INTRODUCTION

Houston Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (HAMFT) is a Texas Nonprofit Organization. The mission of HAMFT is to promote the field of marriage and family therapy by offering quality continuing education units based on marriage and family therapy principles, and to provide a space for building community and networking for licensed mental health professionals, associates, and students.

ARTICLE I. NAME, ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND RELATIONSHIP

Section 1. The name of this Organization shall be the Houston Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (HAMFT). This organization serves Harris and surrounding counties, i.e., Fort Bend, Montgomery, etc.

Section 2. This Organization is responsible to the duly elected Board of Directors (Officers and Board Members) of the HAMFT, and all rules and orders lawfully made thereunder.

Section 3. The bylaws of this Organization shall be consistent with those of its Board of Directors who serve and represent the members of this Organization, and these bylaws shall be approved by the Board of Directors of the HAMFT.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

Section 1. The purposes for which this organization is formed are as follows:

1. To promote the common professional interests of those who are marital and family therapists in Texas.
2. To fulfill other purposes stated in the HOA MFT bylaws.

Section 2. To further the objectives of the HAMFT organization, we may provide meetings, workshop events, clinical presentations, conference events, newsletter publications, and research in the field, as well as educate the members and the public regarding the rules of Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and family therapists and other relative activities.

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Determination and Rights of Members

HAMFT shall have two classes of members:

1. Voting Members. The voting membership shall be composed of Clinical Members and Associate Members; and
2. Non-voting Members. The non-voting membership shall be composed of Student Members.

Section 2. Membership Qualifications

The qualifications for membership in this corporation are as follows:

1. Licensed Clinical Members and Associate Members shall be in good standing with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council. Clinical and associate members are individuals that have completed coursework and degree according to Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council.
2. Student Members are individuals that are enrolled in a graduate program geared toward the mental health sciences including marriage and family therapy, counseling, social work, or psychology.

Section 3. Membership Admission, Rules, and Quantity of Members

1. Membership in the HAMFT is voluntary and contingent on the payment of dues.
2. Applicants shall be admitted to membership by approval of the Membership Director and/or an officer of the Board after qualifications are verified.
3. Members shall be governed by and abide by the bylaws of the HAMFT, and all rules and orders lawfully made thereunder.
4. There is no limit on the number of members the organization may admit

Section 4. Fees and Dues

The amount of annual dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors and approved by a majority of those voting at a regularly scheduled meeting.

Section 5. Membership Directory

HAMFT shall keep an online membership database containing the name and address of each member. Termination of the membership of any member shall be recorded in the electronic record, together with the date of termination of such membership.

 Section 6. Meetings of Members

1. The annual meeting of the membership shall be held at a date and location to be determined by the Board
2. Special meetings of the membership may be called by the President or a majority of the Board.
3. Notice of all annual and special meetings shall be sent by the Board of Directors to all voting members of the Organization at least 14 days in advance of the meeting. Action at such meetings shall be limited to those agenda items contained in the notice of the meeting
4. A quorum at all annual and special meetings of the organization shall consist of the voting members present at the meeting. Should a voting member choose not to attend a meeting in which voting will take place, the voting member acknowledges that they are exercising their right to not vote. Every act or decision done or motion is made by a majority of voting members present. No proxies shall be permitted.

ARTICLE IV. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Number

The Board of Directors (“Directors") shall be comprised of five (5) primary Officers; President, Past-President, President-elect, Secretary, and Treasurer, as well as seven Board Members Program Director I, Program Director II, Ethics & Diversity Director, Communication Director, Social Media Director, Membership Director, and Scholarship & Sponsors Director. Each Director may appoint committee members to assist in fulfilling their duties. Position will be filled based on volunteers and needs. 

Section 2. Duties of Primary Officers

1. President shall be a LMFT Clinical or Associate Member (see qualification Article III Section 2) and serve a term of one (1) year. The President shall be the Chief Officer of HAMFT and of the Board and shall perform such duties as are customary for presiding officers, including making all required appointments with the approval of the Board and to ensure that the mission of HAMFT is followed and bylaws are upheld. The President shall preside over all meetings, recommend a budget for the current year for approval, and maintain the post office box with Treasurer. The President shall succeed to the office of Past President.
2. President-Elect shall be a LMFT Clinical or Associate Member, serve a term of one (1) year and shall succeed to the office of President. In the absence of the President, perform the duty of President, including running the board meeting and presiding over the workshop. If the President is not able to perform their duties for their term year, will take over the President position and will perform duties as outlined herein. The President-elect shall oversee securing and collecting resumes from potential candidates for board positions for their term year and will initiate and obtain a vote from voting members for board positions.
3. Past President shall be a LMFT Clinical or Associate Member and serve a term of one (1) year. Past President: follow their term as President; and serve as a consultant and advisor to the Directors and Board.
4. Secretary shall serve a term of one (1) year. The Secretary shall: keep the records of all business meetings and meetings of the Board by uploading them to cloud storage. The Secretary shall direct the distribution of minutes and reports to the Board; and be responsible for all official correspondence of HAMFT in conjunction with the Communication Director & President. In the event of his/her absence, his/her duties may be performed by another member appointed by the President.
5. Treasurer shall serve for a term of one (1) year. The Treasurer shall oversee the management of funds for duly authorized purposes and assist the President in preparation of the annual budget. The Treasurer shall ensure HAMFT follows all annual tax documents reporting as required by law. The Treasurer shall be responsible for submitting an annual financial report to the Board at the end of the calendar year; and other duties as determined by the Board.

Section 3 Duties of Board Members:

1. Program Director I & II shall serve for a term of one (1) year. Program Directors shall be responsible for the coordination of the Organization’s Continuing Education (CE) events, this includes selecting speakers, securing location, and submitting marketing materials to the Communications Director for publication.
2. Ethics & Diversity Director shall serve for a term of one (1) year. This director shall provide membership and the Board with information relevant to the professional practice and ethical issues of marriage and family therapy in Texas, and shall ensure that leadership, programming and membership reflect the multicultural and diverse aspects of the field of marriage and family therapy and the community it serves. The Ethic & Diversity Director shall not conduct investigations or consider allegations of violations against members, nor shall they issue or render advisory opinions on ethical matters.
3. Communication Director shall serve for a term of one (1) year. Communication director shall write, edit, assemble and disseminate electronic announcements prior to each workshop/meeting, maintain HAMFT's website, and fulfill other duties as determined by the Board related to communication.
4. Social Media Director: shall serve for a term of one (1) year. shall facilitate HAMFT's social media presence, generally oversee communications that reach the public's eye, and be responsible for the distribution of information regarding upcoming meetings and workshops.
5. Membership Director shall serve for a term of one (1) year. shall be responsible for cultivating new members through programming, encouraging renewal of current members, and maintaining an accurate and up-to-date database directory.
6. Scholarship & Sponsorship Director shall serve for a term of one (1) year. The Scholarship & Sponsorship Director shall secure and disseminate monies for the Warm Hearth scholarship, including receiving applications from applicants and having board members vote on approval for reward, and shall secure food sponsors for workshops as requested by the board.

ARTICLE V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS POLICIES

Section 1. Powers

The Board of Directors shall exercise all powers of the Organization, except as specifically prohibited by these bylaws. The Board of Directors shall be authorized to adopt and publish such policies, procedures, and rules as may be necessary and consistent with these bylaws and to exercise authority over all the Organization’s business and funds.

Section 2. Duties of Directors

The following expectations are required by the Directors:

1. The Board of Directors shall meet monthly. Directors are required to be at all board meetings. If a director is unable to attend, they are responsible for appointing a delegate in their absence.
2. The Board of Directors shall participate in 80% of planned activities.
3. When voting, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors.
4. Every act or decision done or made is by a majority of the Directors present at a meeting. Each member of the Board of Directors shall be entitled to one (1) vote and must be present to vote or submit proxy directly to a board member.

Section 3. Committees

The President with the approval of the Board shall appoint committees as needed, including designating a chairperson for each committee.

Section 4. Meetings

1. At the call of the President, or at the written request of at least two (2) members of the Board of Directors, a special meeting may be called.
2. Board members will be notified of regular board meetings at the beginning of their term. Members are expected to adjust their schedule accordingly.
3. Notice of special meetings shall be given by the secretary to each director 14 days prior to the meeting. Directors unable to attend have a responsibility to notify the chairperson and find a delegate replacement.

Section 5.  Vacancies, Resignations and Removal

Vacancies on the Board of Directors shall exist (1) on the death, resignation, or removal of any Director, and (2) whenever the number of authorized Directors is increased. For a member of the Board of Directors to be removed, a quorum must be reached, which is defined in these bylaws as majority of the membership of the Board. The remaining members of the Board of Directors will vote. After the vote to remove the member, the Secretary will document the results and reason(s) in the Board meeting minutes at the next Board meeting and that will be maintained with those meeting minutes.

1. Voluntary removal or resignation: A member of the Board of Directors may resign for personal reasons, including but not limited to increasing responsibilities at work, moving away, or feeling that they are not a good fit for the role. The members of the Board of Directors will submit their resignation in writing, electronic or hard copy, to the entire Board. After the resignation, the Secretary will document the resignation in the Board meeting minutes at the next Board meeting, and the member of the Board of Directors’ resignation letter will be maintained with those meeting minutes. 
2. Removal by Board policy: members of the Board of Directors may be removed for negligence of duties or not performing their position’s responsibilities. 
3. Removal for misconduct: A member of the Board of Directors may be removed for misconduct, defined as follows: creating an environment of abuse or division incidents that decrease trust, creating a harassing environment, not adhering to the Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct, or making vocal statements that are at odds with the missions of the organization. For a member of the Board of Directors to be removed, a quorum must be reached, which is defined in these bylaws as half of the membership of the Board. The remaining members of the Board of Directors will vote. After the vote to remove the member, the Secretary will document the results and reason(s) in the Board meeting minutes at the next Board meeting and that will be maintained with those meeting minutes.

Section 6. Qualifications

Any member may serve as an officer of this organization with the exception for the following roles:

1. President shall be a Clinical Member or an Associate Member with a minimum of one year post license.
2. President-elect shall be a Clinical Member or an Associate Member. President and President-elect cannot be a Student Member.

ARTICLE VI NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. Election Cycle

The nomination and election of all elected positions shall be conducted annually in November. All voting members of the Organization shall have the right to vote in the election which shall be conducted by email ballot. Discrimination in the elections and nomination procedures based on race, color, creed, gender, age or sexual orientation is forbidden. Candidates who are elected shall assume office on the first day of January following their election and shall hold office for the tenure of their office or until their successors have been elected and qualified.

Section 2. Election Nominees

Before the elections, the board shall prepare a slate containing at least one nominee for each position and shall determine the eligibility and willingness of each nominee to stand for election. The candidate who receives the majority of votes for each office shall be elected. Ballots shall be counted by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Re-Election

If an Officer or Board of Directors position is up for election, only one candidate has submitted interest in serving in that position, and the Board of Directors has determined eligibility of that candidate, then the Board shall not hold an election process for that position and award that position to the candidate.

Section 4. Vacancies

If any office, other than President, becomes vacant the position may remain vacant, or the Board may appoint a successor to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. If the President is unable to complete the current term of office, the President-elect shall assume the presidential duties and office, and the Board shall appoint a new President-elect. 

ARTICLE VII FINANCE

Section 1. Calendar Year

The calendar year shall run from January 1 to December 31 of each year

Section 2. Budget

The Treasurer shall present the proposed budget for each year to the Board of Directors by the end of the first quarter. The proposed budget shall be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors is empowered to make any changes in the budget necessitated by circumstances and consistent with the priorities of the chapter. The approved budget identifies the planned expenditure for each year. Once approved, the Treasurer is authorized to disburse funds as outlined in the budget. Changes to the budget must be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Checks and Notes

Checks, drafts, promissory notes, orders for the payment of money, and other evidence of indebtedness of the organization shall be signed by the treasurer and countersigned by the President.

Section 4. Depository

All funds of the organization shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the organization in such banks, or other depositories as the Board of Directors may select.

Section 5. Reporting

Financial activities and positions including but not limited to balance sheet and profit/loss statements must be presented at the monthly board meetings.

This organization shall not engage in any activities that are not permitted under Section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code for federal income tax purposes.

Article VIII Amendment of Bylaws

Section 1. Amendment

These bylaws may be amended or repealed by the majority of the board members that are present at the time of the vote. Amendments may be proposed by the Board on its own initiative.