AFFILIATE POLICIES

AFFILIATION APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Any association or group organized primarily to further a purpose compatible with that of SECA may become an affiliate upon completion of the affiliation application procedure.

  1. The group must submit a letter of intent to the SECA office for review. The letter must contain:
  2. A statement of intent to become a SECA State Affiliate
  3. The purpose of the organization and its alignment with SECA’s mission and vision
  4. A proposed timeline for creation of the affiliate, including the date of an initial formal membership meeting
  5. The signatures of the founding members of the organization.
  1. The Executive Director will submit the letter to the Executive Committee for their review.
  1. If the Executive Committee accepts the letter of intent, the group must complete a formal Affiliation Application. (SeeAppendix D, pages 83-84, for a copy of the application.)
  1. The complete application will be reviewed by the Executive Committee. If approved, the application will be presented to the Board of Directors for acceptance.
  1. The Executive Director will notify the group and advise them to elect a SECA Representative to serve on the Board of Directors. Date of representation begins at the next Board meeting following notice of acceptance.
  1. Upon approval of the affiliation application by the SECA Board of Directors, the affiliate leadership will formally vote to sign an affiliate agreement with SECA and provide official minutes that document that vote to the SECA office. This agreement may either represent the affiliate as a SECA only affiliate or recognize an affiliate that wishes to affiliate with SECA and another organization. (See Appendix______for copies of the non-dual and dual affiliation agreements.)
  1. The Executive Director will assist the state affiliate in securing members and developing membership services.
  1. The association will receive recognition of affiliation at the next annual SECA conference business meeting.

REMOVAL OR DENIAL OF AFFILIATION

If an existing state affiliate does not meet the criteria for affiliation, the SECA Executive Director will work with that affiliate to initiate a plan to bring the affiliate into compliance with Association policies. Formal notice will be provided by the Board to the affiliate with notice of a date by which the criteria must be met or the formal process for denial or removal of affiliation as outlined in the Affiliate Agreement. (Appendix ____, Section 8.)will be initiated.

COMPLIANCE

Affiliate shall conduct all of its activities in accordance with the highest legal and ethical standards and shall have as its purposes those set forth in Association’s by-laws, Article II, as follows:

To work on behalf of young children and their families.

To provide opportunities for the cooperation of individuals and groups who are concerned with the well-being of young children.

To further the development of knowledge and understanding of young children and the dissemination of such information.

To contribute to the professional growth of persons working with and for young children.

To work to improve the standards for group care and education of children and improve the quality of life for them.

Compliance with Association requirements for affiliates will be based upon the Affiliate Checklist. (Appendix ____). This checklist outlines all criteria that the Association will review annually to ensure effective and compliant operations by affiliates.

Affiliates will at all times strive to maintain operations that meet the highest standards in representing the Southern Early Childhood Association in its mission to “provide professional development and advocacy” on behalf of the early childhood professionals and children and families of the South.