Bylaws

ARTICLE I – NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1

The name of the organization shall be Human Service Information Technology Association (husITa)

Section 2

husITa is organized exclusively for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes. More specifically, husITa is an international association of information technology (IT) innovators in human services dedicated to promoting the ethical and effective use of IT to better serve humanity. husITa’s focus and expertise is situated at the intersection of three core domains: information technology; human services and social development. With an emphasis on human centeredness and social justice, husITa strives to promote international knowledge development, dissemination, and transfer of technology within human services. It achieves this through multidisciplinary leadership in international conferences, publications, collaboration, and consultation directed particularly at IT applications and innovations that promote social betterment.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1

Membership shall consist only of the members of the board of directors.

ARTICLE III – ANNUAL MEETING

Section 1: Annual Meeting.

The date of the regular annual meeting shall be set by the Board of Directors who shall also set the time and place. The annual meeting can be held either face-to-face or online.

Section 2: Special Meetings.

Special face-to-face or online meetings may be called by the Chair or the Executive Committee.

Section 3: Notice.

Notice of each meeting shall be given to each voting board member, by mail not less than three weeks before the meeting or electronically not less than 24 hours before the meeting. If a notice is sent by email, a reply will be requested.

ARTICLE IV – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1: Board Role, Size, Compensation.

The Board is responsible for overall policy and direction of husITa. The Board shall have up to 15 and not fewer than 10 elected members.  Up to three additional board members, who have particular value to husITa, can be appointed by the board with full board rights, resulting in a board of 18 members.  The board receives no compensation other than reasonable expenses. Members of the Board should reflect the diversity of the community actively served by husITa.

Section 2: Meetings.

The Board shall meet at least annually at an agreed upon time and place.

Section 3: Board Elections.

Election of new directors or election of current directors to a second term will occur as the first item of business at the annual meeting of husITa. Directors will be elected by a majority vote of the current directors.

Section 4: Terms.

All Board members shall serve three-year terms, but are eligible for re-election.

Section 5: Quorum.

A quorum must be attended by at least 50% percent of the Board members before business can be transacted or motions made or passed.

Section 6: Notice.

Notice of all official Board meetings shall be given to each voting board member, by mail not less than three weeks before the meeting or electronically not less than 24 hours before the meeting. If a notice is sent electronically, a reply will be requested. Meeting notices will also be placed on the husITa Web site.

Section 7. Officers and Duties.

There shall be four officers of the Board consisting of a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. The term of office for each office bearer is three years. Their duties are as follows:

The Chair shall convene regularly scheduled Board meetings, shall preside or arrange for other members of the executive committee to preside at each meeting in the following order:

  1. Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.
  2. The Vice-Chair will chair committees on special subjects as designated by the board.

The Vice-Chair is subordinate to the chair, to assist the chair, and to serve as chair in the absence of the chair, or when a motion involving the chair is being discussed.

The Secretary shall be responsible for ensuring that a record of Board actions is maintained, sending out meeting announcements, distributing the agenda and any relevant documents and ensuring that organizational records are maintained.

The Treasurer shall make a financial report of husITa expenditures, income, pending income assets, and liabilities at each Board meeting. The Treasurer shall chair the finance committee, assist in the preparation of the budget, help develop fundraising plans, and make financial information available to Board members and the public.

Section 8: Vacancies.

Vacancies on the board will be filled by the Board election Process, which was pass in September 2006.

Section 9: Resignation, Termination, and Absences.

Resignation from the Board must be in writing and received by the Secretary. Board members shall be dropped for excess absences from the Board if they have unexcused absences from one-half of the Board meetings in a year. A Board member may be removed for other reasons by a three-fourths vote of the remaining directors.

Section 10: Special Meetings.

Special meetings of the Board shall be called upon the request of the Chair or one-third of the Board. Notices of special meetings shall be sent out by the Secretary to each Board member via post three weeks in advance or electronically 24 hours in advance.

ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES

Section 1: The four officers serve as the members of the Executive Committee.

Except for the power to amend the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, the Executive Committee shall have all of the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the intervals between meetings of the Board of Directors, subject to the direction and control of the Board of Directors.

Section 2: The Board may create committees as needed.

The Executive Committee appoints all committee chairs.

Section 3: Finance Committee.

The Treasurer is chair of the Finance Committee, which includes three other Board members. The Finance Committee is responsible for developing and reviewing fiscal procedures, a fundraising plan, and annual budget with staff and other Board members. The Board must approve the budget, and all expenditures must be within the budget. Any major change in the budget must be approved by the Board or the Executive Committee. The fiscal year shall be the calendar year. Annual reports are required to be submitted to the Board showing income, expenditures, pending income, assets, and liabilities. The financial records of the organization are public information and shall be made available to Board members, committee members, and the public.

ARTICLE VI – AMENDMENTS

Section 1: These Bylaws may be amended when necessary by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Directors.

Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Secretary to be sent out with regular Board announcements. These Bylaws were approved at a meeting of the husITa Board of Directors on 12 Sep 2001, updated 18 Dec 2012.

ARTICLE VII — PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Section 1

The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order (latest version) shall govern HUSITA meetings unless Robert’s Rules are inconsistent with these by-laws or special rules of order are established by the husITa board.

Section 2

At all husITa meetings, the Chair shall designate a committee member to serve as parliamentarian.