ACEI Membership

ACEI membership is open to any individual concerned for the education and well being of children. Members join either through a Local Branch or directly through Headquarters. Membership dues are determined by the ACEI Executive Board as provided in the ACEI Constitution, Standing Rule 4. Dues for State and Province Associations are established by the Constitution, Article III, Section 2 (c).

Branch Membership. A Branch member is one who is a member of a state/province, local, or student group affiliated with ACEI. The portion of member dues determined by the Executive Board are rebated to the local branch three times per year. The branch member is affiliated with both the International organization and the local branch. All dues are paid directly to headquarters.

Branch Members At-Large Membership. At-Large ACEI membership is extended to persons in areas where there is no Local Branch of the Association or who for personal reasons are not affiliated with a Branch.

At-Large Members Life Membership. Persons who were Life members prior to the constitutional amendment in April 1966 that eliminated this type of membership, receive the services promised to them at the time of their enrollment. Life members may elect not to receive Childhood Education in which case they are identified as Life members without service.

All Membership Dues Are Payable to ACEI Headquarters

State /Province Branches

Dues for State or Province Associations are those stated in the ACEI Constitution, Article III, Section 2 (c). (See Appendix 2)

Member Dues

Membership categories and the dues associated with them are determined by the ACEI Executive Board. Any individual can become an At-Large member of ACEI by paying the same dues as a Branch member. Individuals automatically become a member of a Branch if one exists.

The current categories of membership and their respective international dues are: All members and subscribers outside the USA are required to pay additional fees to cover additional postage for membership, JRCE and Professional Focus Quarterly subscriptions. Professional, Student and Retired members receive all membership benefits, including discounts on publications, reduced registration fees at ACEI sponsored conferences, the journal Childhood Education, and the ACEI Exchange. Student members also receive a free electronic subscription to the Emerging Educator. An Institutional subscription includes Childhood Education, and the ACEI Exchange. Basic membership includes all membership benefits except Childhood Education.

Dues Billing Cycle

ACEI memberships expire one of four dates during the academic year, September 30, December 31, March 31, or June 30.

When a member joins the membership begins on the date dues are received and extends one year to the nearest expiration date to the Anniversary.

Renewal notices are sent three months prior to the expiration date to facilitate publications schedules and ensure that the number of journals/newsletters printed covers membership and subscriber needs. Members who renew within one month of their membership expiration date will not experience any lapses in service.

Membership Cards

Membership cards are mailed to new and renewing members within two weeks of the date their dues are received. They are included in the Welcome Kit for new members and in the Renewal Kit for renewing members. The card includes the member's membership ID number, branch affiliation, status, joined date, expiration date and name as shown on the record. No membership card will be mailed to a member without payment of current dues.

Hierarchy of Branches

The Country/State/Province Branch is usually the larger Branch, both in terms of the geographical area it covers and number of members. There can be Local and/or Student Branches existing within the Country, State or Province Branch. If a member is paying International dues to Headquarters, then they are automatically a member of the Country, State or Province Branch (if one exists). An At-Large member is any member not affiliated with a Local or Student Branch.

Local and Student Branches are the smaller Branches. Local and Student Branches are treated the same in terms of rebate distribution. A Local Branch usually has Professional and Retired members, but the trend to include Student members is helping to create more diverse Branches. Headquarters encourages the involvement of all students, teachers, and retirees in making the volunteer work of Branches more rewarding.

In order to further explain the structure of the Branches, here are some examples:
Florida has not only a State Branch (Florida ACEI) but also the following Local Branches: Pinellas, Southwest Florida, Hispanic Network, University of Florida at Gainesville, University of South Florida at Ft. Myers, University of Central Florida at Orlando, Nova University and the University of South Florida at Tampa.

Rhode Island has a State Branch (Rhode Island ACEI), but no Local or Student Branches. Alabama has no State Branch, but it does have three Student Branches: Auburn University, Tex Whaley Troy State University, and Samford University. Alaska has no Branches; only At-Large members.

Copyright by the Association for Childhood Education International. All rights reserved.

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