CAPT’s by-laws as ratified November 2, 2007
Article 1: Membership
The Canadian Association for Psychodynamic Therapy (hereinafter CAPT) is an association of psychotherapists adhering to the notion of psychodynamic therapy as expressed in the Articles of Incorporation granted by the Province of Ontario.
In pursuance of its objects, CAPT operates autonomously and independently of any member training school or institute in terms of its policies, procedures, and governance.
Its membership is restricted to those psychotherapists who have been trained in and espouse the psychodynamic tradition in terms of the practice of psychotherapy, as deemed at the sole discretion of the Board of Directors. The objects of CAPT should be viewed as a framework for the fuller definition of the psychodynamic tradition.
Memberships may encompass four forms: individual, student, institutional and emeritus. For individual, student, and institutional membership, members may style themselves as “Member, CAPT” or “Member, Canadian Association for Psychodynamic Therapy”. For emeritus, members may style themselves as “Member Emeritus, CAPT” or “Member Emeritus, Canadian Association for Psychodynamic Therapy.”
Article 2: Board of Directors
The Board of Directors of CAPT shall consist of no fewer than 5 and no more than 11 elected members (including officers) of CAPT. Such members shall be elected from the membership for a term of two years. No member shall serve more than three consecutive terms. Elected members’ terms begin on January 1 and end with the close of the calendar year.
In the event of a vacancy, the Board of Directors may appoint a member of CAPT to fulfill the remaining term of office, and members so appointed shall hold office until the next election.
The Board of Directors will provide appropriate policies and procedures for the governance of CAPT and will submit these policies to a ratifying vote at the Annual General Meeting.
Article 3: Officers
The Board of Directors shall elect from its own members a President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary, who shall hold office from the time of their election at the Annual General Meeting (to be held annually within sixty days of the Association’s incorporation date) until their successors are elected. The President so elected shall be President of the Association and of the Governing Board, and shall exercise the general powers of the President. In the absence or disability of the President, the Vice-President shall perform the duties of President. In the event that both the President and Vice-President are absent or disabled, the Board members shall select a presiding officer in attendance.
The Board of Directors may appoint a person, who need not be a Director, to serve as the Executive Director of CAPT. The responsibilities of the Executive Director may include:
(a) managing communications between the Association, its members, the provincial Colleges regulating the profession, and the public;
(b) directing the marketing initiatives approved by the Board of Directors;
(c) creating material for the monthly newsletter of CAPT and acting as a content resource for the webmaster;
(d) managing the part-time staff of CAPT;
(e) monitoring the ongoing disbursements of CAPT;
(f) coordinating members meetings;
(g) creating and managing records of CAPT;
(h) and such other responsibilities as may be incidental to the foregoing, as such scope of responsibilities may be modified by the Board of Directors.
The Executive Director will report to the President and is ultimately accountable to the Board of Directors. The Executive Director is a designated ex-officio member of the Executive Committee for the purposes of Article 6. The Executive Director will be entitled to attend meetings of the Board of Directors as an observer, provided that the Executive Director will be entitled to observe in camera portions of meetings only at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Officers of the Association shall be elected to that office for a two-year term, with the possibility of two re-elections. If an officer of the Association completes the term of office to the Board of Directors before completing the term of leadership office to which that officer has been elected, that officer person shall be allowed to serve in the leadership position even if the term on the Board has expired, increasing the total number of board members for that term.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions that apply to the terms of other officers, the Executive Director will serve until he or she resigns, his or her employment is terminated by CAPT, or the Board of Directors appoints a replacement.
Members of the Board of Directors shall fill all vacancies occurring in the officership of CAPT, and officers so appointed shall hold office until the next election.
Article 4: Powers and Duties of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall exercise the general management of the Association within the framework of policies and programs established by CAPT. It shall strive to advance the purposes of the Association, as set forth in the objects stated below, in every way possible, and shall adopt policies and programs to that end.
The Executive Committee shall be authorized (see Article 6) to conduct the business of the Association between meetings of the full Governing Board.
The meeting schedule of the Board of Directors shall be published annually, using all normal media.
Minutes of meetings will be kept and promptly distributed to all members, using normal media channels.
Article 5: Quorum
Fifty percent plus one (50% + 1) of the voting members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum at any Board of Directors meeting. Such meetings are valid in all forms including telephone conferencing, interactive Internet, and in person.
Article 6: Committees
An Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers of CAPT, namely the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, designated ex-officio members, and other members of the Board as appropriate.
The Membership Committee shall be appointed and it will make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding all classes of membership, criteria for admission to such classes, and fees for membership. It will also arrange and oversee current and future member benefits, including but not limited to insurance, membership programs, and professional development and continuing education.
An Advocacy & Outreach Committee shall be appointed to advocate for and manage inputs by CAPT on current and future legislation and regulation of the profession of psychotherapy in Canada, liaise with other professional organizations in psychotherapy and propagate the psychodynamic modality across Canada.
A Promotions Committee shall be appointed to create ways to further the objectives of CAPT itself.
A Nominations Committee consisting of the Board as whole will put forward a slate of names of possible members of the Board of Directors from among the membership of CAPT.
(Other committees may be created as deemed necessary.)
Article 7: Liaison with Member Organizations
Formal liaison with any member organization (defined as a training school or institute formally recognized by the Board of Directors of CAPT) will be effected through the President of CAPT and those deputized by the Executive of CAPT. Where suitable to the plans of CAPT, joint activities will be undertaken on a negotiated basis.
Article 8: Dues
Annual dues are payable from the beginning of the calendar year. The Board of Directors of the Association may establish special levies, as deemed necessary. The funds collected from such dues and special levies shall be deposited in an interest-bearing bank account.
Disbursements from this account will be consistent with generally acceptable accounting principles; there will be two signing officers from the Executive for all such disbursements.
At the discretion of the Board of Directors, various classes of membership and various levels of dues may be created.
Article 9: Amendments
Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by written petition from one-third of the members (rounded to the next greatest number) of the Association. Proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to all members of CAPT at least seven days prior to the meeting at which said amendment will be discussed. Each amendment shall be approved when ratified by a simple majority of the ballots received, and is immediately effective.
Article 10: Procedures
Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern parliamentary procedures at any meeting of the Association and the Board of Directors.