Emerging Leader Basics Navigating the ACA Structure

Holly Clubb

Director, Leadership Services

Bylaws and Governance StructureBylaws and Governance Structure

ACA Membership – 41,000+

Branches (56) Divisions (19)

Regions (4)

Standing Committees & Task Forces

Governing Council Special Interest Networks

Executive Committee & President

Executive Director

Headquarters Staff

Corporate Partners:ACA Insurance TrustACA FoundationCACREP

Regions

• Midwest RegionMidwest Region

• North Atlantic RegionNorth Atlantic Region

• Southern RegionSouthern Region

• Western RegionWestern Region

Midwest RegionMidwest Region

Number of ACA Members in the Number of ACA Members in the Midwest Region:Midwest Region:

8,7348,734

North Atlantic RegionNorth Atlantic Region

Number of ACA Members in the Number of ACA Members in the North Atlantic Region:North Atlantic Region:

8,6658,665

Southern Region

Number of ACA Members in the Southern Region:

15,085

Western Region

Number of ACA Members in the Western Region:

7,482

Divisions

AACE Association for Assessment in Counseling and Supervision

AADA Association for Adult Development and Aging

ACC Association for Creativity in Counseling

ACCA American College Counseling Association

ACEG Association for Counselors and Educators in Government

Divisions

ACES Association for Counselor Education and Supervision

ALGBTIC Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Issues in Counseling

AMCD Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development

AMHCA American Mental Health Counselors

Divisions

ARCA American Rehabilitation Counseling Association

ASCA American School Counselors Association

ASERVIC Association for Spiritual, Ethical and Religious Values in Counseling

ASGW Association for Specialist in Group Work

Divisions

C-AHEAD Counseling Association for Humanistic Education and Development

CSJ Counselors for Social Justice

IAMFC International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors

NCDA National Career Development Association

NECA National Employment Counseling Association

ACA Standing Committees and Task Forces

2009-2010 ACA Committees and Task Forces

• Awards Committee• Branch Development Committee• Bylaws and Policies Committee• Ethics Committee• Financial Affairs Committee• International Committee• Nominations and Election Committee• Public Policy and Legislation Committee• Publications Committee• Strategic Planning Committee (Special Task Force in 2009-2010)

Other Standing Committees will not be operational for the 2009-2010

Special Interest Networks

• ACA Interest Network for Professionals in Counselors In Schools

• Children’s Counseling Interest Network• Forensic Counseling Interest Network• Grief and Bereavement Interest Network • Historical Issues in Counseling Network • Interest Network for Advances in Therapeutic Humor• Multiracial/Multiethnic Counseling Concerns Interest Network• Network for Jewish Interests • Sports Counseling Interest Network Traumatology Interest

Network • Wellness Interest Network • Women’s Interest Network

CORPORATE PARTNERS

• ACA Insurance Trust, Inc.

• American Counseling Association Foundation

• Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

Branch – Bylaws and Policies

• Branch Leadership:

The role of an officer of a Branch is to provide leadership to Branch members.

The functions of an officer of a Branch include:

• To conduct the affairs of the Branch.

• To be a member of the ACA.

The functions of an officer of a Branch include:

• To facilitate the achievement of the Branch and ACA goals

• To participate in leadership training.

• To attend Region meetings.

The functions of an officer of a Branch include:

• To facilitate the articulation of Branch issues and concerns and relay these concerns and issues to Regional leaders and other ACA leaders.

Proposed Amendments to Basic Documents:

Proposed amendments to the Articles of Incorporation or the Bylaws shall be reported in writing to the ACA President no later than fourteen weeks prior to the Governing Council meeting.

Proposed Amendments to Basic Documents:

Any such proposed amendment cannot take effect until approved by the ACA Governing Council.

Rotational System for Bylaws Revisions:

• Branch Bylaws will be reviewed on a four-year rotating basis.

• The reviews are done by Regions.

Reports:

Each Branch shall transmit to the ACA President the names of its directors and officers promptly following their election or appointment.

Reports:

Each Branch shall transmit a written annual report to the ACA President who shall distribute the report to the Governing Council.

Branch Directories

• Information Needed:– Contact information for the following:

• President• President-Elect• Past President• Executive• Membership Chairperson• Newsletter and/or Journal Editor

• Please keep this information current.

Counseling Today

Bulletin Board

ACA branches are welcome to list their upcoming events, calls for papers/ proposals, editorial board/committee openings and similar announcements in the Bulletin Board section of Counseling Today.

Counseling Today

Bulletin Board Submission Guidelines

• Entries must be:

– Limited to 125 words or less

– Attached in a Word document

– Single-spaced

– Justified

– Times font in black

Counseling Today

“Division, Region & Branch News”

Branches may submit short announcements about their activities, initiatives, publications and upcoming workshops/ conferences to Counseling Today.

Counseling Today

“Division, Region & Branch News”

Entries are allotted up to 350 words in this section each month.

All 350 words can be used for one topic or you may divide the 350 words among several announcements.

Counseling Today

The rolling deadline is the 1st of the month by close of business, EST, for publication in the following month’s issue.

Counseling Today

If you have any questions, contact Jonathan Rollins, editor-in-chief of Counseling Today, at jrollins@counseling.org or 800-347-6647 ext. 339.

Branch Listserv

ACA Branch listserv enable Branch Presidents and Executives (or President-Elects and Executives) to communicate with each other by email without having to put in all of the addresses each time in order to send a message to the entire group.

Branch Listserv

Email address included on the listserv are ones that you have provided.

If you have more than one email address, the listserv WILL NOT accept messages sent from an address that is not on the listserv. If you want to be able to use more than one email address, you would need to provide ACA with ALL your addresses.

How best to use the listserv:

When you want to send an email message to the entire group use the listserv address provided. Your message will automatically be sent to the entire group.

How best to use the listserv:

When you respond to a message sent to this listserv address, be aware of how you send it.

If you want your message to go to the entire list, you simply hit REPLY.

How best to use the listserv:

If you want your message to go only to one of the few members, you should FORWARD it and address your response to ONLY the person's) you want to see the message.

How best to use the listserv:

Any time you change your email address, please notify Holly Clubb at ACA to have the listserv updated.

Branch Listserv

• A tool to communicate by email quickly and easily

• Use it to:

– Ask questions

– Share information or ideas

• The listserv is only as good as you make it

Questions?

Thank You!