The purpose of this professional association shall be to maintain the standards and ideals, preserve the traditions and uphold the morale, prestige and respect of the Cooperative Extension Service; and to develop an effective working relationship and a spirit of fraternal fellowship among the present and past employees of the Cooperative Extension Service.

Section 1. QUALIFICATIONS. A person who has performed satisfactory service as an Extension professional in the employment of Land-Grant Colleges and/or the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) of the United States Department of Agriculture shall be eligible to membership in the Alpha Rho Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi.

Satisfactory service shall be determined by the Recruitment and Retention committee. The following shall be determined and certified to:

(a) That the candidate has exhibited a cooperative and helpful attitude toward fellow Extension workers.

(b) That the candidate has demonstrated competence in both the field of responsibility and in educational techniques essential to the conduct of an effective Extension program.

(c) That the candidate has completed a total of 60 months (5 year equivalent) on a Cooperative Extension payroll for active membership; however, any employee with less than 60 months service is eligible for associate active membership. Service at Kansas State University, Haskell Indian Nations University, CSREES, or other land grant universities applies.

Section 2. TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP. The membership of the Alpha Rho Chapter shall be divided into three classes:

(a) Active members shall be those staff who are currently or formerly employed as Extension professionals in the Division of Extension, Kansas State University and Haskell Indian Nations University, and who have paid their current membership fees.

(b) Life members shall be those who have retired from the Extension Service and have paid the lifetime membership fee (five times the annual fee).

(c) Associate active membership shall be those Extension professionals with less than 60 months service who have paid their current local Chapter dues.

Section 3. THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION COMMITTEE will consider all matters relating to membership eligibility.

Section 4. MEMBERSHIP RECOMMENDATIONS. Recruitment & Retention Committee shall consult the personnel records to determine eligibility on the basis of tenure and shall issue an official invitation to each of the candidates. Those who respond favorably and pay the necessary membership fees, will become members at the next annual meeting.

Section 5. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP. Major reasons for terminating a membership and removing the member's name from the Current membership roster include:

(a) A member in arrears in dues for six months will have his/her name removed from both the National and local Chapter membership rolls but may be reinstated upon payment of current dues.

(b) Any member of Alpha Rho Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi may, for cause, be expelled from membership by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the members present at any annual meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose.

(c) A member may request transfer to another chapter when he/she has taken a new Extension assignment at a land grant university in another state.

(d) Death

Section 1. PLACE OF BUSINESS. The principal place of business of the Alpha Rho Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi shall be Manhattan, Kansas.

Section 2. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Alpha Rho Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi shall begin on the first day of October and end on the last day of September of the following year.

Section 3. ANNUAL MEETINGS. The annual meetings of the Alpha Rho Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi shall be held at the principal place of business, or at any other place in the State of Kansas which is reasonably accessible to the members of the Alpha Rho Chapter, determined by the executive board. The annual meetings shall be held during Annual Cooperative Extension Conference. The exact date, time and place shall be determined by the executive board.

The officers of this association shall consist of a president, vice-president, secretary, historian, treasurer, and editor, who shall be elected at large and shall also serve as members of the executive board. The officers shall be elected annually at the annual meeting of the Alpha Rho Chapter and shall serve until their successors are elected and qualify.

The Alpha Rho Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi shall be a non-profit corporation.