ICF-CT Chartered Chapter Bylaws

ICF (International Coach Federation) CT Chapter, Inc. 
BY-LAWS

February 17, 2001
Updated September 21, 2003
 ARTICLE I

ORGANIZATION NAME

 Section 1.

The name of this organization shall be ICF-CT Chapter, Inc.
 

ARTICLE II

ORGANIZATION GOALS
 

Section 1.To increase the success of its membership. 

Section 2.To increase the skills and effectiveness of its members. 

Section 3.To raise the awareness of the wider community about the coaching profession. 

Section 4.To provide a network through which its members can learn of and share opportunities. 

Section 5.To provide a forum wherein the members can discuss issues of professional concern. 

Section 6.To provide the opportunity for its members to collaborate in providing resources and solutions for their clients.

 ARTICLE III

ORGANIZATION GOVERNANCE
 

Section 1. Governing Body

The operations of the organization shall be governed by an elected Board of Directors of no more than 12 members.  These Directors shall be elected by a vote of qualified members, and shall include the Committee Chairs, as well as the ICF-CT Officers.

Section 2. Director Qualifications

To be a Director, one must be a qualified member, nominated for office by the Nominating and Elections Committee, and be voted into office by a vote of the organization members. 

Section 3. Duties and Responsibilities of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors shall provide leadership in pursuit of the organization's stated goals.  It shall determine fees at organization-sponsored events, and develop the policies and procedures necessary to conduct the business of the organization effectively. 

Section 4. Nominations and Elections

Nominations for election to the Board shall be made by the Nominations and Elections Committee consisting of three qualified members (except Board members) of the organization appointed by the President and approved by a majority vote of the Board.  The President shall appoint, with the Board’s approval, the Nominations and Elections Committee in December of the year before vacancies will appear on the Board.  The Secretary shall email all qualified members a notice of the coming election, including the number of coming vacant seats, and invite qualified members to notify the Nominations and Elections Committee of their interest in serving on the Board by December 31.  

The Nominations and Elections Committee will in February submit to the Board the names of one or more candidates for each board seat for voting in April and installation in June.  Terms begin the following September, after the summer break.

Section 5. Election Procedures

Before the regular April meeting of the Organization, the Secretary will email ballots to all qualified members. The ballots will describe the seats open for election and the candidates running for those seats.  Members will fill out their ballots and email them to the Secretary, who will count the ballots and announce the results at the May meeting. 

The Secretary will so note these proceedings and record them in the Minutes of the meeting. 

Section 6. Removal

Any member of the Board may be removed by a 2/3 vote of the Board.  The Secretary shall record such events in the minutes of the Board meeting.

 Section 7. Terms and Vacancies

Terms for all Board members are two years.  With the exception of the first election under these by-laws, seats will vacate at four per year (the Committee Chairs) and four per year (the Chapter Officers), alternately---  even years for Officers, odd years for Committee Chairs.

Any vacancy on the Board shall be filled by Presidential appointment, subject to a majority vote of approval of the Board.  The appointment so approved will pertain until the following June, when the seat will be filled by the normal election process. 

Section 8. Board of Directors Meetings

Meetings of the Board of Directors will be at the places and times decided by majority vote of the Board.  The President may call a special meeting at any time. The President shall call a special meeting of the Board upon the written request of a Board member to do so. The written request should contain the agenda for the special meeting. 

All Board Meetings shall be open to all qualified members of the Organization.  The single exception is Special Meeting in which the President, with unanimous consent of the Board, shall declare the meeting closed. 

Section 9. Committees

The President may appoint committees, either standing or ad hoc, in order to effectively and efficiently further the stated purposes of the organization.  The establishment of any committee must first receive the approval of the Board by way of a majority vote. 

Committees should be composed of at least three members. Staggered terms ranging up to three years of tenure are recommended to provide continuity, with the most tenured member recommended as chair. 

The ICF CT Chapter, Inc. been established with these Standing Committees:

    Finance Committee

This committee, chaired by the Treasurer, assists in the preparation of the annual budget for presentation to the Board of Directors. This committee should review all of the financial aspects and make recommendations for approval for expenditures. 

Marketing Committee

This committee will be responsible for marketing, internal (in conjunction with the Membership Committee) and external, for the ICF-CT. The Marketing Committee is responsible for the design, execution and analysis of a marketing plan to raise the awareness of the wider community about the coaching profession.  One component of this marketing plan is the ICF-CT website, including the Membership Directory. This committee will write and disseminate regular press releases for submittal to area media outlets for special ICF and/or chapter events.  

Meeting Management Committee

Will determine the meeting location and be the liaison for all dealings with the meeting location, will determine the monthly menu and email meeting notices to the chapter president in time for the meeting announcement.  Will receive reservations and confirm them, staff the check-in desk at each meeting, pay for the meeting location and provide the treasurer with accounts and receipts. 

Membership and Membership Benefits Committee

This committee will be responsible for the "internal marketing" for the ICF-CT. Specifically, the committee will field calls from prospective members, arrange a committee of table hosts for each meeting, meet and greet new members and prospects at each meeting.  Convert non-members to members.  Go on-line to ICF website monthly to determine new members and contact them.  Maintain email list of members and non-members and distribute chapter-wide announcements.  This Committee should work closely with the Marketing Committee to promote the ICF and local chapter activities.  This committee is responsible to develop, print, or provide a newsletter of programs, meetings, and special events and ensure that these announcements are made to the wider community.

Nominations and Elections Committee

Obtains and recommends to the membership, for consideration, a list of one or more candidates for each office in accordance with the bylaws.  

Program Planning Committee

This committee will arrange for speakers and programs and works closely with the ICF in the future in the development of Continuing Education Programs.  

 Section 10. Meeting Procedures

Questions about Board proceedings at meetings shall be determined by Robert’s Rules of Order (revised), except where such rules conflict with the laws of the State of Connecticut.

Robert’s Rules of Order (revised) may be suspended by a majority vote of the Board or qualified members of the organization present at a meeting at which a quorum is present.

 Section 11. Quorum

A majority of Board members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting the business of the organization.

 Section 12. Legal Purpose

Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the purposes for which the corporation is established are exclusively religious, charitable, scientific, literary, and educational within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Revenue laws.

 Section 13. Excluded activities

Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, this organization shall not carry on any activities not permitted to an organization exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501 (c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code or the corresponding provisions of any future United States revenue laws.

 Section 14 Dissolution

In the event of its dissolution, the residual assets of the organization will be turned over to one or more organizations which are themselves exempt as described in sections 501 (c)(6) and 170 (c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or corresponding sections of any prior or future IRS codes, or to the Federal, State, or local government for exclusive public use.

ARTICLE IV

DUTIES OF THE ORGANIZATION OFFICERS

 Section 1. President

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board and of the organization.  The President shall sign any instruments or documents that may lawfully be executed on behalf of the Board. The President shall be the primary representative of the Chapter to the International Coach Federation and to any other organization with which this Chapter allies itself.

 Section 2. President Elect

The President Elect is to act as an ambassador for the ICF CT Chapter during the year in office prior to becoming President.  In case of the absence or disability of the President, or at his/her request, the President Elect shall perform all of the duties of the President.  The President Elect shall perform such duties and have such authority as from time to time may be assigned by the President or the Board. 

Section 3. Secretary

The Secretary shall maintain official minutes and records of the proceedings of the Board and the Organization.  The Secretary shall arrange for mailings of official correspondence.  The Secretary shall also perform other duties and have such authority as shall from time to time be assigned by the President or Board. The Secretary shall maintain a binder of the Proceedings of the ICF CT Chapter, Inc., and have the binder present at all meetings of the Board and membership.  The binder shall include meeting agendas, minutes, policies, procedures, Board decisions, guidelines, Financial Reports and other proceedings of the Board and organization membership. 

Section 4. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall perform the organization’s official financial transactions and keep accurate books of the organization’s accounts.  The Treasurer will present for the Board a Financial Report at its meetings.  

Section 5. Delegation of Officers’ Duties

The President or Board (by majority vote) may delegate any officer’s duties to any other member of the Board when they deem such action to be appropriate.

ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIP 

Section 1. Qualification

In order to qualify as a member of the organization, an individual must: 

(1) practice an identifiable form of coaching as part of his/her professional practice or occupation, or be enrolled as a student in a coach training organization; 

(2) complete an application for membership and submit it to the International Coach Federation Office; and, 

(3), upon acceptance, pay annual dues directly to the International Coach Federation as determined by the International Coach Federation Board of Directors

Section 2. Voting

All qualified members of the organization are eligible to vote on any issue presented to the membership for a vote.  A majority of the votes cast will carry. 

Section 1. Recommendation for Amendment

These Guidelines may be amended when recommended by a committee appointed by the President, or upon a written request from at least ten per cent of the qualified members of the organization. The President shall have the recommended amendments posted on the

Organization’s website or communicated via email.

 Section 2. Amendment Approval

All qualified members of the organization shall be invited to review the amended by-laws on the web site and prepare to vote on the amendments (yea or nay to the totality of amendments as presented) via email within two weeks of posting on the site.  Votes received after that date are invalid. A vote of qualified members shall decide the issue by a simple majority.  A proposed amended set of by-laws shall be considered ratified and effective when carried by a majority vote.  The President shall see that the official guidelines are so amended and posted on the organization’s web site.  The Secretary will maintain a set of all by-laws, past and current.