BYLAWS

BYLAWS
Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Incorporated

Article I – Name

A. The name of this organization shall be the Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Incorporated

Article II – Objectives

A. Encouraging study and research in the fields of speech-language pathology and audiology.

B. Exchanging scientific and professional information among members.

C. Maintaining and promoting high standards of qualifications and ethical practice for professional personnel in Mississippi.

D. Promoting the extension of speech and hearing services in Mississippi.

E. Cooperating with other organizations and agencies to carry out the objectives of the Association.

Article III – Membership

A. Members must hold a graduate degree or undergraduate degree with major emphasis in speech-language pathology, audiology, or related basic sciences, or a graduate degree and evidence of active research, interest, and/or performance in communication disorders.

B. Members agree to abide by the Mississippi Speech – Language – Hearing Association Code of Ethics.

C. Membership may be suspended by the Executive Board for non-payment of dues, or revoked for violations of the Bylaws or Code of Ethics.

D. Members who attained the age of 65 and who have held membership for five consecutive years preceding age 65 may receive Life membership by written request to the Executive Board.

a. Life members shall be exempt from payment of membership dues

Article IV – Dues

A. Membership dues of the Association shall be recommended by the Executive Board and shall be approved by the membership.

B. Membership dues are payable to the Vice-President: Finance on or before the first day of each calendar year.

Article V – Officers

A. The officers of the Association shall be President, President-Elect, Past President, Vice-President: Continuing Education, Vice-President: School Issues, Vice-President: Publications, Vice-President: Healthcare, and Vice-President: Finance.

B. All officers shall be members of the Association.

C. Officers shall be nominated at a business meeting during the Annual Continuing Education Conference

D. Officers shall be elected by majority vote.

a. Voting for officers shall be at least sixty days following the Annual Continuing Education Conference.

E. Officers-elect shall take office the first of January following their election.

F. President

a. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Association and shall preside at all Association business meetings and Executive Board meetings.

b. The President may call business meetings and Executive Board meetings as needed.

c. The President shall serve one year or until a successor is elected.

d. The President shall appoint a Secretary, as needed, for meetings of the Association.

G. President-Elect

a. The President-Elect shall preside at all meetings of the Association in the absence of the President.

b. The President-Elect shall become President in the event of the President’s resignation or inability to serve.

c. The President-Elect shall serve one year.

H. The Vice-President: Continuing Education

a. The Vice-President: Continuing Education shall maintain the Association Continuing Education records.

b. The Vice-President: Continuing Education shall become President if the President-Elect is unable to serve.

c. The Vice-President: Continuing Education shall serve three years or until a successor is elected.

I. Vice-President: School Issues

a. The Vice-President: School Issues shall coordinate all Association committees and activities related to speech-language pathology and audiology services in the schools.

b. The Vice-President: School Issues shall serve three years or until a successor is elected.

c. The Vice-President: School Issues shall serve as an Ex Officio member of Association committees related to speech-language-hearing services in the schools.

J. Vice-President: Healthcare

a. The Vice-President: Healthcare shall serve three years or until a successor is elected.

b. The Vice-President: Healthcare shall coordinate all Association committees related to Healthcare.

K. Vice-President: Finance

a. The Vice-President: Finance shall be responsible for the collection and maintenance of Association funds.

b. The Vice-President: Finance shall be authorized to draw funds and make disbursements based upon the budget approved by the Executive Board.

c. The Vice-President: Finance shall submit a proposed budget to the Executive Board prior to the final Executive Board meeting of each calendar year.

d. The Vice-President: Finance shall serve three years or until a successor is elected.

L. Vice-President: Publications

a. The Vice-President: Publications shall be responsible for the publications of the Association.

b. The Vice-President: Publications shall serve three years or until a successor is elected.

M. Past President

a. The Past President shall serve as Chair of the Nominations Committee, as advisor to the President, and in other capacities as assigned by the President.

b. The Past President shall serve one year.

N. Vacancies in Offices

a. In the event of removal, resignation, or other event that causes a vacancy in an elected office, the President may appoint to that office the candidate who received the next highest membership vote for the office.

i. If there were no other candidate, the President may appoint any qualified member, with the approval of the Executive Board.

O. Removal from Office

a. Officers may be removed from office by a 2/3 vote of the remaining members of the Executive Board, when the Board has documented any of the following:

i. The officer does not or cannot perform duties.

ii. The officer, through spoken or written words, actions, or abuse thereof brings discredit to the Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association and/or the profession.

iii. The officer resigns, or becomes physically incapacitated.

b. Documentation shall consist of notes, records, exchange of letters or other such material which demonstrates that the officer did not perform duties; was provided with constructive criticism and an opportunity to improve performance; and subsequent similar evidence that improvement was not demonstrated.

Article VI – Executive Board

A. The officers of the Association shall comprise the Executive Board.

B. The officers shall be authorized to conduct the business of the Association, to make decisions, and to make expenditures

C. The Executive Board shall meet quarterly and at other times as called by the President.

D. A quorum for Executive Board meetings shall be 2/3 of the Executive Board sitting members.

E. The Executive Board shall maintain a procedures manual.

Article VII – Meetings

A. There shall be a business meeting during the Annual Continuing Education Conference.

a. The President shall set the time and place for the meeting.

b. Additional business meetings may be called by the President with majority consent of the Executive Board.

c. A business meeting quorum shall consist of the members present.

Article VIII – Committees

A. Standing Committees of the Association

a. Standing Committees of the Association shall be: Nominations, Honors, and Conference.

b. Standing Committees of the Association shall be appointed by the President with approval of the Executive Board.

Article IX – Parliamentary Authority

A. The Parliamentary authority for meetings of the Association and Board shall be the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.

B. The President shall appoint a Parliamentarian for each meeting of the Association.

Article X – Amendments

A. Amendments may be proposed by a member of the Association

B. Amendments must be submitted in writing to the Executive Board thirty days prior to the business meeting held during the Annual Continuing Education Conference.

C. Amendments approved by the Executive Board shall be submitted to the membership.

D. Proposed amendments must be published at least one month prior to the Business Meeting held during the Annual Continuing Education Conference.

E. Adoption of amendments shall be by 2/3 affirmative vote of the membership ballots cast in an election that is held at least 60 days following the Annual Continuing Education Conference.

Article XI – Code of Ethics

A. The Code of Ethics adopted by the Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association shall be the current American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) Code of Ethics

Article XII – Nondiscrimination Statement

The Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association shall not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, age, gender, or handicapping condition.

Approved June 2009

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