By Laws of the New Hampshire Psychological Association

(Revised: May 13, 2016)

ARTICLE I: NAME

1. The name of this organization shall be the New Hampshire Psychological Association, Incorporated (the “Association”).

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

1. The Association’s purpose is to advance Psychology, both as a profession and as a science, for the betterment of public welfare, without discrimination against any individual or group on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP AND AFFILIATE STATUS

1. The Association shall offer the following classes of membership: Full Member, Emeritus Member, Out-of-State Member, Associate Member, Affiliate Member, Early Career Member, Student Member, and Institutional Member.

2. Full Members shall reside or work in New Hampshire, shall at the time of application be engaged in professional work that is primarily psychological in nature, and shall possess a doctoral degree in psychology or a closely related field. This doctoral degree shall be:

a. based in part upon a psychological dissertation or other evidence of proficiency in psychological scholarship; and

b. awarded by a regionally accredited graduate or professional school, or by a graduate or professional school that achieved such accreditation within the five (5) years subsequent to the award of the degree in question, or by a foreign institution with academic requirements essentially similar to those of a regionally accredited graduate or professional school.

3. Full Members shall be eligible to vote in the Association’s elections, on its ballots, and at its Annual Meetings; shall be eligible to chair or otherwise serve as voting members of the Association’s committees if appointed thereto; and shall be eligible to serve on the Board of Directors if elected thereto.

4. Full Members who have retired, who have maintained membership for the full fifteen (15) years immediately preceding retirement, and whose retirement was not occasioned by circumstances warranting loss of membership, shall be further recognized as Emeritus Members, and shall retain their eligibility for Emeritus status even when, subsequent to attaining such status, they may establish residency outside of New Hampshire. The NHPA Board of Directors, with consent by the membership, may determine special discounted membership dues rates for fully-retired and partially-retired members.

5. Members who have maintained membership for five (5) full years, and who have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the field of psychology, may be recognized as Fellows of the Association, subsequent to nomination by the Nominating and Awards Committee and election by the Board of Directors.

6. Associate Members shall reside or work in New Hampshire, shall at the time of application be engaged in professional work that is primarily psychological in nature, and shall:

a. possess a master’s degree in psychology or a closely related field, awarded by a regionally accredited graduate or professional school;
b. possess a master’s degree in psychology or a closely related field, awarded by a foreign institution with academic requirements essentially similar to those of a regionally accredited graduate or professional school;
c. have completed two (2) full years of study in psychology or a closely related field, conducted at a regionally accredited graduate or professional school; or
d. have completed two (2) full years of study in psychology or a closely related field, conducted at a foreign institution with academic requirements essentially similar to those of a regionally accredited graduate or professional school.

7. Associate Members shall be eligible to serve on the Association’s committees if appointed thereto, but shall not be eligible to chair committees; vote on committee business; vote in the Association’s elections, on its ballots, or at its Annual Meetings; or serve on the Board of Directors.

8. Out-of-State Members shall be persons who do not qualify as Members solely due to the fact that they currently neither reside nor work in New Hampshire. Out-of-State Members shall be eligible to serve on the Association’s committees if appointed thereto, but shall not be eligible to chair committees; vote on committee business; vote in the Association’s elections, on its ballots, or at its Annual Meetings; or serve on the Board of Directors.

9. No person qualified to join the Association as a Member shall be eligible to join the Association as an Associate Member.

10. Affiliate Members shall be persons who do not qualify for any other membership status, but have a strong connection to the mental health community. Applications for Affiliate Member status shall be approved by the NHPA Board of Directors at their discretion. Affiliate Members will be eligible to serve on the Association’s committees if appointed thereto, but shall not be eligible to chair committees; vote on committee business; vote in the Association’s elections, on its ballots, or at its Annual Meetings; or serve on the Board of Directors.

11. Early Career Member shall be within seven (7) years of receiving their doctoral degree. Early Career Members shall reside or work in New Hampshire, shall at the time of application be engaged in professional work that is primarily psychological in nature, and shall possess a doctoral degree in psychology or a closely related field. This doctoral degree shall be:

a. based in part upon a psychological dissertation or other evidence of proficiency in psychological scholarship; and

b. awarded by a regionally accredited graduate or professional school, or by a graduate or professional school that achieved such accreditation within the five (5) years subsequent to the award of the degree in question, or by a foreign institution with academic requirements essentially similar to those of a regionally accredited graduate or professional school.

c. Early Career Members shall be eligible to vote in the Association’s elections, on its ballots, and at its Annual Meetings; shall be eligible to chair or otherwise serve as voting members of the Association’s committees if appointed thereto; and shall be eligible to serve on the Board of Directors if elected thereto.

12. Student Members shall be persons currently enrolled in regionally accredited colleges or universities, who are granted membership status on the basis of an approved application to the Board of Directors. They shall enjoy such privileges as may be granted by the Board of Directors.

13. Institutional Member. Academic Institutions and Human Services Organizations may apply for membership within the Association. Applications for Institutional Members status shall be approved by the NHPA Board of Directors. Institutional Members may have individuals under their membership. These individuals may participate in the Association activities based on their eligibility level.

14. No person may apply or re-apply for any class of membership in the Association unless the prior occurrence of any condition that would currently occasion expulsion from membership, as described in Article IV.1, has been followed by the circumstances that would currently be required for re-application, as described in Article IV.2.

15. In the context of this Article, the term “work” shall refer to full-time or part-time engagement in the provision of psychological research, psychology teaching, psychological consultation, or clinical psychological services.

ARTICLE IV: LOSS AND RESTORATION OF MEMBERSHIP

1. Members, Emeritus Members, Out-of-State Members, Associate Members, and Early Career Members shall be expelled from membership in the Association when:
a. their American Psychological Association (APA) membership is suspended or revoked;
b. they resign from APA membership in response to the filing of a complaint against them;
c. their license to practice psychology in New Hampshire is suspended or revoked;
d. they surrender their license to practice psychology in New Hampshire as the result of a settlement agreement or in response to the filing of a complaint against them;
e. they fail to respond in writing within thirty (30) days of the mailing of a notice of failure to pay Association dues; or
f. they fail to pay within thirty (30) days of its due date any dues installment pursuant to a grant of relief as described in Article IX.5.
2. Affiliate Members, Student Members, and Institutional Members shall be expelled from membership in the Association when:
a. they fail to respond in writing within thirty (30) days of the mailing of a notice of failure to pay Association dues; or
b. if the NHPA Board of Directors determines the membership is not in the best interest of the Association.

3. Former Members, former Emeritus Members, former Out-of-State Members, former Associate Members, and former Early Career Members who were expelled or who resigned from Association membership may re-apply for membership only if:
a. any prior suspension or revocation of APA membership, and any prior resignation from APA membership in response to the filing of a complaint against them, was followed by restoration of APA membership, even if such suspension, revocation, or resignation did not lead to expulsion from Association membership;
b. any prior suspension, revocation, or surrender of a license or certificate to practice psychology in New Hampshire was followed by full restoration of all previous licensure and certification status and privileges; and
c. more than six (6) months have transpired since any loss of membership occasioned by a failure to pay Association dues.

ARTICLE V: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1. The Board of Directors shall be the policy making body of the Association, with full authority over the affairs and funds of the Association.

2. The Board of Directors shall consist of the following persons:
a. the Officers (President, President-Elect, Past President, Treasurer, and Secretary);
b. the Chairpersons of the Continuing Education, Legislative, Ethics, Human Resource, Professional Affairs Committees, Membership and Public Relations Committees;
c. the APA Council Representative (or Liaison Observer);
d. the elected at-large Directors; and
e. the Student Liaison.

3. Directors shall be elected for staggered terms, as follows:
a. three (3) at-large Directors elected during even-numbered years, each for a term of two (2) years; and
b. three (3) at-large Directors elected during odd-numbered years, each for a term of two (2) years.

4. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to adopt and publish Policies of the Board of Directors, for conducting the business of this Association, provided such Policies do not conflict with these Bylaws.

5. The Board of Directors shall have at least eight (8) monthly meetings during the course of each fiscal year.

6. Quorum for the Board of Directors Shall consist of a majority of its current members.

ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1. The Executive Committee shall be the administrative body of the Association, consisting of the Officers as well as, on an ex officio basis, the Executive Director.

2. During any interval between meetings of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee shall have the authority to take action as necessary to conduct the Association’s affairs, in accordance with these Bylaws and with the Policies of the Board of Directors.

3. If an emergency is declared by a majority of the voting members of the Executive Committee, that Committee shall have the power to take action as though such action were taken by the Board of Directors, and shall make a report of any such action at the next meeting of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VII: OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

1. The President shall serve as presiding officer of the Executive Committee and as Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

2. The President-Elect shall serve, in the absence of the President, as presiding officer of the Executive Committee and as Chairperson of the Board of Directors.
a. The President-Elect shall serve for a term of one (1) year. Following that term, he or she shall serve as President for a term of one (1) year. Following that term, he or she shall serve as Past President for a term of one (1) year.
b. The President-Elect shall become President in the event that the current President does not serve out his or her term.
3. The Past President shall serve, in the absence of the President and the President-Elect, as presiding officer of the Executive Committee and as Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

4. The Secretary shall serve as Secretary of the Board of Directors and as Secretary of the Executive Committee, and shall also serve, in the absence of the President, President- Elect, and Past President, as presiding officer of the Executive Committee and as Chairperson of the Board of Directors.
a. The Secretary shall ensure that Minutes are taken of each meeting of the Board of Directors, and that those Minutes are forwarded to the Executive Director in draft form no later than one (1) week subsequent to such a meeting.
b. The Secretary’s term of office shall be one (1) year.

5. The Treasurer is the financial officer with authority to sign checks.
a. The Treasurer shall prepare the annual budget and shall present an audit to the Annual Meeting.
b. The Treasurer’s term of office shall be one (1) year.

6. No person shall run for more than one office simultaneously, and no person shall occupy more than one office simultaneously, except for a combination of one or more of the following offices: President-Elect, President, and Past President.

7. If the APA Council Representative, the Liaison Observer, or any officer but the Past President resigns or is otherwise unable to serve out his or her term, and these Bylaws do not provide for automatic assumption of that position by another individual, then the Board of Directors shall elect one of its members, during its next regularly scheduled meeting, to fill the unexpired term.

8. If the Board of Directors determines that any officer has failed to attend properly to his or her duties absent sufficiently extenuating circumstances, then a two thirds (2/3) majority vote of all current members of the Board of Directors shall suffice for the removal of that officer.

9. The Executive Director shall be an employee of the Association, whose responsibilities shall be determined by the Board of Directors, and who shall serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VIII: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

1. The Nominating and Awards Committee shall solicit recommendations for nomination from each Member, for all positions to be filled via election, no less than sixty (60) days prior to the Annual Meeting, and shall submit its nominations to the Board of Directors for approval. The Board of Directors shall ensure that a finalized ballot is mailed to each Member, along with the Call to the Annual Meeting, no less than thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting.

2. Ballots shall:
a. identify at least one candidate, nominated by the Nominating and Awards Committee, for each position to be filled via election;
b. include a brief professional biography or statement for each candidate;
c. invite and accommodate “write-in” voting for each position; and
d. specify that only ballots received no less than seven (7) calendar days prior to the Annual Meeting shall be counted.

3. In the event that a current member of the Nominating and Awards Committee is nominated as a candidate for a position to be filled via election, ballots shall identify at least one other candidate for that position.

4. Ballots shall be counted by the Executive Director and one member of the Nominating and Awards Committee. Should no such committee member be available, the President shall designate another Member of the Association to perform this task.

5. In the event of a tie vote for any elected position, a run-off election shall be conducted during the Annual Meeting, via paper ballots anonymously endorsed by voting Members of the Association present at the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE IX: FINANCIAL MATTERS

1. The fiscal year of the Association shall be determined by the Board of Directors. Any change to the fiscal year shall occur only as a result of sound and documented fiscal planning, including the submission and review of an organizational impact statement.

2. A budget for each fiscal year shall be prepared by the Treasurer and approved by the Board of Directors. No later than thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting, the approved Budget shall be sent to the membership, along with the Call to the Annual Meeting.

3. The amount and method of payment of annual Association dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

4. Any assessment in addition to annual Association dues shall be for a specific declared purpose, and shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

5. The Board of Directors may elect to grant relief in the form of a reduced dues amount, delayed payment, or payment by installments, to any Member, Out-of-State Member, or Associate Member who declares in writing a financial hardship. Such relief shall be granted no more than three (3) times, irrespective of any lapse in membership.

ARTICLE X: MEETINGS

1. The Annual Meeting of this Association shall be held prior to the end of the fiscal year, for the transaction of business and for such other activities as shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The specific time and location of the Annual Meeting shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

2. A Call to the Annual Meeting shall be sent to the entire membership of the Association at least thirty (30) days in advance of the Annual Meeting, accompanied by:
a. a meeting agenda determined by the President;
b. a ballot devised by the Nominating and Awards Committee and approved by the Board of Directors; and
c. a fiscal year budget approved by the Board of Directors

3. A quorum shall consist of twenty percent (20%) of the voting Members of the Association, available to vote on issues either in person or by a Proxy ballot included in the Call to the Annual Meeting.

4. Issues brought forth at the Annual Meeting, but not specified in the written agenda accompanying the Call to the Annual Meeting, shall be subject to action only if there is a quorum.

5. Special Meetings may be held at any time upon the call of the President or Board of Directors, or upon petition of twenty percent (20%) of the voting Members of the Association.

6. The Call to a Special Meeting shall be sent to the entire membership of the Association at least thirty (30) days in advance of its scheduled date, and shall include a statement of the business for which the Special Meeting is called, as well as a statement specifying that no other business may be brought before the Special Meeting.

ARTICLE XI: COMMITTEES

1. The committees of the Association shall consist of the standing committees specified by these Bylaws and such other ad hoc committees as may be established by the Board of Directors.

2. All chairpersons of standing and ad hoc committees shall be appointed by the President. These chairpersons shall serve at the discretion of the President, with the exception of the chairpersons of the Continuing Education, Ethics, Human Resource, Legislative, and Professional Affairs committees, for whom removal by the President prior to the end of a Presidential term shall require approval by the Board of Directors.

3. Unless they assume such roles in a fashion otherwise specified by these Bylaws, non- chairperson members of standing and ad hoc committees shall be appointed by the President, and shall serve at the discretion of the President.

4. Standing Committees:
a. The Legislative Committee shall monitor all proposed legislation that may affect psychology, shall recommend legislative initiatives to the Board of Directors, and shall promote the enactment of legislation consistent with the goals of psychology and the Association.
b. The Ethics Committee shall promote, support, and encourage ethical behavior on the part of psychologists, via consultation and educational activities.
c. The Continuing Education Committee shall assess the continuing education needs of psychologists, and shall organize educational events in order to meet such needs, while maintaining APA accreditation for this purpose.
d. The Membership Committee shall engage in the active promotion of membership recruitment and retention.
e. The Committee on Women, Minorities, and Diverse Communities shall encourage the utilization and dissemination of psychological knowledge to advance equal opportunity and to foster empowerment of those who do not share equitably in society’s resources, with sensitivity to issues including culture, class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, and disability. This committee shall study and advise the Board of Directors concerning the role of women, minorities, and members of diverse communities in the Association, and in psychology as a discipline and profession within the State of New Hampshire. This committee shall also study and advise the Board of Directors concerning the services needed by and offered to women, minorities, and members of diverse communities by psychologists and other mental health professionals within the State of New Hampshire. A focus of this committee shall be to support and encourage women, minorities, and members of diverse communities to enter leadership positions in the Association.
f. The Finance Committee shall monitor the Association’s income and expenditures throughout the fiscal year, and shall advise the Treasurer in the preparation of the annual budget. This committee shall oversee the investments of the funds of the Association, shall establish principles and procedures for the management of invested funds, and may recommend actions to be taken by the Board of Directors. This committee shall consist of (1) its Chairperson, (2) the Treasurer, and (3) at least one other member. The President and the Executive Director shall serve as ex officio members of this committee.
g. In addition to the duties described in Articles III and VIII of these Bylaws, the Nominating and Awards Committee shall make recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning awards to recognize outstanding contributions to the Association by a Member; demonstration of extraordinary skills in teaching, research, or service by a psychologist resident of New Hampshire; and outstanding contributions on behalf of the psychological welfare of people by a lay resident of New Hampshire. This committee shall consist of (1) its Chairperson, (2) a member elected by and from the Board of Directors, and (3) the Past President. When the office of Past President is vacant or is occupied by a person who is also currently serving as President, the third member of this committee shall also be elected by and from the Board of Directors.
h. The Human Resource Committee shall address the human resource needs of the Association, including the Executive Director and other employees, and shall make recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning employment contracts, conditions, and compensation. This committee shall consist of (1) its Chairperson, (2) the Treasurer, and (3) a third member who is presently a member of the Board of Directors.
i. The Professional Affairs Committee shall monitor, identify, and address the needs of practicing psychologists, including but not limited to administrative issues, regulatory issues, third-party reimbursement issues, and professional status issues.
j. The Committee on Legal Issues shall serve as a resource for the Board of Directors by reviewing issues with legal implications for the science and profession of psychology; by informing the Association and psychologists about developments at the interface of law and psychology; and by promoting the relationship of the Association with representatives and institutions of the legal profession. This Committee does not serve as legal counsel to the Association; nor does it form an attorney-client relationship with the Association or with the Board of Directors.
k. The Public Relations Committee shall create and develop public education campaigns as approved by the Board of Directors. This committee shall engage in positive public relations campaigns designed to help educate the public, promote the Association, and promote the field of psychology. This committee will develop and maintain, with the assistance of the NHPA central office, a media and speaker’s bureau.

ARTICLE XII: REPRESENTATION TO THE AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

1. The Association shall strive to ensure the election of a New Hampshire Representative, with full voting privileges, to the American Psychological Association (APA) Council of Representatives (“Council”).

2. In the event that New Hampshire qualifies for its own Council seat, its Representative shall be chosen by means of an election administered by APA, from a slate of no less than two (2) nominees whose names shall be proffered to APA by the Nominating and Awards Committee.

3. In the event that New Hampshire does not qualify for its own Council seat, the person most recently serving as its Representative shall become the Liaison Observer, until such time as a Liaison Observer shall be elected in accordance with the procedures described in Article VIII of these Bylaws.

4. The Liaison Observer shall initiate contact with Division 31 of APA to affiliate in a coalition with other states that do not qualify for their own Council seat. Such negotiations shall focus on securing a position in the smallest coalition possible. The Liaison Observer from New Hampshire shall become a member of this coalition, shall participate in the selection of its Representative, and shall strive to secure a full Council seat for New Hampshire, so that disaffiliation from the coalition may occur as soon as possible.

ARTICLE XIII: NEW HAMPSHIRE BOARD OF PSYCHOLOGISTS

1. The President shall appoint a Liaison to the New Hampshire Board of Psychologists (the “BOP”).

2. Only persons currently or previously serving on the Board of Directors shall be eligible for appointment as Liaison.

3. The Liaison shall serve at the discretion of the President.

4. The role of the Liaison shall be to foster collegial and collaborative relations between the Board of Directors and the BOP, via attempts at regular communication with the Executive Director, the President, and the BOP.

5. The Liaison shall, when feasible, attend public meetings of the BOP at the request of either the Association or the BOP.

6. The Liaison’s attendance of meetings of the Board of Directors shall be neither mandatory nor required to be routine; however, the Liaison’s attendance of any such meetings shall be welcomed.

ARTICLE XIV: RULES

1. The rules contained in the most recent revision of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern this Association in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws or the Policies of the Board of Directors.

2. The President shall appoint a current member of the Board of Directors to serve as Parliamentarian.
a. The Parliamentarian shall serve at the discretion of the President.
b. The duties of the Parliamentarian shall be to advise the President in all matters pertaining to parliamentary procedure, these Bylaws, and the Policies of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XV: AMENDMENTS

1. Amendments to these Bylaws shall only be proposed in one of the following ways:
a. by majority vote of the voting members present or represented by proxy at an Annual Meeting at which a quorum is present or available by proxy;
b. by action of the Board of Directors;
c. on petition signed by twenty percent (20%) of voting Members and duly filed with the Secretary.

2. Except as described in Article XV.3 of these Bylaws, these Bylaws shall be amended only at an Annual Meeting of the Association, and shall require approval on the part of two-thirds (2/3) of the voting Members present and voting, or voting by proxy, with a quorum present or available by proxy, provided that a copy of any proposed amendment was mailed to each voting Member at least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting.

3. In the event that a quorum is not present or available by proxy at an Annual Meeting, these Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the voting Members voting by mail ballot, whose ballots are received within thirty (30) days of the mailing of the ballot to those voting Members.

4. Amendments shall take effect immediately subsequent to the Annual Meeting at which they occur, unless otherwise indicated when proposed.

Created: 5/3/99, Amended 5/2000, 5/2001, 5/2004, 5/2007, 5/2008, 4/2010, 5/2014, 5/2016