community membership

Join Us.

Why you should join ESA

ESA brings something new to your life. Learn and grow from new experiences. Meet new people who will quickly become lifelong friends. Discover a new purpose and the ability to make a difference in the lives of others, as well as your own.

As a member of ESA you will be empowered to create positive impacts on a local, national, and international level, while achieving personal growth. Best of all, you will find an organization where you truly belong and the opportunity to become your very best.

Discover how to become an effective leader.

As a member of ESA, you will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills by motivating fellow members to make lasting impacts on our world. The leadership experience and confidence you develop will carry you through a lifetime of personal and professional successes.

Members have ample opportunities for leadership development. Within chapters, members gain formal and informal hands-on leadership experience by assuming officer roles, chairing committees, and handling special projects. Members can also hold positions on state and international levels. Plus, ESA regularly offers special seminars and educational programs, annual leadership conferences, and leadership training.

Through the ESA Pallas Athene program – a leadership and recognition program – you will receive step-by-step guidance to help you earn the coveted Certified Volunteer of America designation.

ESA promises to support you with the guidance, education, and assistance you need to ensure your community service projects are successful. Advisors, councils, and ESA staff are always available to help, and the expansive network of ESA members serves as a valuable resource, as well as a community of true friends.

“The leadership skills, program development ideas, and self-confidence that I have developed through ESA have been instrumental in my life.”

- Vicky, Kentucky

Turn strangers into lifelong friends.

ESA brings together individuals of all different backgrounds who have one thing in common: the interest and desire to make a difference. As members work together on community service projects in an atmosphere of mutual support and companionship, long-lasting and meaningful bonds are formed. It is through this strong personal network that you will find lifelong friends and a true support system that you can count on throughout your entire life.

Membership in ESA provides a variety of fun, educational, and exciting social opportunities. Through parties, conventions, travel and cultural outings, you will have the chance to extend your ESA circle of friendships as you meet members from around the world.

Additionally, as membership in ESA is completely flexible, you can join as a member of a chapter, an individual member, or as a family. ESA embraces people of all ages and encourages them to enjoy taking an active role in programs, projects and fun.

“What do I love about ESA? Everything! The best thing about ESA is all the fabulous people I have met.”

– Janene, Kansas

Make a lasting difference.

Members of ESA contribute an immeasurable level of service benefiting people around the world. Joining ESA provides you with the opportunity to participate in hands-on projects to support and raise money for local, national, and international charities. Every year, ESA members participate in more than 850,000 hours of direct service and raise $15 million in cash and pledges for charitable causes including St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Every member of ESA has different interests and passions. We empower you to pursue the causes that matter to you. Each member and chapter determines their own goals and interests, decides how much time and resources to allocate, and picks the service projects that matter to them.

As part of an international service organization, you have all the necessary resources to implement successful community service projects – whether they are for national organizations or local nonprofits that benefit your community. Every effort makes a difference.

“ESA is a community service organization, not only for your community, but also for the communities of the world."

- Sarah, Louisiana

Make your resume shine.

In today's competitive job market, networking, references, and credentials are essential. Through membership in ESA, you can gain the training, support, and knowledge you need to develop greater self-confidence and the ability to positively impact the world.

As an ESA member, you will build an exceptional resume by gaining valuable hands-on work experience, forming key networking contacts and lasting friendships, and helping others in need. Through fundraising and community service activities, you will learn the ins and outs of event planning, public relations, management, and much more.

ESA members strive to make a difference, and in return, are rewarded with career references, credentials, and networking opportunities, not to mention the feeling of accomplishment that comes from helping others. With all the opportunities ESA offers, you can build a resume that will help you truly stand out and catch the attention of potential employers.

“I was in management when I retired, but it was really through ESA that I began to further develop leadership skills and found myself surrounded by a whole bunch of new friends.”

- Flora, South Carolina

Make ESA a long-term part of your life.

Community membership in ESA is completely flexible. You can participate as much as you can, when you can. Regardless of your role, you can trust that ESA will continue to make a difference in your life and the lives of others.

Whether you join a formalized chapter or simply remain an individual member, you receive the benefits you’ve enjoyed since you first joined – service, association, and education.

Looking for a job? Tap into your ESA network for help.
Moving to a new city? Look up and connect with other ESA members in the same location. They can help you learn the ins and outs of your new home – and offer much needed and welcoming support.
Hoping to broaden your skills? Take on leadership roles in service projects and chapters or participate in other elements of ESA, such as dynamic online interest groups and projects, International Council, and ESA Foundation.
Wanting to make an even bigger impact? Continue participating in the service projects you feel passionate about – whether they are for local good causes or national charities.

“ESA has had a huge impact on my life and the lives of my family members. I am part of a three-generation ESA family. My ESA experiences have helped me personally as well as in my career.”

- Bobbie, New Mexico

Get involved and positively impact others – and yourself.

Men and women join ESA for lots of different reasons, and they come from all walks of life. But as members, they’ve formed a common bond around the desire to make a difference in the world around them. ESA is an international leadership and service organization that offers you the freedom and flexibility to get involved on your terms. Regardless of whether you join ESA as a member of a chapter or as an individual member, you will enjoy good friends, good works, and good times on your path to becoming your best self.

Individual community membership opportunities

ESA shares the belief that one person can make a difference, and our members live that belief every day. If individual membership in ESA is the best fit for your schedule, be assured ESA’s volunteer options, awards programs, and self-development opportunities will provide you – as an individual member – meaningful ways to give your talents, achieve personal growth, and become your best self.

For a more connected experience, you may join an ESA online networking group related to a topic that interests you, support a community service project happening in your area, attend state and national conferences, and connect via the web with other members across the country to share friendship and good ideas.

"I really love this organization. It represents a lot of good things. As one person, it’s overwhelming to figure out what to do, but as a part of ESA, I feel like I can really make a difference.”

– Kim, Texas

Bring the good works and good times of ESA to your community.

ESA lets you connect with others who share your passion for bettering your community, strive to become your best self through new experiences and leadership opportunities, and develop a life rich with true friends and a special support system you can always count on.

Whether you already have a group of friends in mind to become your new ESA chapter or you’re hoping to meet new friends by utilizing the support of ESA to help you start a group, you can begin your journey with ESA today. To create an ESA chapter tailored to your schedule and interests, contact ESA Headquarters at 970.223.2824.

“I saw the role my mother’s chapter friends played in her life, and I knew I wanted that in my life, too. So I joined ESA and started a chapter with my own friends. It’s been a hugely rewarding experience.”

– Marcia,
North Carolina

Frequently asked questions about ESA membership

Founded in 1929, ESA is a powerful network of people who, as individuals or members of ESA’s nearly 800 local chapters throughout the U.S. and Australia, donate nearly 850,000 volunteer hours and raise more than $15 million annually in cash and pledges for worthy causes.

Who can join ESA?
Anyone at least 18 years of age may join ESA as a community member. College and university students have the option to join ESA through our collegiate program.

Do I have to live in the U.S. or Australia?
Anyone throughout the world is welcome to join ESA as an individual member or as part of an ESA chapter.

How many hours must I commit?
There is really no average number of hours an individual must commit. Each person decides how much time and/or resources they can give. Most ESA chapters meet bi-weekly or monthly, and each chapter determines its membership participation guidelines, meeting times and dates, as well as the scope and schedule of activities of interest to them. Individual members participate to the level that works best for their own schedule and goals.

What recognition do ESA members receive?
ESA recognizes achievements of members as individuals as well as chapter groups. Awards for excellence in educational development, charitable fundraising, hands-on volunteerism, scholarship, and ESA promotion are available. Many members have received civic honors, employment credit, and letters of recommendation for their ESA training and accomplishments. Members who complete ESA’s Pallas Athene program at the highest level receive official designation as Certified Volunteers of America.

How can I develop leadership skills and my resume through ESA?
By participating in ESA projects, you will gain formal and informal hands-on leadership experience. Assume an officer role or chair a committee in a chapter setting; or lead family, friends, and fellow citizens in a project to support a cause in your community. You’ll gain valuable and marketable experience in communications, public relations, human resources, public speaking, budgeting and financial management, and more.

Who does ESA help?
ESA’s largest national project is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN. Since ESA began supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in 1972, members have raised more than $150 million in cash and pledges for the hospital. In addition, ESA members often work together through ESA state councils on state-level projects. Individual chapters and members support a rich variety of causes such as animal shelters, food pantries, international poverty and disaster relief, military spouses and families, and the elderly. The opportunity to choose your own causes is one of the best aspects of ESA membership.

Does ESA have conferences and conventions?
ESA has an annual convention in July hosted by the ESA International Council, and there are five regional council events annually. ESA’s national leadership conference is held each February in Denver, Colorado, and is open to all members.

How much does it cost to join?
Annual dues and fees for first-year members are $79; every year thereafter, annual dues are $59 ($55 for members ages 65 and over).

What is included in ESA membership fees?
First-year members receive their ESA lamp pin and jewel pin, ESA-printed training materials, a subscription to ESA’s semi-annual Journey magazine, access to the members-only section of the website including networking circles and project resources, use of the ESA name and credentials for your resume, and the opportunity to enroll in ESA awards and recognition programs.

Who can I contact if I still have questions?
Send an e-mail to membership@epsilonsigmaalpha.org or call 970.223.2824 ext.104.