The name of this organization shall be the Aphasiology Association of Ohio, hereafter known as the Association.

The general objectives of this Association shall be to establish a community of persons interested in Aphasiology and/or dysphagia (swallowing disorders) in order to accomplish the following:

a. To facilitate delivery of professional services to persons with aphasia, other communication problems and/or dysphagia arising from neurological dysfunction.

b. To provide in-service training programs.

c. To establish and maintain a registry of members and clinical services.

d. To exchange information and develop a cooperative relationship with members of allied professions, and

e. To stimulate and develop cooperative aphasia research programs related to aphasia, other communication problems, and/or dysphagia arising from neurological dysfunction.

Section 1 (Classes)

There shall be four classes of membership that" of Regular, Associate, Honorary, and Life.

Section 2 (Eligibility)

Regular: A Regular member can be any Speech-Language Pathologist or Audiologist who is licensed by the State of Ohio and has made formal application to the Membership Committee with the payment of annual dues.

Associate: An Associate member can be any person interested in adult language or swallowing disorders resulting from neurological dysfunction and has made formal application to the Membership Committee with the payment of annual dues.

Honorary: Any person who has made as outstanding contribution(s) in the study and/or management of adults with language disorders resulting from neurological dysfunction. Nomination shall be made by the Membership Committee and approved by a 2/3 vote of the Executive Board.

Life: Any person who has been a Regular member of this organization for at least five (5) years who has made outstanding contribution(s) to this organization. Nomination shall be made by the Membership Committee and approved by a 2~3 vote of the Executive Board.

Section 3 (Rights and Privileges)

Regular and Life members shall be entitled to vote, hold office, receive notices of meetings, attend and participate in meetings and receive publications of the Association. Associate and Honorary members shall be extended the same rights and privileges of a regular member with the exception of the right to vote and hold office.

Section 4 (Dues)

Annual dues for Regular and Associate members shall be $18.50 $25.00 with the exception of students whose dues shall be $9.00 $5.00. Dues for Honorary ant Life members shall be waived for life. The Executive board may increase or decrease current annual dues as the organizational needs dictate, but such increase or decrease shall not exceed 24%. Dues shall become due and payable on the member’s anniversary date.

Section 5 (Termination)

a. Membership shall terminate by death by expulsion, by resignation, or by failure to pay dues within sixty (60) days after the end of the first billing month and after having been sent two notices of delinquency

b. Expulsion shall be the result of violation of the Code of Ethics set forth by the Licensure Board for Speech Pathologists and Audiologists in the State of Ohio.

Section 1 (Titles)

The officers of this association shall be: A president, a vice president, a secretary, and a treasurer.

Section 2 (Eligibility)

No person shall be eligible to hold office in this Association unless he has been member in good standing for at least one year.

Section 3 (Area Representatives)

There shall be two (2) Area Representatives for each of the following five (5) geographic areas within the State of Ohio (See map for area boundaries):

1. Northwest 2. Northeast 3. East Central 4. Southeast

5. Southwest

The Representatives are to be elected in alternating years.

Section 4 (Election)

A slate of Officers and Area Representatives shall be presented at the Annual Meeting of this Association by the Nominating Committee at which time nominations shall be accepted from the floor. Mail ballots shall be sent to all members within 30 days following the Annual meeting. Provision shall be made on the ballot for write-in candidates. Twenty (20) days from the end of the balloting period shall be allowed for the return and counting of the ballots. Area representatives shall be elected by those residing in or whose preferred address is in that geographical area.

Section 5 (Term)

The term of office for the President and Vice President shall be one year. The Vice President shall succeed to the office of President. The term of office of the Secretary and Treasurer and Area Representatives shall be two years

Section 6 (Vacancy)

a) A vacancy in the office of President will be filled by the Vice President. Other officers and Area Representatives shall be filled by the Executive Board.

b) Any officer or Area Representative may be removed from office for failure to perform the duties of his office by a 2/3 affirmative vote of the Executive Board.

Section 7 (Limitations)

No member shall hold more than one office at a time, and no member shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office. member who has served more than twelve months shall be considered as having served his full term office.

Section 1 (President)

The President shall preside over all meetings of the Association and the Executive Board and shall coordinate the duties of other officers. Area Representatives. and committee chairs.

Section 2 (Vice President)

The Vice President shall be considered the President Elect ant shall assume the office of President on the first day of the new Fiscal Year of the Association. He shall preside in the absence of the President and shall perform those duties prescribed in those bylaws.

Section 3 (Secretary)

The Secretary shall serve both as recording and corresponding secretary for all meetings this Association and shall be responsible for maintaining an updated roster of all officers and members of the Association.

Section 4 (Treasurer)

The Treasurer shall be responsible for the custody of funds and shall serve chairman of the Finance Committee. This person shall be responsible for maintaining appropriate records which will reflect the receipt of all monies and the payment of all bills as may be authorized be the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall have his records audited by as ad-hoc committee of three members designated by the Executive Board, and the report of said audit shall be made to the same Board at the beginning of the new fiscal year.

Section 1 (Annual Meetings)

A regular session of the general membership shall convene in the fall of each year. the time and place to be designated by the Executive Board. This shall be referred to as the Annual Meeting of the Association.

Section 2 (Special Sessions)

A special session of the general membership can be called by the President or a majority vote of the Executive Board. Notices of such sessions shall contain the specific purpose of the called session.

Section 3 (Notice)

An official notice of all sessions of this Association shall be mailed to all members at least 20 days before the session is to convene

Section 4 (Quorum)

A majority of members registered at the Annual Meeting of this Association shall constitute a quorum.

Section 1 (Composition)

The Executive board shall be comprised of the President, all elected officers. Area

Representatives. and chairmen of all Standing Committees.

Section 2 (Function)

The Executive Board shall have general supervision of the affairs of this Association,

fix the hour and place of meetings, make recommendations to the Association and shall

conduct itself in accordance with those bylaws.

Section 3 (Meetings)

There shall be no less than four meetings of this Board between regular sessions of the Association. Three members of the Board can call special meetings of the Board. Forty (40) per cent of the Board must be present to conduct business.

Section 4 (Notice)

Notice of regular meetings of this board must be given to its members at least 20 days before the meeting is to convene. Notice of special meetings must be given at least 10 days before they are to convene.

Section 1 (Titles)

There shall be the following standing committees, the chairman of which shall be appointed by the President, except those that are designated by these bylaws, with the approval of the Executive Board:

1. Finance
2. Professional Services
3. Legislative
4. Membership and Registry'
5. Nominating
6. Program
7. Publication
8. Resource Library
9. History
10. Computer

Section 2 (Duties)

Finance:

The chairman of this committee shall be the Treasurer. This committee shall prepare a budget for the fiscal year, beginning the first day of January, and submit it to the Executive Board at its first regular meeting of the new fiscal year.

Professional Services:

The chairman of this committee shall be the Vice President. This committee shall be responsible for disseminating and exchanging information relative to rehabilitation programs, review of clinical self-assessment programs for patient care and serve as liaison between third party payers ant the membership of AAO.

Legislative:

This committee shall keep this Association informed as to current legislation which concerns the rehabilitation of aphasic patients and will be active in developing proposed legislation for the improvement in care and treatment of people suffering from aphasia. other communication problems. and/or dysphasia arising from neurological dysfunction.

Membership and Registry:

This committee shall be responsible for all matters pertaining to membership and will be responsible for maintaining a current register of members and agencies who render services to the aphasic population throughout the state of Ohio.

Nominating:

The Nominating Committee shall consist of the Area Representatives and the Vice President who shall be its chairman. This committee shall be responsible for submitting a slate of nominees for all elected offices to be filled to the Executive Board at its meeting preceding the Annual Meeting of the general membership. This committee shall also be responsible for the preparation of ballots which are to be mailed to all members for electing officers "d area representatives.

Program:

This committee shall be responsible for planning workshops, special programs, and the annual meeting of the Association.

Publication:

This committee shall be responsible for publishing and distributing information regarding aphasia rehabilitation programs, services, and research, to all members of the Association and other appropriate professional persons and agencies.

Resource Library

The duties and responsibilities of this committee are 1) to recommend and solicit ideas for new audiovisual materials for use by members; 2) to send audiovisual materials to members requesting it and notify members upon receipt of their request and as to availability of material; 3) to update film library request forms upon receipt of now materials and forward to Secretary to be included in the next mailing; 4) to maintain a tape recording library of lecture tapes and to report their availability to the general membership.

History

This committee is responsible for maintaining information of historical interest to the members of A.A.O.

Computer

The duties and responsibilities of this committee are to provide information to the membership about computer equipment and utilization, resources available and software.

The rules contained in the latest edition of ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER, NEWLY REVISED shall govern this Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order, or are not in conflict with higher authority.

The duration of the Association shall be perpetual. However, should circumstances preclude the continuation of this Association. dissolution may be directed by a 2/3 affirmative vote of the membership at a special session called for this purpose. In this event, after paying or making provision for the payment of all liabilities, the Executive Board shall transmit the remaining assets of the Association to an organization or agency of its choice.

Amendments or general revision to these bylaws can be proposed by the Executive Board, or by written petition of at least 10 members of the Association. any proposed amendment (s) or revision must be submitted to the general membership within 30 days of its proposal. A 2/3 affirmative vote of the general membership shall adopt amendments or general revision of these bylaws, or a 3/4 vote of members present at its annual meeting.

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