Rhode Island School Counselor Association Bylaws
ARTICLE I
NAME AND PURPOSE
Article I, Section 1. Name
The name of the Association shall be the Rhode Island School Counselor Association (RISCA). RISCA is a state affiliate of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and is organized in accordance with the Articles and Bylaws of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA).
Article I, Section 2. Purpose
The purpose of the Rhode Island School Counselor Association is to promote excellence in the profession of school counseling and the academic, college & career ready, and social & emotional development of all students.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
Article II, Section 1. Types of Membership
This Association shall include four types of membership: Professional, Retired, Student and Affiliate.
Article II, Section 2. Requirements of Membership
In order to qualify for one of the four types of membership, the following requirements must be met for each category of membership being sought:
Article II, Section 2.a. Professional Membership Professional members must hold a master's degree or higher in a counseling or related field and meet one or more of the following requirements: be credentialed as a school counselor by a state, district or territory of the United States; be employed as a school counselor or supervisor of school counselors; or be employed as a counselor educator in a post-secondary institution.
Article II, Section 2.b. Retired Membership. Retired members maintain all the privileges of professional membership.
Article II, Section 2.c. Student Membership. Students who meet the requirements for student membership in RISCA, having interests in the area of school counseling, may become Student members. Student members must be enrolled part or full time in a program leading to certification in school counseling. Proof of part- or full-time enrollment status must be provided each membership year.
Article II, Section 2.d. Affiliate Membership. Individuals interested in school counseling, not eligible for any other type of membership, may become Affiliate members.
Article II, Section 3. Dues
Dues shall be set by the Governing Board for all categories of members.
Article II, Section 4. Rights and Privileges
Article II, Section 4.a. Individuals holding Professional, Retired, Student and Affiliate membership may vote on all matters coming before the Association membership body and shall be eligible to hold elective office in the Association. Only individuals holding Professional membership may serve as members of the ASCA Delegate Assembly. Article II, Section 4.b. Individuals holding student membership may be appointed as a non-voting member of the Governing Board at the discretion of the Governing Board.
Article II, Section 5. Severance of Membership
Association members may be dropped from membership for nonpayment of dues, revocation of license, credential or certification or violations of the American School Counselor Association's Ethical Standards for School Counselors.
Article II, Section 6. Nondiscrimination
The Rhode Island School Counselor Association does not knowingly engage in or support activities which discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, affectional or sexual orientation, disability, or age.
ARTICLE III
DELEGATE ASSEMBLIES
Article III, Section 1. ASCA Delegate Assembly
The President and the President-Elect shall serve as delegates to the ASCA Delegate Assembly. Other delegates may be chosen from the members of the Governing Board. Delegates must be professional members of ASCA.
Article III, Section 2. Responsibilities of ASCA Delegates
The President, President-elect and/or other Board members chosen as delegates to the ASCA Delegate Assembly will represent RISCA via approved Governing Board position statements as appropriate.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS AND GOVERNING BOARD
Article IV, Section 1. Officers
The officers of the Association shall be the President, President-Elect, Treasurer and Secretary.
Article IV, Section 2. Election of Officers
All officers of the Association, except for the Secretary and Treasurer, shall be elected at large from among eligible members of the Association.
Article IV, Section 3. Terms of office
Article IV, Section 3.a. The term of the President is a two-year term.
Article IV, Section 3.b. The term of the President-Elect is a two-year term. The President-Elect shall automatically become President of the Association after the commencement of the term as President-Elect, or upon the death, resignation or other incapacity of the President. In the event a President-elect shall resign or be unable to complete the term or the President's unexpired term, the Immediate Past President shall assume the position of President until the Governing Board appoints a qualified member to fill any such vacancy. In the event a President-Elect moves into the President before the current term as President-Elect expires, the individual with the next highest votes will be offered the position. If there are no options for new coming President-Elect, the Board reserves the right to appoint the position.
Article IV, Section 3.c. The immediate Past President shall serve for two years following the expiration of the term as President.
Article IV, Section 3.d. The Secretary and Treasurer, with the approval of the Governing Board, shall be appointed by the President and serve at the pleasure of the present and succeeding presidents.
Article IV, Section 3.f. An elected officer or shall not be a candidate for re-election to the same office.
Article IV, Section 3.g. The term of office for any elected officer shall coincide with the fiscal year of the Association (September 1 – August 31).
Article IV, Section 5. Nominations and Election of Officers
Article IV, Section 5.a. To be eligible for an officer or governing board position, an individual must be an active member of RISCA.
Article IV, Section 5.b. During the spring of an election year, the Nominations and Elections Committee shall issue a call to all members of the Association for the nomination of officers from the floor for the following year. Announcement of nomination procedures will be published electronically via the RISCA list-serv,social media sites and association website.
Article IV, Section 5.c. The Nominations and Elections Committee shall determine the eligibility of candidates.
Article IV, Section 5.d. The ballots shall be provided electronically and tabulated by the members of the Nominations and Elections Committee. All individuals elected to office shall be notified by a member of our Board.
Article IV, Section 5.e. If any elected member should be unable to assume their duties by the beginning of the Association's fiscal year or to complete the term of that office, the candidate with the next highest number of votes shall be asked to assume that position. The Governing Board shall have the authority to fill any vacancy for which there are no other provisions.
Article IV, Section 6. Duties of Officers
Article IV, Section 6.a. The President shall serve as a delegate to the ASCA Delegate Assembly. The President shall perform the duties customary to that of the office and additional duties as directed by the Governing Board.
Article IV, Section 6.b. The President-Elect shall perform such duties as directed by the Governing Board and shall serve as a delegate to the ASCA Delegate Assembly. In the spring preceding the term of presidency, the President-Elect, with the approval of the Governing Board, shall appoint the standing committee chairs, the secretary, and the treasurer to serve a two-year term concurrent with that individual's presidency. In the absence of the President, the President-Elect shall perform the duties of the President.
Article IV, Section 6.c. The Immediate Past President shall perform such duties as directed by the Governing Board.
Article IV, Section 6.d. The At-Large representativesof the Association shall be responsible specifically for generating interest and activities within their representative elective setting.
Article IV, Section 6.e. The Secretary shall record official proceedings of the Governing Board, maintain the records of the Association, handle correspondence addressed to the Association, file the annual report of the corporation with the Secretary of State, and perform other such duties as are incidental to this office.
Article IV, Section 6.f. The Treasurer shall receive all money belonging to the Association, keep an accounting of all receipts and expenditures, present in writing a financial report at each Governing Board meeting and, at the end of each fiscal year, chair and appoint members of the Budget Committee, and perform other duties as directed by the Governing Board.
Article IV, Section 6.g. All officers shall be familiar with the responsibilities listed in these bylaws and in organization documents, protocols and procedures.
Article IV, Section 6.h. All committee chairs shall submit an annual report to the Governing Board at the last meeting of the fiscal year, as requested.
Article IV, Section 6.i. The President, Immediate Past President, and President-Elect must hold professional membership in ASCA.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
Article V, Section 1. Committees
The committees of the Association can consist of such standing and special committees as may be determined by the Governing Board as needed. The President-Elect, with the approval of the Governing Board, shall appoint the standing committee chairs in the spring preceding the term of presidency. The President, with the approval of the Governing Board, can appoint Ad Hoc committees to accomplish specific tasks within specific time frames.
Article V, Section 2. Responsibilities of Committee Chairs
Article V, Section 2.a. All committee chairs shall be familiar with the responsibilities listed in these bylaws
Article V, Section 2.b. All committee chairs shall report their progress to the Governing Board as requested and shall submit an annual report to the Governing Board at the last meeting of the fiscal year.
Article V, Section 5. Removal from Office
Any committee chair may be removed from office, for cause, by a two-thirds majority vote of the Governing Board.
Article V, Section 6. Compensation and Expenses of Committee Chairs
Committee Chairs shall not receive any compensation for services. Expenses incurred by committee chairs may be reimbursed as provided by the budget of the Association.
ARTICLE VI
GOVERNING BOARD
Article VI, Section 1. Composition of Governing Board
The Governing Board shall consist of the officers of the Association, the Immediate Past President, and six (6) At-Large Representatives elected every two years. At-large representatives must maintain active membership and participate in at least 80% of the RISCA board meetings. At-Large Representatives shall be elected for a two-year term. If an At-Large Representative resigns early, the Board reserves the right to appoint the position. If they or does not fill their obligations, the Board reserves to request they resign their position.
Article VI, Section 2. Powers and Functions of the Governing Board
The Governing Board shall:
Article VI, Section 2.a. Establish policies to govern the affairs of the Association.
Article VI, Section 2.b. Formulate operational policies appropriate for executive action and direct the execution thereof.
Article VI, Section 2.c. Act on the reports of the officers and committee chairs.
Article VI, Section 2.d. Adopt and amend the bylaws.
Article VI, Section 2.e. Exercise such other powers and functions as may be necessary or desirable in the best interests of the Association, not in conflict with the bylaws.
Article VI, Section 2.f. Be responsible for identifying issues and establishing priorities pertinent to the Association.
Article VI, Section 2.g. Establish broad, long-term professional directions for the Association.
Article VI, Section 3. Meetings of the Governing Board
Article VI, Section 3.a. The Governing Board shall meet a minimum of four (4) times per year.
Article VI, Section 3.b. The President of the Association shall preside at the meetings of the Governing Board and, in the President's absence, the President-Elect or immediate Past President shall preside.
ARTICLE VIII
BUSINESS AFFAIRS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Article VIII, Section 1. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year shall begin on September 1 and end on August 31.
Article VIII, Section 4. Annual Meeting
The President of the Association shall hold a business meeting for the membership at large year during the Rhode Island School Counselor Association Conference. The business meeting shall be posted and listed in the Annual Meeting Agenda.
Article VIII, Section 5. Quorum
A majority of members of the Governing Board shall constitute a quorum at Governing Board meetings and at the Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE IX
BYLAWS
Article IX, Section 1. Amendment and Adoption
These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the Governing Board as provided in this section.
Article IX, Section 1.a. An amendment shall be proposed in writing to the Bylaws Committee by the Governing Board or over the signatures of twenty members in good standing not less than thirty days prior to any regularly scheduled meeting of the Governing Board.
Article IX, Section 1.b. Copies of amendments proposed under the provision of the foregoing paragraph shall be provided to members of the Governing Board not less than thirty (30) days prior to any meeting of the Governing Board.
ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION
The Association shall indemnify each member of the Board of Directors and each of its officers for the defense of civil or criminal actions or proceedings in a manner and to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Associaiton will enter into an indemnification policy each year that will indemnify each officer and directyor from and against any and all judgments, fines, amounts to be pain in settlement, and reasonable expenses incurred or imposed as a result of having been an officer or director and acting within the scope of his or her official duties.
Approved and Amended on October 21, 2024