BYLAWS 

OKLAHOMA SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION 

Revised and Adopted July, 2022 

ARTICLE I: NAME AND MISSION 

ARTICLE I, SECTION 1. The name of the Association shall be the Oklahoma  School Counselor Association (OSCA), a chartered state chapter of the American  School Counselor Association (ASCA). 

ARTICLE I, SECTION 2. OSCA expands the image and influence of school  counselors. OSCA empowers school counselors with the knowledge, skills,  linkages, and resources to promote equity, access to a high-quality education and  overall success for every student in school. The mission of OSCA shall be to  represent all school counselors and to promote professionalism and ethical  practices.  

ARTICLE 1, SECTION 3. The Oklahoma School Counselor Association strives to  promote excellence in the profession of school counseling by empowering,  leading, and advocating for school counselors and the students they serve.  

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP 

ARTICLE II, SECTION 1. Types of Membership. This Association shall include  four types of membership: Professional, Retired, Student and Affiliate. 

ARTICLE II, SECTION 2. Requirements of Membership. In order to qualify for  one of the four types of membership, the following requirements must be met for  each category of membership being sought. 

 II-2a. Professional Membership. School counseling professionals who hold a  master’s degree or higher in school counseling or the substantial equivalent and are  eligible for employment as school counselors, supervisors of school counselors, or  professors of counseling in a graduate program that prepares school counselors. 

 II-2b. Retired Members. Former professional members who have retired.

 II-2c. Student Membership. Students enrolled in a master’s level program that  prepares school counselors. 

 II-2d. Affiliate members. Members who have an interest in school counseling  but do not qualify for a professional membership. Affiliate members are not  eligible to vote. 

ARTICLE II, SECTION 3. Dues. Dues for all categories of membership shall be  set and established by the Board of Directors. 

ARTICLE II, SECTION 4. Rights and Privileges. Professional, Retired, and  Student Members shall be eligible to vote, indicate motions of parliamentary  proceeding, and shall be eligible for elective office. 

ARTICLE II, SECTION 5. Severance of Membership.  

II-5a. Association members who do not renew their membership on or  before their membership expiration date will no longer be considered members of  OSCA.  

II-5b. Membership may be revoked for revocation of license or credential or  for any conduct that tends to injure the association, or adversely affect its  reputation, or which violates principles stated in the ASCA Ethical Standards for  School Counselors and/or the OSCA Bylaws. Any member charged with engaging  in misconduct shall be given the opportunity to present evidence on his or her  behalf. The member shall also have the right to file a written appeal and have a  hearing before the Board of Directors, whose decision shall be final. 

ARTICLE II, SECTION 6. Member Conduct and Nondiscrimination. The  Oklahoma School Counselor Association does not knowingly engage in or support  activities that discriminate on any basis as addressed in the ASCA Ethical  Standards for School Counselors. As stated in the following clause: The Oklahoma School Counselor Association values all members and nonmembers as  unique individuals and we welcome the variety of experiences they bring to the  organization. We believe everyone should be treated with fairness and respect  regardless of race, sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, national origin, native  language, religion, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, genetic information,  pregnancy, or any other characteristic protectd by law. Every board director, officer, and  committee member has the right to share their expertise in an environment where  knowledge, skills, and abilities are the critical factors in their work as a volunteer  member.OSCA expects all members to maintain standards of professional conduct,  promote equal opportunity, treat everyone professionally, and act without bias. The  Oklahoma School Counselor Association does not knowingly engage in or support  activities that discriminate on any basis as addressed in the ASCA Ethical Standards for  School Counselors.

ARTICLE III: OSCA OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

ARTICLE III, SECTION 1. Board Role, Size, and Composition. The Board of  Directors is responsible for overall policy and direction of OSCA. The Board shall  consist of no less than 9 members and no more than 16. 

ARTICLE III, SECTION 2. Fiduciary Responsibility. Board members shall not  receive any compensation other than reimbursement of reasonable expenses. Board  members shall not benefit financially or materially from their service on the Board  of Directors. 

ARTICLE III, SECTION 3. Meetings. The Board of Directors shall meet at least  quarterly. 

ARTICLE III, SECTION 4. Elections. Board Members shall be elected at least  annually by a vote of the membership. 

 III-4a. The Governance Committee shall be responsible for developing  nominees for Board elections. Nominations from the Governance Committee will  promote a diverse and equitable representation of voices aimed at encouraging board members from all over the state to serve and be intentional in recruiting  and recommending members necessary to enable OSCA to fulfill its mission. 

 III-4b. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for presenting a slate of  prospective Board members to the membership for election. 

 III-4c. Qualifications. To be eligible for nomination to the Board of Directors,  individuals must be a voting member of OSCA and a member of ASCA. 

ARTICLE III, SECTION 5. Terms. Board members shall serve a three year term  and are eligible for re-election. Board members may serve no more than two  consecutive terms. Members are eligible to return to Board service after at least a  one year absence. 

ARTICLE III, SECTION 6. Quorum. At least two-thirds of the members of the  Board of Directors must be present to constitute a quorum and conduct official  business.

ARTICLE III, SECTION 7. Notice of Board Meeting. An official board meeting  requires that each Board member have written notice at least five days in advance. 

ARTICLE III, SECTION 8. Officers and Duties. Officers shall perform duties  according to OSCA policy. 

 III-8a. President. The President shall serve a one-year term and is eligible for  reelection. The President may serve no more than two years in this Office during  consecutive service on the Board of Directors. 

 III-8b. President-Elect. The President-Elect shall serve a one-year term and is  eligible for reelection. The President-Elect may serve no more than two years in  this Office during consecutive service on the Board of Directors. 

 III-8c. Secretary. The Secretary shall serve a one-year term and is eligible for  reelection. 

 III-8d. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall serve a one-year term and is eligible for  reelection. 

ARTICLE III, SECTION 9. Vacancies. 

 III-9a. Vacancies will be filled at the next election period unless the Board of  Directors falls below nine members, in which case a special election will take  place following the procedures outlined in Article III, Section 4. 

 III-9b. Officer Vacancies. 

 III-9b-i. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the President Elect will assume the responsibilities of the office for the remainder of the term. 

 III-9b-ii. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Secretary, an existing  member of the Board shall be elected by the Board of Directors for the remainder  of the term. 

 III-9b-iii. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Treasurer, a member of the  Finance Committee will assume the responsibilities of the office for the remainder  of the term.

ARTICLE III, SECTION 10. Resignation or Removal from Office. Resignations  must be submitted in writing to the Secretary. A board member may be removed  from the Board of Directors after three consecutive absences from Board meetings.  A board member may be removed for other reasons by a three-fourths vote of the  remaining Directors. 

ARTICLE IV: COMMITTEES 

ARTICLE IV, SECTION 1. The committees of the association shall consist of  Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Committees. 

 IV-1a. Standing Committees. (separate 4 “bunched” into 9 committees) 

 IV-1a-i. Governance Committee. The Governance Committee shall include a  Chair and be composed of no less than three members of the Board of Directors,  including a previous President, the President, or the President-Elect. 

 IV-1a-ii. Finance Committee. The Treasurer will serve as Chair of the  Finance Committee. 

  

 IV-1a-iii. Advocacy Committee 

 IV-1a-iv. Membership Committee 

 IV-1a-v. Media Committee 

 IV-1a-vi Professional Development Committee  

 IV-1a-vii Awards Committee 

 IV-1a-viii Ethics Committee 

 IV-1a-ix (DEI) Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee 

 IV-1b. Ad Hoc Committees. A special ad hoc committee shall serve until, in the  opinion of the Board of Directors, the purpose of the said committee is  accomplished.

 IV-1c. Committee Membership. A committee member shall serve for the fiscal  year or until the purpose of the said committee is accomplished. 

 IV-1d. Committee Chairs. Standing and Ad Hoc Committee Chairs shall be  determined by the members of the committee. 

ARTICLE V: BUSINESS AFFAIRS OF THE ASSOCIATION 

ARTICLE V, SECTION 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year shall begin July 1 and end  the following June 30. 

V-1a. The Board of Directors shall receive an annual report and adopt a  budget for the upcoming fiscal year. 

ARTICLE V, SECTION 2. Property of the Association. In the event the  Association should be dissolved, none of its property shall be distributed to any of  the members. Instead, all of its property shall be transferred to such  organizations(s) as the Board of Directors shall determine to have purposes and  activities most nearly consonant with those of the Association. 

ARTICLE V, SECTION 3. Annual Meeting. There shall be an annual business  meeting of the membership of the Association. 

ARTICLE VI: INDEMNIFICATION 

ARTICLE VI, SECTION 1. OSCA indemnifies the Board of Directors from all  judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement, and reasonable expenses, including  attorney's fees, actually, and necessarily incurred or imposed as a result of such  actions or proceedings or an appeal therein, imposed upon or asserted against him  or her by reason of being or having been such an officer and acting within the  scope of his or her official duties, but only when the determination shall have been  made judicially or in the manner hereinafter provided in good faith for the purpose  when he or she reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the association, and  in the case of criminal action or proceedings upon a finding that or if a quorum  under is not obtained with due diligence upon the opinion in writing of  independent legal counsel, that the Board of Directors member has met the  foregoing applicable standard of conduct if the undergoing determinations to be  made by the Board of Directors it may rely as to all questions of law on the advice  of independent counsel.

ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS 

ARTICLE VII, SECTION 1. Amendments. These Bylaws may be amended by a  majority vote of the membership. 

 VII-1a. An amendment may be proposed by any voting member to the Board of  Directors. An approved proposed amendment shall be made available to the  general membership in writing 30 days prior to the vote. Amendments must be  approved by a majority vote of the membership. 

ARTICLE VII, SECTION 2. Publication. The Bylaws of OSCA shall be published  electronically in their entirety and shall be available to any member upon request.