Mission:

The opportunity to become a charter member of an organization that aligns with your professional interests is a rare occurrence. 

With the dissolution of the Minnesota Community and Natural Resources Association and the establishment of two new organizations – each aligning with a National Extension Association, you now have the opportunity to join a group of colleagues focused on Community Development of Leadership Education.  We urge you, your Extension colleagues, as well as community affiliates and students to join in becoming charter members of MACLEP. 

It is easy to join.  The application form is on the MAEE website (insert link).  Annual MACLEP dues are only $20.00.  For those who are eligible you are also encouraged to join the Minnesota Association of Extension Educators (MAEE) of which MACLEP is a partner section.

1. Advancing the professional status of community and leadership education professionals by:

• Encouraging professional self-improvement
• Recognizing quality professional accomplishments through awards
• Providing individual scholarships to support professional development

2. Fostering an exchange of ideas between community development and leadership professionals, governmental agencies, private community development groups and related organizations.
 
3. Representing Minnesota community and leadership education and Extension professionals regarding issues, needs and opportunities of mutual interest, within the University and in the community.

4. Providing support for and promoting activities and programs at the state level that advance community and leadership development, education, training, and diversity in the work force.

You are encouraged to become a charter member of the Minnesota Association of Community and Leadership Education Professionals (MACLEP).  The MACLEP Constitution and Bylaws outline four membership categories:

1)Active. Active Members are currently employed as extension professionals with at least a 25% extension appointment with responsibilities or strong interests in community and leadership development.

2)Life. Life Members must have retired from the Cooperative Extension Service having held an appointment and/or had responsibilities in community and leadership development. 

3)Affiliate. Affiliate Members are not employed by Cooperative Extension Service but have an interest in community development education, outreach or research.

4)Student. Student members are graduate or undergraduate students interested in exploring community and/or leadership development as a potential career.

All Active, Life and Affiliate members have full voting rights, responsibilities and privileges.

The organizational objectives of MACLEP (as outlined in Article II of the MACLEP Constitution and Bylaws) include:

• To represent the Minnesota community and leadership education extension professionals regarding issues, needs and opportunities of mutual interest.
• To discuss, develop, sponsor, and promote educational and training programs and activities that advance sound community and leadership development practices.
• To promote the importance of community and leadership development through education, advocacy, and coordination within the land grant system.
• To foster partnerships between governmental agencies, private community development groups, related organizations and other community development and leadership professionals.
• To provide support for and promote activities and programs at the state level that advance community and leadership development, education, training, and diversity in the work force.
• To advance the professional status of community and leadership education professionals by encouraging professional self-improvement.
• To strengthen communication with Extension administration.
• Facilitate cooperation among members with federal and other state agencies, and with industry and others in the planning, financing and performance of Extension and education related activities.
• To encourage and support the selection of members with standing, and ad hoc committee members of the National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) and other regional and national associations in developing and conducting cooperative regional educational initiatives.
• To organize exclusively for educational and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501c3 of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code