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BYLAWS
of the
MONTEREY BAY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE I.  NAME

This organization shall be known as the Monterey Bay Psychological Association, hereafter referred to in these Bylaws as MBPA.  MBPA is a chapter of the California Psychological Association (CPA).
ARTICLE II.  PURPOSE

The purpose of MBPA shall be to promote the psychological well-being of residents in the Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Bonito counties.  It shall also provide a local forum and an organizational structure to advance psychology as a science and as a profession In the Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties.  MBPA shall require its members to maintain high standards of education, competence, professional ethics, and conduct.  MBPA shall promote its members’ professional growth through continuing education programs, meetings, forums for professional Interaction, and publications.  Nothing in these Bylaws shall conflict with the purposes and positions of CPA.

ARTICLE III.  MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Classes of Membership

MBPA shall consist of six (6) classes of membership: (1) Full members, (2) Associate members, (3) Affiliate members, (4) Honorary members, (5) Student members, (6) Out-of-county members, and (7) Life members.

Note: In this and following sections, any mention of academic degree shall refer to a degree obtained from a school accredited by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation or its equivalent or from a school approved under the appropriate provisions of the California Education Code or an equivalent at the discretion of the Board of Psychology of the State of California.

Note: Membership in MBPA Is not necessarily to be construed as evidence of qualification or competence to practice psychology.

Note: A person shall enter membership on the highest level for which that person is qualified except for full-time pre-doctoral students enrolled in a graduate psychological program, who may join as Student Members.

Section 2: Full Membership

Full Members shall consist of those persons who hold (1) a Doctorate in psychology, or (2) a license as a psychologist or an Educational Psychologist in the State of California, or (3) a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology.  Full Members shall have all the rights and privileges of MBPA membership including the right to vote, hold office, and serve on the Board of Directors.

Section 3: Associate Membership

Associate Members shall consist of those persons who hold a Masters degree in psychology or equivalent.  Associate Members approved for membership after January 1, 1990 shall have all the rights and privileges of MBPA membership including the right to vote, but excluding the right to hold office or serve on the Board of Directors.

Section 4: Affiliate Membership

Affiliate Members shall consist of several subclasses of individuals or groups with an interest in psychology such as, but not limited to, certified paraprofessionals, high school teachers and members of the general public with an interest in psychology.  Affiliates Members shall have all the rights and privileges of MBPA membership except the right to vote, hold office, and serve on the Board of Directors.

Section 5: Honorary Membership

Honorary members shall consist of members or persons of other professions or disciplines designated by the Board of Directors for distinguished contributions or honorary status in psychology.  Honorary Members shall have all the rights and privileges of Members MBPA membership except the right to vote, hold office, and serve on the Board of Directors.

Section 6: Student Membership

Student Members are pre-doctoral students enrolled in a graduate psychology program.  Student membership may be continued or offered to full-time Post-doctoral Fellows in an organized psychology training program in a clinic, hospital, industrial or university setting.  Student Members have all the rights and privileges of MBPA membership except the right to vote, hold office, and serve on the Board of Directors.

Section 7: Out-of-County Members

Out-of-County Members shall include all persons who live out of county and wish to participate in MBPA.  These Members shall be entitled to participate in all activities except voting, holding office, and serving on the Board of Directors.

Section 8: Life Members

Life Members shall include Full Members, Associate Members, or Affiliate Members who have reached the age of 65 and have been members of MBPA for at least ten years, or regardless of age or length of membership, who have been judged by the Membership Committee to be totally and permanently disabled.
 
Section 9: Application for Membership

All new applicants must complete and submit a written application to the Membership Committee.  The Membership Committee shall review the professional and ethical adequacy of candidates for membership, and reserves the right to refuse membership to questionable candidates.

a.    It shall be the responsibility of the candidate to furnish signed endorsements from two members of MBPA, CPA, or APA.

b.    The names of new members shall be announced to the MBPA membership in the MBPA newsletter not less than once per year.

Section 10: Expulsion and Suspension of Members
 

Members may be dropped, expelled or suspended from MBPA for nonpayment of fees, periodic dues, or assessment or for conduct which the MBPA Board of Directors shall deem inimical to the best interests of MBPA, including, without limitation, unethical or unprofessional conduct and flagrant violation of any provision of these Bylaws or failure to satisfy membership qualifications.  The MBPA Board of Directors shall give the member who is the subject of the proposed action 15 days prior notice of the proposed expulsion or suspension and the reasons therefore.  The member may submit a written statement to the MBPA Board of Directors regarding the proposed action not less than five days before the effective date of the proposed expulsion or suspension.  Prior to the effective date of the proposed expulsion or suspension, the MBPA Board of Directors shall review any such statement submitted and shall determine the mitigating effect, if any, of the information contained therein on the proposed expulsion or suspension.  A suspended member shall not be entitled to exercise any voting rights.  However, any psychologist who is a member of the MBPA and whose license is revoked, without a stay, by the Board of Psychology, or who surrenders the psychology license during a California Medical Board investigation, shall be automatically proposed for expulsion by the Board of Directors in accordance with the procedure set forth in this Article Ill, Section 10.

SECTION 11: Resignation

A member may resign from membership at any time.  However, resignation tendered by a member against whom a formal charge is pending does not relieve that member of the contractual obligation to complete any disciplinary proceeding or investigation pending.

a.    If inability to pay dues is cited as a reason for voluntary resignation by a member subject to a pending ethics investigation, the dues obligations may be suspended until the ethics investigation is completed.

b.    If geographical relocation is offered as the reason for voluntary resignation by a member subject to a pending ethics investigation, the investigation shall be referred to the APA Ethics Committee and/or the state psychological association in the state to which the member plans to relocate.

ARTICLE IV.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1: Powers

Subject to the limitations of these Bylaws and the laws of the State of California, the business and affairs of MBPA shall be controlled by the Board of Directors.  MBPA shall prepare an annual statement of goals and programs and shall submit these to the MBPA membership.

Section 2: Membership

Members of the MBPA Board of Directors shall be members in good standing with the California Psychological Association (CPA).  The Board of Directors shall consist of the following:

a.    All elected officers of MBPA, including the President, President-elect, Past-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Representative to the CPA Board of Directors. 

b.    Appointed Committee Chairpersons: Disaster Response, Ethics, Finance, Forensics, Governmental Affairs, Hospital Practice, Managed Care, Membership, Nominations, Program, and Information and Referral Service.  Chairpersons of appointed committees shall be voting members of the Board of Directors, but shall not count toward establishing a quorum. 

c.    Chairpersons of ad hoc committees shall be nonvoting ex-officio members of the Board of Directors.

Section 3: Regular Meetings

Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at least four times per year at a place and date established by the President.

Section 4: Special Meetings

Special meetings may be called by the President, or by three or more Board members.

Section 5: Quorum

A quorum is 50% of the total voting elected membership of the MBPA Board of Directors (i.e., three out of six).  Once a quorum is established it is maintained unless the number of Board members present falls below 50% of the total MBPA Board of Directors.  A Board member may give his or her proxy to another Board member by a written, signed and dated memorandum.  If one individual holds more than one office entitling her or him a vote, he or she shall be limited to one vote.

Section 6: Robert’s Rules of Order

Unless otherwise indicated in these Bylaws or any special rules or order MBPA adopts, the latest version of Roberts Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority for the governance of MBPA.

Section 7: Election of Board of Directors’ Officers

a.    The officers of MBPA shall consist of (1) President, (2) President-Elect, (3) Past-President (for one year immediately past), (4) Secretary, (5) Treasurer, and (6) Representatives to the CPA Board of Directors. 

b.    Election of officers shall be conducted at the December meeting. Candidates with the highest number of votes shall be declared winners.

c.    The terms of office of the officers shall begin January 1, immediately following the annual election as follows:

(1)    The President-Elect shall be elected for a one-year term and shall automatically succeed to the Presidency upon the expiration of her or his term, for a one-year term.  S/he shall automatically succeed to the Past-Presidency for a one-year term upon the expiration of his or her term as President.

(2)    The Secretary shall be elected for a one-year term.

(3)    The Treasurer shall be elected for a one-year term.

(4)    The Representative to the CPA Board of Directors shall be elected for a three-year term.

Section 8: Attendance Requirements

Officers and members of the Board of Directors shall attend at least 75% of all Regular and Special Meetings as therein defined, and all general meetings of the MBPA membership.  Less than 75% (unless the absences are excused by the President) in any one year period shall be considered tantamount to the member’s resignation from the Board of Directors, subject to a confirming vote by the Board of Directors.

Section 9: Election Procedures

a. In February of each year the President-elect shall form a Nominations Committee which he or she shall chair.

b.    This committee shall be responsible for obtaining nominations for MBPA officers annually.

c.    The entire membership shall be notified of the call for nominations in July.

d.    The Nominations Committee shall strive to find at least two qualified candidates for each vacant position, but may offer only one candidate for each position.  Provision shall be made for write-in candidates.

e.    Ballots shall be mailed to Members and eligible Life Members by October 30th of each year.

f.    Ballots shall be due and returned by November 20th of each year.

g.    Ballots shall be collected by the Chair of the Nominations Committee and held unopened.  They will be opened and counted by the Nominations Committee, who shall announce the results at a Board meeting.  Any nominee for office on the Nominations Committee shall be disqualified from counting the ballots for that office.

Section 10: Limits of Consecutive Terms

Officers shall serve in the same position for no more than two consecutive terms, except for the Governmental Affairs Representatives.  Completion of more than 50% of a term shall be considered a full term of service. Eligibility for nomination after serving the maximum allowable number of terms shall be established after an absence of one year.

Section 11: Vacancies

Vacancies occurring in any offices shall be filled by a majority vote of the MBPA Board of Directors.  Officers so elected shall serve only until the next annual election.

Section 12: Duties of Officers

a.    President.  The President shall exercise general supervision over the affairs of MBPA.  S/he shall preside over all regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and over general membership meetings.  S/he shall recommend all committee chairpersons, and select the newsletter editor with the approval of the Board of Directors.  S/he shall represent MBPA and the profession to the public at large.

b.    President-Elect.  The President-Elect shall assume the duties of the President in the absence of the latter.  In the case of the resignation or death of the President, the President-Elect automatically shall become President.  S/he shall serve ex-officio on all standing committee and shall chair the Program and Nominations Committees.

c.    Past-President.  The immediate Past-President may chair a standing committee and shall assume the duties of the President in the absence of the President and the President-Elect.

d.    Secretary.  The Secretary shall record minutes of all Executive Board of Directors meetings and shall prepare the minutes for distribution to Executive Board members.  S/he shall be the custodian of all previous years’ minutes.

e.    Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all MBPA funds.  S/he shall chair the Finance Committee which revises prepared budgets from all Board of Directors committees and programs, makes required adjustments and recommends their passage to the Board of Directors.  He/She shall present a statement of MBPA’s financial status at all Board meetings.  After annual audit and Board approval, she/he shall present an annual summary statement of the financial standing of MBPA to the membership.

f.    Representative to the CPA Board of Directors.  His/Her responsibilities shall be to represent the interests of MBPA on the CPA Board of Directors, to attend all meetings of the CPA Board of Directors, and to recommend MBPA members for CPA committee appointments.  

ARTICLE V.  COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

Section 1: Standing Committees

Standing Committee chairs shall be recommended by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.  Chairpersons may solicit their own membership.  Standing Committees and their duties shall be as follows:

a.    The Disaster Response Committee shall

(1)    act as MBPA liaison with CPA regarding disaster response issues and activities.

(2)    be represented at CPA Disaster Response Committee Northern California meetings.

(3)    coordinate and network with community agencies within the MBPA area regarding disaster plans, training, and community resources.

(4)    gather and disseminate information and training resources helpful to disaster victims and to MBPA members in preparing for and responding to disasters.

(5)    plan, coordinate, and implement MBPA’s response to individual and community disasters both inside and beyond the geographical area served by MBPA.

b.     The Ethics Committee is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Board of Directors.  In accordance with the policies that the Board of Directors shall adopt, the Committee may hear all complaints concerning professional conduct or inform complainants about the possibility of filing complaints with the Board of Psychology, the Medical Board of California, the Board of Behavioral Science Examiners, and the Ethics Committee of the APA as appropriate.  Additionally, the Committee may provide a general educative function in matters of ethics and professional conduct.

c.     The Finance Committee is chaired by the Treasurer and reviews proposed budget from MBPA officers and standing committee chairs.  The committee also examines the feasibility of financial proposals brought before the Board of Directors that involve the spending of general funds over $250.

d.    The Forensics Committee shall

(1)    act as MBPA liaison with CPA regarding forensic issues.

(2)    be represented at forensic-related meetings organized by CPA.

(3)    monitor local and state forensic issues relating to psychologists and mental health.

(4)    disseminate information regarding psychology-related forensic issues to MBPA members, and to other CPA chapters as needed.

(5)    report in the MBPA newsletter on local and CPA forensic issues.

e.    The Governmental Affairs Committee shall

(1)    monitor local, state and federal legislators regarding legislative activities relating to psychology.  

(2)    organize and monitor grass roots efforts to promote legislation favorable to mental health, psychology, and psychologists.

(3)    report in MBPA newsletters on CPA Governmental Affairs Committee activities.  

f. The Hospital Practices Committee shall

(1)    act as MBPA liaison with CPA regarding hospital practice activities.

(2)    be represented at Hospital Practice meetings organized by CPA.

(3)    monitor local and state hospital practice activities relating to psychologists and mental health.

(4)    disseminate information regarding psychology-related hospital practice issues to MBPA members and to other CPA chapters as needed.

g.    The Information and Referral Committee shall operate the MBPA Psychologist’s Referral Service, which serves as a communication link between MBPA and the community and makes clinical referrals to psychologists.

h.    The Managed Care Committee shall

(1)    act as MBPA liaison with CPA regarding managed care issues.

(2)    be represented at managed care meetings organized by CPA.

(3)    monitor local, state, and national developments related to psychologists and managed care.

(4)    disseminate information regarding managed care issues to MBPA members and to other CPA chapters as needed.

i.    The Membership Committee shall

(1)    receive all applications for membership and shall take action thereon.

(2)     maintain records on each member’s participation and dues payment history.

j.    The Nominations Committee is chaired by the President-Elect and shall

(1)    call for nominations, develop a slate of candidates for all elected positions of the MBPA, and hold an annual election to fill vacant positions.

k.    The Program Committee shall develop and offer continuing education programs to the professional community.

Section 3: Ad Hoc Committees

Ad Hoc Committees shall be established as needed, and chairpersons shall be recommended by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.  Chairpersons may solicit their own membership.

ARTICLE VI.  DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

Section 1: An application fee may be charged all applicants.

Section 2: The annual dues shall be payable on or before December 1st of each year, and shall cover the period from January 1st through December 31st of the following year.

Section 3: A penalty may be assessed those who remit their dues after January 31st.

Section 4: Dues will be reviewed and recommended annually to the Board of Directors by the Finance Committee.  Life members shall pay no dues.

Section 5: Members in any category who have not paid their dues and late-payment fee prior to April 1st shall be considered as having resigned, and shall be dropped from membership.

Section 6: Members in any category who voluntarily resign from MBPA at a time when their dues are current will be reinstated upon payment of the then-current year’s dues.

Section 7: Participants in the Information and Referral Service will be assessed an additional annually determined fee to cover the cost of providing and advertising the Information and Referral Service to the community.

ARTICLE VII.  DISSOLUTION OF ORGANIZATION

Two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members of MBPA may vote to dissolve MBPA.  In the event of such dissolution, the assets of MBPA shall be distributed to a non-profit psychological organization to be approved by 2/3/ majority of MBPA membership.

ARTICLE VIII.  AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

Section 1: These Bylaws may be amended by the voting members of MBPA, and the amendments shall have the force of Bylaws.  A two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members voting is required for a Bylaw change.

Section 2: Proposed substantive amendments to the Bylaws shall be presented to the voting members of MBPA by a majority vote of the MBPA Board of Directors or upon receiving a petition signed by not less than five (5) percent of the membership.  Ballots to vote on proposed Bylaws amendments will be sent by mail to the voting members together with a summary of arguments for and against the amendment.

a) A non-substantive Bylaw change may be passed by a vote of the MBPA Board of Directors with no more than two (2) dissenting votes.

b) Abstention is not considered a vote.

c)    No MBPA Board of Directors vote is valid unless a quorum is present.

d)    Proposed Bylaws amendments must be announced at least two weeks prior to the MBPA Executive Board meeting at which they will be considered.

Section 3: Bylaws amendments shall go into effect upon receiving a majority of votes cast.

ARTICLE IX.  AFFILIATION

MBPA is an autonomous organization.  MBPA may, by vote of its members as provided for elsewhere in these Bylaws, elect to affiliate with one or more professional organizations.  Any such affiliation shall be limited in scope to the sharing of information relating to the science and profession of psychology.

[This revision finalized 11/2/94 by Max Camarillo, Ph.D., & Frank Lanou, Ph.D., and adopted by the MBPA in 1995.  It was amended by the Board of Directors on 4/8/99.  It was again amended by vote of the membership effective 11/9/00, and in 2002 following the vote of the membership to change the name of this psychological association.]