Association Bylaws

Georgia Association of Community Service Boards Bylaws

A RESOLUTION

For the purpose of amending the Bylaws of the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards, Inc., approved on the 28th day of January, 1995, and as last amended on the 9th day of May, 2008 as follows:

BYLAWS OF

THE GEORGIA ASSOCIATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARDS, INC.

ARTICLE I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1.01 Name. The name of this Corporation shall be the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards, Inc.

SECTION 1.02 Purposes. The Corporation is organized for the following purposes:

(1) To provide its member boards with a forum for the sharing and exchanging of information, ideas, development of resources and solutions to problems;

(2) To provide leadership in the development and operation of public disability services which are community-based and comprehensive in range, involve consumers and their families in their design and governance, and are provided in a cost effective manner in the least restrictive setting;

(3) To advocate, initiate, and support actions designed to improve disability services in Georgia;

(4) To serve as a spokesperson in matters mutually involving and concerning its member boards;

(5) To encourage the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards for programs and services to persons with disabilities;

(6) To promote the cooperation of its members and collaboration with other persons and organizations engaged in related activities;

(7) To encourage, promote and support the continuing education and development of professional, technical, administrative and support staff of its member boards;

(8) To provide leadership in the development and implementation of sound, data-based methods for evaluating the performance and effectiveness of the services and programs of its member boards;

(9) To provide elected and appointed public officials with information related to public disability services and the activities of its member boards; and

(10) To do other things permitted by law.

SECTION 1.03 Tax-Exempt Status. The Corporation is organized and is to operate as a nonprofit organization, and it is intended that the corporation will qualify at all times as an organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (the "Code"), by qualification as an organization described in §501(c)(6) of the Code. No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in these Bylaws.

SECTION 1.04 Seal. The seal of the Corporation shall be in such form and shall contain such symbols and wording as the Board of Directors may from time to time adopt.

SECTION 1.05 Office. The Corporation shall maintain a registered office as required by statute, at which place it shall maintain a registered agent. The office of the registered agent may, but need not be, identical with the principal office of the Corporation, and the address of the office of the registered agent may be changed from time to time by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 1.06 Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices and places of business at such other places within or without the City of Atlanta, Georgia, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.

SECTION 1.07 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be from July 1 through June 30.

SECTION 1.08 Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to terms used in these Bylaws:

(a) "Community service board" shall mean a community mental health, developmental disabilities, and addictive diseases service board as created and defined in O.C.G.A. Title 37, Chapter 2.

(b) "Disability" and "Disability services" shall have the same meaning of such terms as defined in O.C.G.A. 37-2-2(4) and (4.1).

ARTICLE II

MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 2.01 Membership; Rights of Membership.

(a) There shall be two classes of membership.

(1) One class of membership shall consist of full members. Any community service board in Georgia shall be a full member in good standing upon payment of all dues and special assessments due the Corporation.

(2) The other class of membership shall consist of associate members. A county board of health may become an associate member upon payment of any dues or special assessments authorized by the Board of Directors as provided in Section 2.05 of this Article for associate membership if the membership of such board of health is not also constituted as the membership of a community service board as authorized in subsection (e) of O.C.G.A §31-2-6; provided such board of health provides disability services pursuant to O.C.GA §31-3-12.1, and provided further, such board of health provides at least two categories of disability services from among the disability services categories of mental health, developmental disabilities, or addictive diseases services. Associate membership is conditional upon the continued provision of two categories of disability services as described in this section, and such associate membership shall automatically terminate if such board of health ceases to provide such disability services.

(b) Wherever the term “member” is used in these Bylaws, such term shall include both full and associate members, except as follows:

(1) Associate members, and the representatives of such members serving on the Board of Directors of the Corporation, shall be entitled to vote on all matters presented to the members, except as provided in this paragraph. An associate member and the representatives of an associate member serving on the Board of Directors shall not:

(A) Hold an office in the Corporation created in accordance with Article V of these Bylaws;

(B) Participate in the election of officers of the Corporation;

(D) Vote on the annual membership dues or special assessments assessed against full members; or

(E) Vote to amend these Bylaws.

(2) Wherever the term “chief executive officer of a member in good standing” is used in these Bylaws, the meaning of such term shall include the director of mental health, developmental disabilities, and addictive diseases or the supervisor of specific disability services of a board of health as provided in O.C.G.A. §31-3-12.1, whichever is applicable.

(3) Except as prohibited by this section, associate members and the representatives thereof shall be entitled to vote on all matters presented to the members or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, but shall not be considered in determining whether or not a quorum is present or a majority acts on any matter presented to the members or the Board of Directors.

(4) The Board of Directors shall establish annual membership dues for associate members; provided, however, the Board of Directors in its discretion may provide for a reduction in such dues and a reduction or waiver in whole or in part of any special assessments established in accordance with Section 2.05 of these Bylaws that otherwise might be due the Corporation if an eligible board of health becomes a member at a time other than the beginning of the fiscal year of the Corporation.

SECTION 2.02 Membership. Members in good standing are entitled to all the rights, privileges and benefits of the Corporation, except as provided for associate members in accordance with Section 2.01 of these Bylaws, including, but not limited to, representative participation in annual meetings of the membership, representative membership on the Board of Directors, and representative service on committees and task forces. On each matter requiring or submitted to a vote of the membership, the number of votes each member is eligible to cast shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.02 of these Bylaws.

SECTION 2.03 Reinstatement. A member that resigned from membership in the Corporation or whose membership rights were revoked for non-payment of dues or special assessments shall have membership rights restored upon payment of all dues and special assessments due to the Corporation for the current fiscal year; however, the Board of Directors in its discretion may provide for a reduction in such dues and a reduction or waiver in whole or in part of any special assessments established in accordance with Section 2.05 of these Bylaws that otherwise might be due the Corporation if a community service board that resigned from membership in the Corporation or whose membership rights were revoked as provided in this Section seeks reinstatement as a member of the Corporation. No reinstatement fee shall be charged by the Corporation.

SECTION 2.04 Resignation. A member may resign by having its governing board submit a statement of resignation in writing to the President of the Corporation.

SECTION 2.05 Membership Dues and Special Assessments.

(a) Annual membership dues shall be recommended by the Executive Committee and approved by the Board of Directors at the last regular meeting preceding the fiscal year in which the dues shall be effective. Such membership dues shall be payable to the Corporation upon application for membership, and thereafter, on or before the first regular meeting of the Board of Directors in the fiscal year. A member whose dues have not been received by the Corporation at the time of the first regular meeting in the fiscal year shall be considered delinquent and membership in good standing shall be suspended immediately.

(b) All dues shall become effective on the first day in the fiscal year following approval by the Board of Directors.

(c) Upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee, special assessments may be levied on all members in good standing by vote of the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors. A special assessment shall require the approval of a two-thirds majority of the voting directors of the Board of Directors; provided, representatives of associate members in good standing serving on the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall not be eligible to vote on the levying of any special assessments. All members shall be notified by the President at least thirty days prior to the date of the vote on the proposed special assessment. Notification shall include a justification for the proposed special assessment, the amount of the assessment, and the date when the assessment shall be due and payable. A special assessment shall be due and payable within ninety days after approval by the Board of Directors, after which time a member not paying the assessment shall be considered suspended from membership in good standing, and the Treasurer of the Corporation shall so notify the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE III

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 3.01 Management of the Corporation. The full and entire management of the affairs and business of the Corporation shall be vested in a Board of Directors which will have and may exercise all of the powers that may be exercised or performed by the Corporation, except as may otherwise be provided in these Bylaws.

SECTION 3.02 Composition. Each member in good standing shall have two representatives on the Board of Directors of the Corporation. Each representative of a member in good standing shall be a voting director. One voting director shall be a member of the governing board of the member in good standing duly elected by a majority vote of said governing board, and shall have the right to vote at any meeting of the Board of Directors. The other voting director shall be the chief executive officer of the member in good standing and shall have the right to vote at any meeting of the Board of Directors. A voting director may designate an alternate who shall serve as a voting director pro tem at any meeting of the Board of Directors in the absence of the voting director, provided the designation of said alternate shall be in writing and submitted to the Secretary of the Corporation. A voting director pro tem for the voting director who is a member of the governing board of a member in good standing shall be only another member of such governing board, and the voting director pro tem for the voting director who is the chief executive officer of the governing board of a member in good standing shall be only an employee of the member in good standing. Only voting directors or properly designated voting directors pro tem shall vote on matters brought before the Board of Directors of the Corporation. Unless otherwise specified, whenever reference is made to the Board of Directors, such reference shall also include the alternate serving pro tem in the absence of the voting director.

SECTION 3.03 Responsibilities. Without limiting the generality of Section 3.01, it shall be the responsibility of the Board of Directors to:

(a) Carry out the mandates and policies of the Corporation as determined by the resolutions enacted by the Board of Directors;

(b) Propose plans for corporate growth and development;

(d) Authorize the President of the Corporation to create committees, including ad hoc committees to meet specific, time limited objectives of the Corporation;

(e) Authorize the President of the Corporation to create task forces to meet objectives of the corporation, which may include participation by persons or organizations not having membership in the Corporation;

(f) At its last regular meeting in the fiscal year, approve the operating budget of the corporation for the next fiscal year, provided the operating budget may be amended during a fiscal year upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee;

(g) Authorize the President, Executive Director or the Executive Committee to expend corporate funds in compliance with the Corporation's approved operating budget;

(h) Authorize the establishment of Interest Groups pursuant to Article XI of these Bylaws;

(i) Authorize any contract for legal counsel to represent the corporation and its Board of Directors;

(j) Authorize the Executive Director to contract for personal services for the purpose of assisting the officers and the Board of Directors in the performance of their duties; and

(k) Authorize the holding of workshops, educational meetings, and training events consistent with the purposes and needs of the Corporation.

ARTICLE IV

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 4.01 Place. The Board of Directors may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Georgia.

SECTION 4.02 Regular Meetings. The Board of Directors shall meet at least once during each calendar quarter.

SECTION 4.03 Special Meetings. Special Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President of the Corporation, either personally or by mail. A special meeting shall be called by the President of the Corporation in like manner and on like notice upon written request of five members of the Board of Directors or three members of the Executive Committee.

SECTION 4.04 Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors may hold an annual meeting of the membership of the Corporation in order to encourage a wider participation in the affairs of the Corporation among governing board members, officials, and staff of members in good standing.

SECTION 4.05 Quorum. A member in good standing shall be considered present at a meeting of the Corporation if only one of the voting directors representing such member is present. A majority of the members in good standing shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business by the Board of Directors, and a vote of a majority of the voting directors of the Board of Directors present and voting shall be the act of the Board of Directors; except where the law, the Articles of Incorporation, or these Bylaws require a greater vote.

SECTION 4.06 Consent Without the Necessity of Meeting.

(a) Whenever the vote of the Board of Directors is required, or desirable, to be taken in connection with any action, and a special meeting cannot be called in compliance with Section 4.03 of these Bylaws, a meeting of the Board of Directors may be dispensed with, but only if a majority of the members of the Corporation in good standing consent by telephone or other electronic means, and the Secretary of the Corporation shall spread the vote tally upon the minutes of the next regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors. For the purposes of this subsection, the consent of one of the voting directors representing a member of the Corporation in good standing shall be considered the consent of the member of the Corporation.

(b) The Executive Committee may poll the members of the Board of Directors on the action to be taken when a majority of the members of the Board of Directors has consented to dispense with the necessity of having a meeting. Agreement by a vote of a majority of the of the members of the Board of Directors shall be necessary in order for such a vote to be the act of the Board of Directors when voting is by mail, telephone, or any means other than a vote taken at a regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4.07 Compensation. Members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall not receive compensation for their services in any capacity as a director or officer of the Corporation.

SECTION 4.08 Attendance at Meetings. A board member or the chief executive officer of any community service board or any board of health providing disability services pursuant to O.C.G.A. 31-3-12.1; may attend any meeting of the Board of Directors, but a representative of a community service board or such board of health may not participate in discussions or vote unless that community service board or such board of health is a member in good standing as set forth in Section 2.02 of Article II or Section 3.02 of Article III of these Bylaws.

SECTION 4.09 Open Meetings. Meetings of the membership, the Board of Directors, committees and task forces of the Corporation are open to the public. The Board of Directors shall provide an opportunity for public comment at meetings of the membership.

SECTION 4.10 Open Records. Written records, including financial records, of the Corporation are open to the public, and copies shall be made available upon request to the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases of the Georgia Department of Human Resources and other governmental agencies or officials. Copies of such records shall be made available to others not enumerated in this Section at a cost equal to the uniform copying fee specified in subsection (c) of O.C.G.A. §50-18-71, pertaining to the reproduction of public records.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

SECTION 5.01 Officers. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, who shall be elected by the Board of Directors in accordance with this Article and Article VIII of these Bylaws. If the office of Executive Director is established in accordance with Article XII of these Bylaws, the Executive Director shall also be an officer of the Corporation. The Board of Directors, pursuant to said Article XII, may at its discretion designate certain employee positions in addition to the position of Executive Director as officers of the Corporation. Such employees who hold officer positions shall be appointed by Executive Director in accordance with said Article XII. The provisions of this Article and said Article VIII apply to the officers elected by the Board of Directors but do not apply to the Executive Director and such other officers holding officer positions as may be created by the Board of Directors in accordance with said Article XII.

SECTION 5.02 Term of Office.

(a) The term of office of all officers shall be for one year. An officer may be re-elected to the same office, provided the President and Vice President shall serve no more than two consecutive terms. A member of the Board of Directors who served as an officer may be elected to the previously held office or any other office after an interval of one year, and is eligible for election to another term to that office in the same manner as a member of the Board of Directors who has never held office.

(b) The election of officers shall be held at the last regular meeting of the fiscal year. Officers duly elected shall assume office at the end of said meeting and shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified.

SECTION 5.03 Vacancies.

(a) A vacancy shall occur when any officer is unable to complete the term of the office to which elected due to death, resignation, removal, or disqualification.

(b) A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled immediately by the Vice President who shall serve as President for the remainder of the unexpired term, unless the Vice President is not a voting director who is a member of the governing body of a community service board, in which case, the Board of Directors shall elect a President who is qualified in accordance with Section 5.04 of these Bylaws.

(c) A vacancy in any office other than the office of President shall be filled by election of the Board of Directors in accordance with Article VIII of these Bylaws. A member of the Board of Directors elected to fill a vacancy shall serve in that office for the remainder of the unexpired term.

(d) A vacancy in any office other than the office of President may be filled pro tem until the next meeting of the Board of Directors by the affirmative majority vote of the remaining members of the Executive Committee.

SECTION 5.04 Qualifications of Officers. Any voting director of the Board of Directors of the Corporation who is a member of the governing body of a community service board and has been appointed by a community service board which is a member in good standing or a chief executive officer of a community service board which is a member in good standing shall be eligible for election as an officer of the Corporation, except that the President and Vice President of the Corporation shall be a voting director who is a member of the governing body of a community service board that is a member in good standing. An alternate of a voting director of the Board of Directors shall not be eligible to serve as an officer of the Corporation. No two offices shall be held concurrently by a member of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 5.05 Disqualification of an Officer. An officer shall be disqualified if the member the officer represents is suspended from membership in good standing. Upon the disqualification of an officer, the Treasurer shall notify the Secretary of the Corporation, who in turn shall notify the Nominating Committee and the Executive Committee of the vacancy; unless the officer who is disqualified is the Secretary of the Corporation, and in such case, the President shall notify the Nominating Committee and the Executive Committee of the vacancy.

SECTION 5.06 Removal from Office. An officer may be removed from office by the affirmative vote of the voting directors of the Board of Directors present and voting; provided, however, the voting directors voting in the affirmative shall represent two-thirds of the members of the Corporation in good standing.

SECTION 5.07 Duties of the President. The President shall assume leadership of the corporation's activities in accordance with these Bylaws and the membership's needs and interests; and shall:

(a) Preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and any annual meeting of the Corporation;

(b) Call meetings, both regular and special, of the Board of Directors in accordance with these Bylaws;

(c) Serve as Chair of the Executive Committee, and call all meetings of the Executive Committee in accordance with these Bylaws;

(d) Upon the approval of the Board of Directors, call any annual meeting of the membership;

(e) Be familiar with the duties and responsibilities of the Corporation's officers and see that such duties and responsibilities are fulfilled in accordance with these Bylaws;

(f) Be responsible with the Treasurer of the Corporation for the disbursement of funds and be bonded at the Corporation's expense;

(g) Serve as the official representative of the Corporation, particularly with the Georgia Department of Human Resources and its Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases, and other such organizations;

(h). Make an annual written report to the Corporation; and

(i) Appoint all members of standing and ad hoc committees, and taskforces. The President shall make such appointments with a view toward achieving representation from all geographic sectors of the state.

SECTION 5.08 Duties of the Vice President. The Vice President shall have the following duties:

(a) Be familiar with the Corporation's activities and the duties and responsibilities of the President;

(b) Assume the duties and responsibilities of the President in the absence of the President;

(d) Assume the office of the President when a vacancy in that office occurs;

(e) Serve as Vice Chair of the Executive Committee; and

(f) Serve as Chair of the Public Information and Policy Committee.

SECTION 5.09 Duties of the Secretary. The Secretary shall have the following duties:

(a) Assure the recording and transmittal of the minutes of all Board of Directors meetings and of any annual meeting of the membership, and read the minutes of the previous meetings as requested;

(b) Be prepared to furnish the exact wording of motions pending before the Board of Directors or the membership;

(d) Be responsible for the Corporation’s correspondence, including the maintenance of accurate files; and

(e) Receive notification from the Treasurer, and in turn notify the Nominating Committee, the Executive Committee, and the Board of Directors of any officer who is disqualified to hold office; and

(f) Serve as Parliamentarian.

SECTION 5.10 Duties of Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the following duties:

(a) Oversee the receipt and disbursement of all monies of the Corporation;

(b) Assure that all receipts are deposited in banks in the accounts of the Corporation;

(d) Be bonded for an amount determined by the Board of Directors at the Corporation's expense;

(e) Make a report in writing to the membership at all regular meetings and at such other times as may be requested by the Board of Directors;

(f) Assure that no expenditure above the budgeted amount is expended for any corporate activity which does not have the prior approval of the Board of Directors;

(g) Oversee the collection of dues and special assessments levied against the membership in a manner prescribed by the Board of Directors and these Bylaws;

(h) Have the books audited for each fiscal year at the expense of the Corporation within 90 days of the conclusion of the fiscal year;

(i) Notify the Secretary when any officer of the Corporation is disqualified from holding office owing to a failure to pay dues or special assessments due to the Corporation by the member the officer represents on the Board of Directors; and

(j) Serve as Treasurer of each Interest Group established in accordance with Section 11.05 of these Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI

CONTRACTS, CHECKS, DEPOSITS, AND GIFTS

SECTION 6.01 Contracts. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents of the Corporation, in addition to the officers so authorized by the Bylaws, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation. Such authority may be general or confined to special instances.

SECTION 6.02 Checks and Drafts. All checks, drafts, or orders for the payment of money, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the Corporation and in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. In the absence of such determination by the Board of Directors, such instruments shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the President of the Corporation.

SECTION 6.03 Deposits. All funds of the Corporation shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as the Board of Directors may select.

SECTION 6.04 Gifts. The Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the Corporation any contribution, gift, bequest, or device for the general purpose or for any special purpose of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VII

ANNUAL MEETINGS

SECTION 7.01 Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the members of the Corporation may be held during each fiscal year upon the approval of the Board of Directors. Such annual meetings shall be held in conjunction with one of the regular meetings of the Board of Directors. Notice of an annual meeting shall be sent to the members at least sixty days prior to the date of the meeting.

SECTION 7.02 Representation. A community service board or a board of health providing disability services in accordance with O.C.G.A. §31-3-12.1, which is a member in good standing, shall designate the person or persons eligible to attend annual meetings of the Corporation as representatives of said member in good standing.

SECTION 7.03 Quorum. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws for meetings of the Board of Directors, a quorum for the transaction of business at any annual meeting of the members of the Corporation shall consist of a majority of the members of the Corporation in good standing; provided, however, voting directors representing associate members shall not be counted when determining if a quorum of voting members is present. For the purposes of this Section, the presence of one of the voting directors representing a member of the Corporation in good standing shall be considered the presence of the member in good standing.

ARTICLE VIII

ELECTIONS

SECTION 8.01 Elections.

(a) Elections for officers of the Corporation shall be held at the last regular meeting of the Board of Directors in the fiscal year, unless an election is held to fill the unexpired term of an officer.

(b) Nominations shall be taken from the Nominating Committee, and shall be requested by the President from among the members present at the election meeting.

(c) Voting shall be by voice vote, unless the Board of Directors determines that the vote shall be by written and secret ballot, and the nominee receiving a majority of all votes cast shall be declared elected.

(d) If there is no majority for a contested office, a second vote shall be held to determine the election between the two nominees for that office having the highest number of votes on the first ballot.

SECTION 8.02 Absentee Voting. A voting director of the Board of Directors may vote in the election of an officer in absentia. Absentee voting shall be allowed when the following conditions are satisfied:

(a) Voting directors of the Board of Directors must use an official ballot as prescribed by the Nominating Committee;

(b) The completed ballot must be returned to the President prior to the election meeting; and

(c) If the voting director of the Board of Directors submitting an absentee ballot or the alternate for said voting director attends the election meeting, the absentee ballot will be invalid.

ARTICLE IX

PARLIAMENTARIAN

SECTION 9.01 Designation. The Secretary of the Corporation shall serve as Parliamentarian.

SECTION 9.02 Duties. The Parliamentarian shall have the responsibility of maintaining correct parliamentary procedures in annual meetings of the membership, meetings of the Board of Directors, and meetings of the Executive Committee.

SECTION 9.03 Parliamentary Procedure. Rules of parliamentary procedure as found in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern annual meetings of the membership, meetings of the Board of Directors, and all committees and task forces of the corporation in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws of the Corporation.

ARTICLE X

COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES

SECTION 10.01 Standing Committees. The Executive, Nominating, Public Information and Policy, and Education and Training Committees shall be standing committees of the Corporation; provided, however, the Board of Directors may authorize the President to create additional standing committees from time to time.

SECTION 10.02 Executive Committee.

(a) The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Immediate Past President; provided, however, if the Board of Directors creates an interest group pursuant to Article XI of these Bylaws with a membership composed exclusively of the executive directors of community service boards who are members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, the Chair of such interest group shall be a member of the Executive Committee. The President shall serve as Chair and the Vice President shall serve as Vice Chair of the Executive Committee. In those instances when there is no individual who is the Immediate Past President of the Corporation willing or able to act in that capacity, the most recent Past President who is willing and able to serve, shall perform the duties of the Immediate Past President, including serving as Chair of the Nominating Committee. In order to hold the position of Chair of the Nominating Committee, the Immediate Past President or most recent Past President must be a voting director representing a member in good standing. The Board of Directors may from time to time designate additional members of the Executive Committee from among the voting directors of the Board of Directors of the Corporation who shall serve as members-at-large.”

(b) The Executive Committee shall perform all of the functions of the Corporation not otherwise prescribed in these Bylaws or assigned to standing or ad hoc committees, task forces, or individual officers during the interim between meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall keep the membership informed of its activities.

(c) The Executive Committee shall be responsible for setting the agenda for annual meetings of the membership and meetings of the Board of Directors.

(d) The Executive Committee may recommend from time to time to the Board of Directors amendments to the annual operating budget of the corporation.

(e) The Executive Committee shall:

(1) Recommend an instrument and process to be used by the Board of Directors to evaluate the performance of the Executive Director;

(2) Propose any annual salary or employment benefits for the Executive Director for approval by the Board of Directors; and

(3) Submit for approval by the Board of Directors at its last meeting in the fiscal year any employment agreement with the Executive Director for the following fiscal year.

SECTION 10.03 Public Information and Policy Committee.

(a) The Vice President shall serve as Chair of the Public Information and Policy Committee. The President shall appoint the membership of the Public Information and Policy Committee. The members of the Public Information and Policy Committee shall be drawn from the members of the governing board, executive directors or employees of members in good standing; provided, however, that the President shall ensure that at least one half of the membership of the Public Policy and Information Committee shall be composed of members of the governing boards of members in good standing.

(b) The Public Information and Policy Committee shall keep abreast of all legislative activity related to the purposes of the Corporation.

(c) The Public Policy and Information Committee shall keep the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors informed of significant events associated with the annual session of the Georgia General Assembly, any proposed or needed state legislation, and the progress of any bill related to the purposes of the Corporation.

(d) The Public Information and Policy Committee shall keep the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors informed of any proposed or current legislation before the Congress of the United States related to the purposes of the Corporation.

(e) If a majority of the members of the Public Information and Policy Committee are of the opinion that the Corporation should take a public position on any pending legislation, the Chair of the Public Information and Policy Committee shall notify the President of the Corporation. The President shall present the proposed action recommended by the Public Information and Policy Committee to the Board of Directors who shall vote on the adoption of the recommendation at the next regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors. If the President and Chair of the Public Information and Policy Committee concur that there is not sufficient time to wait for a regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors to consider the recommendation of the Public Information and Policy Committee, the provisions of Section 4.06 of these Bylaws shall apply.

SECTION 10.04 Nominating Committee.

(a) The Nominating Committee shall consist of the Immediate Past President and two voting directors of the Board of Directors who are not members of the Executive Committee, and who shall be appointed by the President. The Immediate Past President shall serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee. When there is no Immediate Past President, the most recent Past President shall serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee. When there is no Past President, the President shall appoint a member of the Executive Committee to serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee.

(b) The Nominating Committee shall meet prior to the last regular meeting of the Board of Directors held in the fiscal year and prepare a slate of nominees consisting of at least one nominee for each elective office.

(c) The Chair of the Nominating Committee shall present the slate of nominees to the members of the Board of Directors at the last regular meeting of the Board of Directors in the fiscal year.

SECTION 10.05 Education and Training Committee.

(a) The Education, and Training Committee shall plan any annual meeting of the Corporation held in accordance with Section 4.04 of Article IV of these Bylaws, establish professional and board member training programs for the community service boards, create and maintain an initiative for the development and training of the board of directors for effective governance of the Corporation, and any such other related issues.

(b) The President shall appoint the Chair and membership of the Education and Training Committee. The chair of the Education and Training Committee shall be a voting director of the Board of Directors of the Corporation. Any member of the governing authority or employee of a member in good standing may serve as a member of the Education and Training Committee.

SECTION 10.06 Additional Standing Committees. The President shall appoint the Chair of any additional standing committee created pursuant to these Bylaws. The Chair of any additional standing committee shall be a voting director of the Board of Directors of the Corporation. Each member in good standing may appoint one member of each additional standing committee. Any member of the governing authority or employee of a member in good standing may serve as a member of any additional standing committees.

SECTION 10.07 Ad Hoc Committees. Subject to the approval of the Board of Directors as provided in subsection (d) of Section 3.03 of these Bylaws, the President of the Corporation may create from time to time ad hoc committees to meet specific, time limited objectives of the Corporation.

SECTION10.08 Task Forces. Subject to the approval of the Board of Directors as provided in subsection (e) of Section 3.03 of these Bylaws, the President of the Corporation may create from time to time task forces to meet the objectives of the Corporation, which may include participation by persons or organizations not having membership in the Corporation.

SECTION 10.09 Committee or Task Force Membership. With the exception of the Executive and Nominating Committees, the President may appoint to any standing or ad hoc committee or task force a governing board member, official, or staff member of a member in good standing; provided approval of the appointment is obtained from one of the voting directors of the Board of Directors who represents said member in good standing. Persons or representatives of organizations who are not members in good standing of the Corporation may be appointed to membership on task forces, but not to membership on committees.

ARTICLE XI

INTEREST GROUPS

SECTION 11.01 Establishment of Interest Groups.

(a) From time to time the Board of Directors may authorize the establishment of any Interest Group it deems appropriate to effect the purposes of the Corporation.

An interest group may consist of the members of the governing board, officers, or employees of a member in good standing who:

(1) Hold the same or a similar position in their respective community service boards;

(2) Promote the interests of consumers of services provided by members in good standing;

(3) Represent the mental health, developmental disabilities, or addictive diseases interests within members in good standing; or

(4) For any other purpose deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors.

(b) The President of the Corporation shall appoint a voting director of the Board of Directors to serve as a liaison between the interest group and the Board of Directors.

SECTION 11.02 Purposes of Interest Groups. Interest Groups established pursuant to the provisions of this Article are for the following purposes:

(a) To provide a greater degree of involvement in the activities of the Corporation by governing board members, officials, and staff members of members in good standing;

(b) To provide a forum for the sharing and exchanging of information, ideas, and solutions to problems which pertain to a particular array of services provided by community service boards, or which are of concern to persons who hold similar positions in community service boards; and

SECTION 11.03 RESERVED.

SECTION 11.04 Interest Group Membership. Until such time as Interest Group dues are established by the Board of Directors, a member of the Corporation in good standing may have membership in as many Sections as is in the interests of the member. After such time as the Board of Directors establishes Section dues, a member in good standing of the Corporation may become a member in good standing of a Section only upon payment of Section dues.

SECTION 11.05 Interest Group Officers. Each Interest Group shall elect a chair and vice chair.

SECTION 11.06 Dissolution of an Interest Group. An Interest Group shall stand dissolved at the time of the first regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Corporation held in the fiscal year; unless the Board of Directors of the Corporations authorizes the continuation of such Interest Group until the end of the fiscal year. An Interest Group which has been dissolved may be reestablished in accordance with the provisions of Section 11.01 of these Bylaws.

ARTICLE XII

STAFF

SECTION 12.01 Executive Director. The Board of Directors may establish an office of Executive Director, and said office when established will be governed by the provisions of these Bylaws that apply to said office. In the event said office is established, the Executive Director of the Corporation shall be an officer of the Corporation as provided in Section 5.01 of these Bylaws. The Executive Director shall be appointed by and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. The position of Executive Director shall not be held by any person serving concurrently as a member or employee of a community service board or a board of health which provides disability services in accordance with O.C.G.A. §31-3-12.1.

SECTION 12.02 Compensation and Performance Evaluation. In the event an office of Executive Director is established, the Board of Directors shall establish the compensation and the terms and conditions of employment of the Executive Director. The President of the Corporation shall meet with the Executive Director from time to time throughout the fiscal year, but at least once at mid-year, to review the performance of the Executive Director consistent with performance criteria approved by the Board of Directors. The President may invite other members of the Board of Directors to participate in such reviews.

SECTION 12.03 Powers and Duties. The Executive Director, if said office is established, shall be the chief operating officer of the Corporation and in that capacity shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To sign contracts, when such contracts have been authorized by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws, and to sign checks on behalf of the Corporation for budgeted expenses of the Corporation and for such other purposes as may be authorized by the Board of Directors;

(b) To carry out policies of the Board of Directors;

(c) Unless otherwise directed by the President of the Corporation or the Board of Directors, to represent the Corporation in any matters that may come before the General Assembly of Georgia;

(d) To represent the Corporation at meetings, conferences, and events;

(e) To represent the President of the Corporation when requested; and

(f) To perform any other duties as may be assigned by the President, the Executive Committee, or the Board of Directors.

SECTION 12.04 Other Staff. The Executive Director, if said office is established, may contract for or employ personnel of the Corporation in accordance with a salary schedule and the annual operating budget approved by the Board of Directors, and take disciplinary action against and discharge such contracted personnel or employees. Employees of the Corporation, other than the Executive Director, shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Executive Director. The Board of Directors shall establish personnel policies and procedures to govern employees of the Corporation. No person serving as a member or employee of a community service board may serve concurrently as contracted personnel or an employee of the Corporation. However, nothing shall prohibit any independent contractor from serving as an independent contractor of a community service board, or a limited liability company or non profit corporation established by one or more community service boards when such contracted services are not in conflict with services provided by such independent contractor to the Corporation, and the President of the Corporation in consultation with the Executive Committee established pursuant to Section 10.02 of these Bylaws shall determine when any such conflict exists.

SECTION 12.05 Other Employees as Officers of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate certain employee positions in addition to the position of Executive Director as officers of the Corporation in accordance with Section 5.01 of these Bylaws. Such additional officers who are employees of the Corporation shall serve at the pleasure of the Executive Director, and shall be appointed and removed in accordance with personnel policies and procedures as required in Section 12.04 of this Article.

SECTION 12.06 Staff Travel and Other Expenses. Contracted personnel or employees of the Corporation, including the Executive Director, shall be reimbursed for travel and other expenses, including mileage, meals and lodging, incurred in the performance of their duties as contracted personnel or employees of the Corporation. Such reimbursement shall be consistent with travel regulations for state employees as reflected in the most recent revision of the joint statewide travel regulations published by the State Auditor and the state Office of Planning and Budget. The President of the Corporation shall approve travel and other expenses incurred by the Executive Director. The Executive Director shall approve travel and other expenses incurred by contracted personnel or employees of the Corporation.

SECTION 1207. Contract for Management Services. Nothing in these Bylaws shall limit the Board of Directors of the Corporation from contracting with a limited liability company established by a majority of the community service boards to provide such limited liability company with management services or to have such limited liability company provide management services to the Corporation.

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENTS

SECTION 13.01 Procedure. These Bylaws may be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting directors of the Board of Directors at a regular meeting, provided that a copy of the proposed amendment shall have been approved and submitted by the Executive Committee to the Board of Directors at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors held prior to the meeting when the vote on the proposed amendment to the Bylaws is to be held.

ARTICLE XIV

DISSOLUTION

SECTION 14.01 Assets. In the event that the Corporation is dissolved for any reason, the Board of Directors shall transfer all assets of the Corporation in its possession, after payment of its bona fide debts, to any organization selected by the Board of Directors, provided the organization meets the requirements of the corporation's charter.

Adopted on this 7th day of May, 2010 in Laurens County, Georgia, by the voting directors of Board of Directors of the Georgia Association of Community Service Boards, Inc.

FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

____________________________

Ellice P. Martin, Ed.D.

President of the Corporation,

Georgia Association of Community Service Boards, Inc.

WITNESSETH:

_________________________

Thomas W. Ford, Ph.D.

Secretary of the Corporation,

Georgia Association of Community Service Boards, Inc.