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AAMFT-CA Bylaws Bylaws for the California Division of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Revised May 2005 ARTICLE I. Name, Organizational Structure and RelationshipSection 1. The name of this organization shall be the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy-California Division - A Division of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (hereinafter referred to as the AAMFT-CA). Section 2. This Division is responsible to the duly elected Officers and Board of Directors of the AAMFT and all rules and orders lawfully made thereunder. Section 3. The bylaws of this Division shall be consistent with those of the AAMFT and shall be approved by the AAMFT before formal adoption by the Division. ARTICLE II. PurposesThe purposes for which this Division is formed are as follows: (A) To promote the common professional interests of those who are marital and family therapists. (B) To fulfill other purposes stated in the AAMFT bylaws as those purposes may be pursued appropriately at the Divisional level. Section 2. The purposes include these specific objectives: (A) To engage in continuing education activities for the benefit of its members and the public. (B) To represent marriage and family therapy as a mental health profession to the public and before government bodies. (C) To cooperate with other organizations and agencies in furtherance of the marriage and family therapy profession. ARTICLE III. MembershipSection 1. The membership of the Association shall be divided into two (2) categories: A) Voting Members. The voting membership shall be composed of Clinical Members. B) Non-voting Members. The non-voting membership shall be composed of Student Members, Associate Members, and Affiliate Members. Section 2. Members of this Division shall consist of the members of the AAMFT in good standing and maintaining an address within the boundaries of the State of California on record in AAMFT’s central office. Section 3. Members shall be governed by and abide by the bylaws of the AAMFT and by the bylaws of the Division and all rules and orders lawfully made thereunder. Section 4. All members shall pay both their AAMFT and their divisional dues. Section 5. Any Clinical Member shall be entitled to attend regular meetings of AAMFT-CA, to vote, and to hold office. Non-Clinical Members shall be entitled to attend meetings but not to vote nor hold office, except as otherwise provided for by these bylaws. ARTICLE IV. OfficersSection 1. The Officers of the Association shall be a President, a President-Elect, a Secretary, a Treasurer and a Past President. The officers must be clinical members of AAMFT. Section 2. The President shall serve a term of two (2) years, following a term of two (2) years as President-Elect. The President shall be the Chief Officer of the Division and of the Board and shall perform such duties as are customary for presiding officers, including making all required appointments with the approval of the Board. Section 3. The President-Elect shall serve a term of two (2) years, succeeding to the office of President upon completion of that term. The President-Elect shall serve as Presiding Officer of the Division and Board during the absence of the President. Section 4. The Secretary shall serve a term of three (3) years. The Secretary shall keep the records of all business meetings of the Division and meetings of the Board, shall direct the distribution of minutes and reports as authorized by these bylaws and by the Board. Section 5. The Treasurer shall serve a term of three (3) years. The Treasurer shall oversee the management of funds for duly authorized purposes of the Division, shall oversee preparation of the annual budget, and shall present periodic financial reports to the Board and an Annual report to the membership and the AAMFT. The fiscal year of the Division shall begin on January 1. The secretary and treasurer’s terms shall be staggered. Section 6. The Past President shall serve a term of one (1) year immediately following completion of a term of office as President. Section 7. Divisional Officers shall be assumed to have resigned from office at such time as they move outside the Divisional geographic boundaries. If any Officer ceases to be in good standing by reason of nonpayment of dues, or fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the Board, or otherwise is disqualified from AAMFT membership, the Board shall declare his/her office to be vacant. Section 8. If any office, other than President or President-Elect becomes vacant, the Board may appoint a successor to fill the office. In the event that the President is unable to complete the current term of office, the President-Elect shall assume the presidential duties and office, and a special election shall be called to elect a new President-Elect through a mail ballot by the voting membership. In the event that the President-Elect is unable to complete the current term of office, a special election shall be called to elect a successor through ballot by the voting membership. In any event, the term of the presidency shall not be for less than two (2) years nor more than three (3) years. ARTICLE V. Board of DirectorsSSection 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the Officers, three (3) Directors and a Student Representative and an Associate Representative, all members of the AAMFT who are in good standing. The directors and the Associate Representative shall serve three (3) year terms, staggered to ensure limited replacements each year The Student Representative shall serve a two (2) year term. Section 2. The Board shall exercise all powers of the Division, except as specifically prohibited by these bylaws and the AAMFT Bylaws. The Board shall be authorized to adopt and publish such policies, procedures, and rules as may be necessary and consistent with these bylaws and AAMFT bylaws, and to exercise authority over all Divisional business and funds. Section 3. The Board shall meet at the call of the President and at least once each year, or at the written request of at least three (3) members of the Board directed to the Secretary. A quorum shall consist of no less than one-half of the membership of the Board at any given time. A majority of board members making the quorum must be clinical members. Each member shall be entitled to one (1) vote and may take part and vote in person only. The meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts' Rules of Order, revised. Section 4. If a position becomes vacant, the position may remain vacant or the Board may appoint a successor to serve the remainder of the unexpired term, except that vacancies in the offices of the President and President-Elect shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of Article IV, Section 8. ARTICLE VI. CommitteesSection 1. Committee types shall include a standing committee, on-going board committees, task forces, and ad hoc committees. The Elections Committee shall be a standing committee elected by the membership. Ongoing Board Committees appointed by the Board include Performance Evaluation and Contract committees. Task Forces shall be charged by the President to a specific, time limited function, and may be composed of Board members and active members. Ad Hoc committees are larger task forces charged by the President to develop policies that require expertise and input beyond the purview of the Board or Staff alone. Ad hoc committees may be comprised of staff, active members, and relevant public members. The committees are responsible to the Board. Section 2. Members of the Elections Committee shall be elected by ballot by the voting membership of the Division. The Elections Committee shall consist of 6 members and shall serve a term of three (3) years, staggered so that two (2) members shall be replaced each year. The term of office shall begin on January 1 of the year following appointment, except when an appointment is made to fill a vacancy. The members of the Elections Committee shall select a Chair. Section 3. The Elections Committee shall prepare a slate of nominees for all elected positions, and shall oversee the elections as provided in these bylaws and in the Governing Policies adopted by the Board. Section 4. The Performance Evaluation Committee (PEC) shall be appointed by the President. The PEC is responsible for facilitating the review of the Strategic Plan and evaluating the Executive Director and Board Processes in accordance with the procedures defined in the Governing Policies adopted by the Board. Section 5. The Contract Committee shall be composed of the President, President-Elect, and Treasurer. The Contract Committee receives the report from the PEC regarding the performance of the Executive Director, and uses this evaluation as a basis for determining the Executive Director’s contract. Section 6. The President may charge task forces and ad hoc committees as needed. ARTICLE VII. Local DistrictsLocal districts of the Division may be formed at the discretion of the Board, providing that such districts conform to AAMFT and Divisional bylaws and policies with regard to membership, voting, holding office, serving on committees, and related matters. ARTICLE VIII, Meetings of the MembershipSection 1. The annual meeting of the membership shall be held at a date and location to be determined by the Board. Section 2. Special meetings of the membership may be called by the President or a majority of the Board. Section 3. Notice of all annual and special meetings shall be sent by the Board of Directors to all voting members of the Division at least 45 days in advance of the meeting. Action at such meetings shall be limited to those agenda items contained in the notice of the meeting. Section 4. A quorum at all annual and special meetings of the Division shall be ten (10) percent of the voting membership of the Division, present in person at the meeting, not including the Officers and Directors. No proxies shall be permitted. Section 5. All meetings shall be conducted according to Roberts' Rules of Order, revised. ARTICLE IX. Nominations and ElectionsSection1. The nomination and election of all elected positions shall be conducted annually. All voting members of the Division shall have the right to vote in the election which shall be conducted by ballot. However, only Student and Associate Members shall have the right to vote in the election for the Student-Associate Representative to the Board. Discrimination in election and nomination procedures on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, age or sexual orientation is forbidden. Candidates who are elected shall assume office on the first day of January following their election and shall hold office for the tenure of their office, or until their successors have been elected and qualified. Elections shall be completed in October. Section 2. The Elections Committee shall prepare a slate containing at least two nominees for each position and shall determine the eligibility and willingness of each nominee to stand for election. Write-in voting shall be allowed, provided the write-in candidates are eligible for election and have agreed to serve if elected. The candidate who receives the greatest number of votes for each office shall be elected. Ballots shall be counted by the Board or by tellers designated by the Board. ARTICLE X. DisciplineCharges against a member or officer, except for nonpayment of dues, shall me made in accordance with procedures set forth in the Procedures for Handling Ethical Matters of the AAMFT. ARTICLE XI. DuesSection 1. Dues for the Division shall be established by majority vote of the Division's board of directors, under policies and procedures established by the AAMFT Board, except in such instances where the proposed increase is greater than ten (10) percent of the previous year's dues. In that event, dues shall be set by a majority of voting members within the Division voting by ballot under procedures established by the Board. Existing dues shall remain in force until they are changed by voting procedures as described in this section. Section 2. All dues billings, dues collections and dues disbursements shall be performed by AAMFT. Section 3. When members fail to pay annual dues, their names shall be removed from the list of members of the AAMFT-CA division upon notification by mail from the AAMFT. Section 4. The fiscal year of the AAMFT-CA Division shall begin January 1. ARTICLE XI. AmendmentsThese bylaws may be amended or repealed by a two-thirds vote of the voting members voting by ballot returned within thirty (30) days of the date by which members can reasonably be presumed to have received the ballot. Amendments may be proposed by the Board on its own initiative, or upon petition by five (5) percent of the voting members addressed to the Board. All such proposed amendments shall be presented by the Board to the membership with or without recommendation. September 2005 revision |
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