ARKANSAS ADOPTION ASSOCIATION BYLAWS
1) PURPOSE AND GOALS
a) Purpose. The purpose of the Arkansas Adoption Association, hereinafter referred to as the Association, is to:
i) Educate and promote quality adoption services
ii) Assure that the adoption process addresses the best interest of the adoption triad: the child, the birth parents, the adoptive parents
b) Goals. The goals of the Association are to:
i) Educate the general public about the positive aspects of adoption
ii) Promote opportunities for training and education to adoption professionals
iii) Educate and support legislative and judicial systems and provide information needed to update and maintain quality adoption laws
iv) Support regulations that require appropriate licensing of those involved in adoptions
v) Promote quality home studies supervised by licensed professionals
vi) Promote interagency cooperation between adoption professionals and the Department of Children and Family Services
vii) Promote adoptions of all children awaiting adoption placement including: older children, minority children, sibling groups, and children with other special needs.
2) MEMBERSHIP
a) Membership. Membership, which includes the right to vote, is open to agencies, attorneys, and individuals who support the goals of the Association.
i) Any agency, attorney, or individual may apply for member ship in the Arkansas Adoption Association by
(1) Completing an application with a check for the annual dues attached and submitting the application to any current member of the Association.
(2) The application will be voted on at the next meeting of the membership. A majority of the membership present must vote in favor of membership by the applicant.
ii) Anyone who has had their professional license suspended or revoked can not be a member of the Arkansas Adoption Association.
b) Dues. Annual membership dues are payable to the treasurer at the January meeting each year in an amount to be determined by the membership at the preceding November or December meeting. Dues will not be prorated for new members joining the Association during the year. Checks are to be made payable to the Arkansas Adoption Association.
c) Officers. Officers are elected by a majority vote of the members present. Officers must have been an Association member for at least one year prior to nomination and election. Elections will be held at the January meeting. Elected officers will be installed at the following meeting in February. Term of office shall be for two (2) years, with the exception of the first year (2001) for elections of vice-chairperson and secretary. These offices shall be open for re-election in January 2002. Elections for chairperson and treasurer shall thereafter be on the odd-numbered years, and elections for vice-chairperson and secretary shall thereafter be on the even-numbered years. Officers may be elected to hold more than one term of office.
i) Chairperson. The chairperson shall:
(1) Preside over all meetings
(2) Coordinate the agendas for the meetings
(3) Appoint members of committees
(4) Call special meetings
(5) Review draft of minutes prior to mailing
ii) Vice-chairperson. The vice-chairperson works closely with the chairperson and assumes the responsibilities of the chairperson in his or her absence.
iii) Secretary. The secretary shall keep attendance records, record the minutes of each meeting and make them available to the members prior to the next meeting.
iv) Treasurer. The treasurer shall collect membership dues, reimburse for authorized expenses, and keep accurate financial records.
d) Board of Directors.
i) The board of directors shall serve as a steering committee to maintain the goals of the Association.
ii) The board consists of elected officers and chairpersons of the standing committee.
iii) The board shall authorize expenditures.
iv) The board shall serve as the nominating committee.
v) New elected officers will become members of the board immediately upon election.
e) Standing committees.
i) Standing committees shall be established as follows:
(1) Legislative committee
(2) Public Relations committee
(3) Training and Education committee
ii) Additional standing committees may be recommended by the board and established as voted on by the Association.
iii) Chairpersons of the standing committees shall be recommended by the board and voted on by the Association membership.
3) ASSOCIATION MEETINGS
a) Frequency of meetings.
i) The Association shall meet every month at a time and place to be determined by the membership.
ii) Additional meetings may be conducted as determined by the chairperson.
b) Attendance. Association members or their designees shall make good faith efforts to attend at least four (4) Association meetings a year.
c) Rules of order. Roberts Rules of Order shall be used to govern the meetings.
d) Voting. Voting will be by voice vote at meetings.
e) Quorum. The members present at any meeting will be a quorum of the membership.
4) CHANGE OF BYLAWS
a) General. Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed only by a majority vote of the Association members present and under the conditions listed in 4,b-d below.
b) Motion. A motion to alter, amend, or repeal the bylaws shall be made during an Association meeting.
c) Notice. Written notice of the proposed change(s) shall be given to all members in the minutes of the meeting in which the proposed changes were made before the next scheduled meeting shall occur. Written notice may be transmitted by email or fax.
d) Vote. The proposed changes shall be discussed and voted on at the next Association meeting that occurs after the meeting in which the motion to alter, amend, or repeal the bylaws was presented.
5) ANNUAL REPORT
a) The Association shall make an annual report of its operations, assets, liabilities, revenues, and disbursements at the January meeting.
b) A copy of the annual report will be included with the minutes of the January meeting.