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BYLAWS OF
THE SOCIETY FOR SOCIAL WORK AND RESEARCH, INC.,
REVISED.
PREAMBLE
The Society for Social Work and Research is a
non-profit (Federal ID Number 13-3768131), professional
society incorporated in the State of New York
in 1993. The Society is devoted to the involvement
of social workers, other social work faculty,
and social work students in research and to promotion
of human welfare through research and research
applications.
ARTICLE I – NAME AND PURPOSE
1. The name of the organization shall be the Society
for Social Work and Research, Inc., also referred
to herein as SSWR and the Society.
2. The Society for Social Work and Research promotes
development and dissemination of high quality
research to improve the social welfare of all
people.
The Society
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encourages the design, implementation
and dissemination of high quality research
that addresses critical social practice and
social policy issues;
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fosters a support network
among researchers conducting research on social
work practice and social policy in the United
States and around the world;
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provides learning opportunities
to improve the conduct of social work-relevant
research and its application;
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endorses practices and policies
grounded in the best available evidence;
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promotes increased research
funding and training programs for social workers;
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provides formal recognition
of significant contributions to social work-relevant
research; and
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seeks active partnerships
with other social work and research-related
organizations to accomplish all of the above
ARTICLE II.MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
1. Membership in the Society shall be from January
1 to December 31. For other purposes, including
the terms of elected officers, terms “annual”
or “year” shall refer to the time
between the close of the annual Conference and
close of the next following annual Conference.
Should an annual Conference be cancelled or postponed,
the Board of Directors shall set a time when the
next Society year begins.
2. Membership classes shall be: Full, Student,
Associate and Emeritus. (a) Full members are persons
who have a bachelors, masters, or doctoral degree
in social work or social welfare; and faculty
teaching in social work programs. (b) Student
members are students in a bachelors, masters,
or doctoral degree programs in social work or
social welfare. (c) Associate members are persons
who are not otherwise eligible for Full or Student
membership. (d) Emeritus members are persons who
have been continuous members of the Society for
at least five years and are retired from their
primary place of employment, and who make a written
request to the Society for Emeritus status.
3. All members are entitled to attend meetings
of the Society, to receive its publication(s),
and to receive other communications authorized
by the Society. Full, Student, Associate and Emeritus
members have voting rights, and, except for those
holding Associate membership, are eligible for
elective office in the Society.
4. Membership dues shall be established by the
Board of Directors for the various classes of
membership. Any changes in the dues schedule shall
take effect at the beginning of the next membership
year. Failure to pay dues by the end of the membership
year will result in suspension of membership privileges.
ARTICLE III. OFFICERS, DUTIES, AND TERMS
OF OFFICE
1. The officers of the Society shall consist of
a president, a president-elect, a vice-president,
a vice-president-elect, a secretary, and a treasurer.
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.
2. The president shall serve one year as president-elect,
two years as president, and one additional year
as past-president, and may not hold any other
office within the Society while President. The
president is responsible for all aspects of leadership
of the Society, including but not limited to the
following:
supervising the conduct of the annual conference;
representing and speaking for the Society;
signing contracts and other documents on behalf
of the Society, except as such duties are assigned
to the treasurer; and
performing other duties authorized by the Board
of Directors.
The president shall appoint chairs of all standing
committees, subject to the advice and consent
of the Board, from among members of the Society.
The president is an ex-officio member of all
standing committees.
3. The President-elect shall serve in this capacity
for one year. He/she will assist the President
in his/her duties and will serve on selected committees
of the Society as specified in these bylaws. The
President-elect shall fulfill the duties of the
President in case of the President’s absence,
incapacity, or resignation.
4. The vice-president shall serve a three year
term, the first year as vice president-elect,
the second year as vice president, and the third
year as past Conference Committee chair, and may
not hold any other office during that time. The
vice president shall serve as the chair of the
Conference Committee, while the vice-president-elect
will assist in this function. During periods when
there is no president-elect, the vice-president
shall serve as president in the event of the president’s
resignation, lengthy absence, or incapacity, until
a new president takes office.
5. The secretary and treasurer will each serve
a three-year term, and may not hold any other
office within the Society during that time.
The secretary shall: (a) record, maintain and
distribute minutes of the annual membership meeting
and regular meetings of the Board of Directors;
(b) edit the Society’s newsletter; (c) maintain
important papers and records for the Society's
archives; (d) maintain and deposit minutes, committee
reports, and other reports to the Society's archives;
and (e) maintain records of all ballots of elections,
and other matters voted upon by the membership,
The treasurer shall (a) receive, have custody
of, and disburse the funds of the Society subject
to authorization of the Board of Directors, (b)
oversee maintenance of records of all receipts
and disbursements, preparation of financial statements,
annual dues notices, and records of dues payments,
and carry on the routine business and fiscal affairs
of the Society; (c) arrange for an independent
audit of the accounts annually, (d) with approval
from the Board of Directors, sign contracts and
other authorized documents on behalf of the Society;
and (e) prepare an annual budget based on plans
developed by the Board of Directors and the committee
chairs.
ARTICLE IV. BOARD OF DIRECTORS, DUTIES,
AND TERMS OF OFFICE
1. The Board of Directors shall consist of (a)
the officers of the Society and (b) seven members-at-large.
One member-at-large serves as student member and
is elected for two years. Six are elected for
staggered
three-year terms, with two members elected each
year. All members shall have voting privileges.
The Board of Directors is the governing body
of the Society and interprets the Bylaws. It is
responsible for policy formulation for the Society
and has responsibility for the general and fiscal
affairs of the Society. It fills all vacancies
among officers and board members not provided
for in other ways, with such appointees to hold
office until the installation of new officers
at the next annual membership meeting of the Society.
It establishes plans and call for both regular
and, if necessary, special meetings of the Society.
It may create and dissolve ad hoc committees as
are deemed necessary to carry out the functions
and achieve the objectives of the Society.
2. An elected member of the Board of Directors
has no specific duties other than those assigned
to the Board by the Bylaws, or special assignments
made by the president or the Board of Directors.
3. In the event of a death, resignation, or inability
of a Board member to perform his or her duties,
the Board shall appoint a successor to complete
the remaining term.
4. Board members must be dues paying members
of the Society and shall have been members of
the Society for at least one year prior to their
nomination for office.
5. Members of the Board of Directors may serve
only two terms in the same capacity, but may run
for the Board in a different capacity after their
term in their previous position is completed.
No member of the Board may serve more than two
consecutive terms in any position.
ARTICLE V. COMMITTEES OF THE SOCIETY
1. The Committees of the Society 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.
2. The Nomination and Election Committee shall
consist of at least five people and a chair. The
chair shall be selected by the president and approved
by the Board of Directors, from among the members-at-large
of the Board. The members of the Committee shall
be selected by the chair and approved by the Board
and should include members appointed from the
Society’s general membership.
The Nomination and Election Committee shall secure
nominations from the members of the Society who
are in good standing and shall ascertain whether
the nominees are qualified and willing to serve
if elected. From those nominees who meet these
criteria, the Nomination and Election Committee
will designate a double slate of candidates who
will run for open positions on the Board. On all
ballots, the membership will be given the opportunity
to write in a candidate for each office who the
Nominations and Elections Committee has not designated
as part of the official slate of candidates.
The Board of Directors shall be elected by majority
vote on ballots sent to Members and returned to
the Nominations and Elections Committee.
The Nomination and Election Committee shall be
responsible for making a preferential count of
the election ballots and reporting the results
to the Board of Directors and the membership at
its annual membership meeting.
3. The Conference Committee shall consist of
at least six members, including the vice-president
as chair. Other members of the Committee will
include the vice president-elect, the past program
chair/immediate past vice-president, the president-elect,
one member-at-large who will serve as the volunteer
coordinator for the annual conference, one member-at-large
who will serve as the chair of the Awards Committee,
and other individuals as deemed appropriate by
the Board.
The Conference Committee shall be responsible
for overseeing all aspects of program planning
for the Society’s annual conference, including
but not limited to abstract review, selection
and scheduling of presentations; presentation
of awards; volunteer coordination, recruitment
and assignment of session moderators; and production/editing
of the conference program.
4. The Awards Committee shall consist of at least
four members, including the chair, who is a member-at-large
of the Board of Directors, appointed by the president.
The Committee membership will include the president
and two members of the Society, appointed by the
chair.
The Committee shall be responsible for soliciting
nominations and selecting awardees for all awards
presented by the Society, with the exception of
the Distinguished Achievement Award, which is
the responsibility of the President. Subcommittees
for each of the Society’s awards may be
established by the chair of the Awards Committee.
5. The Finance Committee will consist of at least
four members of the Society. It will be chaired
by the treasurer of the Society, and will include
the president, past president, the president-elect,
and at least one other member of the Society.
The Committee shall be responsible for fiscal
planning and management of the Society and will
make recommendations to the Board regarding such
matters as budgeting, dues structure, conference
fees, as well as investment and protection of
the Society’s assets.
6. The Committee on Publications will consist
of at least five members of the Society. It will
be
chaired by a member of the Board of Directors
and will include no more than one other member
of the Board.
ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
1. The Board of Directors shall meet on a regular
and/or periodic schedule to be determined by the
president and the Board of Directors each year.
Members of the Board of Directors may hold or
participate in a meeting of Directors by means
of conference telephone or similar communications
equipment, and provided that all persons participating
in the meeting can hear each other at the same
time, this shall constitute presence in person
at the meeting.
2. The Board of Directors shall meet at least
once during the annual meeting, at a time and
place to be announced in advance to the members
of the Society, and shall be available to receive
verbal or written communications from the members
at that time and place. At the annual Board of
Directors meeting coincidental to the annual membership
meeting, the treasurer and the committee chairs
shall present written reports of their activities
during the past year and be available for questions
and discussions.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may
be called by the President or a majority of its
members.
3. Eight members of the Board of Directors shall
constitute a quorum. The meeting shall be conducted
according to Robert's Rules of Order, Revised.
Any action required or permitted to be taken by
the Board may be voted upon without a meeting
if all members of the Board receive mail or electronic
mail and the votes are returned in the same manner.
Mail or electronic mail votes shall be filed with
the minutes of the Board.
ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS OF THE MEMBERSHIP
1. A general meeting of the Society shall be held
every year for the transaction of business, presentations
of scientific information and for other purposes
germane to the objectives of the Society.
2. A general membership meeting shall be held
during the annual meeting for the discussion of
the business of the Society, including the presentation
of reports and communication to inform the members
on matters of interest to the Society, and to
permit responses from the Society’s officers
to questions and suggestions from the membership.
A summary of actions taken by officers, committee
chairs, and the Board of Directors shall be presented
to the membership and an opportunity will be provided
for questions from the membership. The membership
meeting shall be scheduled at a time that is not
in conflict with other sessions. The president
will chair the meeting. A treasurer’s report
will be presented.
The presence of not less than 5% of the members
of the Society shall constitute a quorum and shall
be necessary to conduct official business. Any
decision taken at such a meeting shall be subject
to ratification by membership in a referendum.
3. The Board of Directors may authorize additional
meetings and may cancel or postpone the annual
meeting.
ARTICLE VIII. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF
THE SOCIETY
The Board of Directors may establish an administrative
office for the Society and allocate to it responsibility
for day to day operations of the Society, and
provide funds for the office to complete the tasks
involved in the operations of the Society. The
Board of Directors may appoint an administrative
director, define the administrative director’s
duties, approve compensation or contract fees
and terminate the administrative director’s
employment. The administrative director will be
specifically accountable to the president of the
Society and the Finance Committee.
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS
1. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds
vote of members who reply to a ballot sent to
the total membership using the most current electronic
mail address of the members. Bylaws amendments
may be initiated by the Board of Directors, or
by a petition of 5% of the total membership.
2. At least every six years after the adoption
of these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall
appoint a committee to review these Bylaws and
to recommend changes in them.
ARTICLE X. DISSOLUTION
In the event of the dissolution of the Society,
any net assets shall be distributed to one or
more organizations which have established appropriate
exemption status under Section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code, contributions to which
organization(s) are deductible, and reflect similar
goals and objectives of the Society.
ARTICLE XI. INDEMNIFICATION
1. The Society shall indemnify any person who
was or is a party, or is threatened to be made
a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (other than an
action by or in the right of the Society) by reason
of the fact that such person is or was a director
or officer of the Society, or a chair or member
of any committee or task force of the Society,
against expenses (including attorneys’ fees),
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement,
actually and reasonably incurred by such person
in connection with such action, suit or proceeding,
if such person acted in good faith and in a manner
such person reasonably believed to be in, or not
opposed to, the best interest of the Society,
and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding,
had no reasonable cause to believe that such person’s
conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action,
suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement,
conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere
or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create
a presumption that the person did not act in good
faith and in a manner which such person reasonably
believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best
interest of the Society, and, with respect to
the criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable
cause to believe that such person’s conduct
was unlawful.
2. The Society shall indemnify any person who
was or is a party, or is threatened to be made
a party, to any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding by or in the right
of the Society to procure a judgment in its favor
by reason of the fact that such person is or was
a director or officer of the Society, or a chair
or member of any committee or task force of the
Society, against expenses (including attorneys’
fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such
person in connection with the defense or settlement
of such action or suit, if such person acted in
good faith and in a manner such person reasonably
believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best
interest of the Society. No indemnification shall
be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter
as to which such person shall have been adjudged
to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the
performance of such person’s duty to the
Society, unless, and only to the extent that,
a court in which action or suit was brought shall
determine upon application that, despite the adjudication
of liability, but in view of all the circumstances
of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably
entitled to indemnity for such expenses.
3. The Society shall have power to purchase and
maintain insurance covering the Society and any
person who is or was a director, officer, employee,
agent, or chair or member of a committee, task
force, or similar group of the Society, against
liability asserted against such persons and incurred
in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s
status as such, whether or not the Society would
have the power to indemnify such person against
such liability under the provisions of this Article
XI. Any amounts payable as indemnification under
this Article XI shall be limited by the amount
of money collectible under the Society’s
insurance coverage.
Approved by SSWR Membership December 20, 2006
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