Bylaws

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Article 1: Name
The name: NORTH TEXAS SOCIETY OF CLINICAL HYPNOSIS, formerly the Dallas Society of Clinical Hypnosis, hereafter referred to as THE SOCIETY.

Article 2: Purposes and Objectives
A. The purpose of THE SOCIETY is to form and develop an organization of professional people in medicine, dentistry, and mental health fields (psychology, social work, counseling, and nursing) who share scientific and clinical interest in hypnosis.
B. THE SOCIETY shall provide and encourage education programs to further, in every ethical way, the knowledge and understanding of hypnosis and shall follow the guidelines as set forth in the By-Laws of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH).

Article 3: Membership Categories

  • Membership criterion meets the recommendations of the ASCH.
  • The categories include Active, Associate and Affiliate Members. Organizational membership is restricted to professionals who hold post- graduate degrees in health related fields from a college or university accredited by it appropriate regional accrediting body.  
  • The designation of "New" will identify those individuals who have not yet completed the criteria of 20 hours of basic hypnosis training recommended by the ASCH to be completed within the initial year of membership.  An additional category of “Fellow” is established as a dues optional category.  Past Presidents of the Society become fellows.  Current officers are automatically in the “dues optional” status for their term of office. 

Article 4: Officers of the Society

A. The officers of the society shall be President, Past-President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Only active members are eligible to serve as President.

B. Terms of Office

  1. The term of office shall be for two years, not to exceed two consecutive terms in the same office.
  2. In the event that a suitable replacement is not found at the end  of a term of office, the Executive Committee is authorized to extend the term of office for any officer by one additional term resulting in a maximum total of three consecutive terms in the same office.  Alternatively the offices of Secretary / and or Treasurer may be filled by paid professionals who are reportable to the Executive Committee.
  3. Removal of an Officer:  Officers who fail to perform duties of their office can be removed from office by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.
  4. Nominations are to be made by the Nominating Committee, consisting of three officers of THE SOCIETY, or from the floor by an Active or Associate Member. Names are to be submitted by the voting membership to the Nominating Committee.

C. Duties of the Officers

  1. The president shall:
    a.  Preside at all meetings of THE SOCIETY and the Executive Committee.
    b.  Appoint all Committee Chairpersons, except for Nominations and Program Committees.
    c.  Appoint a Parliamentarian.
    d.  Serve as Executive Officer on all Committees except Nominating, Election, and Program Committees.
    e.  Manage the affairs of THE SOCIETY, along with the officer or Committee Chairperson involved.
  2. The Past-President shall be an ad hoc member of all committees and shall chair the Nominating Committee.
  3. The Vice-President in charge of education shall:
    a.  Succeed to the duties of the President in case of absence or incapacity of the president.
    b.  Serve as Program Committee Chairperson.
  4. The Secretary shall:
    a.  Keep minutes of the proceedings of all meetings of the membership and the Executive Committee.
    b.  Inform the membership of future meetings, at the discretion of the President or the Executive Committee.
  5. The Treasurer shall:
    a.  Be responsible for the collection safekeeping, and expenditure of the funds of THE SOCIETY.
    b.  Keep a true and accurate account of the monies of THE SOCIETY.
    c.  Present an annual report of the aforementioned monies; may serve as Chairperson of the Budget and Finance Committees.
    d.  Shall sign checks, and provide an accounting at each Executive Committee meeting.
    e.  Be responsible for other duties assigned by established parliamentary rules.
  6. Standing Committees
    a.  Membership: may solicit, evaluate, and recommend new membership for THE SOCIETY.
    b.  Programs: may develop and promote education and training for THE SOCIETY and prospective members.
    c.  Nominating: may select and prepare a slate of officers prior to election and notify members of same.
    d.  Executive: may act with the President on all emergency matters confronting the entire membership. The Executive Committee is composed of the President, Past-President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Chairpersons of the three standing committees.
    e.  Legislative: will make recommendations regarding legislative issues and matter of ethics to the Executive Committee.

Article 5: Meetings
Shall be set by the Executive Committee with one meeting per year as the minimum.

Article 6: Revenue
A. The amount charged for annual dues shall be determined by the Executive Committee.
B. The fiscal year shall be from January 1st to December 31st.

Article 7: Amendments to By-Laws
Shall be by a two-thirds vote, with prior notification in writing to the membership.

Article 8: New Members
Shall be accepted following a review of credentials by the Membership Committee and by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. 

Article 9: New Logo
Voted in September 2015.