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Bylaws

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Article I - Name and Purpose

  • The name of this organization shall be the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS).
  • The purpose of this organization shall be: To foster the international development of functional contextual cognitive and behavioral science and practice so as to alleviate human suffering and advance human well being.
  • The Association is an unincorporated association organized exclusively for educational and scientific purposes.
  • The Association is a non-profit association.

This organization seeks:

  • The development of a coherent and progressive science of human action that is more adequate to the challenges of the human condition;
  • The development of useful basic principles, workable applied theories linked to these principles, effective applied technologies based on these theories, and successful means of training and disseminating these developments, guided by the best available scientific evidence;
  • The development of a view of science that values a dynamic, ongoing interaction between its basic and applied elements, and between practical application and empirical knowledge;
  • Development of a community of scholars, researchers, educators, and practitioners who will work in a collegial, open, self-critical, non-discriminatory, and mutually supportive way that is effective in producing valued outcomes and in exploring the additional implications of this work, and that emphasizes open and low cost methods of connecting with this work so as to keep the focus on benefit to others;

Article 2 - Membership

  • Members of the Association shall be persons who are interested in the advancement of functional contextual science and practice. Professional members and Fellows shall be entitled to the rights and privileges of the Association without restriction.
  • The types of membership shall be professional, student, and affiliate.
  • The minimum standard for election to professional membership shall be completion of a terminal degree relevant to the purposes of the Association. Student members shall be currently enrolled at the undergraduate or graduate level in an area of relevance to the purposes of the Association. Affiliate members are any member of the public with interests in the purpose of the Association.
  • Standards for Fellow Status in the Association shall be set by the Board of Directors.
  • Membership dues are set by the Board of Directors of the Association and paid to the Association annually.
  • Members shall be regarded without discrimination on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, political affiliation, or mental or physical disability.

Article 3 - Officers, Duties, and Terms of Office

  • The officers of the Association shall consist of a President, President-Elect, Past-President, Secretary-Treasurer, a student representative, and four Members-at-Large of the Board of Directors. Each shall perform the usual duties of the respective office and specific duties provided elsewhere in these Bylaws or as assigned by the Board of Directors. Elections for officers shall be held every year. The President, President-Elect, Past-President, and student representative shall each serve a one-year term and may not hold any other offices within the Association. The Members-at-Large shall be elected every two years. In each two-year cycle one of the Members-at-Large shall have a strong background and interest in basic science relevant to the purposes of the Association. The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve a three year term.
  • Candidates for offices shall be Members of the Association. Officers shall be elected by email ballot to Members.
  • The Past-President shall fulfill the duties of the President in case of the President's absence, incapacity, or resignation. In the event of the President's resignation, or lengthy absence or incapacity, the Board of Directors may, by a two-thirds vote, provide for an election of a new President before the normal voting cycle. In such a case, the Past-President shall serve as President until the new President takes office.

Article 4 – Committees

  • The Committees of the Association shall consist of such standing Committees as may be provided by these Bylaws and such special Committees as may be established by the Board of Directors.
  • The President, President-Elect, Past-President, Secretary-Treasurer and Members-at-Large shall constitute the voting members of the Board of Directors.
  • The Board of Directors shall have general supervision of the affairs of the Association, performing the duties and abiding by the limitations specified in these Bylaws. Actions of the Board of Directors affecting Association policy are subject to approval by a majority vote of the Members voting at the annual meeting, or by a special email ballot as decided upon by the Board of Directors. A request for an email ballot of the membership of the Association may be initiated either by the Board of Directors or by five percent (5%) of the Members, at which point, an email ballot shall be circulated to the membership. Results of an email ballot of the membership constitute the final authority of the Association.
  • The Membership Committee shall be selected by the Board of Directors with a chair appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. It shall be the responsibility of this Committee to secure and review evidence concerning the membership qualifications of all candidates for membership or changes of membership status and to select Fellows of the Association.
  • The Election Committee shall be selected by the Board of Directors, with a chair appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. The Election Committee shall secure nominations by email ballot from the Members and shall ascertain whether the nominees are qualified and willing to serve if elected. The Election Committee shall be responsible for making a preferential count of the election ballots and reporting the results to the Board of Directors.

Article 5 – Activities

  • The association may hold periodic meetings for the transaction of business and presentations regarding developments in contextual science, application, and the advancement of human welfare.
  • The Association may engage in activities designed to accomplish its purposes, including -establishing or acquire newsletters, journals, and other publications -establishing and maintaining websites, list serves, and other media -specifying or promoting education and training criteria promoting public education
  • The Board of Directors may provide for the formation and dissolution of student affiliate groups, divisions or interest groups, regional chapters, and other units within the Association.

Article 6 - Rules of Procedure

  • The rules contained in the edition of Robert's Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt.

Article 7 – Amendments

  • These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of Members who reply to an email ballot sent to the total membership. Bylaws amendments may be initiated by the Board of Directors or by petition of five percent (5%) of the total membership.
  • Within five years after the adoption of these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall appoint a special committee to review these initial Bylaws and to recommend changes in them.

Article 8 – Dissolution

  • In the event of the dissolution or termination of the Association, all of the assets and title to and possession of the property of the Association shall pass to one or more scientific and professional organizations entitled to exemption from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(6).

Approved by the planning committee, October 16, 2005

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