BYLAWS
ASSOCIATION FOR BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS IN NIGERIA (ABAN)
Association for Behavior Analysis in Nigeria (ABAN), a
not-for-profit membership organization whose purpose is to promote the specific
interests of its members, within the scope of these bylaws.
ABAN was created with the mission to promote the competent practice of applied behavior analysis, education and training, services, advocacy, and the globalization of ABA. Also, it is meant to promote international cooperation and to sensitize Nigerians in diaspora about the situation in Nigeria and globally. ABAN encourages diversity and inclusiveness in the field of behavior analysis broadly, and within the organization specifically. Diversity here refers to differences in race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, country of origin, religious or spiritual beliefs, ability, and social and economic class.
The mission explicitly encompasses all aspects of and domains within behavior analysis—research, practice, etc. Specifically, the organization shall:
(a) Serve as a scientific and professional reference and networking group for its members.
(b) Disseminate information to promote its mission to a wider audience.
(c) Organize an annual business meeting to provide a forum for discussion of the affairs of the chapter.
2. Voting
Full members in good standing shall be entitled to vote on all matters brought before the chapter. There shall be no proxy voting.
1. Officers
The officers of ABAN shall be the president, vice president, secretary for administrative affairs, and secretary for financial affairs. At least two officers must be Full members of ABAI.
2. Terms of Office
The term of office for the president shall be two years to commence at the conclusion of the meeting presided over by the current president, who shall then assume the office of past president. The president and past president shall not be eligible for nomination for the office of president-elect.
The secretary for administrative affairs and secretary for financial affairs shall be appointed by the board for initial terms of three years; these appointments may be renewed as deemed appropriate by the board. During the year prior to assuming office, the designated replacements for these offices may attend any or all board or committee meetings.
3. Duties
The president or vice-president shall preside at all board and member meetings. The president also is responsible for the counting of nomination and election ballots, as well as the ballots in any referenda submitted to the voting membership and shall exercise general supervision over the affairs of the chapter.
If the president is unable to preside over a meeting, that responsibility shall fall to the vice president. If he or she is unable to preside, the chair of the Legislation, Ethics, and Public Policy Committee assumes the responsibility.
The secretary for administrative affairs shall keep the records of the chapter and the board; conduct official correspondence; serve ex officio as a member of all committees as deemed necessary by the board and issue programs of meetings; and receive applications for membership and give notice of all inductions into membership. This secretary shall act as the general executive officer of the chapter in consultation with and by direction of the president and the board. He or she shall bring to the attention of the board and the members such matters as are deemed necessary for the appropriate operation of the organization and liaise with the Publication Committee members of the chapter as appropriate.
The secretary for financial affairs shall keep the financial records of the chapter and shall have the responsibility for all chapter funds and authority to disburse these funds for purposes authorized by the board. The secretary for financial affairs shall keep a record of all money received and all disbursements made and submit an annual report of the chapter’s financial status and liaise with the publication members of the chapter as appropriate.
4. Replacement
In the event of death, incapacity, or resignation of any of these officers, the board shall, by majority vote, appoint a successor to serve until the conclusion of the term of the replaced member.
Any officer may be removed at any time by vote of a majority of members entitled to vote.
Article V—Executive Committee and Board
1. Composition
There shall be an executive committee consisting of the president, president-elect, vice president, secretary for administrative affairs, secretary for financial affairs, and chair and vice chair of the Legislation, Ethics, and Public Policy Committee. The board shall consist of the executive committee and at least three additional members at large selected for staggered three-year terms. None of the officers shall serve simultaneously as members at large of the board.
The board shall promulgate policies regarding chapter functioning that are not specified in the bylaws.
2. Meetings
The board shall meet at least once annually at a time and location deemed appropriate by the president. A meeting of the board may also be called by action of three members of the board who shall notify the remaining members at least two weeks in advance of the proposed meeting, though in an emergency the two weeks’ requirement may be waived.
Records of meetings and board activities shall be permanently retained.
3. Quorum
For purposes of transacting the business of the chapter, a quorum shall consist of four members of the board. Board members may attend meetings remotely (e.g., via Skype or GoToMeeting).
4. Removal and Replacement
Members of the board who fail to maintain membership in good standing in the chapter or who fail to attend two consecutive meetings of the board are subject to removal by a majority vote of the remaining members of the board; a board member who has missed two consecutive meetings will be given opportunity to provide explanation for the absences. A tie-vote shall be construed as affirmation for removal. Positions vacated for any reason shall be replaced by a majority vote of the remaining members, such successors to serve until elections occur at the annual business meeting of the chapter.
Annually, formal financial reporting shall be made to the membership. All officers and board members shall declare and ensure that they do not profit financially from chapter operations or otherwise have conflicts of interest related to the chapter.
Article VI—Nominations and Elections
1. Nominations
During an election year, the president or his or her designee shall send to all full members a nomination ballot for president-elect and for the number of at-large members of the board necessary to complete the voting membership of the board. For each office that appears on the nominating ballot, each full member may propose up to four names and may nominate the same person for more than one office.
The president and/or person designated by the president shall count the ballots and shall ask those nominees receiving the largest number of votes for each office if they are willing to stand for election and shall proceed through the list in the order of vote count until at least two candidates for each office have been obtained. No one may hold two offices at the same time, so if a voting member receives enough nominations for two offices, the president shall request that the individual choose the office for which he or she wishes to be a candidate.
After the list of candidates has been determined, the president shall send to all full members whose membership dues are paid a ballot for all matters to be voted upon along with a statement on which the names of the candidates for each office are listed in alphabetical order with brief biographical descriptions.
Members of the board shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at an election.
All nominations and votes shall be made by secret ballot.
2. Terms
Officers and other members of the board shall assume office on the first day after the close of the annual business meeting at which their election is announced. Officers shall hold office until their elected successors assume office in their stead.
1. Annual Business Meeting
There shall be at least one annual business meeting of the chapter. Initial notice of the annual business meeting shall be given to all members in good standing not less than three months prior to the scheduled date.
Any motions made at the annual business meeting may be passed only by a plurality of the votes cast.
2. Quorum
A quorum at the annual business meeting shall consist of not less than 2/3 of the members in good standing present and voting.
The annual business meeting shall include a report of officer and board activities over the year as well as a financial report.
Committees
All committees are constituted by and operate under the direction and at the pleasure of the board.
The committees of the chapter shall consist of such standing committees as may be provided by these bylaws and such special committees as may be established by vote of the board, and may include the following:
1. Membership
The Membership Committee shall consist of a chair appointed by the president, who shall appoint at least two additional members with the advice and consent of the board.
2. Program
The Program Committee shall be appointed by the board. The primary duty of the Program Committee shall be organization and management of the chapter’s annual business meeting.
3. Publications
The Publications Committee shall be appointed by the board. The role of the Publications Committee shall be to edit, publish, and distribute items designated by the board. The budget of the Publications Committee shall be submitted prior to the annual meeting of the executive committee and shall be presented for approval and reviewed at that time.
4. Legislation, Ethics, and Public Policy Committee
The Legislation, Ethics, and Public Policy Committee shall be appointed by the board. The role of the Legislation, Ethics, and Public Policy Committee shall be to advise and assist the board regarding matters involving behavior analysis and governmental entities.
Dues
Dues for the various categories of membership shall be established by a simple majority vote of the board. This action can be rescinded by a three-fifths majority vote of those present and voting at the annual business meeting of the association. In this case the board shall propose an alternate schedule of dues for approval by simple majority of those present and voting.
Registration and Dues: Annual Deadline Jan. 30.
Collection
Dues shall be payable in the time and manner prescribed by the board and published to the membership at large at least six months prior to the due date.
Any member who has not paid his or her yearly dues shall not be allowed to vote on any matter presented to the members.
Process
These bylaws may be amended only by two-thirds vote of the members voting. Amendments may be proposed by simple majority vote.