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Bylaws of the Oregon Speech–Language and Hearing Association

Bylaws of the Oregon Speech–Language and Hearing Association | About OSHARevised March 2008

Article I–Name

This organization shall be known as the Oregon Speech–Language and Hearing Association (OSHA), hereinafter referred to as the Association.

Article II–Purposes

The purposes and mission of the Association shall be, but not limited, to the following:

The Oregon Speech-Language and Hearing Association is an organization of like-minded professionals dedicated to providing the highest level of communication potential to persons of all ages. In order to empower our members and facilitate advocacy we:

A. Promote the study of human communication and increase interest in the investigation, prevention, and treatment of its disorders.

B. Support the individual and collective professional interests of the Association’s members.

C. Advocate for the rights of individuals with communication disorders

D. Facilitate the exchange of information among members of the association to improve clinical services by enhancing and maintaining the highest level of knowledge and skills

E. Foster the adoption and practice of ethical principles in the professions involved with communication disorders.

F. The Oregon Speech-Language and Hearing Association shall not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, or handicapping condition. All programs and activities of the Association shall be conducted in furtherance of this policy.

Article III–Membership

Section 1. Categories of Membership

The categories of membership in the Association shall be Regular Member, subscriber,
SLP-A, Student, and Life Member. Members and Life Members shall comprise the voting body of the Association. The right to hold office and to vote shall be limited to voting members, except that the Student Representative on the Board of Directors shall be a voting member of the Board.

Section 2. Eligibility for Membership

A. The minimum academic requirement for membership shall be a graduate degree with major emphasis in speech-language pathology, audiology, or speech, language, or hearing science; or a graduate degree and present evidence of active research, interest, and performance in the field of human communication. This requirement may be waived in special instances by recommendation of the Membership Committee and a two–thirds majority vote by the Board of Directors.

B. Members must agree to abide by the Code of Ethics established by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

C. Any member who has held membership in the Association for 10 continuous years and attained the age of 62 shall be awarded Life Membership with all privileges of membership. Annual dues will be $10.00 for administrative services.

Section 3. Application for Membership

A. Candidates for membership shall submit their applications to the Chair of
the Membership Committee.

B. Any applicant rejected for membership may appeal to the Board of Directors for review of his or her application. Such appeal must be initiated within 90 days after notification of rejection. Decision on the appeal will be made by the Board of Directors after consultation with the Membership Committee.

Section 4. Termination of Membership

A. Any member who violates the Code of Ethics of the Association may be dropped from
membership by a three–fourths vote of the Board of Directors. Persons who have thus been
dropped may, upon recommendation of the Ethical Practices Committee, be reinstated after one year by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 5. Student Membership

A. A student member must be a registered full–time student in a program in speech–language
pathology, audiology, education of the deaf and hard of hearing, or an SLP-A program. Part
time students will be accepted for student membership if they are unemployed in the professions of speech– language pathology, audiology, education of the deaf and hard of hearing, or as an SLP-A while attending school. Student members may not vote except for the Student Representative to the Association Board. Student members shall receive reduced convention rates.

B. Student members shall receive publications and announcements from the Association.

C. Student members shall pay annual dues which will be less than regular membership dues. Dues for student members shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 6. Subscriber Membership

A. A subscriber may be any person or group interested in the Association and its goals and purposes. Subscriber members may not vote.

B. Subscribers shall receive publications and announcements from the Association.

C. Subscribers shall pay an annual subscription fee, the amount of which is determined by the Board of Directors.

D. Persons who do not meet the requirements for either regular membership or student membership, but who wish to be included in the mailings and announcements of the Association, may be eligible for subscriber status.

Section 7. Speech-Language Pathology Assistant ( SLP-A) Membership

A. The minimum academic requirement for SLP-A membership shall be the completion of an Approved Training Program: A post secondary training program that has been approved by the Oregon Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology. This requirement may be waived in special instances if the individual was grandfathered by the Oregon Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology as a qualified SLP-A or by a recommendation of the Membership Committee and a two–thirds majority vote by the Board of Directors.
B. Members must agree to abide by the Scope of Practice and Ethical standards noted under Hearing and Speech Professionals and speech-language pathology assistants found within the Oregon Administrative Rules. (Chapter 681: Hearing and Speech Professionals and Chapter 335: Speech-Language Pathology Assistants).

Article IV–Governance

Section 1. Board of Directors

A. The governing body of this Association shall be the Board of Directors, composed of sixteen voting members: The Officers of the Association (the Executive Committee), four regional representatives, five professional affiliation representatives, and one voting student representative.

B. Officers of the Association (the Executive Committee) shall include the President, President–Elect, Immediate Past President, Vice President for Scientific and
Educational Affairs, Vice President for Finance and Secretary.

C. One regional representative shall be elected from each of four geographical
areas of the state: Willamette Valley, Coast, Southeast, and Northeast

D. One Professional Affiliation representative shall be elected from each of the five membership groups: Audiologists, School–Based Speech–Language Pathologists, Clinic–Based Speech Language Pathologists, Early Intervention/Early Child Special Education, and Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

E. At least one student representative from each university within the state of Oregon with a speech and hearing sciences program shall be elected by current student members of the Association.

F. Terms of office for the Secretary, Vice President for Finance, Vice President for Scientific and Educational Affairs, Regional Representatives and Professional Affiliation Representatives shall be for two years. Terms of office for the President–Elect, President and Immediate Past President shall be for one year (a three year sequence). Term of Office for the Student Representative shall be for one year.

G. To assure continuity of the Board of Directors, one half of the Regional and Professional Affiliation Representatives and the Secretary shall be elected during even–numbered years (e.g., 2006, 2008, etc.). One half of the Regional and Professional Affiliation Representatives, Vice President for Finance, and Vice President for Scientific and Educational Affairs shall be elected during odd–numbered years (e.g., 2005, 2007, etc).

H. All members of the Board of Directors shall be Members or Life Members of the Association,
except for the Student Representative, who shall be a Student Member of the Association.

I. The President–Elect of the Association must have had prior experience serving on the Board of Directors.

J. No member of the Board of Directors shall be personally liable to this Association or to any
member of this Association for breach of any duties performed on behalf of the Association or its members providing however, that this provision does not relieve a Board Member of liability based upon acts not performed in good faith or acts which involve a knowing violation of law, or if such act or acts result in receipt by the Board Member of an improper personal benefit.

Section 2. Executive Committee

A. The Executive Committee of the Association shall consist of the elected officers of the
Association.

B. The President of the Association shall serve as Chair of the Executive Committee.

Section 3. Responsibilities

A. The duties of the Board of Directors shall be:

1. To establish policies and procedures and to implement the bylaws of the Oregon Speech Language and Hearing Association.
2. To formulate policies in furtherance of the purposes of the Association, in consultation with Committee Chairs.
3. To coordinate the activities of the Association.
4. To oversee and evaluate the performance of those with whom the Association contracts for services, including administrative, accounting and lobbying services.
5. To approve the Association’s annual budget.
6. To approve arrangements for locations, dates and accommodations of meetings of the Association.
7. To set registration fees for membership, conferences, meetings, and other Association functions.

B. The duties of the President shall be:

1. To preside at meetings of the Association.
2. To schedule, arrange for, and preside at meetings of the Board of Directors of the
Association.
3. To act as Chair of the Board of Directors.
4. To appoint or reappoint chairpersons of all standing committees of the Association, except that the chairpersons of the Audiology, Clinic–based Speech–Language Pathology, Public Schools and Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Committees shall be elected by their respective professional affiliation groups
5. To establish such ad hoc committees and task forces as necessary to accomplish the purposes and goals of the Association.
6. To serve as the official representative of the Association in its interactions with other groups, organizations, elected officials and legislative bodies.
7. To represent the Association at Association sponsored and other professional events
8. To further the goals and purposes of the Association to the best of his/her ability at all times.
9. To serve as Board of Directors liaison to the Ethical Practices and Legislative
Committees and to any task forces or ad hoc committees; to oversee the work of these committees.
10. To act as liaison between the Board of Directors and those persons providing contracted services to the Association.

C. The duties of the President–Elect shall be:

1. To serve as a member of the Association Board of Directors.
2. To assume the duties of the President in his/her absence or incapacity and, in the event the office of the President becomes vacant during the President–Elect’s terms of office, to assume the office of President for the interim period.
3. To assist the President in overseeing the business of the Association.
4. To serve as a member of the Budget Committee and to assist with budget development.
5. To serve as Board of Directors liaison with the Publications Committee, and to oversee the work of this committee.
6. To serve as Board of Directors liaison with the ASHA legislative Councilors and the
ASHA CAC coordinator.

D. The duties of the Past President shall be:

1. To serve as a member of the Association Board of Directors.
2. To serve as Chair of the Honors and Nominations Committee and as Board liaison with this committee.
3. To provide counsel and aid to the President as requested.
4. To oversee the periodic updating of the Association’s Policies and Procedures manual.
E. The duties of the Vice President for Scientific and Educational Affairs shall be:

1. To serve as a member of the Association Board of Directors.
2. To recommend the Program Chair for the Association’s annual meeting.
3. To work with the Program Chair to select a Program Committee.
4. To serve as Board of Directors liaison with the Program Committee and to oversee the work of this committee.
5. To assume responsibility for overseeing the planning and coordination of the annual Association conference.
6. To encourage and support members of the Association in becoming involved in scientific and continuing education activities.
7. To develop continuing education opportunities in addition to the Annual Conference for members of the Association.
8. To serve as the Association’s liaison with the state’s training institutions.

F. The duties of the Vice President for Finance shall be:

1. To serve as a member of the Association Board of Directors.
2. To serve as Chair of the Association’s budget committee.
3. To oversee the preparation of the Association’s annual budget as well as all ` financial reports of the Association.
4. To monitor the expenditures and the financial status of the Association.
5. To serve as a member of the Program Committee, overseeing the preparation of the budget for the annual conference and other Association continuing education activities.
6. To act as the Board of Directors liaison with the membership committee.

G. The duties of the Secretary shall be:
1. To serve as a member of the Association Board of Directors.
2. To keep minutes of all Association Board and business meetings.
3. To serve as secretary to the Board of Directors.
4. To oversee the collection and storage of Association documents.
5. To serve as Board liaison with the Association History and Public Education Committees.



H. The duties of the Regional Representatives shall be:

1. To serve as members of the Association Board of Directors.
2. To vote on Association issues from the perspective of his/her region.
3. To serve as continuing education liaisons for their respective regions.
4. To facilitate the development of needs assessments for the regional membership.
5. To coordinate regional responses to legislative issues affecting the professions and/or clients.
6. To obtain feedback from members in their respective regions on issues before the Board of Directors.
7. To assist with recruitment of new members from their respective regions.

I. The duties of the Professional Affiliation Representatives shall be:

1. To serve as members of the Association Board of Directors.
2. To serve as Chairs of their respective affiliation committees: Audiology, Clinic–based Speech–Language Pathology, Public Schools and Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
3. To serve as Board Liaisons to those committees related to their
respective professional affiliations.
4. To vote on Association issues from the perspective of his/her professional affiliation.
5. To serve as continuing education liaisons for their respective professional affiliations.
6. To facilitate the development of needs assessments for the professional affiliation membership.
7. To coordinate professional affiliation responses to legislative issues affecting the professions and/or clients.
8. To obtain feedback from their respective affiliations on issues before the Board of Directors.
9. To assist with recruitment of new members from their respective affiliations.

J. The duties of the Student Representative shall be:

1. To serve as a member of the Association Board of Directors.
2. To vote on Association issues from the perspective of student members.
3. To facilitate the provision of educational opportunities relevant to student member needs.
4. To obtain feedback from student members on issues before the Board of Directors.
5. To coordinate student member responses to legislative issues affecting the professions and/or clients.
6. To assist with recruitment of new student members.

Article V–Election of Officers

A. The Nominations Committee (chaired by the immediate past president) will prepare a slate of officers.

B. The proposed slate will be announced to the membership via Association newsletter, Association website, and/or general mailing in advance of the Association’s fall business meeting.

C. Members may submit the names of additional nominees to the Chair of the Nominations
Committee in advance of the fall business meeting or in person at the fall business meeting.

D. If no additional nominations are received, the slate of officers shall be approved by a simple
majority of those voting at the fall business meeting.

E. If there are additional nominations, election to those positions shall be by a plurality of those
voting members responding to a mail ballot within 21 days of the date of the mailing.

Article VI–Election of Representatives

A. Representatives will be nominated and elected by their respective regional, professional
affiliation or student member groups.

Article VII–Dues

Section 1. Amount of Dues

A. The Association shall be supported by dues assessed the membership annually.

B. Any change in annual dues for the voting membership shall be approved by a majority of the
OSHA Board of Directors. Announcement of such a proposed vote must be made to the membership via Association newsletter, Association website, and/or general mailing 30 days prior to any change to obtain general membership feedback.

Section 2. Payment of Dues

A. Membership dues shall be payable annually by a date determined by the Association Board of
Directors.

Article VIII–Meetings

Section 1. Frequency of Meetings

A. There shall be a minimum of one Association business meeting per year, to be held in conjunction with the Association’s annual conference.

B. Special meetings or conferences may be called by the Board of Directors or by agreement of the Association membership in official session. All members shall be notified at least four weeks in advance of such meetings.

Section 2. Meeting Fees

A. A registration fee shall be charged to anyone attending a state–wide meeting of the Association.
Registration fees for SLP-As and student members shall be less than the regular member fee.
The amount of the registration fee shall be proposed by the Program Committee and determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Meetings of the Board of Directors

A. Meetings of the Association Board of Directors shall be called at the discretion of the Association President, and frequently enough to accomplish the business of the Association.

B. Minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors together with the minutes of the Association business meetings shall constitute the official record of the Association.

C. Eight members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

D. Conference calls, web-based votes, and standard mail votes may be utilized when necessary to
accomplish important business of the Association. An 80% response of the active positions of the Board of Directors is required for telephone, web-based, or standard mail votes to be official.

Article IX–Committees

Section 1. Standing Committees

A. Standing Committees of the Association shall be:

1. Audiology
2. Budget
3. Clinic–based Speech–Language Pathology
4. Ethical Practices
5. Association History
6. Honors and Nominations
7. Legislative
8. Membership
9. Conference Committee
10. Publications
11. SLP-A
12. Public Schools
13. Educators of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
14. Shortage Workforce Development


B. All committee chairpersons shall be Members or Life Members of the Association.

C. Committee descriptions and responsibilities are outlined in the Policies and Procedures Manual of the Association.

Article X–Powers of the Membership

Although the Board is the duly constituted body charged with making policy and conducting business, the membership shall reserve the power to direct or limit Board action through processes of initiative and referendum.

Section 1. Initiative

A. Any voting member may initiate the consideration of any item of business by the membership by presenting a motion from the floor at any business meeting of that body or by presenting a resolution in writing to the President at least two weeks in advance of any Association business meeting. The consideration of such a resolution will be subject to accepted rules of parliamentary procedure.

B. Any two voting members of the Association may initiate the consideration of any item of business by the Board by presenting a resolution in writing to the President at least two weeks prior to the meeting of that body. Any such resolution must appear on the agenda of the next meeting of the Board.

Section 2. Referendum

A. Voting members may request the reconsideration of any action taken by the Board or the
membership through the presentation in writing to the President of the resolution to reconsider, provided that the resolution is signed by twenty five or more voting members of the Association. Any referendum must appear on the agenda of the next Association business meeting.





Article XI–Dissolution

In the event of the dissolution of the Association, all of its assets shall accrue to a tax–exempt charitable organization to be designated by the Board of Directors at the time of dissolution.

Article XII–Amendments

A. These Bylaws may be amended by a two–thirds vote of voting members responding during a general membership meeting, a web-based voting system, or general mailing ballot. A draft version of the amended Bylaws should be provided to the voting membership 30-days prior to the intended vote on amended changes to Bylaws. Members will be notified of the amended changes and access to a draft version via the Association’s newsletter. The draft version will be listed on the Association’s website. Voting members may request a paper copy of the draft version from the Association office.

B. Proposals for amendments shall be submitted to the Bylaws Committee for formulation and must be approved by the Board of Directors before the ballot is submitted to the membership.
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