KANSAS COUNSELING ASSOCIATION BYLAWS
ARTICLE I: NAME AND MISSION
ARTICLE I: SECTION A: NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Kansas Counseling Association
(KCA) which is organized as the Kansas branch of the American
Counseling Association.
ARTICLE I: SECTION B: MISSION
The mission of the Association is to enhance human development
through the lifespan and to promote the counseling profession.
ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
ARTICLE II: SECTION A: INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP
- Membership in KCA shall be by individual.
- A member must pay annual dues and must be a member of at least one region. Additionally, all state, regional, and divisional
members must maintain Kansas branch membership.
ARTICLE II: SECTION B: TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP
- Professional: Professional members must hold a master’s or higher degree in counseling or a related field.
- Regular: Regular members will be those whose interests and activities are consistent with those of the Association but are not
qualified for professional membership. Students and retired individuals who wished to be active in the Association would be
regular members unless they were qualified for professional status. Students and retired members would pay dues of one-half
the regular rate.
ARTICLE II: SECTION C: DUES
- Annual dues shall be assessed on a revolving basis which shall be determined by the anniversary date of initial or renewal
membership. The fiscal year shall extend from July 1 to June 30
- .Changes in dues shall be recommended by the Executive Council. Membership shall be notified of proposed changes prior to
an annual meeting. The proposed dues shall become effective upon approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the members voting.
ARTICLE II: SECTION D: ETHICAL STANDARDS
- Members of the Kansas Counseling Association shall abide by the ethical standards of the American Counseling Association.
ARTICLE III: REGIONAL CHAPTERS
- The Association shall consist of regional chapters, located throughout the state, to serve the convenience of counselors of every
region.
- No regional chapter shall be organized or operated except in accordance with the by-laws of the KCA.
ARTICLE III: SECTION B: FORMATION OF REGIONAL CHAPTERS
- Application for the formation of a regional chapter shall be submitted to the Executive Council of KCA and such approval will also
be sought from the chapters formerly serving that region.
- A group of actively interested members may organize and petition the Executive Council of KCA to be recognized as a regional
chapter.
- The petitioning regional chapter must have a minimum of fifty (50)contiguously situated members and must file an application to
the executive officers of the region or regions affected by such action. Any region having one or more members of the
petitioning group shall constitute an “effected” region. This application shall include by-laws consistent with the by-laws of KCA. It
shall specify the geographical signatures of no less than fifty (50) KCA members and shall present evidence that these members
constitute a 2/3 majority of the KCA members in the designated region.
- Upon fulfillment of the requirements stated in Section B, 3, of this Article, and approval by a minimum of two-thirds (2/3) of the
voting members of the KCA Executive Council, the petitioning group will be accepted as a chapter of KCA.
ARTICLE III: SECTION C: AUTONOMY OF REGIONAL CHAPTERS
A regional chapter shall be autonomous in the conduct of its affairs,
consistent with the by-laws of the Association.
ARTICLE IV: DIVISIONS
ARTICLE IV: SECTION A: AFFILIATED STATE DIVISIONS
- Each division of the American Counseling Association may organize within the boundaries of the state of Kansas as a state
division subject to the by-laws of the ACA.
- A representative of such an organized state division shall be voting members of the KCA Executive Council.
- A report of activities, programs, and projects shall be presented to the Executive Council of KCA at least annually, or at regular
meetings of the council if requested by the president.
- Dues of state divisions shall be determined by that state division and will be incorporated into the regular KCA dues statement.
ARTICLE IV: SECTION B: NATL. DIVISIONS NOT ORGANIZED AS STATE DIVISIONS
- Each division of ACA which does not have an affiliated state divisionbut which has members residing in the state of Kansas shall
have a non-voting representative on the KCA Executive Council.
- The representative to the KCA Executive Council shall be selected by the Kansas members of that national division. If the
members do not select a representative, the president of KCA shall appoint one of their members to serve as their
representative.
- Assistance in the selection of representatives of unchartered state divisions to the national organization will be given by KCA
upon the request of the membership.
ARTICLE IV: SECTION C: MEETINGS, COMMITTEES, COMMUNICATIONS
- Provisions shall be made for all divisional groups to meet at the sametime and place as provided for meetings of the Association
as described in Article VII, Section A and B of these by-laws.
- Committees of KCA and the affiliated state division shall supplement and not duplicate each other.
- Media, communications and publications to KCA members and divisional group members should supplement and not duplicate
each other.
ARTICLE V: INTEREST GROUPS
ARTICLE V: SECTION A: ORGANIZATION
- A group of KCA members sharing a defined sphere of interest may organize as an affiliated interest group. These groups may
be independent of regional boundaries, shall be multi-regional and membership is voluntary.
- An interest group shall define the area of its concern, specify the group to be served, and present in writing the objectives and
procedures of its programs and projects.
- Each interest group shall elect a chairperson who shall provide leadership for the interest group during the year of election and
represent the interest group as a non-voting KCA Executive Council representative. If at any time a division membership falls
below 15,that division would become an interest group. Then, if at any point a division membership would increase to 15, that
division could be reinstated as a part of the KCA Executive Council and have voting privileges as before.
ARTICLE V: SECTION B: ANNUAL REVIEW
At the beginning of each fiscal year, the Executive Council of KCA shall review the status of all interest groups to determine desirability
of continued operation.
ARTICLE V: SECTION C: FUNDS FOR INTEREST GROUPS
- Grants for the operation of interest groups, regions, or divisions must be voted on by the Executive Council or Executive
Committee of KCA Prior to submission.
- Special assessment of the members of an interest group or regular fees for activities sponsored by an interest group shall
receive previous approval from the Executive Council of KCA.
ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS
ARTICLE VI: SECTION A: OFFICERS
- The officers of KCA shall be a president, a president-elect, a secretary, and a treasurer.
- The president and president-elect may not be members of the same regional chapter at the time of election.
- All officers shall be members of KCA and the American Counseling Association.
ARTICLE VI: SECTION B: DUTIES
- The president shall be chief executive officer of the Association, shall call and preside at all meetings of the Executive Council
and shall preside at general meetings of the Association except as provided in paragraph two of this section.
- The president shall appoint all members of committees unless the method is otherwise specified by the KCA Executive Council or
by-laws and, shall hold ex-officio membership on all committees.
- The president shall be empowered to conduct the affairs of the Association as prescribed by the Executive Council or the
Association if not in session.
- The president shall attend the Midwest Leadership conference and ACA annual convention.
- The president will compile all board books for his/her term of office and submit these to the KCA archives for historical
preservation.
- The president elect shall act in place of the president at all Association and Executive Council meetings, which the president is
unable to attend, shall preside and serve as parliamentarian.
- The president elect shall oversee the publishing of the KCA News, work closely with the Membership Chair to ensure ongoing
membership recruitment, work with the Strategic Planning Chair to forward the goals of the organization, and shall serve as
chairperson of the Media Committee (94-95).
- The president elect is responsible for presenting a budget for the following year at the Association annual meeting.
- The president elect shall attend the ACA Midwest Leadership Conference, and, if possible, the ACA annual convention.
- The past president of KCA shall serve as the chairperson on the Nominations and Elections Committee
- .The past president shall be in charge of the Mentoring Program and work in the area of leadership development within the
organization.
- The secretary shall keep the records of the current activities of the Association and its Executive Council, shall issue all notices
of meetings and shall notify the ACA of election of officers and amendments to the by laws.
- The treasurer shall collect and disburse all funds in accordance with the approved budget of the Association and make a
financial report to the Association at its annual business meeting.An auditing committee of three members appointed by the
Executive Council shall audit the records of the treasurer immediately prior to the expiration of his/her term of office. The
treasurer will work closely with the Executive Director to ensure that the Association’s fiscal responsibilities are met.
ARTICLE VI: SECTION C: ELECTION OF OFFICER
- The Nominations and Elections Committee shall consist of the KCA past president as the chair and the past president of each
regional chapter. If the past president cannot serve, the chairperson shall be appointed by the Executive Council. The duties of
this committee shall be to recommend to the Association a slate of candidates for the offices to be filled at the beginning of the
next fiscal year.
- Election of officers shall take place prior to the close of the business meeting in the spring with members of KCA in good standing
participating in the voting. The selection of balloting procedure shall be determined by the Executive Council and shall be one of
the following:
a. By mail if members receive their ballots by at least thirty days prior to the annual business meeting of KCA.
b; By written ballot at the annual spring business meeting of KCA with the members in attendance voting.
In either either case, the nominee receiving the most votes is elected.
ARTICLE VI: SECTION D: TERMS OF OFFICE
1. Officers
a. The president, president elect and president elect-elect shall serve a term of one year and shall not be eligible to
succeed themselves.
b. The secretary and the treasurer shall serve a term of two years and shall not be eligible to succeed themselves.
c. The terms of office shall coincide with the fiscal year(s).
2. Vacancies
Vacancies in the office of president, president elect, secretary and treasurer occurring before the expiration of normal
term of office shall be filled through nomination and election by majority vote of the remaining members of the
Executive Council. Such appointees may succeed themselves in office.
ARTICLE VII: EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
ARTICLE VII: SECTION A: MEMBERSHIP
The voting members of the Executive Council shall be the elected state officers of the Association, the immediate past president of the
Association, the president of each of the KCA regional chapters, a representative of each organized state division, and appointed
committee chairs who have been approved by the Executive Council or designee of any of the above (must be presented in writing).
ARTICLE VII: SECTION B: DUTIES
1. The Executive Council shall conduct the business of the Association.
2. The Executive Council of the Association shall formulate and recommend policies to the Association.
3. The Executive Council shall fill vacancies in the offices of the Association in accordance with Article VI, Section D,
of these by-laws.
4. The Executive Council shall cause to be prepared, approve, and present an annual budget to the members of
the Association for approval at the annual business meeting.
5. Any member of the association may appear before the Executive Council to present individual or Association concerns.
6. Any member of the Association may place an item on the agenda of the Executive Council by delivering a written copy
of said item to the president of the Association at least 15 days prior to a scheduled meeting of the Executive Council.
ARTICLE VII: SECTION C: MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
1. The Executive Council of KCA shall meet:
a. At the time and place of KCA meetings.
b. When called by the president.
c. At the joint request to the president of five voting members of the Executive Council. There shall be a
minimum of three such meetings a year.
2. Members of the Executive Council shall be notified at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the meeting.
3. The duly notified voting members present at an Executive Council meeting called by the president shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VIII: MEETINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE VIII: SECTION A: REGULAR MEETINGS
There shall be a statewide meeting(s) of the Association held each year at the time and place designated by the Executive Council.
ARTICLE VIII: SECTION B: SPECIAL MEETINGS
Special meetings of the Association may be called at any time as requested by the majority vote of the Executive Council or by petition
to the secretary by ten (10) percent of the members of KCA.
ARTICLE VIII: SECTION C: NOTICE OF MEETINGS
Notice of all meetings of the Association shall be mailed to each member at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of such meeting.
ARTICLE VIII: SECTION D: QUORUM
A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of the members of the Association present at any Association meeting to which
written notice was duly given.
ARTICLE IX: COMMITTEES
ARTICLE IX: SECTION A: STANDING COMMITTEES
1. There shall be standing committees of KCA on Membership; Awards;
Public Policy and Legislation; Media; Professional Preparation, Standards and Ethics; Human Rights;
Nominations and Elections; Financial Affairs; Strategic Planning; and Convention Planning.
2. The President shall appoint committee chairpersons and committee members except as noted below:
a. The chairperson of the Financial Affairs Committee shall be the KCA treasurer.
b. The chairperson of the Nominations and Elections Committee shall be the immediate past president and
the members of this committee shall be the president elect of each of the KCA regional chapters.
3. The chairperson of each standing committee shall serve during the fiscal year of the Association.
4. The chairperson of each standing committee shall report to the Executive Council at the request of the president.
ARTICLE IX: SECTION B: SPECIAL COMMITTEES
1. The President shall appoint such special committees as are needed for effectively carrying out the goals and
purposes of the Association.
2. The chairperson of each special committee shall attend the meetings of the Executive Council upon invitation
of the President.
3. The chairperson and members of each special committee shall serve until, in the opinion of the President and the
Executive Council, the purpose of said committees has been accomplished.
ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS AND/OR REVISIONS
ARTICLE X: SECTION A: MEETING PROCEDURES
Except as provided in Section B, below, amendments to or revisions of the by-laws may be acted upon only at a designated business
meeting of the Association. If presented in writing to all members of the Association at least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting
at which it will be submitted for a vote, such an amendment or revision may be adopted by (2/3) vote of the members present. Any
amendments or revisions not present at least thirty (30) days in advance to all members of the Association may be adopted by at least
a four-fifths (4/5) vote of the members present at the general meeting.
ARTICLE X: SECTION B: MAIL PROCEDURES
If in the judgment of the Executive Council, action on a proposed amendment to or revision of the by-laws is desirable before the next
KCA Business Meeting, it may be taken through a mail ballot of the Association. For adoption, amendments to or revision of the by-
laws require two-thirds (2/3) affirmative votes from the members returning ballots within the succeeding thirty (30) days from the date of
mailing the ballots.
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