Constition/By-Laws

CONSTITUTION AND BY -LAWS OF THE LOUISIANA HYPNOTHERAPY ORGANIZATION

ratified July 1, 2006
New Orleans, LA

CONSTITUTION	ARTICLE I. NAME
	ARTICLE II. OBJECT
	ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
	ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS
	ARTICLE V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
	ARTICLE VI. ANNUAL CONFERENCE
	ARTICLE VII. FUNDS AND ENDOWMENTS
	ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS
BY-LAWS	ARTICLE I. MEMBERSHIP
	ARTICLE II. DUES
	ARTICLE III. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
	ARTICLE IV. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
	ARTICLE V. COMMl1TEES
	ARTICLE VI. PUBLICATIONS
	ARTICLE VII. ANNUAL CONFERENCE
	ARTICLE VIII. FISCAL YEAR
	ARTICLE IX. SEAL
	ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS
CODE OF ETHICS	NUMBERS 1- 9

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I. NAME

The Organization shall be known as The Louisiana Hvpnotherapy Organization. hereinafter referred to as "the Organization. "

ARTICLE II. OBJECTIVE

The objective of the Organization shall be the education and networking of hypnotherapist and those interested in hypnosis. The Organization shall stimulate research, discussion and publications for the scientific study and clinical uses of hypnosis. It shall encourage cooperative relations with other hypnotherapy groups and organizations.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Membership shall be open to qualified individuals as set forth in the By-Laws.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of the Organization shall be a President. a Vice-President the immediate Past-President. a Secretary and a Treasurer to be elected according to the procedures specified in the By:-Laws and to serve for the terms there indicated. Any officer will however continue in office until a successor has been elected.

Section 2. The President shall also act as Chairman of the Board of Directors. The President shall preside at all business meetings and at all scientific meetings of the Organization. In the event of the President's death, resignation, or absence presidential duties shall devolve successively upon the Vice-President, the immediate Past-President, the Secretary or the Treasurer, or a President Pro-term appointed by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. The Secretary shall maintain the records of the Organization including historical records the minutes of its meetings, and copies of its publications and shall also be responsible for attending to correspondence relating to the Organization.

Section 4. The Treasurer shall be responsible for receiving funds due the Organization from dues, and other sources accounting for them according to acceptable practices disbursing them according to instructions from the President submitting a budget annually to the Board of Directors and. subject to the Board of Directors approval, operate in accordance with it.

ARTICLE V. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall be the governing body of the Organization. It shall call regular and special meetings. It shall have the power to fill vacancies in elective offices to complete the term for an office vacated by resignation, death, or inability to serve. The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officers of the Organization plus not fewer than six (6) members elected by the Membership according to the procedures specified in the By-Laws. All former Presidents (having served as immediate Past-President) shall be non-voting members of the Board of Directors (unless eligible to vote by virtue of holding other office).

Section 2. The Board of Directors may conduct its business by mail. Replies by a majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for purposes of taking action. provided the notification has been by air mail 45 days prior to the date of counting the ballots.

Section 3. The Board of Directors shall approve the annual budget submitted by the Treasurer. and be responsible for the disbursement of the funds of the Organization.

Section 4. The Board of Directors may establish such committees as may be necessary for the conduct of the affairs of the Organization.

ARTICLE VI. ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Section 1. There shall be an Annual Conference held periodically, usually in Julv at a time and place to be designated by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. The Annual Conference shall provide opportunities for invited speakers and volunteered papers on topics of mutual interest covering research on hypnosis and closely related phenomena and clinical and other applications of hypnotic procedure and knowledge. as well as workshops and specific training.

Section 3. The Conference shall also provide opportunities to deal with the business affairs of the Organization including deliberations of the Board of Directors. and the Council of Representatives and reports to those members who are in attendance.

ARTICLE VII. FUNDS AND ENDOWMENTS

The Organization may solicit and receive funds and endowments. Expenditures of all funds shall be authorized by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENTS

Section 1. This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote of those voting in a referendum submitted by email to the members in good standing.

Section 2. Amendments may be proposed by the Board of Directors. or a petition by any twenty (20) members of the Organization.

Section 3. All proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be communicated to the members at least 90 days prior to the closing of the vote and the counting of the ballots.

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. The membership in the Louisiana Hypnotherapy Organization (the Organization) shall consist of Members and Honorary Members. The Membership year shall be the calendar year. July I-June 30

Section 2.(a) Any applicant for membership shall automatically be eligible and shall be approved to become a Member in the Organization upon presenting an application and upon the payment of dues.

Section 3. Honorary Members shall be elected upon special invitation and without application by the Board of Directors and shall be limited to distinguished scientific contributors to hypnosis. They shall have all the privileges of membership. but shall be free of the obligation to pay membership dues for one year.

Section 4. Members and Honorary Members may all vote in the election of officers and on all matters put to a vote of the Members. but the right to hold office or to be a director is restricted to Members.

Section 5. In the event of unethical or unprofessional behavior of a member (in any membership status), formal complaint shall be made in writing to the Chairman of the Committee on Ethical Practices. If that Committee deems necessary it may recommend that the Board of Directors take official discretionary action, which may be in the form of warning, suspension, or expulsion from the Organization. Appeal of such a decision may be made, and the appellant may request a hearing by a special committee appointed by the Board of Directors for that purpose.

Section 6. Except where the context indicates a reference to a member of the Council of Representatives as such, any reference to Member or Members (Capitalized) in these By-Laws shall be reference to a full member of the Organization under Section 1 of this Article 1 and not to an Honorary Member. and any reference to member or members (non-Capitalized) in these By-Laws shall be reference to any member of the Organization whether a Member or Honorary Member.

Section 7. The Membership year shall be from July lst to June 30 the following year.

ARTICLE II. DUES

Section 1. The annual dues will be set by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Notices of dues will be sent in sufficient time4 and if the dues have not been paid by the member within three (3) months of the date on which they are due4 such member will be declared in arrears and his name dropped from the membership rolls. Membership can be reinstated by paying in full the dues for the current year in which the membership is reinstated.

ARTICLE III. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

To be nominated for office. a candidate must have been a member in good standing in the Organization for at least one (1) year prior to nomination.

Section 1. The election of officers shall be held annually, the election usually to be completed prior to the Annual Conference so that the newly elected officers who are to take office can be announced and recognized at the Annual Conference. (Article V. Section 2).

Section 2. The candidates who receive the largest number of votes for each office shall be declared elected. In the case of a tie vote, the Chairman of he Committee on Nominations and Elections shall decide by lot between the two candidates. This shall be done in the presence of witnesses.

Section 3. The new officers shall be notified of their elections by email or by the United States Postal Service and shall take office at the time of the Annual Conference after completion of the business of the existing Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IV. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officers plus a number of Members. The number of Members to serve on the Board shall be designated by the Board of Directors. but at no time shall it be fewer than three (3). The Board of Directors shall instruct the Secretary in sufficient time. and not less than a minimum of 60 days as to the number of its members to be elected to serve on the Board of Directors before the Annual Conference.

Section 2. The Board of Directors shall review the financial situation of the Organization at least once a year. The Treasurer shall prepare a budget based on the previous year's audited financial statement. This budget, together with the audited financial statement, shall be presented to the Board of Directors for approval and for information within 60-90 days of the termination of the fiscal period (but in time for the Conference every third year).

Section 3. The Board of Directors shall specify the location of a Central office, where the records of the Organization are kept, and through which the interim business of the Organization is conducted. and may designate at its discretion an Administrative Officer to work in cooperation with the Treasurer.

ARTICLE V. COMMITTEES

Section 1. The President is responsible for appointing all regular and special committees.

Section 2. The following regular committees shall be appointed:

(a) Committee on Nominations and Elections.
The Committee for Nominations and Elections shall consist of a chairperson~ two committee members appointed by the President and the immediate Past-President of the Or2anization. The Committee shall provide nominees and conduct elections in accordance with Article III.

(b) Committee on Ethical Practices.
This Committee, consisting of not less than three members, shall receive ethical complaints against members and make recommendations to the Board of Directors according to Article 1. Section 6.

(c) Committee on Publications.
This Committee, consisting of not less than three members, shall supervise the publications policies of the Organization and make recommendations to the Board of Directors, in accordance with the provisions of Article VI.

(d) Committee on Programs
This Committee consists of a chairperson and two committee members and shall select speakers and/or programs for the regular membership meetings in accordance to the provisions of Article II and the Code of Ethics of the Organization.

Section 3. Membership on Committees shall be for a term of one (1) year in parallel with the term of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI. PUBLICATIONS

Section 1. The President shall appoint a Committee on Publications to recommend to the Board of Directors publication policies for the Organization. Such publications may include Directories of Members, Proceedings of the Annual Conferences, Journals, Newsletters, Symposia, or other publications coherent with the objectives of the Organization.

Section 2. The Committee on Publications, with the approval of the Board of Directors, may from time to time designate an independent journal as the official scientific publication of the Organization, and the Board of Directors may enter into contractual arrangements with that journal.

ARTICLE VII. ANNUAL CONFERENCES

Section 1. An Annual Conference shall be held every year on the second weekend of July unless changed at least six months before the conference. A Conference Committee shall be established which shall include a chairperson and at least one member of the Board of Directors of the Organization.

Section 2. The Conference shall provide opportunities for invited speakers and volunteered papers on issues of mutual interest, covering research on hypnosis and closely related phenomena. and clinical and other applications of hypnotic procedures and knowledge.

Section 3. The Conference shall provide opportunities to deal with the affairs of the Organization. (a) A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall take place, with an agenda prepared by the President and the Secretary of the Organization.(b) A plenary session of all members in attendance at the Conference shall be called to hear reports and to discuss such matters as may be pertinent.

ARTICLE VIII. FISCAL YEAR

Section 1. The fiscal year of the Organization shall begin on the first day of July of each year and end on the last day of June of the following year.

ARTICLE IX. SEAL

The Board shall provide a corporate seal which shall be in the form of the name of the Louisiana Hypnotherapy Organization and the Fleur de Lis symbol.

ARTICLE X AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments to the By-Laws may be proposed by the Board of Directors. or bv petition signed by any twenty (20) members of the Organization.

Section 2. Amendments to the Constitution require ratification by the membership (see Constitution. Article VIII. Section 1), but amendments to the By-Laws may be made by a two-thirds affirmative vote by those voting among the Members.

Section 3. Proposed amendments to the By-Laws shall be communicated to the Membership at least 90 days prior to the closing of the vote and the counting of the ballots.