Setting-up a local student group
If you do not have an active student society for history students in your third level institution there is no reason why yourself and some fellow students cannot set one up. Feel free to contact some of the member groups of the CCS - IHSA, or ourselves, for advice and encouragement. Download a sample constitution (doc), in English, that will help establish your group on a sound footing (this is based on the larger Bunreacht (pdf) of the Cumann Staire of Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh - NUI Galway).
Starting from scratch:
Poster the campus at least a week in advance to publicise an open meeting to set-up the group. Collect a list of members from those that attend the meeting. Have copies of a suggested group constitution on hand that can be discussed, and amended if need be, before being officially adopted by an open vote of the new members. Fill the positions on the organising Coiste through the usual formula of propose-second-vote (a secret ballot is best if there are two or more seconded candidates for a position). Notes of all meetings should be taken and kept safe (the campus library should be happy to open an archive for the group's papers). Once the association is officially established a staff member of the Department of History, or similar academic unit, should be recruited to act as academic liason, and perhaps honorary president for the new group. General and specific activity funding can normally be sourced from the Student Office/Union, Department/School, local business sponsorship and fund-raising events.

Suggested activities to organise include:

• Attend the Annual Conference of the CCS - IHSA
• Invite guest lecturers to present evening talks
• Table quizzes (a fun way to raise funds)
• Screen historical interest flicks
• Trips to sites of historical importance
• Visit other CCS - IHSA member groups
• Themed party nights to celebrate Samhain, Christmas etc.
• A dinner dance or formal dress ball

Creating a Facebook profile is a handy way to publicise events and build connections with similar groups elsewhere. It is recommended to create a personal Profile, as though the organisation was an individual, rather than set-up a Facebook Group or Page. An email account for all offical correspondence can be easily created and login details for both the email and Facebook accounts can be shared with all those elected. The new profile can become a Friend of other such history profiles and become a member of related Groups, such as that for the CCS - IHSA.