assist
with the making of any fliers or announcements for the organization.
 Social Media Chair
o The social media chair assists with the maintenance of all of Amnesty
International at UMD’s social media accounts. This includes Facebook, Twitter
and Instagram. The social media chair’s role is important in providing outreach to
current members and new members. This role additionally helps to publicize
events taking place or weekly meetings via the social media networks.
 Community Outreach Chair
o The community outreach chair has the important job of conducting outreach both
to other student organizations on campus with similar interests and to the local
businesses of the College Park area. If the organization wants to have any co-
sponsored events with other student groups or have a fundraiser in accordance
with a local College Park restaurant, the community outreach chair should handle
the logistics of contacting the organization and creating connections with the
groups or businesses. This position also contacts academic programs that might
have interested students in Amnesty UMD.
All of the positions of the executive board are equally helpful and necessary. Therefore, you as
the president should try to pick reliable and committed members to fill the positions of the board.
Otherwise, the work of running an entire student group will become a burden to you and the
management of the organization will become increasingly difficult.
How to Renew and Registerfor Student Organization Status at UMD
Although Amnesty is already an officially registered student organization on campus, the status
of this has the potential to change every year, depending on the number of members of the
organization and completing certain requirements. It is important to know what constitutes as an
officially recognized student group on campus to ensure that nothing happens to the group’s
status in the upcoming years. If the status is reversed, the organization will receive no funding
assistance for events and will not be allowed to reserve a table at events such as the First Look
Fair. The organization’s status must be renewed at the start of every year.
Requirements to be considered an official student group recognized as a Registered Student
Organization and by Student Government Association include:
 There must be at least 8 members of the group to be a Registered Student Organization at
the University and at least 25 undergraduate members of the group to be recognized by
the Student Government Association.
 The status of the group on OrgSync must be updated to Continuing.
 Contact information for the organization must be updated each year on OrgSync.

7
 There must be a faculty/staff advisor with updated contact information for the advisor on
the OrgSync page.
 There must be a mission statement for the organization.
 There must be a designated president and treasurer on the OrgSync page.
 There must be a Constitution for the group. For specific guidelines about what must be in
included in the group’s constitution, please find more information at:
http://thestamp.umd.edu/student_org_resource_center_sorc/organization_registration_inf
ormation/constitution4
 The organization must not be a duplicate of any other existing groups (this should not be
an issue because there is no other Amnesty organization on campus).5
To renew the status of the organization at the beginning of the year if the organization is
currently registered (which it should be):
1. Log in to the OrgSync page of Amnesty International at UMD.
2. Click on the ‘Settings’ link on the left side of the page and then ‘Organization Settings’
from the dropdown menu (see Figure 3).
3. Make any necessary changes to the existing settings and information on the page to
remain updated and then click ‘Next.’
4. Review existing information and make any changes necessary.
The application will then be complete but the application review period can take up to 4-6 weeks
due to the high number of student organizations on campus but the organization will still be
considered active and registered during that time period.6
To see more information regarding each step and common problems that student organizations
run into during student group registration, such as non-compliant mission statements or
incomplete constitution problems, please find more detailed information at:
http://thestamp.umd.edu/student_org_resource_center_sorc/organization_registration_informatio
n/registering_renewing_a_student_group7
4 “Constitution,” The Stamp Division of Student Affairs,
n/constitution
5“Registering/Renewing a Student Group,” The Stamp Division of Student Affairs,
n/registering_renewing_a_student_group
6 Ibid.
7 Ibid.

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Screenshot of How to Access the Organization Renewal Page
Figure 3. A screenshot of the Amnesty International OrgSync page and the dropdown menu with
‘Organization Settings’ that must be clicked to access the information renewal page. (Image by
Vanessa Jarnes.)
How to register the chapter with Amnesty International USA
In order to be a recognized chapter of Amnesty International USA and to get benefits such as
financial and material assistance, you must go through the short process of registering the
organization online.
To register with Amnesty International:
1. Find the Student Group Registration Form at: http://www.amnestyusa.org/get-
involved/lead-in-your-community/students-and-youth/student-group-registration-form8
(see Figure 4).
2. Fill in all required sections of the form that are starred for Part 1, which creates the school
group, and Part 2, which asks for information regarding the School Group Coordinator.
3. Put in information about yourself for the School Group Coordinator position.
4. Click the ‘Save!’ button in the lower right-hand corner of the form after filling in all the
pertinent information. This will complete the registration process for the year.
This registration must be done at the start of every new school year and should reflect the
information of the new president.
By registering the organization, Amnesty International USA knows of the group’s presence and
will send the group helpful activist materials, pamphlets and promotional materials with
Amnesty’s main logo on it.
8 “Student Group Registration Form,” Amnesty International, http://www.amnestyusa.org/get-
involved/lead-in-your-community/students-and-youth/student-group-registration-form

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The Student Group Registration Page
Figure 4. This screenshot shows how to find resources for student groups in order to find the
Student Group Registration Form that must be filled out and submitted every year. (Image by
Vanessa Jarnes.)
SETTING-UP WEEKLY MEETINGS
Setting up consistent meeting times is important for the continuity of the organization and the
presence of the organization for all members. In order to keep the meetings as simple and
continuous as possible, weekly meetings should always be scheduled for the same time and
place. This helps create regularity and decrease general confusion about involvement with the
organization.
Setting Weekly Meeting Times
To set weekly meeting times, it is necessary to choose a time and day of the week that works for
as many members of the organization as possible. Meetings will be pointless if there is a low
turnout from members. To find a time and day that works for as many members as possible:
1. Use an online scheduling and polling system to survey members on their weekly
availability.
2. Send out this poll two to three weeks before class starts.
a. At this point in time, most students should have a general idea of their class and
work schedules. While this may seem early, if you wait too long to send out the
survey students will fill up their availability with other organization meeting

10
times. Beat the members’ other organizations to the punch by claiming
availability in their schedules.
3. Create an online availability poll by using a simple and easy to understand website such
as www.doodle.com. Students will be familiar with how to use the poll and you can
easily see which days and times people are most available.
4. Prioritize the executive board of Amnesty International.
a. While all members are important, it is crucial for the functioning of the
organization to ensure that all of the members with positions in the organization
are accommodated.
5. Send out the poll over email and put the poll on the Amnesty International Facebook
page.
a. If the response rate to the poll is low or members of the executive board have not
filled out the poll, individually message each executive board member about his
or her availability and send multiple reminder emails to the general population
asking them to take the poll.
6. Choose a day and time for the meeting that works for the executive board and ideally as
many members as possible.
7. Reserve a room immediately on the eCalendar once this timing is chosen before it fills up
for the semester and send out an email to all members with the chosen weekly meeting
time.
Reserving a Classroom for Meetings
To register for a meeting room that can be used by the organization for the entire semester:
1. Register for an account online with the Stamp eCalendar.
a. Fill out the Stamp eCalendar form on OrgSync at:
https://orgsync.com/71620/forms/79063
b. The president of the student organization must do this registration.
c. The University must approve your registration, which will take approximately
two business days.
d. Student organizations must have an updated OrgSync registration before
registering with the eCalendar.9
2. Go to the Stamp eCalendar at http://ecalendar.umd.edu/VirtualEMS/BrowseEvents.aspx
once registration has been approved and hover the mouse over ‘My Account’ at the top of
the screen.
3. Click ‘Log In’ from the drop down menu.
4. Sign in to the eCalendar with the president’s normal University directory ID and
password.
5. Hover over ‘Reservations’ at the top of the screen to obtain a drop down menu.
6. Click on ‘Classroom FALL’ or ‘Classroom SPRING’ on the drop down menu depending
on which semester a classroom is being registered for (see Figure 5).
7. Fill out ‘When and Where’ on the left-hand side of the screen with all required
information about the classroom being reserved.
9 “Stamp eCalendar Registration Form,” Event and Guest Services,
https://orgsync.com/71620/forms/79063

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a. Make the Date the first meeting date in the classroom.
i. Note: Reservations cannot be submitted less than seven days in advance.
b. Set the Recurrence for weekly, recurring once every week on whichever day of
the week has been chosen by the members of the organization.
c. Make the start date the first date of the meeting and the ‘End by’ date the last day
of classes for the semester.
i. Note: You can only sign up for a maximum of 10 consecutive weeks.
d. Set the Start Time and End Time according to what is decided on by members.
8. Fill out ‘Setup Information below ‘When and Where’ on the left-hand side of the screen
and click the ‘Find Space’ button.
a. Set attendance for however many people you think might show up to meetings.
9. Click on the plus sign next to the room that you want to reserve when the listing of
available rooms appears.
a. Make sure to look on the right-hand side of the screen to see which rooms already
have reservations for the desired time. If the room is not in use, book it for the
semester.
10. Click to agree to the terms and conditions of the room reservations (I recommend you
read them as well).
11. Fill out the Event Details sheet on the following screen and press the ‘Submit’ button
after.
Reserving a Classroom on the Stamp eCalendar
Figure 5. This image depicts the dropdown menu on the Stamp eCalendar and the choice of
Classroom FALL or Classroom SPRING depending on which semester you are trying to reserve
a classroom for. (Image by Vanessa Jarnes.)

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CHAPTER OUTREACH TO STUDENTS, GROUPS AND OTHERS
Email Listserv
The email listserv is the main tool used to stay in contact with members of the organization and
to give updates regarding weekly meetings and events throughout the semester. The Amnesty
International email address also receives emails from other human rights and related
organizations in the area about co-sponsoring events. Therefore, it is extremely important to
actively check the Amnesty International at UMD email address and to frequently update the
listserv.
To use the Amnesty International at UMD email address:
1. Go to www.gmail.com
2. Login to aimaryland@gmail.com. Obtain the password from the previous president at the
end of the semester and keep it safely stored so that member email information does not
get hacked.
3. Respond to all emails in the inbox in a timely manner to give off a good impression of the
organization.
To edit the listserv:
1. Click on the Gmail drop down menu on the left-hand side of the screen above the
‘Compose’ button and click on ‘Contacts’ in the drop down menu.
a. Under ‘Groups’ on the left-hand side of the Contact screen, you will find the
listserv group. Each semester, update the name to ‘Listserv Fall 2016’ or ‘Listserv
Spring 2017’ and so forth.
b. All contacts can be edited or deleted in the Contacts section, and to edit the
contacts in the Listserv section just click on the Listserv group.
To send an email to the entire listserv:
1. Click the ‘Compose’ button on the main screen of the email account.
2. Start typing in Listserv in the ‘To’ section of the email and the group of contacts titled
Listserv Fall 2016 (or whatever semester/year it is at the time) and the listserv will come
up as the contact. This will immediately input everyone’s email address into the ‘To’
section.
If someone wants to be taken off of the listserv for any reason:
1. Go back into the ‘Contacts’ section under the Gmail drop down menu.
2. Go to the listserv group and search for the contact within the group.
3. Click on the three vertical dots on the right-hand side of the screen next to that person’s
contact information and the options ‘Remove from this group’ or ‘Delete’ will appear.
4. Click ‘Delete’ and the person’s contact information will be deleted from the listserv.
Notes about the listserv:
 Any updates about events should be emailed to the entire listserv.
 A weekly reminder email about meetings every week should be sent to the entire listserv.

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First Look Fair
The First Look Fair is one of the most crucial recruitment events for Amnesty International. At
the First Look Fair, new students looking for extracurricular activities will come around looking
for groups to get involved with. Amnesty International at UMD has an advantage in this
recruitment category because many high schools have Amnesty International chapters and
students are already familiar with the organization. Thus, at the Fair students normally seek out
Amnesty International instead of having to explain the organization to passerby. However, this
advantage does not diminish the need for the organization to actively reach out to obtain new
members, so doing well to get a lot of new recruits during this event is vital.
Registering for the First Look Fair
To register for the First Look Fair:
1. Go to http://thestamp.umd.edu/events/first_look_fair
a. There will be new information each year at this site regarding registering a
student organization for a table at the event.
2. Click on the webpage’s link titled “Student Organization” that will have a simple form
for the organization leader to fill out.
a. Note: The group must be registered as an official student organization through the
Student Organization Resource Center, which is discussed under General
Organization Logistics.
b. Note: Registering for a table is free of charge for student organizations. 10
Obtaining Volunteers for the Table
Once Amnesty International has been registered for the Fair, it is then important to immediately
get current members of the organization to sign up for slots to man the table throughout the two-
day event.
To organize student volunteers for First Look Fair:
1. Use a survey website such as Doodle to have all members easily respond to available
time slots.
2. Make each time slot a half hour slot so as not to discourage students that do not have a
full hour to spare from signing up.
3. Have two to three people at every time slot so there is never a lull in Amnesty
International members representing the organization.
Materials for the Fair
It is important for the president of the organization to drop off and pick up all Amnesty materials
at the beginning and end of the Fair days and to sign-in for the table at the start of each day.
What is displayed on the table will represent our organization to all of the potential members
10 “First Look Fair,” The Stamp Division of Student Affairs,
http://thestamp.umd.edu/events/first_look_fair

14
passing by the table. Therefore, the table should be well decorated and eye-catching (see Figure
6). Additionally, if the organization has ordered any Amnesty International t-shirts, they should
be worn at the table to better represent the organization.
Materials to bring to decorate the table at the fair:
 Approximately 10 sign-up sheets with slots large enough to easily read the handwriting
of potential members. Each sign-up sheet should have a column for ‘Name,’ a column for
‘Email address’ and a column for ‘Year’
 Amnesty International banner to display on the table
 Amnesty International fliers, stickers, pens and tape
o Use the Amnesty International tape to keep everything stuck down to the table.
 Posters for the organization to attract the attention of passerby
Talking Points for Conversations with Potential Members
To talk to potential members at the Fair:
1. Ask students if they have previously heard of Amnesty International to see whether or not
an introduction to the organization in general is required or if they are already familiar
with the work of Amnesty International.
2. Give a general mission statement of Amnesty International that reflects Amnesty’s focus
on human rights and fighting against injustice: “Amnesty International is a global
movement of people fighting injustice and promoting human rights.”11
3. Discuss past events that Amnesty International has put on as an organization. Some of
these past events include a discussion and documentary showing about the Islamic State
and the treatment of people living under their rule, an advocacy event on Syrian refugees,
a campaign for LGBT rights for the Sochi Olympics and a Black Lives Matter advocacy
campaign.
After email addresses have been collected over the span of the two-day event, all new members
should be added to the Amnesty email listserv. The president should then send out a welcome
email to the new members with information such as meeting times and potential themes for the
semester.
11 “About Us,” Amnesty International, http://www.amnestyusa.org/about-us

15
Amnesty International at First Look Fair 2015
Figure 6. This table shows Co-President Vanessa Jarnes siting at the Amnesty
International table during the First Look Fair. (Photo by Heather Moldofsky.)
Social Media
Social media nowadays is a vital tool to keep a student organization relevant. Amnesty
International at UMD has a Facebook page, a Twitter page and an Instagram page. All of the
accounts are worthwhile and help to draw attention to the organization and to disseminate
information to members about upcoming events or any posts related to human rights.
Facebook
Information about the Facebook page:
 The Facebook page is titled Amnesty International at UMD. It is listed as a Non-Profit
Organization page (see Figure 7).
 Each semester (or year depending on the organization turnover) the president and the
head of social media should be granted admin status of the Facebook page. This allows
the president or the head of social media to post as Amnesty International at UMD and to
respond to messages and maintain the page. It is important to keep the page active in
order to keep attention on the organization.
a. To make someone an admin of the page, click on the ‘Settings’ button in the
right-hand corner of the page. This will take you to the General Settings for the
page.

16
b. On the left-hand side of the General Settings page, click on ‘Page Roles.’ From
here, you are able to add or delete admins of the page and alter what each admin
is allowed to do.
To keep the Facebook page active:
1. Use the ‘Publishing Tools’ button located on the top of the Amnesty International at
UMD page, which can only be seen by admins.
2. Schedule future posts in the Publishing Tools page. Ideally, there should be a few posts
going out each week in order to keep the organization relevant. Weekly posting can be
easily completed by scheduling the posts for each week at the beginning of the week or
on the weekend.
3. Click on the ‘+Create’ button in the top-right corner of the screen of the ‘Scheduled
Posts’ page and create a post.
4. Click the arrow attached to the Publish button and choose ‘Schedule’ from the drop-down
menu instead of pressing publish like normal. This action will allow you to choose a date
and time for the post to be published.
a. The ‘Insights’ button at the top of the page next to ‘Publishing Tools’ gives good
insight on the amount of people each post has reached for the week and also on
the level of engagement with the post. Check regularly to see what types of posts
gather the most momentum with members of the page.
b. Posts can be about anything, but posts should generally be related to Amnesty
blog posts, news stories relating to human rights issues, meeting updates or posts
regarding upcoming events or events that have recently passed.
The Amnesty International at UMD Facebook Page
Figure 7. This screenshot shows the Amnesty International at UMD’s Facebook page, with
helpful information such as how many people were reached by each week’s post. (Image by
Vanessa Jarnes.)

17
Twitter
The Twitter page is titled @AmnestyUMD and the password can be obtained from the president.
To maintain the Twitter page:
 Post tweets regarding upcoming events and meeting times.
 Retweet tweets posted by @AmnestyInternational or @AmnestyOnline or other human
rights-related organizations, particularly those on campus.
 Click the ‘tweet’ button shaped like a feather button in the upper right-hand corner of the
main @AmnestyUMD page to write a post.
 Follow back anyone who follows the Twitter page by clicking the ‘Follow’ button next to
the username.
Instagram
The Instagram page is titled umd_amnesty and the password can be obtained from the president.
To maintain the Instagram page:
1. Follow any Amnesty, human rights or student related organization that wants to follow
umd_amnesty.
2. Post pictures in the Instagram page that are either reposted pictures from Amnesty
International’s Instagram account. Additionally post pictures from events the
organization has throughout the year for promotion purposes.
Outreach to Other Student Organizations
Amnesty International at UMD should try to be as connected to other related groups at the
university as possible. By becoming more connected to other student organizations that have
similar goals and memberships, the organization can appeal to as many potentially interested
students as possible. Additionally, having a close relationship with other similar student
organizations can be helpful when Amnesty UMD is looking to co-sponsor events to raise event
attendance.
To connect with other student organizations:
1. Have Amnesty International at UMD follow the social media accounts of related student
organizations on campus.
2. Find similar student groups that pertain to human rights, advocacy and fighting injustice.
To do this, go to your personal OrgSync account for the University of Maryland.
a. Click on ‘Browse Organizations’ in the main options bar.
b. Click on the ‘All Umbrellas’ button and choose ‘Student Organizations Resource
Center.’
c. Click on the ‘All Categories’ directly to the right of the button.
i. Categories that may have groups of interest and should all be searched
through include Advocacy, Advocacy/Service or Political but other
categories could be searched if you think they might be similar (see
Figure 8).

18
d. Find the email addresses of the presidents of organizations with similar missions
that may be interested in co-hosting an event by clicking on the Profile section of
the organization’s page and scrolling down to information on the president and
treasurer.
i. Some organizations may also be easily accessed by messaging the
group’s Facebook page through Facebook messages.
Screenshot of OrgSync Page
Figure 8. This screenshot shows the OrgSync page and how to scroll through Organizations to
find Advocacy groups that might have similar focuses to Amnesty UMD’s focuses. (Image by
Vanessa Jarnes.)
Outreach to Academic Programs
Amnesty UMD has only recently become involved in reaching out to relevant professors and
academic programs to spread awareness of the group. In the past, a few professors have reached
out to the student organization to ask for participation and a few students have spoken to their
own classes about Amnesty International. However, the strategy of reaching out through
professors that are willing to have Amnesty members come to speak about the group’s work
could be the next major push that Amnesty UMD uses to find students with similar interests.12
Additionally, reaching out to classes and utilizing course and academic program listservs are
very successful tools to advertise events that Amnesty UMD puts on. When looking for ways to
advertise for an upcoming event, I recommend sending the event blurb to academic programs,
minors, major and College blogs (such as the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences blog),
living and learning programs and to professors in fields that relate to the event topic.
12 Moldofsky, Heather, Interview, November 5, 2015

19
Outreach to Amnesty International USA
One of the most important relationships Amnesty UMD has is its relationship with the D.C.
office of Amnesty International. This relationship should be taken seriously and, if used
correctly, can be very helpful with the group’s finances, campaigns and event planning. The
main coordinator that should be used for getting in touch with Amnesty International USA
should be:
Noor Mir, Regional Coordinator for Amnesty International USA, nmir@aiusa.org
Noor provides assistance to Amnesty UMD regarding campaigns, promotional materials and
event coordination. Any speakers or contacts in Amnesty International that you may be
interested in can be planned through Noor. It is important to keep her updated on the activities of
the organization and to generally keep in touch in case she has pertinent information to share
with the group about upcoming campaigns or Amnesty International USA events and
conferences.
The main requests that Noor has highlighted for the group to work on in the future are:
1. Engage more frequently with Amnesty International work, especially on the priority
campaigns.
2. Work on police accountability in MD and linking with Baltimore activists and state
coalitions to provide support as allies to this work, working to get to actions and protests,
fundraising and figuring out ways to get involved with legislative sessions and actions in
Annapolis
3. Work with Amrita (minhasamritak@gmail.com), an Amnesty International member
leader based in Baltimore, to pick strategies and talk through plans regarding
membership. 13
When trying to figure out main priorities for the organization in upcoming semesters and years,
keep this list of priorities in mind that have been suggested by the Regional Coordinator.
HANDLING GROUP FINANCES
Using University Money
There are several ways to obtain funding through the university so long as the group is officially
registered for the year (see How to Renew and Registerfor Student Organization Status at
U. Maryland). Ways to obtain money for planned events include applying for Student
Government Association funding through a normal budget application, applying for Student
Government Association funding through Emergency Funding and applying for the Pepsi
Enhancement Fund. This section will go into greater detail about the requirements for obtaining
all three.
13 Mir, Noor, Interview, December 8, 2015

20
Note: While dealing with financial issues can be boring and confusing, just remember that the
money you are receiving will go towards helping people who have been unfairly prisoned (and
also pizza)!
Student Government Association Funding through Budget Application
As a registered student group, Amnesty International is allowed to apply for Student Government
Association funding through budget applications. The finance process includes three main
deadlines per semester and six per school year to apply for program funding. These deadlines
occur in September, October, November, February, March and April. 14
Rules that regulate the budget application process:
 When applying for program funding, the program must occur at least 30 days after the
budget deadline.
 If the program requires a budget of $1,500.01 or more, it will not be funded unless it is
taking place at least 60 days after the budget deadline. However, a program will not be
funded if the date of the program is further than five months away.
 Through this application process, funds cannot be reimbursed for money that has already
been spent on a program. 15
Rules regarding the budget application itself:
 A group can only submit one application for each event that the group is planning.
 There is no limit on the number of applications that can be submitted within an allocation
period.
 All of the numbers, dates and math on the form must be exact and accurate.
 All line items must have documentation that proves the exact costs and cost breakdown.
 The application must be filled out using the OrgSync login of the president or treasurer. 16
Rules on spending the allocated funds:
 The budget takes one and a half weeks of reviewing and will be returned with a decision
of fully funded, partially funded or not funded.
 Funds are available to the group two business days after the approval of the budget.
 Before spending allocated SGA funds, the president or treasurer of the group must
complete mandatory Student Organization Resource Center officer training and complete
a quiz.17
For more information on using budgets and what items go into the budget application, please
visit http://thestamp.umd.edu/student_org_resource_center_sorc/budget_management.18
14 “SGA Budget Workshop,” Presentation at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD,
September 9, 2015.
15 Ibid.
16 Ibid.
17 Ibid.

21
Student Government Association Funding through Emergency Funds
If the event that requires funding is happening sooner than the time restrictions laid out in the
budget application above, the group can apply for emergency funding. This emergency funding
is applied for in the same manor as the budget application and must be applied for at least 10
business days prior to the planned event. For more information about how to go about applying
for and using emergency funds, visit http://umdsgafinance.weebly.com/funding-options.html.19
Pepsi Enhancement Fund
Every semester a registered student group can submit up to two proposals for program funding
through the Pepsi Enhancement Fund. The proposals are submitted the semester before the
program is scheduled to take place.
The criteria for selection of program funding are as follows:
 Will the event contribute to the creation of campus community?
 Will the event appeal to a wide audience of campus citizens?
 Will the event contribute to the advancement of the academic mission of the University?
 Will the event enhance the co-curriculum, enlarging opportunities for leadership, cultural
and social exchange, and service to the University and broader community?20
Once funds from the Pepsi Enhancement Fund have been appropriated, the group can either have
the funds deposited into the group’s SGA account or the payment can simply be reimbursed. For
more information about how to redeem this money, I suggest you work one-on-one with the
Center for Campus Life in the Stamp Student Union to figure out the best redemption method for
the Amnesty UMD event.
Money for Printing Services
Registered student groups are additionally allowed to visit the printing center in the Student
Involvement Suite in the Stamp Student Union. Each student group is allocated $300.00 of
printing funds that can be used in the printing center without any application process. One of the
listed executives on the OrgSync page must be the one who visits the printing center and signs
off on the printed materials.
Using a Bank Account with SECU
18 “Budget Management,” The Stamp Division of Student Affairs,
http://thestamp.umd.edu/student_org_resource_center_sorc/budget_management
19 “Funding Options,” Student Government Association,
http://umdsgafinance.weebly.com/funding-options.html
20 Donna Lim to Student Organization Leaders, September 22, 2014, Call for Proposals - Pepsi
Enhancement Funds Spring 2015, University of Maryland.

22
Although Amnesty International USA does not currently have a bank account, this may be one
helpful option for redeeming checks that are made out to Amnesty International UMD through
fundraising at local restaurants and businesses. To redeem such checks, it is imperative to open
an outside student group bank account because the Student Government Association account
does not take money raised from outside sources.
You could also check with the business when setting up the event to see if the earnings could be
paid out in cash instead of via check or if the check could be made out to the president or
treasurer. This could avoid the scenario of needing to have a bank account in the name of the
student group.
If you are going to open up a group bank account, one of the best local banks to open an account
with is the SECU Credit Union. SECU works with the Student Organization Resource Center
and frequently visits the Student Involvement Suite to provide information to student groups
desiring an off-campus bank account. If you choose to open a Business Account with SECU,
there are several steps that must be done one-on-one at the bank on Route 1.
To open an account:
 Fill out a Business Account Application.
o This includes providing a Tax ID Number and the social security number for each
authorized signer of the account (president and treasurer normally).
 Provide a copy of a valid picture identification for all signors.
 Provide documentation authorizing who can sign onto and open accounts on behalf of the
organization.
o This information comes from the Student Organization Resource Center.
 Provide a copy of the US Patriot Act Disclosure.
 Provide a Business Account Checklist.
 Pay a one-time account-opening fee, which is normally around $120.00.21
o You could see if this is a fee that Amnesty International USA might be willing to
pay for the group by speaking to Noor Mir.
All steps will be clearer if you work closely with SECU. They will give you step-by-step
information on setting up the account and will provide you with all paperwork necessary if you
choose to open an account.
Fundraising for the Chapter
Several restaurants and businesses in the College Park area work with student groups to put on
fundraisers. Some past organizations that have worked with Amnesty UMD include Chipotle and
Jason’s Deli. A few other organizations that are frequently used by student groups for fundraisers
include Blaze, Ten Ren’s Tea Time, Panda Express, Insomnia Cookies and Slices. All of these
businesses are great opportunities to raise money for the monetary needs of the organization.
21 SECU, “Business Account Checklist – Club, Recreation or Similar” (Handout received in
Student Involvement Suite, College Park, MD, September 21, 2015)

23
To reach out to businesses about fundraising:
1. Look at the website of the business to see if there is any written information about
hosting a fundraiser with the restaurant.
a. The website may have very detailed and easy to follow steps about scheduling a
fundraiser with that particular business.
2. Call or personally visit the organization and ask for information about setting up a
fundraiser.
a. All businesses have different rules and offer different benefits so it is important to
check out a few businesses and gather information before committing to one
business.
Note: Setting up fundraisers with local organizations should be handled mostly by the treasurer
instead of the community outreach chair because this pertains to Amnesty UMD’s monetary
needs.
An Image of Insomnia Cookies
Figure 9. Insomnia Cookies is a local business that has great fundraising options for student
groups. (Image by Insomnia Cookies.)
Fundraising for Other Organizations
Amnesty International works predominantly to raise awareness for human right’s issues.
Nevertheless, Amnesty UMD has been successful in the past at pairing with other international
humanitarian organizations and using awareness campaigns to raise money for a related cause
through the other organizations. Some past organizations we have paired with during refugee
awareness events include the International Rescue Committee and Save the Children.
To pair with other international or national organizations in the Washington D.C. area to raise
money for their causes during UMD awareness events:
1. Identify an organization that has a mission related to the awareness event being planned.
2. Ensure that the organization has a regional D.C. office that you can be in contact with
easily.

24
3. Find the phone number or email address of the regional campaign or funding office for
the organization and reach out, offering to raise money as a student organization at the
University of Maryland.
4. Reach out to only one organization and if the organization does not respond within one to
two weeks, you should reach out to another similar focused organization so that you have
not committed the group to multiple organizations at once.
By reaching out and raising money for other organizations, this builds contacts and reputability
for Amnesty at UMD and additionally allows students coming to events to feel as though they
are making a tangible difference on the issue.
HOW TO PLAN A SUCCESSFUL EVENT
Putting on events is one of Amnesty International UMD’s most important responsibilities. Good
events work as a recruitment tool for new members and help to improve the name of the
organization around campus. The information in this section will provide detail on how to put on
events throughout the semester that will be successful and worthwhile.
Figuring Out Event Focuses for the Semester
The first step to putting on good events is to have a solid focus for the semester. In the first
couple meetings, the president should ensure that some core topics are chosen to focus on for the
semester or the year. To get an idea of the main campaigns that Amnesty International USA is
focusing on, you should go to http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/campaigns. This website
features all of Amnesty International USA’s current campaigns and should be used to generally
pick out a main campaign topic.22
While in past years we have focused on topics independent of Amnesty International that have
been important to members, as stated in Outreach to Amnesty International USA, Regional
Coordinator Noor Mir would like to see further involvement from our campus organization on
Amnesty International’s main campaigns. I would still recommend gauging what members of the
group are interested in working on because member interest is crucial; however, I would
additionally spend a good portion of time focusing on the Amnesty campaigns. You should pick
a few of the current Amnesty campaigns listed on the website and, from there, gauge which
campaign the members are most interested in. After choosing a main campaign, you could find
out what other topics that are not Amnesty International priorities members have an interest in
advocating for.
About two to three small event focuses are manageable for one semester, or one to two larger
events.
22 “Campaigns,” Amnesty International, http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/campaigns

25
One of Amnesty’s Main 2015 Campaigns: My Body, My Rights
Figure 10. This image shows a woman holding the key to her own body, an artistic portrayal of
the human right to sexual and reproductive health featured in the My Body, My Rights
campaign. (Image by Amnesty International.)
Steps of Putting Together an Event
Putting together an event often has several steps to it although it is fairly straightforward. Make
sure that no necessary steps are forgotten or your event could end up being a flop!
To put together an event on campus:
1. Choose the event topic.
a. See Figuring Out Event Focuses for the Semester above to figure out what
campaigns and topics Amnesty UMD should be focusing on.
2. Choose a date and time.
a. This step could have to wait depending on if you are trying to obtain a speaker
and will need to know his or her availability. Otherwise, I would recommend
completing this step as early as possible in order to have time to adequately
advertise the event.
3. Find any potential groups who may want to co-sponsor the event.
a. See Outreach to Other Student Organizations about how to find other student
groups that focus on similar topics. This step is helpful in boosting event
participation rates because it opens the event to a larger membership base.
4. Secure the main activities taking place at the event.
a. Whether there is a speaker coming to the event or the event revolves around
showing a documentary and leading a discussion, it is imperative to have this
aspect of the event settled a while before the event is to take place. After all, if the
main activities planned for the event end up not working out, there should be
enough time to find another speaker or plan another good activity. This should be
done a few weeks before the event is supposed to take place.
5. Secure a room or location for the event to take place.

26
a. An event will not take place if there is nowhere for it to take place. There are a lot
of restrictions on reserving a room and the reservation is usually required a few
weeks ahead of the event date. Make sure this step is done as soon as the date and
time are secured.
6. Create advertisement materials.
a. Once the date, time, location and main activities are all secured, you must create
advertisement materials to get people to actually come to the event! This should
include a blurb that can be widely spread, a Facebook event that can be shared
with as many people as possible and potentially flyers with a graphic on it. You
could also chalk around campus if your members are willing to assist.
7. Distribute the advertisement materials.
a. The main description of the event with all pertinent information should be sent
out via the listserv to all Amnesty International members, any members of a group
that is co-sponsoring the event (if there is one), any blogs or academic listservs
that might be interested in the event and any courses or professors that would be
relevant to the event. The Facebook event should be shared and should have as
many people invited as possible. Flyers or chalking should be posted around any
main areas on campus, such as around McKeldin Mall, around the diners and
around the Stamp Student Union.
8. Ensure that all necessary materials for the event are acquired.
a. Whether the event requires a rented projector or food and plates, make sure that
everything has been acquired before the event time. Make a checklist of items
needed days before the actual event and check the list the day before and the day
of the event (depending on how much time is needed to attain the materials) so
that you do not forget anything.
9. Have the event!
a. This does not require much explanation. Have the event, tend to any needs that
arise throughout the event and obtain feedback from people who attend on how to
improve events for the future.
10. Send any follow-up thank you letters.
a. If there were any speakers, send a follow-up thank you the next day to show your
appreciation for helping to put on a successful event. Kindness does wonders and
will leave a great lasting impression!
Reserving Event Rooms
There are several rules and regulations pertaining to reserving a room for an event around
campus. To reserve a room, you must login to the Stamp eCalendar at
http://ecalendar.umd.edu/VirtualEMS/BrowseEvents.aspx, similarly to how you would go about
reserving a room for the weekly meeting. For event room reservations, you should specify one
specific date and time in the When and Where section in the building that is desired and you
should list the approximate attendance number. All reservations should be made one week in
advance. If there is a speaker, the room reservation must be requested at least two weeks in

27
advance and you must specify the name of the speaker. No food or drinks are allowed in the
room reservations.23
Because the rules are so strict for reserving classrooms for events, the best option may be to find
a room that is not part of an academic building. Some rooms that have been reserved in the past
that have been very successful (and have allowed food and outside speakers without two weeks
notice) include the basement of Saint Mary’s Hall and other event rooms within residence halls.
If you plan on reserving a larger room, such as one of the ballrooms in the Stamp Student Union
or Hoff Theater, please visit https://orgsync.com/71620/custom_pages/11557 for information on
room prices and specifications. Student groups get special rates but most of the rooms are not
free. If you want to reserve one of the listed rooms, contact Event and Guest Services at 301-
314-3375.24
Typical Event Needs
Needs for the event vary depending on the activities and type of event being held. Regardless,
there are certain items that are frequently utilized in Amnesty UMD events that I will specify
here.
Electronic Equipment
If your event is taking place in a classroom, there is a possibility that the classroom will not have
all of the electronic equipment you may need. If that is the case, the McKeldin Library has
rentable electronics and equipment. The library has a TLC Equipment Loan Program, which has
electronics and equipment that are free to rent. Some frequently rented equipment from the TLC
Equipment Loan Program are HDMI cables, portable DVD players for documentaries, adapter
cords and projectors.
To find out more information about rentable equipment, visit
http://www.lib.umd.edu/tlc/equipment.25
Food
In college, most successful events have free food at them. Free food is used as a pull and is also
generally helpful if the event is to take place around dinnertime, which most events usually do.
While there is no one place that can be recommended for getting food, I highly recommend
comparing the prices at a few different local restaurants or pizzerias before deciding upon one
place from which you are going to order. To fund this food, find information about obtaining
funds for events in the Using University Money or Fundraising for the Chapter sections. A
23 “eCalendar,” The Stamp, http://ecalendar.umd.edu/VirtualEMS/BrowseEvents.aspx
24 “Room Prices and Info: Student Organizations,” Event and Guest Services,
https://orgsync.com/71620/custom_pages/11557
25 “TLC Equipment Loan Program,” University of Maryland Libraries,
http://www.lib.umd.edu/tlc/equipment

28
normal amount of food that could be expected to feed about 20 people generally costs around
$50.00 for reference, although this number is highly approximated and depends on what type of
food is being ordered.
Planning Write for Rights
Write for Rights is one of the only annual campaigns that Amnesty International UMD actively
participates in each year. Write for Rights takes place for two weeks in the beginning of
December (dates vary every year). Each year, Amnesty International USA chooses 12 cases of
“Prisoners of Conscience, human rights defenders, torture survivors and communities at risk.”26
Amnesty International then puts on a two week Writeathon where hundreds of Amnesty
International groups write hundreds of thousands of letters to the governments of the 12 cases
chosen for the year, asking the government to take action to either free the prisoners or to get
better conditions for those who have been identified in the cases. The event has been taking place
around the country and the world for 12 years and has helped to improve the lives of countless
individuals suffering unjustly.27
As a student group at a sizeable university, we are able to make a large impact in this campaign
because of the size of our campus community and the ability to get several hundred letters signed
every year. Running a smooth event means making the event appeal to passerby. To do this, you
should make the table visually striking and potentially offer coffee and donuts to those who sign
letters (see Figure 11). You should also not be afraid to yell out to people to get their attention
about the cases and how their signatures could help save lives around the world. People will
rarely approach out of interest, especially as finals are approaching and everyone is busy at this
time.
Co-President Heather Moldofsky at the 2015 Write for Rights Table
Figure 11. Co-President of Amnesty International UMD Heather Moldofsky
promoting Write for Rights. (Photo by Heather Moldofsky.)
26 “About Write for Rights,” Amnesty International, http://write.amnestyusa.org/about/
27 Ibid.

29
Registering for Write for Rights through Amnesty International
All Write for Rights events must be registered through Amnesty International so that they are
aware of your event and can send you helpful materials. This step in the event process is simple
but crucial.
To register for Write for Rights:
1. Go to http://write.amnestyusa.org/.
2. Click on the ‘Sign Up’ button on the front page.
3. Click ‘I will host a letter writing party or event.’ on the page that pops up and fill out the
required information about the event.
4. Click ‘Sign Up to Write.’
5. Fill out the next page about your event information and press ‘Submit.’28
If you follow these simple steps you should be completely registered and ready to go!
Printing Out Letters and Materials
While you could plan an event in which people write their own heartfelt letters to the
governments regarding the cases, it is often difficult to get students on campus to commit time to
doing extra writing assignments. Therefore, to expedite the process and send as many letters as
possible, the group normally prints out the sample pre-written Amnesty International letters for
each case and has students merely sign the letters with their own signatures.
To print out the pre-written letters and cover page that explains the case to passerby, see the
Money for Printing Services for more information about how to print these materials (both in
black-and-white and in color) for free in the Student Involvement Suite. Without taking
advantage of this option, printing from normal library printers generally costs about $30.00. The
average number of letters signed is usually about 20 letters per case, or 240 letters total.
The sample pre-written letters can be found at http://write.amnestyusa.org/resources/.29
Reserving a Table Outside of Stamp
Amnesty UMD normally holds Write for Rights outside of the Stamp Student Union at one of
the tables on the right-hand side of the building. This allows the group to lure in any passerby
that are entering or leaving Stamp. The process of reserving one of these tables is very similar to
that of reserving a classroom for either the weekly meeting or an event. All reservations must be
made at least three days in advance.
To reserve one of the tables outside of Stamp:
1. Login to the Stamp eCalendar.
28 “Write for Rights,” Amnesty International, http://write.amnestyusa.org/
29 “Resources,” Amnesty International, http://write.amnestyusa.org/resources/

30
2. Hover the mouse over the ‘Reservations’ tab on the top of the screen.
3. Choose ‘Stamp Table’ from the drop down menu (see Figure 12).
4. Input the desired date and time of the event and under facilities choose ‘The Stamp:
Tables’ and change attendance to two or three (people who are manning the table).
a. The event is normally either held over one day and includes the busy lunch period
or, if there is an ambitious number of letters to sign, the event can be held over
two days.
5. Click ‘Find Space’ and choose one of the tables available (it does not matter which one).
6. Fill out the Event Details form that follows.
How to Reserve a Table for Write for Rights
Figure 12. This image shows how to reserve a table outside of the Stamp Student Union for
Write for Rights. (Image by Vanessa Jarnes.)
Obtaining Volunteers for the Table
Obtaining volunteers to man the table is very similar to Setting Meeting Times. Simply create
an online form or poll in which people are able to sign up for the two or three spots available
every half hour or hour to man the table. There cannot be a time where no one is there, but the
event is manageable with one person manning the table instead of two or three (it might just be
slightly more awkward yelling at passerby alone).
Sending Out Letters to the Governments
While it is highly encouraged for you to obtain funding through one of the several ways
highlighted in the HANDLING GROUP FINANCES section in order to pay for the postage to
send the letters to the governments themselves, this is not the only way. If your group is in a
financial bind and is unable to send the hundreds of letters to foreign governments, you should
contact Noor Mir (contact information is listed in Outreach to Amnesty International USA) to
see if the regional Amnesty International office is willing to send the letters for you.

31
If Noor states that they are willing to do so, you could either send or drop off the letters to the
Washington D.C. Amnesty International USA office. How the letters are dropped off depends on
Noor’s preference and the feasibility.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, while you may be overwhelmed with the amount of information that has been
thrust upon you with this new position, never forget the true task at hand. Amnesty UMD works
to promote justice and freedom around the world and, because of you and the work that you do
with the group, you help to save countless individuals who are suffering from daily injustices.
When you are up late the night before an event to ensure that all details are in place even though
you also have two papers due, do not forget the mission of Amnesty and those who are suffering
without voices around the world. Thank you for the important work that you are continuing by
spreading the message of human rights around the University of Maryland!
The Amnesty International Motto
Figure 13. Amnesty International’s motto and the reasoning for Amnesty International’s logo of
a candle with barbed wire surrounding it. (Image from Amnesty International.)

32
Appendices
Appendix A: Images Used
Front Cover:
“Amnesty Candle.” Digital image. Maguzz. Accessed December 12, 2015. www.maguzz.com.
Figure 1:
Help Build Our Future. Digital image. Amnesty International. Accessed December 12, 2015.
https://careers.amnesty.org/leadership.
Figure 2:
Moses Akatugba. Digital image. Amnesty International. Accessed December 12, 2015.
http://write.amnestyusa.org/assets/pdf/2015WriteForRightsActionGuide.pdf.
Figure 3:
Jarnes, Vanessa L. “Screenshot of How to Access the Organization Renewal Page (Figure 3).”
Digital image. December 12, 2015.
Figure 4:
Jarnes, Vanessa L. “The Student Group Registration Page.” Digital image. December 13, 2015.
Figure 5:
Jarnes, Vanessa L. “Reserving a Classroom on the Stamp eCalendar.” Digital image. December
12, 2015.
Figure 6:
Moldofsky, Heather C. “Amnesty International at First Look Fair 2015.” Digital image.
September 16, 2015. https://www.facebook.com/Amnesty-International-at-UMD-
145392035550857/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel.
Figure 7:
Jarnes, Vanessa L. “The Amnesty International at UMD Facebook Page.” Digital image.
December 14, 2015.
Figure 8:
Jarnes, Vanessa L. “Screenshot of OrgSync Page.” Digital image. December 12, 2015.
Figure 9:
An Image of Insomnia Cookies. Digital image. Insomnia Cookies. Accessed December 15, 2015.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/insomnia-cookies.
Figure 10:
One of Amnesty’s Main 2015 Campaigns: My Body, My Rights. Digital image. Amnesty
International. Accessed December 14, 2015. http://www.amnesty.li/themen/kampagnen/my-
body-my-rights/

33
Figure 11:
Moldofsky, Heather C. Co-President Heather Moldofsky at the 2015 Write for Rights Table.
Digital image. December 9, 2015.
https://www.facebook.com/145392035550857/photos/pcb.924231961000190/924231397666913
/?type=3&theater.
Figure 12:
Jarnes, Vanessa L. “How to Reserve a Table for Write for Rights.” Digital image. December 12,
2015.
Figure 13:
The Amnesty International Motto. Digital image. Amnesty International. Accessed December
14, 2015. https://www.amnesty.org/en/media-centre/.
Appendix B: Annotated Bibliography
“About Write for Rights.” Amnesty International. Accessed December 8, 2015.
http://write.amnestyusa.org/about/
This webpage was used describe the background of Write for Rights in order to motivate
the president to put on a good event and to give context about the event itself. I quote this
site regarding what the cases normally feature. Additional information that came from
this site includes how long the event has taken place and how many cases are featured
each year. This information was put into the Planning Write for Rights manual section.
“Budget Management.” The Stamp Division of Student Affairs. Accessed October 26, 2015.
http://thestamp.umd.edu/student_org_resource_center_sorc/budget_management
This website has a vast amount of information on student organization finances. If any
future president wants to sign up for student government funding and utilize the funding,
they will need to know the information on this page. The page covers internal service
requests, purchase orders, miscellaneous purchase requests, vendor contracts, office
max/general stores purchases, line items transfer requests, motor pool/transportation
requests and self-generated revenue. This information is in the Using University Money
section of the manual.
“Campaigns.” Amnesty International. Accessed December 4, 2015.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/campaigns
This website is used to provide information on Amnesty International’s current
campaigns. I refer to this site for future presidents to check out when they are deciding on
semester event focuses for the group. The website lists all of Amnesty’s main campaigns
and provides in-depth information on specific cases and how to get involved. This
information can be found under the Figuring Out Event Focuses for the Semester
manual section.

34
“Constitution.” The Stamp Division of Student Affairs. Accessed October 30, 2015.
n/constitution
While I do not use this source extensively in my actual writing within the manual, I refer
to this source in the event that a president may need information about student group
constitutions. This link has all pertinent information regarding what must be included in a
student group’s constitution in order to be considered valid. I included this source
because there is often a lot of confusion over the constitution and the specific rules that
must be adhered to. This link is included in How to Renew and Registerfor Student
Organization Status at U. Maryland.
Dennis G. Jerz. “Instructions: How to Write Guides for Busy, Grouchy People.” July 16, 2011.
Accessed October 26, 2015. http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/technical-writing/instructions-how-
to-write-for-busy-grouchy-people/
This source has descriptive information regarding how to write an effective manual. I
used this site, from a professor at Seton Hill, to construct a manual that is engaging and
successful in the training of future presidents. Helpful tips I utilized from this site when
writing my manual included how to write steps as commands, how to understand the
audience of the manual and how to effectively number and list commands.
Donna Lim to Student Organization Leaders. September 22, 2014. “Call for Proposals – Pepsi
Enhancement Funds Spring 2015.” University of Maryland.
This memorandum was used to specify the criteria that are required of student
organizations that are applying to the Pepsi Enhancement Fund. Because I list the Pepsi
Fund as one major way for presidents to obtain University money for Amnesty UMD
programs, I thought this would be pertinent information to include. The memo also
provides details for how many proposals each group is allowed to submit. I put the
information from this source under the Using University Money section of the manual.
“eCalendar.” The Stamp. Accessed December 4, 2015.
http://ecalendar.umd.edu/VirtualEMS/BrowseEvents.aspx
This is the link to the eCalendar that is used for reserving all rooms and tables that
Amnesty International may need for weekly meetings, events or Write for Rights. The
forms that Amnesty UMD must fill out to reserve these rooms also has information in
their terms and agreements concerning the ability to bring food and how far in advance
reservations must be made. These rules are easy to miss for presidents because most
people do not take the time to read to the agreed upon terms and conditions of the room
reservations. However, if the president or whoever is reserving the room fails to do so
and breaks these rules, his or her room request could be denied or the event could be
fined. This information is included in the manual and this link is referred to under the
Reserving Event Rooms manual section.
Eirich, Taylor. Interview. November 5, 2015.
This interview was used to write all aspects of the manual. Taylor is a former president of
the UMD organization who was able to give me advice on what information is most
pertinent for presidents to know. Taylor also has a greater understanding of all the steps

35
of being a president, which I am still learning each week. I used this interview for
feedback and for further instruction in the manual process.
“First Look Fair.” The Stamp Division of Student Affairs. Accessed October 26, 2015.
http://thestamp.umd.edu/events/first_look_fair
This website hosts information that is updated every year on instructions for registering
for the First Look Fair. The First Look Fair is one of Amnesty International at UMD’s
strongest recruiting tactics for new members and, because member retention is a problem
the organization struggles with, it is imperative that all presidents register and have a
successful First Look Fair. This information was specifically outlined under the First
Look Fair section of the manual.
“Funding Options.” Student Government Association. Accessed December 3, 2015.
http://umdsgafinance.weebly.com/funding-options.html
This website is given in reference to the budget application process for University money.
While I describe most of the details about this process within the manual, I additionally
link to this website for more information in case the president would like more
information in the future. This website covers monthly allocations and emergency funds.
This link was used in the Using University Money manual section.
“Guidelines for Registering or Renewing a Student Organization.” The Stamp Division of
Student Affairs. Accessed October 26, 2015.
n/registering_renewing_a_student_group
This website has pertinent information regarding how to renew the student organization
and what makes the organization a valid student group under Student Government. This
is necessary information for future presidents because there are certain restrictions that
must be followed in order to be considered a fully registered and active group. If these
restrictions are not followed, the organization is not allowed to apply for funding through
Student Government. This information was placed in the How to Renew and Register
for Student Organization Status at U. Maryland section of the manual.
Mir, Noor. Interview. December 8, 2015.
This interview helped to clarify future goals of the student organization. These goals will
provide vision and purpose to future presidents of the group. The requests from Noor
outlined in the interview will also help to shape future campaigns and events that
Amnesty UMD will put on. This information is placed in the Outreach to Amnesty
International USA section of the manual.
Moldofsky, Heather. Interview. November 5, 2015.
This interview helped to clarify what should be put into the manual. The interview also
added an additional dimension of what my co-president’s vision for the organization was
for the coming years. This information was used to influence all sections of the manual
but was particularly referenced in Outreach to Academic Programs. I asked questions
regarding how to inspire other students to become more engaged with Amnesty UMD,

36
which helped me write the introductory sections through the inclusion of her ideas that
related to inspiration and engagement.
“Our Mission.” Amnesty International. Accessed December 14, 2015.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/about-us/our-mission
This source was used to write the background information about Amnesty International. I
used this source to mostly talk about how the organization carries out its work through
the multi-pronged approach of research, action and advocacy. This information was used
to clarify any background questions concerning Amnesty’s work and how they make an
impact for future presidents who might not have a strong background in Amnesty
International. The information from this source is included in the Background
Information about Amnesty International section.
“Resources.” Amnesty International. Accessed December 8, 2015.
http://write.amnestyusa.org/resources/
I refer to this source in the manual when I describe to presidents where they can find
more information and planning resources for Write for Rights. This source has all of the
sample letters that can be printed out, the case studies that talk about each Write for
Rights case and other very helpful supplies for the event. I refer to this source particularly
because I recommend to the presidents that they merely print out the sample letters
instead of attempting to get many students to write their own. This information can be
found under the Planning Write for Rights manual section.
“Room Prices and Info: Student Organizations.” UMD Departments Event and Guest Services.
Accessed October 26, 2015. https://orgsync.com/71620/custom_pages/11557
This website has detailed information on the cost of renting various event rooms
throughout the University, such as conference rooms or the Hoff Theater. This is
important information for the president to know in case he or she is looking to put on an
event in a large space and needs to know how to go about renting the rooms and how
much the rooms would costs. This information went under the Reserving Event Rooms
section of the manual and provides clarification of the smaller details of room
reservations in the planning of a successful event.
SECU. “Business Account Checklist – Club, Recreation or Similar.” (Handout received in
Student Involvement Suite. College Park, MD. September 21, 2015.)
This handout, provided to me by an employee of SECU, lists the information and steps
regarding opening a student group bank account with SECU. This information will be
helpful in case a future president would like to open an account to deposit off-campus
funds into. Because there are a lot of steps included in the application process for opening
an account, I attempted to simplify the process in the manual and list the required steps
and documents. This information went under Using a Bank Account with SECU.
“SGA Budget Workshop.” Presentation at the University of Maryland. College Park, MD.
September 9, 2015.
I used my notes from the Student Government Budget Workshop that I was required to
attend as president of Amnesty UMD to write about the budget application process. From

37
these notes, I used information on the application itself and specific rules and guidelines
that must be followed in applying for money from the University for an event. This is an
extremely confusing topic that often gets messed up, so I found this information to be
very relevant to the manual. The information from this source can be found in the Using
University Money manual section.
“Stamp eCalendar Registration Form.” UMD Departments Event and Guest Services. Accessed
October 26, 2015. https://orgsync.com/71620/forms/79063
This website is where future presidents must go in order to register for a classroom space
for a weekly meeting time. Without registering for a classroom, the organization and
weekly meetings will lack continuity in where the meetings take place and will thus
lower the number of people who actually show up to the meeting. In order to escape the
fate of a pointless weekly meeting with no members showing up, this website information
is crucial to the future workings of the organization. This link and information went
under the Reserving a Classroom for Meetings section of the manual.
“Students and Youth.” Amnesty International – Resources. Accessed October 26, 2015.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/resources/students-and-youth
This source has resources such as action guides for student groups to use in pushing the
agenda of Amnesty International USA. Additionally, this page has information on student
group registration, which must be redone every year. Without the updated registration of
the organization, the student group cannot be helped by the larger organization through
funding and other needs. Therefore, it is important for all presidents to know that this
action must be completed each year. This information went under the How to register
the chapter with Amnesty International USA section of the manual.
“Student Group Registration Form.” Amnesty International. Accessed October 30, 2015.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/get-involved/lead-in-your-community/students-and-youth/student-
group-registration-form
This link is used to describe to future presidents how to register the group with Amnesty
International USA, which must be redone every year. Finding important forms on the
Amnesty International website can oftentimes be confusing so I provided the direct link
to the form so presidents do not have to waste time trying to find it on the Amnesty
website. It is additionally not made clear that this registration must be done every year, so
I use this link to describe the necessity of this act to future presidents. This link can be
found under How to register the chapter with Amnesty International USA.
“TLC Equipment Loan Program.” University Libraries. Accessed October 26, 2015.
http://www.lib.umd.edu/tlc/equipment
This website has information on how to loan technological equipment from the Maryland
Libraries. This information is very helpful in the event that the organization wants to put
on a documentary screening or use a PowerPoint during an event. Normally, renting
technology from events services has a fee but using the library loan service is free of
charge. This is important for a group with a very small budget. This information on how
to rent equipment went under the Typical Event Needs section of the manual.

38
“Who We Are.” Amnesty International. Accessed December 14, 2015.
http://www.amnestyusa.org/about-us/who-we-are
This information is used to write the background information about Amnesty
International. Pertinent information that can be found at this link includes information on
past successes of the organization during its existence and the history of the organization.
I used this information to ensure that future presidents will be informed about Amnesty’s
history and work. This information is included in the Background Information about
Amnesty International portion of the manual.
“Write for Rights.” Amnesty International. Accessed October 26, 2015.
http://write.amnestyusa.org/?ac=none_r
This web source has a lot of information regarding Amnesty International USA’s yearly
event, Write for Rights. This event is a staple component of Amnesty International at
UMD’s fall programming. The web page has information that I incorporated into the
manual on how to register for the event, where to download the yearly letters and the
purpose of the event in case any members or people outside of the organization want
more information. This source was placed in the Planning Write for Rights section of
the manual.

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