NAMI Central Mississippi Affiliate Bylaws

Mission

A.

To provide support, education and advocacy for people with mental illness and their families.

B.

To promote better quality of care, rights and interests of people with mental illness, particularly of those who cannot speak for themselves, and to advocate policies at the local, state and national levels to accomplish these objectives.

C.

To help families and friends of people with mental illness by providing emotional support, education and information.

Membership

A.

Membership is composed primarily of people with mental illness, their families, friends, mental health providers, and/or allied professionals, and people in the community.

B.

Members in good standing (paid members) are eligible to hold office and vote in person or on all motions considered at general membership meetings.

C.

Control of this organization rests with the members. Any action of the Executive Board is subject to review and approval by a majority of the membership present at a meeting. Any member may request that any action or motion be tabled or rescinded by a majority of the membership at a regular meeting or a special meeting called for the purpose.

D.

The organization shall be independent of other agencies and advocacy groups not affiliated with NAMI, and shall not share bylaws, articles of incorporation, or boards of directors with such other groups.

Dues

A.

Affiliate members pay dues yearly as established by the NAMI Mississippi State Board. Dues are paid to the state office.

B.

The local Executive Board or state Board of Directors may waive dues for individual members at their discretion.

Membership Meetings

A.

Regular meetings of the membership will be held once a month except in December and June.

B.

The September membership meeting is designated as the Annual Meeting for the election of officers.

C.

Special meetings of the members may be called by the President, the Executive Board or on request of five or more members.

D.

A quorum will be considered a majority of those in attendance at a meeting.

Fiscal Year

The fiscal year begins July 1 and ends June 30.

Executive Board

The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer and one member elected by the membership. It shall meet at the call of the President or two other officers. When a Board of Directors is deemed necessary, it shall have no more than nine members including the four elected officers. The officers may elect by majority vote as many as four additional directors from among the affiliate members to serve concurrent terms.

Terms of Office for Executive Board

A.

The officers' regular term of office is one year, continuing until the election of their successors.

B.

The immediate past president serves as an ex-officio member of the Executive Board or future Board of Directors.

C.

The Executive Board may replace any officer who has failed to attend three consecutive affiliate meetings. After giving reasonable notice to the officer involved, the executive board may declare the office vacant.

D.

The Executive Board will elect replacements to fill vacant elective positions except for the office of president which will be elected by the affiliate membership.

Duties of Officers

A.

The president presides at all meetings of the members and of the Executive Board. The president appoints chairpersons for all committees except the Nominating Committee, with the approval of the Executive Board, and supervises their work. The President acts as the affiliate's executive officer and, in general, performs the duties usually associated with the office of president.

B.

The vice president succeeds the president in case of a vacancy in that office and performs the duties of the president in his absence or due to disability. The vice president undertakes other responsibilities assigned by  president.

C.

The secretary handles correspondence for the affiliate and records minutes of all meetings of the membership and the Executive Board.

D.

Currently all funds are handled by the State NAMI office and the Treasurer shall present receipts for reimbursements.  The State NAMI Office receives and disburses all the affiliate's funds and maintains a complete and accurate account of all funds received and disbursed. The Treasurer's roll is to approve all payments and provide members an annual financial report listing all receipts and disbursements by budget category after the close of the fiscal year.

Authorization to Spend Affiliate Funds

A.

The treasurer is authorized to pay as much as $100 in a given month for any valid office expenses for supplies, printing or postage. All other disbursements of funds must be approved in advance by either the Executive Board or the membership.

B.

The Executive Board, by approval of at least three of its members, may authorize expenditures of as much as $200 in one month for any expenses deemed appropriate to the mission of the affiliate. The board will use discretion in authorizing expenditures and will seek membership approval when possible.

C.

Expenditures not approved by the Executive Board or in excess of $200 must be approved by a majority vote of members in good standing at a regular membership meeting.

Elections

A.

Officers are nominated by a two-member Nominating Committee appointed by the president. After securing the consent of the nominees to serve if elected, the Nominating Committee prepares a slate of candidates for election as officers.

B.

Alternatively or in addition, election of officers can also occur by officer nominations from the floor provided the candidate is a member in good standing and has agreed to serve if elected. If there is more than one candidate, voting shall be conducted by secret ballot.

Standing Committees

A.

The Executive Board creates suitable standing committees as needed.

NAMI Name and Logo

A.

This Organization acknowledges that NAMI controls the use of the name, acronym and logo of NAMI and AMI, that their uses by this organization shall be in accordance with NAMI policy.

B.

Upon termination of affiliation with or charter by NAMI, the uses of these names, acronyms and logo by this Affiliate member shall cease.

C.

Activities of the affiliate shall be in compliance with NAMI National and NAMI Mississippi Policy Platforms and position papers. The President or members of the Executive Board will communicate and coordinate advocacy efforts with the state office so as not to be in conflict with policy or negotiation efforts by the state board of directors or state office and the state office staff.

Non-Discrimination

This Organization shall not discriminate against any person or group of persons on the basis of race, disability, creed, sex, religion, or age in the requirements for membership, its policies, or actions.

Parliamentary Authority

A current edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of business in all cases in which they are applicable and not in conflict with the bylaws.

Amendments

Any proposed amendment to the affiliate bylaws is to be presented in writing to the entire general membership at least three weeks before the meeting at which it is to be voted on. Ratification of the amendment requires a favorable vote by at least two-thirds of the members in good standing present at the meeting.