Policies / Bylaws

BY-LAWS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY

OF INTERPERSONAL PSYCHOTHERAPY, INC.

ARTICLE I

Membership

1. Any person who is a health professional, trainee, or student with an interest in Interpersonal Psychotherapy is eligible for membership in the Society.
2. Membership shall be established by the following procedure:  Application for membership should be made to the Secretary of the Society.
3.  Applicants shall complete a membership application form providing information necessary for the efficient administration of International Society of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (hereinafter “ISIPT”) affairs.
4. Applicants will become members of the Society in good standing (i) upon acceptance of their application by the Secretary, and (ii) on payment of all currently applicable dues and fees.

Membership Dues

5.  Dues for members shall consist of annual international membership dues to be determined by the Executive Council and approved by   the Plenary Convention (see Article IV.A.).
6.  The final date for paying annual international membership dues shall be determined by the Executive Council.
7.  Persons whose applications have been approved shall be members in good standing, entitled to vote and participate in other activities and benefits of the Society, so long as their dues and fees are not currently in arrears.

Termination of Membership

8. Members may resign by sending written notification of their intention to the Secretary.
9. Members may be dropped from membership for non-payment of dues for two consecutive years, following timely notification of the member by the Secretary.
10. • [a] Members may be dropped from membership, for good cause and with due process, upon a motion to that effect submitted by the President of the Society to the Executive Council, and upon a two-thirds vote of approval by the Executive Council.
    • [b] Good cause is defined as actions incompatible with or contravening the stated aims of the Society, or the integrity and reputation of the Society.
    • [c] Due process is defined as the right of members proposed for removal from membership to present written testimony from other members in good standing and an oral or written argument on their own behalf to the Executive Council in advance of any decision on their membership status by the Executive Council.
    • [d] Any person so removed from membership in the Society may request a refund of a pro rata portion of annual dues and fees already paid for the current year, the amount to be determined by the Treasurer.
    • [e] Persons who have been removed from membership in the Society may apply to the Executive Council for renewal of their membership after a period of two years, said application to be judged on the merits of the case, and with due process, by the Executive Council.

ARTICLE II

Governance

11.  The governing body of the Society shall be the Plenary Convention consisting of all ISIPT members in good standing.  The Plenary   Convention shall hold its business meeting at the time and place of the international conference [a] to hear reports from the officers of   the Society; [b] to discuss the activities and affairs of the Society; and [c] to consider new business.
12.  The President shall act as chair of the Plenary Convention’s annual business meeting.
13.  Five percent of all members shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business by the Plenary Convention at its annual business   meeting.
14.  Each member in good standing shall have one vote, to be exercised in person at the business meeting.
15.  Actions taken by the Plenary Convention at its biennial business meeting shall be by a simple majority of those present and voting,   except as provided elsewhere in the By-Laws.  In the event of a tie, the President shall cast an extra vote.
16.  When the Plenary Convention is not in session, votes on issues may be conducted by ballots sent to all members in good standing by   electronic means upon the recommendation of the President or as stipulated elsewhere in the By-Law.
17.  In such ballots, a simple majority shall be required to pass the motion.  If less than 10% of the members have voted, a second vote shall  be put to the members.  A simple majority of votes cast is required to pass the motion.

Officers and Executive Council

18. The officers of the Society shall be: [a] a President; [b] a Vice President; [c] an Immediate Past President; [d] a Secretary; and [e] a Treasurer.
19. The Executive Council (in addition to the officers) shall have six members.  It is preferable that sufficient representation from regions (North America, South America, Europe, Asia/Australia, Africa) and/or from different professional background (university, private practice, outpatient services) and/or profession (psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker) be included in the membership of the Executive Council.  In addition, the Executive Council may include up to two non-voting, ad hoc members, appointed at the discretion of the President.
20. The offices of Vice President, President and Immediate Past President constitute a six-year presidential cycle.
21. Every two years a Vice President shall be elected and shall serve in that office until June 30 of the calendar year in which his or her two-year term ends, whereupon:  [a] that officer becomes President; and [b] the President becomes the Immediate Past President.
22. The Vice President shall be selected by the following method: [a] Candidates for the office of Vice President must be members of the Society in good standing; [b] Nominations for the members of the Executive Council will be solicited at least 5 months prior to the biennial business meeting.  Nominations will be collected by the Secretary for 6 weeks.  Nominations are made public on the website of the ISIPT.  Elections will be held 3 months in advance of the biennial business meeting;  [c] Voting shall be by electronic means; [d] Ballots shall be returned by members to the Secretary within 90 days of the sending of ballots in a special election, and shall be tallied by the Secretary and another member in good standing designated by the President;  [e] Election to the office of Vice President shall be by a simple majority of the voting members; if more than two candidates are running, the election shall be decided by a plurality (relative majority) vote; [f] The Secretary shall inform the Executive Council and the candidates of the election result immediately by electronic means, and shall inform all members of the Society via the official website of the Society and any other means available to communicate with members.
23. The duties of officers in the presidential cycle shall be as follows:  [a] The duties of the Vice President shall be: (i) to serve as a member of the Executive Council; (ii) to serve as a member of the International Conference Program Committee; (iii) to assume other duties as may be assigned by the President; [b] The duties of the President shall be: (i) to chair the annual business meeting of the Plenary Convention; (ii) to report on the Society’s activities and affairs to the members; (iii) to chair the Executive Council; (iv) to present a Presidential Address at the international conference;  [c]  The duties of the Past President shall be: (i) to serve as a member on the Executive Council; (ii) to assume the office and the duties of the President or the Vice President in the case of incapacity or resignation of either of these officers; (iii) to assume other duties as assigned by the President.  [d] The Secretary and the Treasurer shall be appointed by the Executive Council and their duties shall be as follows: (i) They must be members in good standing; (ii) The Secretary and the Treasurer shall serve a four year term and not be appointed to any other office in the Society for that term;  (iii) The Secretary and the Treasurer can be reappointed for an additional four year period.  (iv) In the event of the incapacity or resignation of the Secretary or Treasurer, the Executive Council shall immediately appoint another member in good standing to a new four-year term.  (e)  The duties of the Secretary shall be:  (i) to provide overall managerial coordination of the Society’s organizational affairs; (ii) to serve as a member of the Executive Council; (iii) to supervise the timely collection and circulation of the minutes of the annual business meeting of the Plenary Convention; (iv) to maintain the official records of the Society;  (f) The duties of the Treasurer shall be: (i) to prepare an annual budget for the Society; (ii) to receive, manage and disburse the international funds of the Society, as authorized by the Executive Council; (iii) to arrange for periodic independent audits of the Society’s finances; (iv) to make any suggestions on the financial position of the Society to the Executive Council. (g) The duties of the At-Large members shall be:  (i) to serve as members of the Executive Council.  At-Large members will be elected by plurality (relative majority) vote for a 4-year term, with the exception of the first elections when two individuals will be elected to a 2-year term and four individuals will be elected to a 4-year term.

Executive Council 

24.  Policies and procedures for the management of the Society’s finances and administration shall be determined by an Executive Council.
25.  All members of the Executive Council have the right to vote on the Council.  In case of a draw, the President has an additional vote.
26.  The Executive Council shall meet in person at each international conference and shall meet at least once a year, either in person, or by   electronic communication.
27.  Meetings of the Executive Council shall be chaired by the President. Each member entitled to   vote shall cast a single vote.  Actions of   the Executive Council shall be carried by a simple majority of all its members who are present at the meeting.
28.  The Executive Council shall recommend annual international membership dues for approval to the Plenary Convention at the next   business meeting.
29.  If a vacancy occurs among the officers, for any reason, the Council may appoint a qualified person to fill the unexpired portion of the   term.  Such an appointment may be made in a reasonable manner to be determined by the Council.
30.  If the Vice President resigns or is not able in any way to continue in office, the Council will appoint a qualified person to fill the   vacancy until a new Vice President can be elected.  This election will take place as soon as possible but no later than six months after the vacancy occurred.
31. The fiscal year of the Council shall be the calendar year.

ARTICLE III

Communication

32. The ISIPT shall maintain an electronic presence (website and/or any other electronic presence) to facilitate access for and communication among members.
33. The website is maintained by one of the officers of the Executive Council.
34. The website facilitates postings on the website or any other means of electronic communication by members for the general public or health care professionals.  These postings support the overall mission of the Society.
35. [a] Opportunities for training, conferences, and other educational purposes by members of the ISIPT are posted free of charge.

[b]  The Society has no say in or responsibility for the content of the posted material.  This shall be clearly stated on the website.

36. Postings are accepted if written in a format acknowledged by the Executive Committee.
37. In the event that an objection is raised to an electronic posting by a member of the Society, the Executive Committee will mediate a resolution in keeping with the spirit and mission of the Society.

ARTICLE IV

Proposal and Amendments 

38.  Amendments to these By-Laws may be proposed:  [a] by a majority vote of the Executive Council; or [b] by any member in good standing who submits to the Executive Council a written proposal with the signature of at least 10 members;
39. A ballot shall be distributed to all members by the Secretary within 60 days of receipt of any such proposal.  Voted ballots shall be returned to the Secretary within 60 days of their distribution to the membership.  Voted ballots shall be tallied by the Secretary and another Officer designated by the Executive Council.  Members shall receive timely notification of the result via electronic communication.
40. Amendments to these By-Laws shall be approved upon:  [a] a two-thirds vote of approval by voting members; or failing that, upon [b] a majority of the members voting, if the amendment is also approved by a majority of the Executive Council.