Article I – Name
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Incorporated
Article II – Objectives
The objectives of this organization shall be:
A. Promote quality services to individuals with speech, language, or hearing disorders,
B. Encourage study and research in communication disorders and related basic sciences,
C. Promote the exchange of scientific and professional information, and to disseminate such information
D. Promote and maintain high standards of qualifications and ethical practices for professional growth,
E. Promote the investigation and prevention of communicative disorders and to extend speech, hearing, and language services in this state,
F. Advocate the rights of persons with communicative disorders and promote the individual and collective professional interests of the Association,
G. Promote appropriate academic and clinical preparation of individuals entering the discipline of human communication sciences and disorders and promote the maintenance of current knowledge and skills of those within the discipline
H. Foster improvement of clinical services and procedures concerning human communication disorders
I. Cooperate with persons, other organizations and agencies to carry out the above purposes.
Article III – Membership
Section 1. The membership of this Association shall consist of three levels: Full, Associate, and Student.
Section 1. There shall be four categories of Association membership: Full member, Associate member, Student member, and Life member.
Section 2. Full members must hold a graduate degree with major emphasis in communicative disorders or related basic sciences or a graduate degree and present evidence of active research, interest, and performance in the field of human communication. Full members are voting members of the Association.
Section 3. Associate members must hold at least a Bachelor’s degree in communicative
disorders or related basic sciences and may not vote or hold office.
Section 4. Student members must be degree seeking candidates enrolled in speech/language and/or audiology and may not vote or hold office.
Section 5. Members must agree to abide by the Code of Ethics of the Mississippi Speech-
Language-Hearing Association.
Section 6. Membership may be suspended by the Executive Board for non-payment of dues, or revoked for proven violations of the Bylaws or Code of Ethics after observation of due process.
Section 7. Any Full member who has attained the age of 65 and who has held membership for 5 consecutive years immediately prior to attaining age 65 may apply for and automatically receive Honorary Life Status through a letter of request to the Executive Board . Honorary Life Status shall be exempt from membership dues and hold no voting privilege, therefore cannot be considered a member of the association. However, Conference registration fee shall remain at the same rate as FULL members.Section 7. Full members who have attained the age of 65 and who have held membership for five consecutive years immediately prior to attaining age 65 shall be eligible to request Life membership.
A. Full members eligible for Life membership shall be granted Life membership by the Executive Board upon submission of a letter of request to the Executive Board for Life membership.
(1.) Life membership dues shall be one-third of the amount for Full membership per year.
(2.) Life membership shall be effective January 1 of the next calendar year.
(3.) Registration fees (early registration and on-site registration) for the Annual Continuing Education Conference with no CEU credit shall be one-half the Full member fee.
(4.) Registration fees (early registration and on-site registration) for the Annual Continuing Education Conference with CEU credit shall be Full member fee.
B. Life members may vote and hold Executive Board office
Article IV – Dues
Section 1. The dues of the Association shall be recommended by the Executive Board and shall be approved by the voting members.
Section 2. Dues are payable to the Association Treasurer on or before the first day of each calendar year.
Article V – Officers
Section 1. The officers of the Association shall be President, President-Elect, Past President, Vice-President: Continuing Education, Vice-President: School Issues, Vice-President: Publications, Secretary, and Treasurer.
A. All officers shall be Full members of the Association.
A. Officers shall be Full or Life members of the Association.
Section 2. The officers shall be elected by ballot thirty days following their nomination at a business meeting held during the Annual Continuing Education Conference.
A. Their office shall begin the first of January following their election.
Section 3. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Association and shall preside at all business meetings of the Association and the Executive Board.
A. The President may call special meetings of the Association, the Executive Board, or any committee.
B. The President shall serve for one year or until a successor is elected.
Section 4. The President-Elect shall preside at all meetings of the Association and the Executive Board in the absence of the President.
A. The President-Elect shall become President in the event of the President’s resignation or inability to serve.
B. The President-Elect shall serve for one year.
Section 5. The Vice-President: Continuing Education shall maintain the Association Continuing Education records.
A. The Vice-President: Continuing Education shall become President if the President-Elect is unable to serve.
B. The Vice-President: Continuing Education shall serve for three years or until a successor is elected.
Section 6. The Vice-President: School Issues shall coordinate all Association committees and activities related to speech-language pathology and audiology services in the schools.
A. The Vice-President: School Issues shall serve for three years or until a successor is elected.
B. The Vice-President: School Issues shall serve as an Ex Officio member of Association committees related to speech-language-hearing services in the schools.
Section 7. The Secretary shall be responsible for the creation, maintenance, and publication of Business Meeting and Executive Board minutes.
A. The Secretary shall maintain the archives of the Association.
B. The Secretary shall serve for two years or until a successor is elected.
Section 8. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection and maintenance of Association funds.
A. The Treasurer shall be authorized to draw funds and make disbursements approved by the Executive Board.
B. The Treasurer’s accounts shall be subject to audit as required by the Executive Board
C. The Treasurer shall submit a proposed budget at the Executive Board meeting prior to the beginning of each fiscal year.
D. The Treasurer shall serve for two years or until a successor is elected.
Section 9. The Vice-President: Publications shall be responsible for the publications of the Association.
A. The Vice-President: Publications shall serve for three years or until a successor is elected.
Section 10. The Past President shall serve as Chair of the Nominations Committee, as advisor to the President, and other capacities as requested by the President.
Section 11. 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.
A. If there were no other candidate, the President may appoint any qualified member, with the approval of the Executive Board.
Section 12. Officers elected to any office may be removed by at least a four-to-one vote of the remaining members of the Executive Board, when the Board has documented any of the following:
A. The officer does not or can not perform duties.
B. The officer, through spoken or written words, actions, or abuse thereof brings discredit to the Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association and/or the profession.
C. The officer resigns, or becomes physically incapacitated.
D. 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
Section 1. The officers of the Association shall comprise the Executive Board. ASHA
Legislative Councilor(s) who are members of the Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association sit as ex-officio member(s) on the Executive Board.
Section 2. The officers shall be authorized to conduct the business of the Association, to make decisions, and to make expenditures, except where reserved to the Membership by the Bylaws.
Section 3. The Executive Board shall meet quarterly and at other times as called by the President.
Section 4. A quorum for the Executive Board shall be 2/3 of the voting members.
Section 5. The Executive Board shall maintain a Procedures Manual, which is a detailed guide of the operation of the Association.
Article VII – Meetings
Section 1. There shall be a business meeting during the Annual Continuing Education Conference each year.
A. The Executive Board shall vote to determine the exact time and place for the meeting.
B. Additional business meetings may be called by the President with majority consent of the Executive Board.
C. At any business meeting, a quorum shall consist of the Full members present.
Section 2. At the business meeting held during the Annual Continuing Education Conference, the membership shall vote on names to be submitted for each vacancy on the Mississippi Council of Advisors in Speech Pathology and Audiology, in accordance with the Mississippi Code 78-38-11.
Article VIII – Committees
Section 1. The Standing Committees of the Association to be chaired by Executive Board
members shall be: Nominations, Honors and Conference.
A. The Committee on Nominations shall recommend nominees to the membership at least one month prior to the Business Meeting held during the Annual Continuing Education Conference.
B. Additional nominations may be made from the floor during the Business Meeting held at the Annual Continuing Education Conference.
C. No person may be nominated who has not agreed to serve.
Section 4. The duties of the committees shall be described in the Procedures Manual.
Article IX – Parliamentary Authority
The Parliamentary authority for meetings of the Association and Board shall be the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.
Article X – Amendments
These Bylaws may be amended under the following procedures:
A. Amendments may be proposed by any Full Member
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. Amendments approved by the Executive Board will be submitted to the membership.
C. Proposed amendments not endorsed by the Executive Board shall be submitted to the
membership after bring signed by twenty-five (25) Full Members.
D. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the membership in the publication(s) of the Association, at least one month prior to the Business Meeting held during the Annual Continuing Education Conference.
Article XI – Code of Ethics
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, sexual orientation, or handicapping condition. All programs and activities of the Mississippi Speech-Language-Hearing Association shall be conducted in furtherance of this policy.
Approved March, 2007
Proposed changes, March 2008