This process is intended to be inclusive and as easy as possible. If you have any questions or concerns - see the Frequently Asked Questions Section below - or contact Ali Sweeney at email or 303-273-9527.

To apply, go to this application link or send a letter of application to the Chair of the Affiliate Network Steering Committee. The current Chair is listed at http://naaee.org/affiliates/steeringcom.doc.

The Steering Committee will make a determination of membership and inform the applicant organization in a timely manner. Applicants meeting all of the criteria will receive pre-approval status from the Steering Committee. When your membership with NAAEE is established, your status as an Affiliate and member of the Affiliate Network will be finalized. Current members of the Affiliate Network will be listed on the NAAEE website.

Requirements for Membership

To become a member of the Affiliate Network, an organization will:
1. Have a mission statement that is compatible with that of NAAEE.
2. Be a professional organization that offers services to and represents environmental educators. Though coordinating networks and government agencies are valued, they are not candidates for membership in the Affiliate Network.
3. Represent a significant portion of the environmental educators in the state, province, region or country. Normally only one organization covering a state, province, region or country will be recognized, however, exceptions may be considered by the Steering Committee when:
a. multiple organizations represent distinctive segments of the environmental educator community, such as teachers and nonformal educators
b. an organization represents a region of several states or provinces, recognizing that their area of coverage may overlap with state or provincial level Affiliate Network members
c. organizations within a state or province present a unified proposal that identifies a unique situation requiring that more than one organization be a member of the Affiliate Network in order to effectively represent environmental educators in that state or province.

To retain status as a member of the Affiliate Network, the organization will:
1. Maintain an Affiliate membership in NAAEE
2. Publicize NAAEE membership and events in communication, such as newsletters, conference materials, and websites.
3. Acknowledge membership in the Affiliate Network in communication, such as newsletters, conference materials, and websites.
4. Designate one or two representative(s) to serve as liaison(s) to the Affiliate Network. The Affiliate Liaison(s) will:
a) serve as main communication link between your Affiliate organization, NAAEE and the Affiliate Network
b) maintain individual membership in NAAEE
c) represent the affiliate at the Affiliate Network pre-conference workshop, and the NAAEE annual conference, as funds allow
d) participate actively in the governance of the Affiliate Network
e) participate in the Affiliates listserv
f) provide the addresses (including phone, fax and email) for the Affiliate Liaison(s), and provide updates in a timely manner, to the Chair of the Affiliate Network Steering Committee and to NAAEE
g) at the end of his/her service, meet with new, incoming Affiliate Liaison(s) for the Affiliate to provide background and orientation materials, review current issues and activities, provide contact information, and review Affiliate Liaison responsibilities and communication process

Frequently Asked Questions

Our organization has a membership with NAAEE already, do we have to also get the new Affiliate membership?
There will be a transition period for memberships through July 2008. If the applicant organization has an organizational level membership with NAAEE, then change it when it expires to the Affiliate membership.

Why do we have to have an individual membership in addition to the Affiliate membership with NAAEE?
Both memberships allow NAAEE to track the organization as well as the primary contact for the organization. At current membership prices, the total for all membership is $150. It is up to the organization and liaison to determine who pays for the memberships (some organizations cover the cost of both). Select the pay by check option in the NAAEE online membership system to split the membership costs between two parties.

If I already have a lifetime membership with NAAEE, can I serve as the liaison without getting another individual membership with NAAEE?
Yes.

What if there is already an Affiliate for my state/province and my organization should be the Affiliate?
The steering committee strongly suggests that there is only one organization serving as an Affiliate for a state/province. In extreme cases, the steering committee will review an application for more than one organization to serve as Affiliates for a state/province. The application should include the unique situation requiring more than one organization and be a joint application from all organizations wanting to serve as Affiliates for that state/province. For example, if the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE) and the Colorado Environmental Educator Group (CEEG) needed to both serve as Affiliates, they need to send one joint application. Separate applications will not be considered.

We’ve been an Affiliate for years, why do we have to apply now?
There has long been confusion over what it takes to become and remain a member of the Affiliate Network, and how the Affiliate Liaison position connects the affiliate organization to the network and to NAAEE. Both the network and NAAEE have found it difficult to maintain contact with organizations as the liaison changes over time. Therefore this application process was developed to formalize the process to designate member organizations. No organizations will be “grandfathered” in, but the network will endeavor to make the process as quick and painless as possible, and will support organizations in their efforts to continue or become members.

Do we have to reapply each year?
No. You will have to maintain your membership with NAAEE each year, but there are not other reapplication requirements for the Affiliate Network at this time.

Other Questions?
Contact Ali Sweeney at 303-273-9527 or email