Background
The general corporate powers conferred upon the Board of Directors of NESA (hereinafter the "Board") by applicable law and Section 1(a) of the Bylaws of NESA authorize the Board to establish state Chapters and/or one regional affiliates for a specified multi-state region. The following guidelines are established as policy to govern such recognition.

Statement of Intent
The Board may establish affiliated Chapters in order to: a) recognize and support such Chapters; b) authorize use of the NESA name by such Chapters: and c) maximize potential membership participation at the local, state, regional and national levels. In all instances, the activities of the Chapters shall be consistent with the programs, policies and actions of NESA.

Establishment
I. The Board may authorize the establishment of a Chapter upon receipt of a petition (in letter form) from 10 or more individual members of NESA, or from an organization which represents 10 or more individual members of NESA.

II. The Petition must include the following statements of intent of the petitioners in regard to the proposed Chapter:

1. Proposed or actual names of the Chapter.
2. Mission statement and purpose of the Chapter. This must include references to and be consistent with the purposes of NESA as provided in its Bylaws and other governing documents.
3. Goals of the Chapter.
4. Anticipated or actual activities of the Chapter.
5. Reason for seeking affiliated status with NESA.
6. Names and addresses of petitioners.
7. Statement that all members of the Chapter must also be members of NESA.
8. Statement of the willingness of the Chapter to pay fees necessary for receiving specified services as an affiliate of NESA.
9. Copy of the proposed Articles of Incorporation, Chapter, Bylaws and/or other governing documents of the Chapter as applicable. Sample documents will be provided to the Chapter by NESA upon request by petitioners.

IV. Review of the Petition by the Executive Director and the Membership committee and subsequent acceptance by the Board will be based upon the following:

1. Completeness of the Petition in regard to II above.
2. Petitioners' representative ness of the Chapter for which it is petitioning.

II. Obligations of the Chapter to NESA shall be as follows:

1. To maintain compliance with the Bylaws and other governing documents of NESA and policies which govern the establishment and operation of the Chapters.
2. To avoid liability and financial indebtedness in the name of NESA.
3. To submit for NESA's approval an annual operating plan and budget and annual statements of results of the previous year's plan and budget performance.
4. To submit reports to the Executive Director including program and financial information once a year, for review by the Board.
5. To maintain standards consistent with the standards of NESA.
6. To coordinate Chapter activities so they do not conflict with NESA activities.
7. To notify the Executive Director of planned meetings, programs and activities of the Chapter at least ten (10) business days before the scheduled date.
8. To identify itself as a Chapter of NESA in all of its printed materials, communications and representations.
9. To participate in the revision of guidelines for affiliation as a Chapter as may be required by NESA from time to time.

1. To provide sanction for the Chapter's existence.
2. To provide authorization for the Chapter to use the name NESA for affiliate identification and programs.
3. To notify the Chapter chairperson of all meetings of the Board so that the chairperson may attend at his or her own expense in an observer capacity.
4. To provide support for membership database management, recruitment, and bookkeeping functions of the Chapter for membership records and conference management assistance. (A fee for services rendered may be established by NESA for this support.)
5. To endorse and promote Chapter events and programs.
6. To provide for liaison between the Chapter and the standing committees of NESA through dual appointments as deemed necessary by the Board through agreement of the Chapter chairperson and the Executive Director.
7. To provide technical assistance as may be desired by the Chapter (for example, in organizing as a separate corporation, in developing a public relations program, in establishing a government relations programs and similar activities; a fee for services rendered my be established by NESA for this assistance>)
8. To provide technical assistance as may be desired by the Chapter (for example, in organizing as a separate corporation, in developing a public relations program, in establishing a government relations programs and similar activities; a fee for services rendered may be established by NESA for this assistance).
9. To include the Chapter in the process of revision of guidelines for Chapters as may be desired by NESA from time to time

1. Through joint agreement of the Chapter with the Board.
2. Though action by the Board in the event that the Chapter no longer meets with applicable requirements of the NESA Bylaws and other governing documents, or fails to comply with applicable guidelines promulgated by NESA with respect to Chapter affiliation. Any change in status or revocation of a Chapter's status shall be decided by a two-thirds vote of the Board. A hearing on such a change in status or revocation shall be granted to the Chapter pursuant to such procedures as may be adopted by the Board.