Constitution and Bylaws
Article I – Name
The name of this organization shall be the Behavior Analysis Association of Mississippi. It shall be chartered and exist as a non-profit corporation in and under the laws of the State of Mississippi. It shall be represented by the initials BAAMS.
Article II – Purpose
The purpose of the organization shall be to promote the science of behavior analysis and its associated technologies within the State of Mississippi. Specifically, the organization shall:
- Serve as a scientific and professional reference group for all in the State of Mississippi who identify themselves as scientists or practitioners in disciplines which embrace the principles and practices of behavior analysis.
- Promote research that will advance the understanding of both human and animal behavior from a behavioral analytic orientation.
- Identify and promote the use of effective, humane, and ethical behavioral procedures in meeting the educational and habilitative needs of persons that are typically-developing and persons with developmental disabilities within the State of Mississippi.
- Advise political, legislative, and policy-making bodies with respect to all matters pertaining to behavior analysis in the State of Mississippi.
- Organize and sponsor an Annual Convention, which shall serve as a forum for presentation of scientific progress, technological advancements, and clinical practice, as well as discussion of the affairs of the organization.
- Publish and distribute an official bulletin devoted to the dissemination of scientific and technological achievements within the scope of behavior analysis and to matters of interest to the membership.
Article III – Membership
- Categories of Membership. Membership is open to all persons interested in or actively engaged in teaching, research, and/or application of the principles and procedures of behavior analysis. Membership is not restricted to residents of the State of Mississippi. Membership shall consist of two classes of members, voting and non-voting. Members of both classes are entitled to the rights and privileges of BAAMS as are appropriate for their membership category:VOTING MEMBERS (Full Members)
Full Member (including original Founding Member of BAAMS): Any individual holding (a) at least a Bachelor’s degree in behavior analysis, psychology, education, or related field, with training or professional experience in behavior analysis and whose full time professional commitment includes teaching, research, and/or practice in behavior analysis or (b) BACB certification (i.e., BCBA-D, BCBA, or BCaBA). Full members may vote and hold office.
NON-VOTING (Affiliate Member; Student Member)
Affiliate Member: Any member evidencing interest in the discipline of behavior analysis, but lacking formal training therein, may apply for this class of membership. Affiliate members are entitled to all benefits except for (a) the right to vote on matters of interest to the organization, and (b) the right to hold office. Affiliate members may serve as members on BAAMS committees.
Student Member (including original Founding Student Member of BAAMS): Any individual pursuing formal training in the discipline of behavior analysis, which may include programs in behavior analysis, psychology, education, or a related field but not yet gainfully employed therein on at least a half-time basis may apply for membership in this category. Such application must be accompanied by an endorsement on letterhead by a program coordinator or program official certifying the applicant’s student status. This application will be reviewed in a manner similar to the review of those candidates for Full Member status. Student members may neither vote nor hold office, though they may serve as members on BAAMS committees.
- Good Standing.
To remain a member in good standing, (a) an individual must be no more than 9 months in arrears with respect to Association dues and assessments, (b) must have attended at least one of the three most recent Annual Conventions, and (c) be in good ethical standing. - Voting.
Each Full member shall be entitled to one vote on all matters brought before the Association. There shall be no proxy voting. - Application for Membership.
Persons desiring to apply for membership with BAAMS shall submit a completed application form, together with such endorsements, recommendations, and any application fee that may be required. The Association shall evaluate the application through an established procedure and inform the applicant of its actions.
Articles IV – Officers
- Officers.
The officers of the Association shall be voting members of BAAMS, with the exception of the ad hoc student representative(s). These officers are the President, President-Elect, Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, and (2) Program Chairs/ABAI & APBA Representatives. - Terms of Office.
The inaugural President shall serve a term of two years, starting the day he or she is elected to office and conclude on December 31st of the following year, at which time he or she shall assume the role of Past-President. Following the inaugural presidency, the term of office of the President shall be one year to commence on January 1st and conclude on December 31st of that same year, at which time the president shall assume the office of past president. The President and Past-President shall not be eligible for nomination for the office of President-Elect. Similarly, the term of office for the President-Elect and the Past President shall be one year. The Past President may stand for election to the Executive Council for a term commencing at the termination of the Past Presidency.The Secretary and Treasurer shall serve a two-year appointment. The ABAI/Program Coordinator and APBA/Program Coordinator shall serve terms of three years.
Candidacy for President-Elect
A candidate for the position of President-Elect is required to have previously served one (1) term on the BAAMS Executive Council (EC) prior to running for the President-Elect position. If, in the instance there are no current members of the EC interested in running for the President Elect position, then nominations from members at-large will be considered if the following conditions are met: (1) Be a resident of Mississippi for at least one year and (2) Be a full member of BAAMS for at least one year.
- Duties.
President – The President presides over all meetings of the Executive Council as well as the Business Meeting held at the Annual Convention. The president exercises general supervision over the affairs of the chapter. In consultation with the Executive Council, the President sets the agenda for the Association and oversees efforts such as the convention(s), initiatives, and state-wide efforts of the Association. The President forms Standing Committees and Task Forces, as needed, and appoints their Chairs. The period, in which such entities are in operation, and the terms of office of their Chairs shall be determined by the President in consultation with the Officers of the Association.President-Elect – The President-Elect provides assistance to the President in conducting the business of the association. The President may delegate duties as needed to the President-Elect, or his/her designate. Finally, the President-Elect fills the role of President and all associated responsibilities in the absence of the President.Past President – The immediate Past President serves as a member of the Executive Council. The Past President serves as an advisor to the President and Executive Council. Additional responsibilities include assisting the President and supervising selected committee activities. The Past President works closely with committees and the President to ensure continuation of goals or completion of activities from the previous year.
Secretary – The Secretary assumes responsibility for maintaining the Association’s records, including those pertaining to the actions taken at the Business Meeting, membership and convention registration. The Secretary reports to the members at the Business Meeting. The Secretary records and reports the minutes of all Executive Council and Business meetings.
Treasurer – The Treasurer receives all monies of the Association, including the collection of annual dues. Furthermore, the Treasurer manages the financial account associated with BAAMS. Additionally, the treasurer acts as an advisor to the President and to the Executive Council on fiscal matters.
ABAI & ABPA Representatives/Program Coordinators – The representatives provides information on their respective representing organizations to BAAMS. Additionally, each solicits support from their representing organizations of BAAMS activities. As Program Coordinators, they work with the President to establish the Continuing Education Committee, select the site of the Annual Convention, and make appropriate arrangements for a convention to be held at a selected site. The Program Coordinators, with the President, are responsible for planning and implementing the Annual Convention. The Program Coordinators are responsible for developing all meeting materials. Finally, the ABAI and ABPA representatives submit an annual report on the activities of BAAMS to the ABAI and APBA Council.
- Replacement.
In the event of death, incapacity, or resignation of any of these officers, the Executive Council shall, by majority vote, elect a successor to serve until the next annual meeting of the Association.
Article V – Executive Council
- Composition.
The Executive Council will consist of the President, President-Elect, Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, ABAI & APBA Representatives/Program Coordinators (2), the ad hoc student representative, and four members of the duly designated regions of the State (i.e., Region 1, Region 2, Region 3, and Region 4). None of the officers shall serve simultaneously as member-at-large of the Executive Council. The Executive Council may appoint an Executive Director who will carry out duties assigned by the Executive Council. - Terms of Executive Council Members.
Regional Representatives shall be elected to 3-year terms that can be renewed. The election of the Representative will be staggered across years of service such that no more than two new Representatives are elected in any one year. Region Representatives will be voted in by members affiliated with the represented region.Ad-hoc Student Representative – Election of Student Representatives will be determined by those Student Members who are present at the annual student meeting, which is held in conjunction with the annual Association meeting. There will be no proxy voting during this election and Student Representatives are elected for a one-year term consistent with the timelines of the Officers and other Executive Council Members. Students may serve up to two consecutive terms. - Duties.
Regional Representatives will receive BAAMS emails from their designated regions and either respond or direct them to the appropriate officer for action.Ad-hoc Student Representative – The Student representative attends Executive Council meetings and acts as a liaison between the Executive Council and student members. During the Annual Convention, the Student Representative(s) convenes a meeting of student members to conduct affairs of the Association pertinent to Student Members. - Affiliates.
The Chairpersons of the Membership Committee, the Continuing Education Committee, the Communications Committee, the Government Relations Committee, the Program Committee, and the Convention Committee, if any, shall be non-voting affiliates of the Executive Council. Nothing herein shall be construed to preclude a committee chairperson for simultaneously holding membership on the Executive Council, either as an Officer of the Association or as a member-at-large.
- Meetings.
The Executive Council shall have at least four annual meetings, one of which shall occur at the time and location of the Annual Convention. It shall meet at such other times and locations as deemed necessary by the President. A meeting of the Executive Council may also be called by action of three members of the Council who shall notify the remaining members at least two weeks in advance of the proposed meeting. Members of the Executive Council may participate in a meeting of the Executive Council by, or conduct the meeting through the use of, any means of communication by which all persons participating in the meeting can simultaneously hear each other. - Quorum.
For purposes of transacting business of the Association, a quorum shall consist of five members of the Executive Council. - Removal and Replacement.
Members of the Executive Council who fail to maintain membership in good standing in the Association or who fail to attend three consecutive meetings of the Executive Council are subject to removal by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Council. A tie- vote shall be construed as affirmation for removal. Additionally, members of the Executive Council may be removed by a unanimous vote of remaining Executive Council members. Positions vacated for any reason shall be replaced by a majority vote of the remaining Executive Council members, such successors to serve until elections occur at the Annual meeting of the Association. - Action Without Meeting.
Any action required to be taken or which may be taken at a meeting of the Executive Council, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by members of the Executive Council entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a duly called meeting of the Executive Council. Such written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes of the Executive Council.
Article VI – Nominations and Elections
- Nominations.
Each election year, the President or his or her designee shall distribute Full Members a nomination ballot for President and President-Elect. For each office that appears on the nominating ballot, each Full Member may propose up to four names and may nominate the same person for more than one office. Current members of the Executive Council may be nominated to different Executive Council position (e.g., Treasurer may be nominated for President). A person designated by the President, shall count the ballots and shall ask those nominees receiving the largest number of votes for each office if they are willing to stand for election, and shall proceed through the list in the order of vote count until at least one candidate for each office has been obtained. No one may hold two offices at the same time, so if a voting member received enough nomination votes for two offices, the President shall request that the individual choose the office for which he or she wishes to be a candidate.After the list of candidates has been determined, the President shall send to all Full Members whose membership dues are paid a ballot for all matters to be voted upon, together with a statement on which the names of the candidates for each office are listed in alphabetical order with a brief biographical description of each nominee.Members of the Executive Council shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at an election.
- Terms.
Officers shall assume office January 1 following their election and serve until December 31 of the designated terminal year of office. Officers shall hold office until their elected successors assume office in their stead.
Article VII – Meetings
- Annual Business Meeting.
There shall be at least one annual Business Meeting of the Association. This meeting shall be held in conjunction with the Annual Convention of the Association except in the event that no Annual Convention is held. In this case, the Business Meeting shall be held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled meeting of such other group or Association, as shall be designated by the Executive Council. Notice of the annual Business Meeting of the Association shall be given to all members in good standing not less than two months prior to the scheduled date. - Quorum.
A quorum at the annual Business Meeting shall consist of not less than 25% of the membership rolls consisting of members in good standing present and voting. - Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the membership may be called by the President or by a majority of the members of the Executive Council for any reason by providing not less than ten (10) days’ advance notice of such meeting to the membership, which notice may be provided by electronic mail.
Article VIII – Committees
The Committees of the Association shall consist of such standing committees as may be provided by these By-Laws and such special committees as may be established by vote of the Executive Council. Committees shall be appointed as the Executive Council deems necessary to fulfill the Mission of BAAMS. Committees may include, but are not limited to a Membership, Continuing Education, Communications, and Government Relations/Liaisons Committees.
Article IX – Dues
- Dues.
Dues for the various categories of membership shall be established by a simple majority vote of the Executive Council. This action can be rescinded by a three-fifths majority vote of those present and voting at the annual Business Meeting of the Association. In this case the Executive Council shall propose an alternate schedule of dues for approval by simple majority of those present and voting. - Collection.
Dues shall be payable in the time and manner prescribed by the Executive Council and published to the membership at large at least six months prior to the due date. - Arrears.
Any member who shall have failed to remit dues will, 90 days thereafter, be declared in arrears. That member shall be subject to suspension of privileges of membership in the Association, including, but not limited to, receipt of the Newsletter, eligibility for election to Association Office, and participation in the Annual Convention.
Article X- Conflict of Interest
- Officers must immediately disclose any matters in which a conflict of interest may arise during a voting matter as related to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) stipulations, unfair benefits to members, officers, or others may incur IRS penalties.
Article XI – Amendments
- Process.
This Constitution and By-Laws may be amended only by two-thirds vote of the members voting. Amendments may be proposed by simple majority vote of the Executive Council. Introductions to the floor at the annual meeting may be considered for amendment by the Executive Council.
Article XII – Dissolution
- Dissolution may occur upon a two-thirds majority vote of Full Members. Upon the dissolution of this organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for public purposes.This constitution was submitted and accepted for adoption by the Membership of the Association on March 8, 2015. This constitution was submitted and accepted for amendments on August 30, 2015. To be adopted and amended, it shall have received the unanimous endorsement of the Executive Council then sitting and shall be adopted by two- thirds vote of the Members present and voting.