Amended 4/02

ARTICLE I - NAME

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

ARTICLE IV - DUES

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

ARTICLE VI – EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND LEADERSHIP ROLES

ARTICLE VII – POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

ARTICLE VIII – PROJECTS AND COMMITTEES

ARTICLE IX – AMENDMENTS

ARTICLE I - NAME:

1. The name of this organization shall be the MISSISSIPPI PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (MPA).

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE:

1. The purpose of the MPA, the organized voice of psychology in Mississippi, is to advance psychology as a science and a profession by: contributing to scientific knowledge in psychology; disseminating this knowledge through education of the public as well as MPA’s membership; and applying this knowledge through professional practice to promote health and human welfare.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP:

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1. The MPA membership shall consist of Members, Fellows, Associates, and Student Members.

2. Members shall be individuals who reside, or are employed, or have special concerns or interests in the State of Mississippi, and apply in writing to the MPA for membership, and (a) are Members or Fellows of the American Psychological Association (APA) or (b) possess qualifications equivalent to those required of Members or Fellows of the APA, and are duly elected to membership.

3. Fellows shall be Members of the MPA who (a) have been a MPA Member in good standing for 10 years or more, (b) have provided significant service for MPA (e.g., served in elected or appointed positions for at least 5 years), (c) have made a significant contribution to the field of psychology in the state through exemplary practice, research, teaching or advocacy, and (d) have been nominated by two or more MPA Fellows. The MPA Executive Council will review and vote on nominations. No more that 5 members shall be approved for Fellowship status annually. (Hereinafter, except as noted, whenever the word Member appears, Fellow is also intended)

4. Associates shall be individuals who reside, or are employed, or have special concerns or interests in the State of Mississippi, and (a) are Associates of the APA or (b) possess at least a BA or BS degree with a major (or equivalent) in psychology granted by a recognized college or university, and are presently employed in primarily psychological work. A year of such supervised work may be substituted for college major. Associates must apply in writing to the MPA and be duly elected to membership.

5. Student Members shall be individuals who, at the time of their election to membership, are either residents/fellows in a postdoctoral psychology training program, interns enrolled in an accredited internship, graduate students in Psychology enrolled at a recognized college or university, or undergraduate students majoring in Psychology at a recognized college or university.

6. Associates and Student Members shall have all rights and privileges of MPA membership except they may not vote or hold elective office.

7. Individuals applying for membership must agree to adhere to the APA ethical guidelines.

8. The application for membership for Associate or Student Member must be endorsed by at least one MPA Member.

9. Members, Associates, and Student Members shall be elected by a majority vote of the Executive Council. Fellows shall be elected by unanimous vote of the Executive Council.

10. The MPA Communications Officer shall notify new Members, Associates, and Student Members of their election.

ARTICLE IV - DUES:

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1. Dues shall be determined by a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Council based on the reasonable and conservative needs of the MPA to provide member services.

2. Any Member, Associate, or Student Member whose dues are not paid by the end of the calendar year shall be dropped from MPA membership.

3. Any Member or Associate who has reached the age of sixty-five and is no longer in active practice, or, regardless of age, has been adjudicated totally and permanently disabled, shall be exempt from further payment of dues upon informing the Financial Officer of the retirement or disability. Any Member who has attained APA dues-exempt status shall be eligible for such status in the MPA upon informing the Financial Officer.

4. Only those Members whose dues are current may nominate, vote or hold office, either elected or appointed.

5. Any Member, Associate, or Student Member who fails to notify the MPA in writing of resignation from the MPA will be subject to payment of past dues, should that person wish to be reinstated to membership.

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS:

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1. The MPA shall elect officers concurrent with the Annual Convention business meeting or at such other time and at such place designated by the Executive Council. Additional meetings may be called by the Executive Council at any time by written or electronic notification, and other meetings may be called by a petition signed by at least one-fourth of the Members.

ARTICLE VI – EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND LEADERSHIP ROLES:

Executive Council:

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1. The MPA Leadership is made up of an Executive Council consisting of the following: President, Immediate Past-President, President-Elect, Communications Officer, Financial Officer, APA Council Representative, four Regional Representatives, Government Relations Officer, and Executive Director.

2. The Executive Council is the policy-making and regulatory body of the MPA. It shall meet at least four times a year with one meeting occurring at the annual convention.

 Leadership Roles

1. The President shall be a member of the MPA who has just completed the term of President-Elect. The President assumes this office on the first of January following the annual meeting one year after having been elected President-Elect. Term of office is one year. During the term of office, the President shall serve as general presiding officer and shall oversee the current goals and projects for the MPA.

2. The President-Elect shall be a Member of the MPA duly elected by the membership. The President-Elect shall take office on the first of January of the calendar year after having been elected at the annual meeting, and shall serve for one year. During the term of office the President-Elect shall serve as assistant to the President, and shall succeed the President should that office be vacated before the full term is served, complete the unexpired term, and continue through the regular term of office. During the term of office, the President-Elect shall oversee strategic planning and the MPA election process for the Association.

3. The Immediate Past-President shall be a member of the MPA who has just completed the term of President. The Immediate Past-President shall oversee the MPA educational activities including the annual convention, and serve as a sustaining advisor of the Executive Council.

4. The Communications Officer shall be a Member of the MPA who has been elected by the members at alternate odd-year annual meetings. The Communications Officer shall take office on the first day of January of the calendar year after having been elected at the annual meeting, and shall serve for two years. In the event that both the President and President-Elect are unable to complete their terms of office, the Communications Officer shall be deemed next in line of succession. The Communications Officer shall oversee all MPA communication activities.

5. The Financial Officer shall be a Member of the MPA who has been elected by the members at alternate even-year annual meetings. The Financial Officer shall take office on the first day of January of the calendar year after having been elected at the annual meeting, and shall serve for two years. The Financial Officer shall oversee all MPA financial activities.

6. The APA Council Representative shall be a Member of the MPA and a Member of the APA. The term of office of the Representative shall be for three (3) years. Candidates for Representative shall be nominated by the Executive Council. However, the Representative shall be elected by the MPA members who are also APA members, with election carried out according to voting procedures established by the APA. It shall be the duty of the Representative to represent faithfully the interests of MPA members as identified by the Executive Council in all matters pertaining to the actions of the APA Council of Representatives.

7. Four Regional Representatives shall be Members of the MPA who shall be elected from their respective geographical regions. The term of office for the Regional Representatives shall be three years. The representatives from Regions I and II shall be elected in even years and Regions III and IV in odd years. Regional Representatives shall take office on the first day of January of the year following their election. Regional Representatives are limited to three (3) three-year terms of office but can stand for election again after three years out of office. Elections shall be held in accordance with Article VIII with the exception that the nominees must reside in the region they represent and nominations and election for a region must come from the MPA Members of that region. The Regional Representatives shall represent all MPA interests within their respective regions.

8. The Executive Director may be a member of the MPA. The Executive Director (ED) is appointed by the MPA Executive Council and serves as an advocate representative of the MPA on a state and federal level. The Executive Director functions as a non-voting member of the Executive Council.

9. The Government Relations Officer shall be a member of the MPA and a member of the APA. The Government Relations Officer functions as a non-voting member of Executive Council. The Government Relations Officer is appointed by the Executive Council. It shall be the duty of the Government Relations Officer to oversee state and federal political activities and government relations on MPA’s behalf, and to act as liaison to the APA Federal Advocacy Office.

Executive Council Elections and Membership:

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1. The President-Elect, Communications Officer, Financial Officer, APA Council Representative, and four Regional Representatives shall be elected as outlined below, and according to the current MPA Policy and Procedure manual. The President-Elect, assisted by the Executive Director, will oversee the election process.

2. Three (3) months prior to the annual convention, a nominating ballot listing the terms of office and the names of all those eligible for nomination will be sent to voting MPA members. Nominations must be returned within 30 days. The President-Elect will develop slates for each elective office based on these nominations.

3. Ballots will be distributed to voting MPA members by the Communications Officer no later than 45 days prior to the annual convention, and must be returned within 30 days. A plurality of votes cast will be sufficient to elect for any office. Announcement of the election results for the forthcoming year will be made at the annual convention.

4. In the event that the Executive Council determines that an Executive Council Member is not faithfully performing the duties of office and votes by two-thirds majority, such vote constitutes a resignation request of that Executive Council Member. If the Executive Council Member in question does not resign, he/she will be relieved of their his/her MPA duties. The Executive Council may appoint a qualified Member to serve out the term of the resigned Executive Council Member who has been relieved of duties.

5. In the event that an Executive Council Member voluntarily is unable to continue as a member of the Executive Council, the President shall appoint a substitute member.

ARTICLE VII – POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:

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1. A Policy and Procedure manual will be maintained by the Executive Council to guide the day-to-day implementation of the business of the MPA.

ARTICLE VIII – PROJECTS AND COMMITTEES:

1. It shall be the responsibility of the MPA Executive Council to establish the priorities and sustain the goals of the association.

2. The President may authorize the implementation of projects, committees, and task forces to carry out the priorities and goals for the association in order to educate, advocate, sustain, and support the MPA as the organized voice of psychology in Mississippi.
    

ARTICLE IX – AMENDMENTS:

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