CONSTITUTION OF THE
Article I: Name
The name of this organization shall be the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, University of Alabama Chapter.
Article II: Purpose
The purpose of the local NSSLHA organization shall be: 1. to encourage and promote professional interest among college and university students in the study of human communication sciences and disorders 2. to provide continuity to the dissemination of professional information, and 3. to provide a vehicle for student representation in matters of professional and academic concern.
Article III: Status
As a recognized local chapter of NSSLHA, the University of Alabama Chapter shall serve as an official organ of the national association in matters appropriately handled at the local level and in matters prescribed in the Bylaws of the national association. Any number of the members of the chapter shall be members of the national association.
Article IV: Membership Eligibility
Any full- and/or part-time undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students interested in the study of normal and disordered human communication behavior,who are not eligible to receive, and have not received nor applied for, their Certificates of Clinical Competence (CCCs) from the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA), shall be eligible for membership in the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, University of Alabama Chapter. The local chapter offers two tiers of membership: Full and Chapter
SECTION 1: FULL MEMBERSHIP
A. Eligibility Full membership is reserved for those students holding membership in both the local chapter and in the national association.
B. Privileges A full member shall be eligible to vote, hold office, and to serve on committees on the local level and shall hold all privileges accorded by the National Bylaws.
C. Dues
Annual dues for full members shall include a fee for national association
membership along with the local chapter membership fee as determined by a
majority vote of the membership.
D. Termination of Membership
Membership in the local chapter of NSSLHA shall be terminated automatically if:
1) A member becomes eligible for certification and membership in the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
2) A member loses student status.
3) A member fails to pay local chapter dues by the fourth week after the
beginning of the semester.
SECTION 2: CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP
A. Eligibility
Chapter membership is reserved for those students holding membership in the
local chapter only.
B. Privileges
A chapter member shall be eligible to vote, to hold office, and to serve on
committees on the local level.
C. Dues
The annual dues for local chapter membership fee are determined by a majority
vote of the membership.
D. Termination of Membership
Membership in the local chapter of NSSLHA shall be terminated automatically if:
1) A member becomes eligible for certification and membership in the American
Speech-Language Hearing Association.
2) A member loses student status.
3) A member fails to pay local chapter dues by the fourth week after the
beginning of the semester.
Article V: Chapter Personnel Section 1. Student Members Those students who meet the eligibility requirements set forth in Article IV, Section I and II of these Bylaws may be members. Section 2. Chapter Advisor This chapter shall have at least one advisor who is a faculty or staff member in the academic program. The Chapter Advisor shall be a member of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. Responsibilities shall be those assigned by The University of Alabama Student Handbook. Section 3. Chapter Co-Advisor The Chapter Advisor may designate a Chapter Co-Advisor subject to the approval of the Chapter Executive Council. The Chapter Co-Advisor must be a professional member of the American Speech-Language Hearing Association. Responsibilities shall be those assigned by The University of Alabama Student Handbook.
Article VI: Chapter Executive Council
Section 1. Authority
The Chapter Executive Council shall supervise and coordinate all activities
undertaken by the Chapter, shall establish policies, and shall exercise all
powers except those assigned to the membership. The Chapter Executive
Council shall meet prior to the monthly business meeting at a time
designated by the Council. A majority of members of the Council shall
constitute a quorum.
Section 2. Composition
The Chapter Executive Council shall consist of the chapter officers and the
advisor(s).
Section 3. Chapter Officers
Chapter officers shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary, and
Treasurer. They must maintain full membership in the local chapter as
required in Article IV, Section 5 of the national bylaws and the officers
shall be selected from the general membership as indicated in the local
bylaws, Article IV, Part I.
A. Duties
President- The President will call and preside over all meetings of the
Chapter Executive Council and Chapter meetings. The President shall
appoint all committees, shall serve as an ex-officio member of all
committees and shall designate special duties not provided for in the
Constitution and Bylaws. The individual holding this position must be
a full member of the local chapter.
Vice President- The Vice President shall be vested with the powers of
the President in the event of the President's absence or inability to
execute the presidential duties. The Vice President shall carry out
other duties assigned by the President. The duties of the Vice
President shall include overseeing the preparations for the monthly
meetings. The individual holding this position must be a full member
of the local chapter.
Secretary- The Secretary shall handle all liaison between the National
Office and chapters including reports and correspondence. The Secretary
shall act as Parliamentarian at the monthly meetings. The individual
holding this position must be a full member of the local chapter.
Treasurer- The Treasurer shall be custodian of the funds of the Chapter
and shall be responsible for all monies received and spent by the local
Chapter which is to include dues and organizational expenditures. The
individual holding this position must be a full member of the local
chapter.
B. Terms of office
The Chapter officers shall be elected for a period of one year.
Vacancies in office shall be filled by nomination and voting by a
majority vote of active members.
C. Election
1. The Chapter officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the
membership.
2. A nominating committee consisting of the Executive Council and
the Advisor(s) shall determine the qualifications of candidates
for office.
3. The Executive Council shall receive each nominee's acceptance of
the nomination before presenting the slate to the membership for
action.
4. Additional nominations may be made from the floor subject to the
nominee's acceptance.
Article VII: Standing Committees
Section 1. The Chapter shall have four standing committees:
Service Committee: Responsible for coordinating community
service activities for the University, the Department, the
national association and/or the local chapter.
Public Relations Committee: Responsible for publicizing NSSLHA
members, activities, and events to the local, regional, and
national community.
Current Issues: Responsible for providing the current
membership with information pertaining to issues and events on
the local, state and national levels.
Ways and Mean Committee: Responsible for facilitating methods
of raising funds.
Section 2. Duties
A. The Service Committee shall render special services to the
University, to the Department, and to the local and
national Association.
B. The Public Relations Committee shall be responsible for two
areas:
1) Promotion and Membership
· Work with the Vice President and the Chapter members to
develop special events that will promote NSSLHA,
recruit members, and raise funds
· Organize material provided by the Vice President
concerning the monthly meeting and/or special events
· Decide what type of media to use to publicize the
information
· Submit articles and/or notices to local and/or school
newspaper(s) and radio station(s), if appropriate
· Provide photos and/or graphics, if necessary, to
accompany information
· Invite media reporters and/or photographers to NSSLHA
events, if appropriate
· Hang posters in public venues to advertise NSSLHA
functions and Chapter activities
· Develop a campaign to recruit NSSLHA members to the
local chapter and to national NSSLHA
2) Photos and/or graphics: Plan and assemble materials
needed to promote NSSLHA chapter activities and events.
C. The Current Issues Committee shall develop methods to
provide the membership with current information pertaining
to issues and events on the local, state, and national
levels.
D. The Ways and Means Committee shall devise and supervise
methods of raising funds.
Section 3. Committee Chairs
All Chairs shall be appointed by the Chapter President.
The Chair shall be responsible for the supervision and
coordination of all activities undertaken by their
committee(s).
A Chair is the presiding officer of the committee.
Section 4. The responsibilities of the Chair are:
a. To supervise all activities undertaken by his/her
committee.
b. To keep a file of the committee's activities which will
include the following items:
1. List of members and their most recent telephone
numbers
2. Any notes related to committee activities.
3. Correspondence
c. To determine the time and place for the committee's
meetings.
d. To recruit NSSLHA members to work on the committee.
e. To report to the membership at each monthly business
meeting:
1. Statement of the activities of the committee
2. Statement of debits and credits, and
3. Statement of any committee problems and possible
solutions
f. To write the yearly report for the committee.
Article VIII: Committee Policies and Responsibilities
Section 1. Authority
All committees are answerable to the membership.
Section 2. Duties of personnel
The committee is to be arranged so that each person has only one
task to perform at a time or has one specific task each
month.
Section 3. NSSLHA Bulletin Board
1. Notices to the committee will be posted on the NSSLHA
Bulletin Board.
2. A list of committee members will be posted on the NSSLHA
Bulletin Board and will be kept updated.
Section 4. Purchases
1. Committee members are responsible for their own purchases
as well as reporting these expenditures to the committee
Chair and to the Treasurer for reimbursement.
2. The following information must be written on the sales
slip:
a. The item purchases
b. The purchaser's name
c. The date of the purchase
d. The total amount of the purchase
3. On specific projects, the committee as a whole will
tabulate the total expenditure to be made for that
project.
Article IX: Meetings
Section 1. The regular meetings of the association shall be held on the on
the second Tuesday of each month from September to May unless
otherwise ordered by the organization or by the Executive
Council.
Section 2. The regular meeting on the second Tuesday in April shall be
known as the annual meeting and shall be for the purpose of
electing officers, receiving reports from officers and
committees, and for any other business that may arise.
Section 3. Special meetings may be called by the President or the
Executive Council and shall be called upon the written request
of 10 members of the association. The purpose of the meeting
shall be stated in the notice, and three days notice shall be
given except in the cases of emergencies.
Section 4. Fifty percent of the active members shall constitute a quorum.
Article X: Orders Robert's Revised Rules of Order shall constitute the parliamentary authority in all matters not covered by the national and local bylaws.
Article XI: Amendments Section 1. Suggested Amendments Suggestions for amendments or revision of these Bylaws shall be presented to the Chapter Executive Council by any member or advisor at least one month prior to the next scheduled business meeting. Section 2. Action on Proposed Amendments All amendments shall be presented to the general membership for action. A majority vote of two thirds of those present at the business meeting at which the amendment is announced shall be required for adoption.
Article XII: By-Laws By-laws to this constitution may be added at any regular meeting of the association by two-thirds vote, provided the by-law has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting.