The members of the SouthWest Society of Service Coordinators consist of the persons who join the society by paying the membership fee as set by the Board of Directors at its annual meeting.  Members are persons interested in the advancement of services and supports to persons with disabilities.  Members are accepted without discrimination on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age of disability.  Membership is for a one (1) year term.  The SWSSC membership fee is included in the fee for the Annual Conference.

Membership Categories.       There are three categories of membership, as follows:  (a) Directorship, and (s) Member-at-Large, and (3) Associated Organization or Associate.   The Board of Directors or those in the Directorship category, constitute the voting members of the society.   Members-at-Large shall be comprised of those individuals who pay the annual membership fee and from which the Board of Directors is chosen.  Associated Organizations are eligible to become Associate members by applying to the Board of Directors and by paying annual fee set by the Board.  Examples of organizations that would be eligible for Associate status are as follows:  Private Providers Association of Texas (PPAT), Texas Association on Mental Retardation (TAMR), and the Arc of Texas.  Associate members receive benefits for the members of their organizations such as reduced fees for seminars, conferences, etc. and other benefits as may be determined by  the Board from time to time.

Executive Board.       The society is governed by an Executive Board consisting of five (5) persons who are elected by the Board of Directors.  Each member of the Executive Board is elected for a two (2) year term.  The Executive Board is elected and from the members of the Board of Directors.   

Members-at-Large.   Members-at-Large who are in good standing may apply to become members of the Board of Directors.  Applicants will be selected by the Board of Directors in a manner that maintains a culturally and ethnically diverse group and which represents the various geographic regions of the southwest.  The Board of Directors also strive to assure the Board is representative of both public and private entities, as well as representative of all models of service delivery.

Officers.    Officers of the SWSSC are elected annually by the Executive Board.  Each officer shall hold office for a two (2) year term.

 President      

The President shall have such powers and duties as usually pertain to such office, except as the same may be modified by the Executive Board.  Unless the Executive Board shall otherwise delegate such duties, the President shall be ex-officio a member of all standing committees, shall have general powers of oversight, supervision and management of the business and affairs of the society, and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors and Executive Board are carried into effect.  He/She shall execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the society, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed, and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Executive Board to some other officer or agent of the society.

  Vice President of Association Affairs

The Vice President of Association Affairs shall, the absence of disability of the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President.  He/She shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.

  Vice President of Communication  

The Vice President of Communication shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the members, and record all the proceedings and meetings of the Board of Directors and of the members in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the Executive Board and the standing committee when required.  He/She shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the members as may be prescribed by the Executive Board or President, under whose supervision shall be.  He/She shall keep in safe custody the seal of the society, and when authorized by the Executive Board affix the same to any instrument requiring it, and when so affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of the Vice President of Finance.  He/She shall keep a record, containing the names, alphabetically arranged, of all persons who are members of the society, showing the places of residence, and such book shall be open for inspection as prescribed by law.

 Vice President of Finance

The Vice President of Finance shall have the custody of all funds, property, and securities of the society, subject to such regulations as may be imposed by the Executive Board.  He/She may be required to give bond for the faithful performance of his duties in such sum and with such sureties as the Executive Board may require.  When necessary or proper he/she may endorse on behalf of the society for collecting checks, notes and other obligations, and shall deposit the same to the credit of the society at such bank or banks or depositary as the Executive Board may designate.  He/She shall sign all receipts and vouchers and together with such other officer or officers, if any, as shall be designated by the Executive Board or by these Bylaws he shall sign all checks of the society and all bills of exchange and promissory notes issued by the society, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly designated by the Executive Board or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the society.  He/She shall make such payments as may be necessary or proper to be made on behalf of the society.  He/She shall enter regularly on the books of the society to be kept by him for the purpose full and accurate account of all moneys and obligations received and paid or incurred by him for or on account of the society, and shall exhibit such books at all reasonable times to any director or member on application at the offices of the society.  He shall, in general, perform all the duties incident to the office of Vice President of Finance, subject to the control of the Executive Board.

 Vice President of Conferences

The Vice President of Conferences shall develop responsibilities for conference, seminar and workshop committees and monitor time lines for all conferences, seminars and workshops and perform such other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by the President, the Board of Directors or the Executive  Board.

 Parliamentarian

Parliamentarian shall be appointed by the President from the Board of Directors for a term of two (2) years.  The Parliamentarian shall be a non-voting member of the Executive Board and shall assure that all meetings of the Executive Board and the Board of Directors are conducted in accordance with the approved rules of order and these Bylaws.