By-Laws

ESSEX-UNION COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF PSYCHOLOGISTS
BYLAWS
Revised November 14, 2008

Our Mission is to provide collegial support, networking, and education about the practice of psychology for the benefit of our members and to the public. 

Our vision is to be recognized by the public and mental health professionals as the key resource for psychologists and consumers in Essex and Union counties.

The Essex-Union County Association of Psychologists (formerly entitled The Society of Psychologists in Private Practice) is an affiliate of the New Jersey Psychological Association.

1.0 Membership

1.1 Any licensed doctoral level psychologist who is a member of the New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA) is eligible for full membership.

1.2 Only full members of EUCAP may be listed in any public membership directory.

1.3   Associate membership is open to anyone holding a Masters level degree or higher in psychology, is a member of NJPA , and who holds either a license or permit to practice psychology in New Jersey.

1.4  Student Membership is open to graduate students who meet criteria for student membership in the New Jersey Psychological Association (NJPA).

1.5 Affiliate members and student affiliates may not vote on any matter presented to the general membership for voting. They may serve as members (but not Chairs) of committees.  They will be listed in the Members Only area of the EUCAP website, but not in any publicly available directory (printed or online). An affiliate member shall not serve as an officer or member of the Executive Board.

2.0 Executive Board:

2.1 The Executive Board will comprise the following: President, President-elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and three Members at Large (one of whom shall be the Past President), as well as the Representative to the NJPA Executive Board, the Membership Chair(s), the Program Chair(s), and the Website Chair(s).

2.2 All officers and members of the Executive Board shall be full members of EUCAP.

2.3 Terms of office for officers shall be for two years, running from January 1 through December 31 of the following year.

2.4 Officers and members of the executive board shall be elected by the majority of full members in attendance at a general membership meeting, held at the last scheduled meeting of each year.

3.0 Meetings:

3.1 EUCAP shall conduct both Executive Board and membership meetings at least four times per year.  All EUCAP members will receive a schedule of meeting dates during the month of January of each year.

3.2 Meetings shall be scheduled by the President based on a proposed schedule submitted by the Program Committee.

3.3 Meeting dates, times and locations may be changed at the discretion of the President with as much prior notice to the membership as possible.

3.4 Non-members of EUCAP are welcome to attend meetings..

4.0 Voting:

4.1 All decisions of the EUCAP Executive Board shall be by simple majority vote of those members present, providing that a quorum of six members is present a such meeting. . Elections of Officers to the Executive Board may, at the discretion of the Executive Board, be conducted by alternative methods, including but not limited to mail balloting or electronic balloting. If such an alternative method of voting is utilized, a quorum shall consist of the number of members who return ballots.

4.2 The voting members present at a regular meeting of the general membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  If those present constitute less than one sixth of the voting membership, any action taken at such meeting may be presented for reconsideration by the balance of the voting membership, providing there is a written request to the president by at least 10% of the voting membership within 30 days following that meeting.

5.2 Dues shall be collected at a frequency and rate set by majority vote of the Executive Board.

5.3 Dues assessed for affiliate members and student affiliates shall be set by the Executive Board at lesser amounts than dues for full members.

5.4 A discount from the normal dues assessment may be offered for two or more EUCAP members who live in the same household.

5.5 Dues shall be payable for a two year period.

6.0 Committees:

6.1 EUCAP will maintain the following active committees:  Membership (including Directory) , Program, and Website.  Additional committee chairs and members can be appointed at the discretion of the President..

7.0 Amendments:

7.1 Additions and deletions to these Bylaws shall be made by amendment voted on by the Executive Board and presented to the membership for approval at the next annual meeting, or in such other manner as set by the Executive Board. Voting on any such Bylaws change shall be conducted in the manner set forth in Sections 2.4 and 4.2  of these Bylaws.

7.2 Proposed amendments shall be forwarded to Executive Board members at least two weeks prior to voting.

8.0 Bylaws and Policies:

8.1 These Bylaws shall be reviewed every five years or sooner by the Executive Board. Changes and amendments to these Bylaws shall be approved by simple majority vote of the Board members who are present at such a meeting, and given due notice of the proposed discussion. Changes shall then be  recommended to, and approved by the membership in the manner described in Section  7.1 of these bylaws.

8.2 The Executive Board shall have the power to propose and implement policies, procedures and resolutions to carry out the intent of these Bylaws, and to act on any matter not directly covered by them.

8.3 The provisions of these by-laws shall take effect the January following their adoption.