By Laws

ARTICLE I -  NAME 

The name of this non-profit corporation shall be the Nevada Coalition for Systemic Counseling, referred to herein as “NCSC.” Any change of the Coalition’s name shall be accomplished in accordance with the law pertaining to amendment of Articles of Incorporation rather than amendment of these Bylaws. 

 

ARTICLE II- OFFICE - The principal office for the transaction of the business of the corporation is located in the City of Reno, Nevada in Washoe County. The Directors may change the principal office from one location to another. Any change of this location shall be noted by the secretary on these bylaws, or this section may be amended to state the new location.

 

ARTICLE III- PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES - The objectives of NCSC shall be:

• To advance systemic counseling as an art, a science and a mental health profession. 

• To serve and represent the common professional and business interests of systemic counselors and mental health professionals.

• To set and maintain professional standards for systemic counselors and mental health professionals.

• To advocate and work to achieve public and private policies for the advancement of the practice of systemic therapy and related issues as determined by the NCSC Board.

• To engage in such other lawful activities as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation of NCSC. NCSC is a nonprofit mutual benefit corporation organized under the Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation Law. 

 

ARTICLES IV- MEMBERSHIP

 

Section A - CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP 

There shall be four (4) categories of membership in NCSC: clinical membership, licensed intern, pre-licensed membership, and affiliate membership. NCSC does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, size,  military status, or on the basis of any preference or personal characteristics, condition, or status of a person, in any of its activities or operations.

 

Section B- Qualifications for Membership

1. Clinical Member shall hold a license in good standing as a mental health or psychiatric professionals in the state of Nevada, including Marriage and Family Therapists, Clinical Professional Counselors, School Counselors, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Psychologists, Psychiatric APRNs (PMHNPs), and Psychiatrists. All clinical members, regardless of classification, shall be entitled to the rights and privileges of NCSC without restriction. Clinical membership may be held, in appropriate circumstances, according to the following classifications:

a. Annual Clinical Member - a Clinical Member who has paid the dues for this category of membership

b. Lifetime Clinical Member is  a Clinical Member who has paid the required dues for this category of membership and thereby made the commitment to furthering this profession.

c. Emeritus Clinical Member is a Clinical Member of at least 65 years of age, who at formal retirement from systemic counseling has been a clinical member in good standing for at least ten (10) consecutive years immediately prior to written application for this category of membership. The Emeritus Clinical Member shall not be required to pay dues. 

 

2. Licensed Intern Member shall be a member

-who has completed all educational requirements for licensure and shall presently be engaged in the process of gaining hours of experience towards licensure either as a licensed intern

-The licensed intern member is eligible as a voting member. A Licensed Intern Member is entitled to the rights and privileges of NCSC membership. 

 

3. Pre-licensed Member shall be a member 

-  who is enrolled in or has recently graduated from a master's or doctor's degree program  satisfying the educational requirements for eligibility to sit for a clinical licensing board. For graduates, members must be in the process of applying for internship.

-shall be eligible for advancement to clinical member status upon becoming licensed, and shall no longer be eligible for pre-licensed member status upon the expiration of ninety (90) days from the date of licensure. 

-do not have voting privileges, but may access other privileges of NCSC membership.

 

4. Affiliate Member  shall be a member

-- in a related profession that benefits from or contributes to the practice of systemic counseling (e.g., Registered Nurses, primary healthcare providers, family court judges and other legal professionals, and Social Workers), who practices under an ethical code and a board that oversees their practices.

--a mental health clinician who is a resident and domiciliary of a state or jurisdiction other than Nevada.

--an Affiliate Member shall not be eligible to vote or to hold office, but shall be entitled to all other rights and privileges of NCSC membership. 

 

Section C- Admission to Membership

Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, membership in any category shall be subject to review by the Membership Committee. The Board of Directors may refer any application for membership to the NCSC Ethics Committee when it has reasonable cause to believe that the applicant may have violated the professional Code of Ethics. The Ethics Committee, after investigating the referral, shall make its recommendation to the Board of Directors. All members shall pay dues in accordance with the dues schedule of NCSC and shall abide by the NCSC Bylaws and the applicable code of ethics for their governing profession.

 

Section D- Fees and Dues

Each member in good standing, except if otherwise exempt by these Bylaws, must pay, within the time and on the conditions set forth in these Bylaws.  For members with voting rights, dues must be current to maintain voting privileges.

 

Section E- Termination of Membership

Membership in the Coalition may terminate upon occurrence of any of the following:

1. Resignation

2. Non-payment of dues

3. Expulsion, suspension

4. Loss of eligibility. 

 

1. Resignation - a member may resign from membership at any time by submitting in writing to NCSC his/her/their resignation. The effective date of the resignation shall be when NCSC receives the letter of resignation or at such later time as is indicated in the letter. 

 

2. Nonpayment of dues - anyone in any class of membership whose dues are in default on the first day of the sixth month following that member's designated anniversary month automatically shall be dropped from membership in NCSC, provided a notice has been mailed to such member at his/her/their address of record with the NCSC at least thirty (30) days prior to such termination date.  

 

3. Expulsion or suspension - any member suspected of professional misconduct may be expelled or suspended from membership as follows:

• A member in violation of their governing Code of Ethics may be expelled or suspended from membership in NCSC following verification from the member’s governing Board.

• Any member whose license is or has been sanctioned by his/her/their governing Board of Examiners may be expelled or suspended from NCSC membership until such time that his/her/their license is in good standing.

Any member to be expelled or suspended shall be entitled to at least fifteen (15) days prior notice of the expulsion or suspension and the reasons therefore, and shall be entitled to be heard, orally or in writing, not less than five (5) days before the effective date of expulsion or suspension by the board of directors. Notice may be given by any method reasonably calculated to provide actual notice. Any notice given by mail shall be given by first-class, registered, or certified mail sent to the last address of the member as shown on NCSC’s records. 

 

4.  Loss of eligibility - any member, regardless of category or classification, who is no longer eligible for such membership due to a loss in the qualifications entitling such person to hold such membership, including a pre-licensed member who has been licensed for 90 days and has not transferred his/her membership to clinical membership, may be dropped from membership, provided a notice is mailed to such member at his/her address of record with NCSC  at least thirty (30) days prior to termination of membership. 

 

Section F- Reinstatement of Membership

1. After resignation: Anyone who has resigned his/her/their membership from NCSC may be reinstated to that member's former category of membership provided that such person has submitted a new application for membership to NCSC, accompanied by payment of appropriate dues and application or other fees. The Board may refer to the Ethics Committee, if one has been formed, for recommendation any application for membership from a person who previously resigned his/her membership. 

2. After non-payment of dues: Anyone who has been dropped from membership in NCSC for non-payment of dues may be reinstated to that member's former category of membership provided that such person has submitted a new application for membership to NCSC, accompanied by payment of appropriate dues and application or other fees. The Board may refer to the Ethics Committee, if one has been formed, for recommendation any application for membership from a person who has previously been dropped from membership for non-payment of dues. 

3. After expulsion : Anyone who has been expelled from membership in NCSC may be reinstated after one (1) year has elapsed from the date of expulsion and provided that such person meets current eligibility requirements for his/her/their membership level, submits a new application for membership accompanied by payment of appropriate dues and application fees, may, upon recommendation of the Ethics Committee, if one has been formed, or the Board as a whole, and provided that such person receives a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors at a meeting where this item has been specifically placed on the agenda.

4. After suspension: Anyone who has been suspended from membership in NCSC  for violation of the NCSC Bylaws shall be reinstated to membership with verification that the member’s license in good standing with his/her/their licensing Board.

 5. After loss of eligibility - Anyone who has been dismissed from membership in NCSC for loss of eligibility, may, upon recommendation of the Ethics Committee, or the Board as a whole, be reinstated to the appropriate category of membership in NCSC. This reinstatement may require a new application for membership to NCSC and payment of appropriate dues or other fees.

 

Section G - NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF MEMBERSHIP 

No member may transfer a membership or any right arising therefrom. All rights as a member of NCSC cease upon the member's death. 

 

Section H - CERTIFICATES OF MEMBERSHIP 

Certificates of membership, numbered, signed by the president and one other officer, shall be issued to each applicant upon acceptance into membership of NCSC as a clinical member, or any of its classifications, and upon receipt of the required fees, dues or other charges of NCSC.  Unnumbered certificates of membership for all other member classifications shall be issued to each applicant upon acceptance into membership, and upon receipt of the required fees, dues, or other charges.

 

ARTICLE V- MEETINGS OF MEMBERS

Section A- Annual Membership Meeting: 

Once each calendar year, the Board shall call an Annual Membership Meeting and give notice of the time, date, and location of the meeting 30 days in advance to all active members. Notice shall be sent via last e-mail provided to NCSC. 

 

Section B- Quorum

Quorum will be defined by a majority of the Board of Directors and Officers, and the Annual Meeting will be open to all active members of NCSC.

 

ARTICLE VI- BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Section A -  Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is comprised of the Officers of the Board and Members at Large, which may range in number from none to ten. All Members of the Board shall serve for a period of two years, after the first set of terms, which shall be staggered as follows: Treasurer and Secretary shall each serve two year terms initially, President and Vice President shall each serve three years, after which the initial Past President position shall be filled.  Each Member will be eligible for reappointment upon nomination and majority vote by the remaining Board, except the initial President. 

 

Section B - Officers

1. Officers Designated: President, Vice President, Past President, once NCSC has existed long enough to fill this role, Secretary, and Treasurer.

2. Duties of Officers

a. President: The President shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, generally supervise, direct and control the business and the officers of the Association. He/she/they shall preside at all meetings of the members and at all meetings of the Board of Directors. He/she/they shall recommend to the Board, for appointment, standing committee chairpersons. He/she/they shall appoint standing committee members, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws. The President shall be an ex-officio member on all committees with the exception of the Ethics Committee. When serving ex-officio, the president shall not have the right to vote. He/she/they shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws. The President shall report the activities of this office to the Board of Directors at their meetings and to the members at membership meetings. The President shall present a report at the annual membership meeting on the state of the Association. 

 

b. Vice President: the President Elect shall succeed to the presidency. He/she/they shall be an ex-officio member of all committees with the exception of the Ethics Committee. When serving ex-officio, the President elect shall not have the right to vote. The President Elect shall perform such other duties as are delegated to him/her/them by the Board of Directors. The President Elect shall perform the duties of the President in the event of his/her/their inability to serve. 

 

c. Past President: the Past President shall serve for the following term in order to help guide the Executive Committee by passing on organizational knowledge and to serve on at least one committee. This position will be filled once the first President has filled his/her/their first term and not been re-elected to the position of President.

 

d. Secretary: the Secretary shall keep at the principal office of the Association or such other place as the Board of Directors may direct, minutes of the proceedings of its members, board and committees of the Board, with the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, and, if special, how authorized, the notice given, the names of those present at such meetings, the numbers of members present or represented at such member's meetings, and the proceedings of such meetings.

The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal office of the Association, a record of Association members, showing the name of all members, their addresses, and the class of membership held by each. When records are kept electronically only, a back up of these records shall be stored in a secure location, and the records shall be backed up at least once a month. The Secretary shall give or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the members of the Board of Directors required by the Bylaws to be given. The Secretary shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws.

 

e.Treasurer: the Treasurer shall keep and maintain adequate and correct records of accounts of the properties and business transactions of the Association, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital, retained earnings, and any other matters customarily included in financial statements. The financial records shall be open to inspection by any director at all reasonable times. When records are kept electronically only, a back up of these records shall be stored in a secure location, and the records shall be backed up at least once a month. The Treasurer shall deposit, or shall cause to be deposited, all money and other valuables in the name and to the credit of NCSC with such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors; shall disburse, or cause to be disbursed, the funds of NCSC as may be ordered by the Board of Directors; shall render at such regular meetings of the board, or at such other times as directed by the Board, an account of all of his/her/their transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of NCSC, shall prepare or cause to be prepared a proposed annual budget to be presented to the Board of Directors prior to the annual membership meeting, and shall have such other powers and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws.

 

Section C - Members at Large of the Board

Members at Large will be nominated and approved by the existing Members of the Board, and will serve a term of one year.  Members at Large will be eligible for reappointment upon nomination and majority vote by the remaining Board.

 

Section D - Meetings

a. The Board of Directors shall meet at least four (4) times during each calendar year. Dates for these regular meetings shall be established by the Board of Directors.

Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President upon the written request of any board member, which may include the President. Such specially called meetings, if approved by the President, shall be held within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the written request. Special meetings of the board shall be held upon at least four (4) days notice, which will be sent by email or phone call.

 

b. Action by unanimous written consent without a meeting

Board members may convene by email or teleconference to address an urgent issue and vote by unanimous written consent to take a specific action. 

 

Section E - Vacancies

Any vacancy occurring on the Board may be filled by election of the Board of Directors. A simple majority of those Board Members present at the next regular meeting of the Board may elect the successor Board Member. Any Member so elected to fill a vacancy shall serve the unexpired term of his/her/their predecessor. 

 

Articles VII- COMMITTEES

 

Section A EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

1. The Executive Committee shall be composed of five (5) members who shall be the elected officers of the Association: President, Vice President, Past President, once this role can be filled, Secretary and Treasurer.

2. The Executive Committee may act in place and stead of the Board of Directors between board meetings as authorized by the Board, except those matters that by these Bylaws specifically require Board action, or approval of the members, or approval of a majority of the membership. 

3. A majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum of any duly called meeting of the Committee. The President shall call such meetings of the Executive Committee as the business of the Association may require, or a meeting shall be called by the President on request of three (3) members of the Executive Committee. 

4. Any vacancy occurring on the Executive Committee shall be filled by election of the Board of Directors. A simple majority of those board members present at the next regular meeting of the Board shall elect the successor committee member. Any committee member so elected to fill a vacancy shall serve the unexpired term of his/her predecessor. 

 

Section B STANDING COMMITTEES

 

ARTICLE VIII - FINANCE 

Section A CALENDAR YEAR The Association shall operate on a calendar year, which shall also function as its fiscal year.  

 

Section B DUES

The fee schedule, to be adjusted periodically by the Board, is below:
1. Clinical Members:

1. Annual Membership: $100

This represents an introductory rate.  NCSC reserved the right to graduate the fees as necessary, to be determined at each annual meeting.

1. Lifetime Membership, to be paid one time only: $500 first year of operation; $750 for the second year, $1000 thereafter

2. Emeritus Membership: $0

3. Licensed Intern Membership: $75

4. Pre-Licensed Membership: $50

5. Affiliate Membership: $75

Section C PAYMENT OF DUES 

Section D FEES AND ASSESSMENTS 

May include reinstatement fee, late fee, replacement of certificate, etc.

Section E BUDGET

 

ARTICLE VIII LICENSURE

 

ARTICLE XXIII - CERTIFICATION OF SECRETARY I, the undersigned, certify that I am presently elected and acting Secretary of NCSC, a Nevada  nonprofit corporation, and the above Bylaws, consisting of__ pages, are the Bylaws of this Association as approved at a meeting of the Board of Directors held__________.