Berks Area Psychological Society About Us Constitution

Article I: Name

Section 1. The name of this organization is the Berks Area Psychological
Society (BAPS).

Article II: Purpose

Section 1. The purposes of this organization are to advance the profession
and science of psychology; to promote ethical standards of conduct; to
protect and advance the interests and general welfare of its members, and
to establish and maintain helpful, friendly relations.

Section 2. To enable its members to speak with a common voice on
common professional matters.

Section 3. To promote membership in and cooperation with the
Pennsylvania Psychological Association and the American Psychological
Association.

Article III: Membership

Section 1. Members in the Society consist of all Berks Area individuals who
meet the requirements for membership in the Pennsylvania Psychological
Association and who pay their local dues.

Section 2. Dues shall be established at the Annual Fall Business Meeting.

Section 3. Classes of and eligibility for membership and the rights and
prerogatives of each classification of membership are concurrent with
those utilized by the Pennsylvania Psychological Association,

Article IV: Officers

Section 1. The officers of this Society are Past President, President,
President-elect, Secretary, and Treasurer. No person may hold more than
one elected office concurrently. Elected officers serve a term of office of
one year and are a Fellow or a Member in the Society.

Section 2. The Past President offers advice and counsel to the Executive
Committee and to the Society.

Section 3. The President:

a. Presides over meetings of the Executive Committee and the general
membership.

b.Appoints and removes with prior approval of the Executive Committee,
the chairs and members of both standing and ad hoc committees.

c. Is an ex officio member of all committees.

d.Appoints an alternate when a delegate is unable to attend the
Pennsylvania Psychological Association or other professional meetings.

e. Represents the Society either personally or through delegates.

Section 4. The President-elect:

a. Serves as program chair.

b. Serves as ex officio member of all committees except the nominating
committee.

c. In the absence of the President assumes the duties of that office.

d. Serves as liaison representative to related organizations and
community groups unless others are appointed by the President for this
purpose.

e. Serves as public relations officer.

Section 5. The Secretary:

a. Keeps accurate minutes of both the Executive Committee and the
general membership meetings.

b. Maintains official Society files.

c. Assists the President and other officers with Society correspondence
and communications.

Section 6. The Treasurer:

a.Is custodian of the funds of the Society and disburses them upon
authorization of the ExecutiveCommittee.

b. Bills members for their annual dues and collects same.

c. Keeps accurate financial records and up-to-date membership lists.

Section 7. All the officers assume office on 1 July following their election.
The election is held at the Annual Spring Business Meeting.

Section 8. In the case of the death, incapacity, or resignation of the
President-elect, the Secretary, or the Treasurer, the Executive Committee
shall by majority vote elect a successor to serve out the term.

Article V: Executive Committee

Section 1. The Executive Committee consists of the elected officers of the
Society, the chairs of the standing committees, the liaison representative
to the Pennsylvania Psychological Association (if this person is not one of
the above), and ad hoc chairs as appointed by the President to the
Executive Committee.

Section 2. The Executive Committee:

a.Transacts necessary business in the intervals between Society meetings
and such other business as may be referred to it by the Society.

b. Creates standing and ad hoc committees.

c. Approves the plans of work of the standing committees.

d. Presents a report of its actions and plans at the regular meetings of the
Society.

e. Selects an auditor or an auditing committee to audit the Treasurer’s
accounts.

f. Prepares and submits to the Society for adoption a budget for the year.

g. Approves routine bills within the limits of the budget.

Section 3. Regular meetings of the Executive Committee are held during
the year, the time fixed by the committee at its first meeting of the year. A
majority of the Executive Committee members constitutes a quorum.
Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the
President or by a majority of the members of the Committee.

Article VI: Meetings

Section 1. At least four scheduled meetings of this Society are held during
the year. Dates of the meetings are determined by the Executive
Committee and announced at the first meeting of the year.

Section 2. Special meetings of the Society may be called by the President or
by a majority of the Executive Committee.

Section 3. Members are reminded of the meetings two weeks in advance of
each meeting.

Article VII: Quorum

Section 1. A majority of the members is a quorum for the Executive
Committee and other committees.

Section 2. A quorum for the general membership consists of not less than
20 members qualified to vote.

Section 3. In the event that an insufficient number of members attend a
general membership meeting and the quorum, therefore, is not met, the
Executive Committee, after a ten minute delay, is empowered to call an
on-the-spot Executive Committee meeting and act on those items
scheduled for the agenda of the general membership meeting. Any action
taken by the Executive Committee under these circumstances will require
a 2/3 majority vote of the Executive Committee for enactment rather than
the regular simple majority vote. BAPS members who are not members of
the Executive Committee have the right to be heard and to recommend
action to the Executive Committee at this particular type of Executive
Committee meeting.

Article VIII: Standing and Ad Hoc Committees

Section 1. Only members of the Society are eligible to serve in any elective
or appointive positions.

Section 2. The Executive Committee may create such ad hoc committees
as it may deem necessary to promote the purposes and carry on the work
of the Society. (The term of each chair is one year or until appointment
and confirmation of a successor.)

Section 3. The chair of each standing committee presents a plan of work to
the Executive Committee for approval. No committee presents a plan of
work to the Executive Committee for approval. No committee work shall
be undertaken without the consent of the Executive Committee.

Section 4. The President-elect is a member ex officio of all committees
except the nominating committee.

Section 5. The Executive Committee maintains the following standing
committees. (The chair of each of the following standing committees is a
member of the Executive Committee.)

a. Membership Committee:

(1) Contacts and encourages eligible persons to join the Society.
(2) Determines the eligibility of applicants for membership.

b. Legislative and Insurance Committees:

(1) Keeps members informed as to current legislation and current matters
affecting their welfare and that of their clients.
(2) Organizes appropriate lobbying efforts.

c. Social Committee enhances sociability among the members and their
families.

d. Nominating Committee:
(1) Provides a slate of eligible candidates for offices for upcoming elections
and places a person's name on the ballot only with the candidate's
permission.
(2) Informs nominees of their nomination and the duties of the office for
which they have been nominated.

Article IX: Fiscal Year

Section 1. The fiscal year of this Society begins on 1 July and ends on 30
June.

Article X: Amendments

Section 1. This Constitution may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the members
attending any regular meeting of the general membership or a special
meeting of the general membership called for this purpose, provided that
notice of the meetings and proposed amendments have been mailed to
members at least two weeks prior to the meeting.

Approved September 24, 1974, to take effect September 25, 1974.

Amended to take effect April 29, 1987