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BYLAWS of the
PIERCE COUNTY COUNSELORS ASSOCIATION
Adopted Feb. 15, 2008.

ARTICLE I. NAME

Section I. The name of the organization is the “Pierce County Counselors Association,”  also referred to as PCCA.

Section II. The Pierce County Counselors Association functions as an independent organization and is not affiliated with any other organization.

Section III. The Pierce County Counselors Association shall conduct its affairs in compliance with these Bylaws.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES

Section I. Pierce County Counselors Association is a not-for-profit, voluntary organization established to provide counselors and related professionals the opportunity for continuing education, networking, mutual support, and counseling resources. As an organization of counselors and related professionals, members dedicate themselves to professional excellence, ongoing development, and service to our community.

Section II. The objectives of the PCCA shall be to:

1. provide ongoing professional development for its members,

2. promote networking opportunities and provide mutual support to other counseling professionals,

3. provide a forum for active communication regarding counseling,

4. inform and educate the general public concerning the counseling referral, assessment and treatment, and

5. advance high ethical standards of professional conduct in counseling.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP, MEETINGS, DUES, AND FEES

Section I. The association will have three categories of membership: 1) professional, 2) associate, and 3) student/retired. We offer Professional Membership to state licensed mental health professionals. We offer Associate Membership to state registered counselors and others who work in activities, programs, or businesses related to the field of mental health. We offer Student/Retired Membership to graduate students who are pursuing a Master’s degree or higher in a field of mental health and to retired mental health professionals. Persons in all categories must be interested in the study, use, and promotion of professional counseling. No one may be denied membership in this association on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, or age.

1. Professional Membership

a) Eligibility: Any mental health professional, including professional counselors, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and marriage and family therapists who are licensed in any state may become a professional member of PCCA. These licensed professionals must have a Master’s degree or higher in a field of mental health.

b) Privileges: Any person who has met the qualifications for Professional Membership and has paid the prescribed dues may be a professional member of the PCCA. Each professional member has one vote, may hold office, and may lead and participate on PCCA service teams.

2. Associate Membership

a) Eligibility: Any Registered Counselor in the state of Washington; any state qualified, chemical dependency counselor; or any professional who works in an activity, program or business related to mental health may become an associate member of PCCA.

b) Privileges: Any person who has met the qualifications for Associate Membership and has paid the prescribed dues may be an associate member of PCCA. Each associate member has one vote, may serve as the At-Large Officer of the association, and may lead and participate on PCCA service teams.

3. Student/Retired Membership

a) Eligibility: Any graduate student pursuing a Master’s degree or higher in any field of mental health and any retired mental health professional may become a student/retired member of PCCA.

b) Privileges: Any person who has met the qualifications for Student/Retired Membership and has paid the prescribed dues may be a student/retired member of PCCA. Student members may not vote, hold office, or lead a service team, but they may participate in service teams. Retired mental health professionals may vote, may hold office, and may lead and participate on service teams.

Section II: Severance of membership or a change in membership category may take place:

1. if the annual dues are not paid by the November meeting of the organizational year.

2. if unethical conduct by the PCCA member has been verified by the State of Washington, Department of Health and subsequent disciplinary action has been imposed. Members are responsible to notify PCCA if the above actions occur.

3. if a state licensing board takes away the member’s license or registration for reasons of unethical or illegal conduct. Members are responsible to notify PCCA if the above actions occur.

4. if a professional member allows her/his state license to lapse or does not renew it. Members are responsible to notify PCCA if the above action occurs.

5. if an associate member ceases to work in a mental health related activity or has been released from employment due to unethical behavior.  Members are responsible to notify PCCA if the above action occurs.

6. if the member dies.

Section III: Meetings will be held nine times each year, generally in the months of September through November and January through June. Each meeting will usually include an opportunity for continuing education, networking, and conducting association business. The Annual Meeting of PCCA will be held at the May meeting and will include the annual election of officers and a vote on the annual budget.  Vote/s on bylaw amendment/s and other business of the organization may also be handled at the meeting.

Section IV: Annual dues for the upcoming year for each membership category shall be established by the Council and announced at the Annual Meeting in May. Dues are payable by the September monthly meeting prior to the organizational year that runs from October 1st of one year through September 30th of the following year. The annual PCCA dues for Professional and Associate Memberships will be the same per organizational year and Student/Retired Membership will be one-half of the dues charged for Professional and Associate Memberships. For those who join after September, PCCA wiil proratedues at 1/12th of the annual dues for each month missed in the organizational year.

Section V: PCCA will charge non-members a meeting fee for each meeting attended. This fee will be established for the upcoming year by the Council and announced at the Annual Meeting in May.

Section VI: The Council may also establish fees for members and guests for extended continuing education opportunities offered by the PCCA.

Section VII: All paid attendees and current members will receive documentation of Continuing Education for the professional development offered at the PCCA meetings they attended in full. There will not be any additional charge for this documentation.

ARTICLE IV. COUNCIL

Section I. PCCA will elect four (4) professional members to serve as President, President–Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer on the PCCA Council, and one (1) professional or associate member to serve to serve as the At-Large Officer. Those elected to office must agree to perform the functions of Officers. (See Article V.)

Section II. Participation in PCCA for a minimum of one year immediately prior to holding a position on the Council is required. This qualification will go into effect once prospective members have adopted, and the Council implements the membership policies. PCCA will not require such participation (one year) for the initial election.

Section III. In the first year, PCCA members will elect all five (5) officer positions. Each subsequent year, PCCA members will elect either two or three officers as needed to keep a full Council membership. (See Article VIII. Section I. 2.) This system of election promotes transfer of knowledge and experience and sustains the organization.

Section IV. In case of the resignation or death of an Officer, the Council will appoint an interim officer who will serve until the next election. At the time of the next scheduled election, members will elect a replacement Council member along with the other open positions in accordance with the election process described in Article VIII. The duration of service of the replacement officer will be either one year or two so that the subsequent election will reestablish the election schedule provided in Article VIII. Section II. 4.

ARTICLE V. GOVERNANCE

Section I. The governing body of the PCCA shall be the Council described in Article IV.

Section I. The Council will make all decisions by consensus. Conduct of business will require a quorum of three members.

Section II. Membership in the Council shall be as described in Article IV. Section I.

Section III. The powers and duties of the Council include:

1. maintaining membership records;

2. coordinating and providing communication as needed to the membership, including emails, mail, phone calls, and newsletters;

3. planning the overall direction of the organization, including any continuing education, workshops, networking, social gatherings, or other activities;

4. maintaining minutes of the Council meetings, the Annual Meeting, and the business conducted at monthly meetings;

5. responding to reports of unethical conduct by practitioners (See Article III, Section II. 2. and 3.and Article VI. Section 5.1.a.);

6. directing and supporting the permanent service teams and forming, appointing, and overseeing temporary service teams, as needed;

7. providing accountability related to the bylaws of PCCA;

8. appointing the Nominations and Elections Service Team and supporting the

nomination and election of the Council members;

9. maintaining historical records for the activities of PCCA;

10. overseeing and maintaining records of all financial business transactions of the PCCA including the annual budget, the collection of membership dues and fees, and expenditures;

11. reporting to the membership on membership information, operational decisions that affect members, and financial status;

12. developing and maintaining a PCCA Operations Manual; and

13. other duties and powers as needed.

Section IV: The Council will meet regularly as needed, monthly throughout the year unless the Council deems it unnecessary. Service Team Leads will participate in the Council meetings as needed.

Section V: Council meetings are open to all PCCA members. Members may ask any officer about the scheduled Council meetings.

Section VI: The Interim Leadership Team will function as the PCCA Council until the first elected Council takes office.

ARTICLE VI. OFFICERS AND SERVICE TEAMS

Section I: The PCCA Council (See Articles IV and V.) is comprised of elected officers who handle the duties and responsibilities for directing and overseeing the activities of the organization. The officers will consist of President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and At-Large Officer. Officers shall be members of PCCA and PCCA shall not be compensated officers for their service.

Section II. After the initial election, officers must have participated in the PCCA for a minimum of one year.

Section III. Officers elected at the Annual Meeting in May (See Article VII.) will meet with the sitting Council in June to allow for an orderly transfer of records, materials, and information from the sitting Council members to the new Council members.  The newly elected Council will assume the duties of the PCCA on July 1st of each year.

Section IV. Duties of the officers are as follows:

1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Council and PCCA monthly meetings, and shall exercise the general powers of oversight and direction of the tasks of the organization described in Article V or as determined by the Council.  The President shall serve as the lead of the Bylaws and Ethics Service Team.

2. The President-Elect shall execute the powers and responsibilities of the President in the absence or incapacity of the President, and shall perform those duties assigned by the President or the Council. PCCA members will elect the President-Elect who will serve on the Council for two (2) years and shall automatically succeed as the President in the second year. The President-Elect also shall:

a. serve as the lead of the Education Service Team to ensure that the organization is arranging and providing regular continuing education opportunities at monthly PCCA meetings for members and other training as determined by the Council.

b. inform the membership and Council about continuing education plans,

c. provide the Publicity Service Team with information about upcoming education programs, and

d. lead ongoing efforts to increase membership.

3. The Secretary shall monitor and ensure accurate recording of all appropriate proceedings of the Association,, preservation of records, and availability of records to the members and the Council. The Secretary shall maintain accurate membership and attendance information for the purpose of communications with members and potential members. PCCA members shall elect the Secretary who will serve on the Council for two (2) years and shall:

a. co-lead with the Treasurer the Registration and Membership Service Team and support this team by updating member and attendee contact information and by providing updated records, forms, and materials needed by the Registration and Membership Service Team for each meeting.

b. support the Publicity Service Team by providing accurate contact information, and

c. support the Nominations and Elections Service Team, as needed, and will serve as the liaison between this service team and the Council.

4. The Treasurer shall be responsible for handling funds received and spent and to report to the Council and membership about receipts, expenditures, and upcoming financial matters. PCCA members will elect the Treasurer who will serve on the Council for two (2) years and shall:

a. co-lead with the Secretary the Registration/Membership Service Team and support this team by providing registration records, forms, and materials needed to account for the monies received,

b. receive and keep a record of all money collected from dues and fees, c. establish, if needed, and maintain a checking account for PCCA funds with four (4) Council members as authorized check signers,

d. pay all approved bills and keep a record of expenditures,

e. prepare the association’s annual report for the IRS,

f. oversee the budget preparation process (See Article IX. SectionII.), prepare the budget for presentation at the Annual Meeting in May, monitor finances, (See Article IX. Section VI.), and

g. report on PCCA finances at each Council meeting and be prepared to respond to questions about the finances at the regular membership meetings.

5. The At-Large Officer shall be a professional or an associate member and shall serve on the Council as a representative of the membership. PCCA members will elect the At-Large Officer who will serve on the Council for two (2) years and shall:

a. serve as the lead of the Publicity Service Team,

b. perform duties as assigned by the President and Council, and

c. serve as the liaison between the Council and the Refreshment Service Team and the Set Up/ Tear Down Service Team.

Section V. Service Teams may be established in the Bylaws as permanent teams or by the Council as needed for a specific task. Service Teams will be comprised of members who volunteer or agree to serve on the teams. Team leads are assigned in the Bylaws to Council members as a duty or are appointed by the Council with agreement of the member.

1. Permanent Service Teams

a. The Bylaws and Ethics Service Team, led by the President, shall draft changes to the PCCA Bylaws or review changes presented from the membership (see Article XI), present the Bylaw draft to the Council for review, revise the Bylaw draft as suggested by Council, present the Bylaws to the membership for approval according to Article XI. The Bylaws and Ethics Service Team shall review the Bylaws every two (2) years ensure association procedures described in the PCCA Operations Manual (See Article V. Section III. 1. and Article XII.) the members and the Council are in compliance with the Bylaws and address any ethical questions from members. The team shall recommend the appropriate handling of any possible ethical violations by members to the Council who will decide the actions to take on behalf of the PCCA.

b. The Education Service Team led by the President-Elect shall be responsible for arranging continuing education opportunities at PCCA meetings at least three months in advance. They will solicit presenters, having all interested presenters complete the PCCA Presentation Proposal.  They will review as a team possible presentations and presenters, selecting presenters and confirming their agreement to present at a specific meeting.  They will provide the Council with brief descriptions of each planned presentation for review prior to the final confirmation with the presenter and provide the Publicity Service Team with information to promote the presentation. They will prepare Continuing Education/Professional Development certificates and an Presentation Evaluation for each member in attendance and each guest-attendee who paid the meeting fee. This team will collect the evaluations and distribute the certificates. This team is also responsible for arranging for another presenter or for a professional development activity if any presenter cancels for a meeting. This team will also convey appreciation in written form to all those who presented at a PCCA meetings.

c. The Nominations and Elections Service Team shall ensure the continuation of PCCA. The team shall implement the process for sustaining the organization by ensuring officers are nominated and elected according to the process described in Article VIII of the Bylaws. The Council will ask for volunteers at the November, will seek out volunteers to serve, if needed, and will announce who will serve on this team at the January meeting. The team shall be responsible for soliciting nominees for the open Council positions by any appropriate means, for reviewing the nominations to make sure the nominees meet the qualification for office, for informing the membership in writing about the slate of nominees, and for preparing the ballot for elections at the Annual Meeting in May. The secretary will support this team as needed and will serve as the liaison between this team and the Council. The team will count the ballots at the election, and will announce the results to the membership at that meeting.

d. The Publicity Service Team led by the At-Large Officer shall publicize and promote all organizational activities. They shall notify members and attendees directly about organization activities, prepare flyers and other promotional materials for regular meetings and special events, distribute promotional materials to members and interested persons as directed by the Council. They shall set up a Telephone Team to call and remind members and attendees on record of upcoming meetings.

e. The Refreshment Service Team led by an association volunteer shall arrange for volunteers to provide refreshments for each meeting by recruiting volunteers to bring refreshments, shall remind volunteers before the meeting they are providing refreshments, shall provide volunteers with the information they need to accomplish the task, and shall maintain the refreshment supply bin. The At-Large Officer will serve as a liaison between this team and the Council.

f. The Registration/Membership Service Team shall be co-led by the Secretary and the Treasurer. This team will arrive early to set-up the registration area and shall stay at or nearby the registration table to welcome and register people who arrive before or during the meetings. They shall help all attendees provide registration information or update any changes to their contact information, shall collect dues and meeting fees and provide receipts for money received, and shall keep appropriate attendance records for the Secretary and give the money collected along with the financial records to the Treasurer.

g. The Set Up/ Tear Down Service Team shall arrive at the meeting room prior to the meeting, taking note of the room arrangement at arrival. The team shall arrange the tables and chairs for the meeting including a table for registration and table/s for promoting member businesses with cards, informational materials, and any promotional flyers about upcoming events in which members are involved. After the meeting, the team shall restore the room to its original arrangement, sweep the floor if needed, check the kitchen area and make sure it is in order, empty the trash, close any windows, adjust blinds, and turn off the lights.

2. Permanent Service Teams will be established by the Bylaws through the process described in this Article.

3. Temporary Service Teams will be established by the Council for a specific task and a specific duration as needed.

ARTICLE VII. ANNUAL MEETING

PCCA will hold an annual business meeting will be held on the third Friday in May and will include the election of Council members, the approval of the annual budget, the approval of any amendments to the PCCA Bylaws, and the conduct of any other organizational business.  Members may extend this meeting by agreement may be extended in order to provide continuing education and networking opportunities.

ARTICLE VIII. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section I. Initial election of the organization officers will follows this procedure:

1. The initial election under these Bylaws will take place as prescribed in the adopted Bylaws of the association and conducted according to the process described in Article VIII, Section III.

2. PCCA members will elect all Officers of the Council for these terms of service initially : President—1 year, President-Elect—2 years, Secretary—1 year, Treasurer—2 years, At-Large Officer—2 years.

Section II. Subsequent annual elections will take place on the following schedule:

1. In future years, PCCA members will elect a President-Elect for two years and will serve as President-Elect during the first year and as President the second year on the Council.

2. In the future numerically ODD years (e.g. 2009, 2011), PCCA members will elect a Secretary who will serve a two-year term on the Council.

3. In the future numerically EVEN years (e.g. 2010, 2012), PCCA members will elect a Treasurer and an At-Large Officer who will each serve a two-year term on the Council.

4. If a replacement officer is needed due to an officer being unable to complete her/his term of service on the Council and tendering resignation, the position will be filled according to the process described in Article IV, Section IV and the term of service of the replacement will be one or two years as needed to reestablish the election pattern described in this Section.

5. An officer may be relieved of his/her position by the Council if that officer lets his/her license lapse, is subject to licensing board discipline, or stops participating in the Council and regular meetings and performing duties without any plan to resume responsibilities. The open position will be filled by the

process described in Article IV, Section IV.

Section III. The process of nominations and elections will be as follows:

1. Sixty days prior to the initial election meeting and subsequent annual meetings, requests for nominations of professional members for the open positions on the Council or of an associate members for the At-Large position will be mailed to the PCCA membership.

2. With permission of the nominee, nominations with pertinent biographical and professional information about the officer candidates should be sent by mail to the address on the Nomination Request (See 1 directly above.) and must be received thirty-five (35) days before the annual meeting. Self nomination is acceptable.

3. The Nominations and Elections Service Team shall review the nominations that have been received and shall verify that each nominee is or can qualify for the office for which s/he has been nominated and is willing to serve if elected.  The Team will prepare ballots including all qualified nominees whose names were submitted for all positions and who have agreed to serve. 4. At the Annual Meeting in May, eligible voting members will be given a ballot and voting will take place immediately. Ballots will be collected and tallied, and announced at the meeting by the Nominations and Elections Service Team. The nominee receiving the highest number of votes in each position will be elected.  In the event of a tie, the Interim Leadership Team members or the sitting Council members present at the meeting will vote by ballot to break the tie. The ballots will be collected, tallied, and results will be announced at the May meeting.

5. PCCA voting members who are unable to attend the Annual meeting may request a ballot be mailed to them. The ballot must be requested in time for it to be received, completed and signed, and returned to the Nominations and Elections Service Team no later than the day before the Annual Meeting in order to be counted in the election.

ARTICLE IX. FINANCES

Section I. Dues and Fees: At the Annual Meeting in May, the Council shall announce PCCA dues for membership and meeting fees for the next organizational year.  The Registration and Membership Service Team shall collect and account for all dues and fees received.

Section II. Annual Budget: The Treasurer and Council shall prepare and present an annual budget based on Service Team and Council plans and expense projections for the coming year. The proposed budget will be presented to the membership for review at the April meeting and will be voted on at each annual meeting of the PCCA.

Section III. Authorization of Expenditures: The Council shall oversee the Treasurer who shall deposit and disburse funds in the name of and to the credit of the PCCA.

Section IV. Fiscal Year: The fiscal year which corresponds to the organizational year shall begin on October 1 and end on September 30.

Section V. Upon dissolution of the PCCA, any remaining funds shall be donated to a community mental health service in Pierce County.

Section VI. Treasury Function: The Treasurer will prepare and submit annual reports to the Internal Revenue Service, as required. The Treasurer shall report monthly to the Council on the status of the PCCA financial accounts. The Treasurer and three additional council members will be check signers and have access to the PCCA financial accounts. Two signatures are required on each check.

Section VII. Whenever there is a change in treasurers, the Council shall arrange an audit to be performed on the financial records.

ARTICLE X. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER NEWLY REVISED, 10th Ed. (Henry Martin Robert) shall govern the proceedings of the Association not otherwise specified in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE XI. BYLAW AMENDMENTS

Section I. These Bylaws may be amended at the annual meeting of the PCCA with a two thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the members present and voting.

Section II. Proposals to amend the bylaws may be initiated by the Council, the Bylaws and Ethics Service Team (B/E Team) or any 3 voting members of PCCA by submitting the proposed change in writing to the B/E Team no less than seventy (70) days before the Annual Meeting. The B/E Team will review the proposed change against other provisions in the Bylaws, inform the Council of any conflicts between the existing Bylaws and the proposed changes, following the direction of the Council and the Bylaw process, and editing it for clarification. The B/E Team will present the Bylaw draft amendments to the Council for review forty (40) days before the Annual Meeting who will review the changes to the bylaws and return it to the B/E Team within 10 days. The B/E Team will revise the Bylaw draft as suggested by Council. When the Council and B/E Team have completed their work, they shall copy the proposed change and have copies of the proposed Bylaw change(s) available to the membership at the April meeting. The team shall also have copies of proposed Bylaws amendments available to the members for discussion at the Annual Meeting prior to voting on the change.

Section III. The membership will vote on the proposed changes and the changes will be accepted with an affirmative vote from two thirds (2/3) of the eligible voting members attending the meeting. The team will incorporate any adopted Bylaw changes into the Bylaws and provide copies of the current Bylaws at all scheduled meetings of the PCCA.

Section IV. Should an amendment be of an urgent nature that must be addressed before the Annual Meeting, the Council will direct the Bylaws and Ethics Service Team in how to process and present that amendment for possible adoption by the membership.

ARTICLE XII.

The Council shall develop and maintain a PCCA Operations Manual containing the details of operation of the organization.

ARTICLE XIII

These Bylaws shall take effect immediately upon adoption by the membership. The Council will provide a copy of the adopted Bylaws to new members when they join the PCCA and to current members upon request.

Return to Piece County Counselors Association Page     TO: PCCA Membership Application Form

Note: Information for counselors transferring their practices to Washington State or for those new to counseling.

The mental health and addictions counselors listed on these pages are:
(1.) Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC),
(2.) Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSW),
(3.) Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT), or
(4.) Registered Counselors (RC) in the Tacoma, Fife, Edgewood, Lakewood, Milton, University Place and Steilacoom Washington State WA area.

What do the initials mean after a counselor's name?

           

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