Voting will remain open until two-thirds votes (2,675) are received for a decision (in favor of or in opposition).

ACLP has continually received inquiries from members expressing a lack of understanding and confusion around the purpose and value of voting for the ACLP and CLCC slates when there is an uncontested slate. Some members do not seem to find this meaningful, and their voting apathy exhibits it.

When members consistently see an uncontested slate, they are less likely to take the time to cast their vote if the outcome is going to be the same regardless of their participation.

If our membership does not approve the Bylaws revisions, The Bylaws Revision Workgroup and Board of Directors will revisit the proposed revisions.

The nominating committee charter is currently under review and will include the requirement for nominating committee members to be ACLP members in congruency with our ACLP committee infrastructure policy. Currently, all ACLP committee members are required to be ACLP members. Thus, all nominating committee members will be ACLP members. A revision to our Committee Infrastructure policy has also been suggested to add clarity that all ACLP committees are to be comprised of ACLP members. Our full intention is to only have ACLP members on our nominating committee. The current policy is available here: Committee Infrastructure & Appointment (childlife.org).

Currently, only one person (nominating committee chair) selects all the nominating committee members. The proposed revisions to the Bylaws changes this. The revisions now have the Board of Directors appointing nominating committee members. With the Board of Directors appointing the nominating committee members, a larger group of people are involved in the process to ensure diversity of thought and perspectives.

Additionally, a matrix of various representations (i.e., geographical region, years of experience, child life role, racial and gender diversity) has been implemented for the Board of Directors and nominating committee to use methodically and guide this decision-making process. Please note that the current and previous nominating chairs are very supportive of this change, as their networks are not as vast to reach out and select members while trying to maintain a diverse committee.

We are in the process of evaluating additional communication strategies.

The name of this organization shall be "Child Life Council, Inc." (CLC) and may do business as the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP). 

The Child Life Council advances the field of child life by establishing and maintaining professional standards, enhancing the professional growth and development of members, educating its members and the general public, and advancing credibility of the child life profession by fostering research and promoting the efficacy of child life practice.

Section 1. Nominating Committee: The Nominating Committee shall have no fewer than eight (8) and no more than twelve (12) members, with members other than the Chairperson serving staggered two-year terms. The Nominating Committee Chairperson shall appoint new committee members from the CLC membership. No individual may serve more than one consecutive term on the Nominating Committee. The Executive Leader will serve as an ex officio member of the committee.

Section 2. Nominating Committee Duties: A slate of qualified candidates, as per established criteria, which are position specific, shall be prepared by the Nominating Committee. The slate of nominees shall consist of active members of the CLC in good standing. All nominees will be Certified Child Life Specialists at the time of nomination and, if elected, will make every effort to maintain child life certification. The slate must be completed no fewer than ninety (90) days prior to the annual meeting. The slate of candidates presented by the Nominating Committee will be provided to the membership at least sixty (60) days prior to the annual meeting. When conducted by email, mail, or survey instrument, members will be given at least thirty (30) days to vote following announcement of the slate to the membership.

Section 3. Elections: Elections shall be held prior to the annual meeting of the CLC. Each year a President-Elect shall be elected for a one-year term and two (2) Directors shall be elected for two-year terms. The Secretary shall be elected in the even years for a two-year term, while the Treasurer shall be elected in the odd years for a two-year term.

All members in good standing, except Students and Associate Members, shall be entitled to vote in the election for officers, directors, and bylaws changes.

Election of candidates to office shall be by a plurality of the total votes cast. Election results will be announced to all members.

Section 3. Term of Office: The officers, other than President-Elect, will be elected by the membership to serve terms of two years each and shall not be eligible to immediately succeed themselves in the same office. At the end of a one-year term, the President-Elect assumes the office of President for one year. Immediately after serving as President for one year, the President assumes the office of Immediate Past President for one year. Officers will be permitted to run for a consecutive term in a different position, but in no case will an officer be permitted to serve in any capacity for a third consecutive term on the Board of Directors. Term of office shall begin immediately following the annual meeting.

Section 4. Unexpired Terms: The CLC Board of Directors shall be empowered to fill board position vacancies for the offices of Secretary and Treasurer for the remainder of unexpired terms. Should the President-Elect be unable to continue in office, a special election will be held under the direction of the Board of Directors. If the presidential office is vacated, the President-Elect shall automatically become President, serving the remainder of that term, as well as the term to which they were elected. 

Section 1. Authority and Responsibility: The Executive Committee may act in place and stead of the Board of Directors between board meetings on all matters, except those specifically reserved to the board by these bylaws, pursuant to delegation of authority to such committee by the Board of Directors. Actions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the board for ratification by mail or at the next board meeting.

The Executive Committee does not have the authority to

Section 1. President: The President of CLC shall be the chief elected officer of the CLC; be a member of the Board of Directors and preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors; preside at all annual or special meetings; perform all duties customary to that office, subject to the control of the Board of Directors; and supervise and control all of the affairs of the CLC in accordance with all policies and directives of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. President-Elect: The President-Elect shall serve as member of CLC Board of Directors; assist the President in performance of duties; and assume the functions and responsibilities of the President in the absence or incapacity of the President.

Section 3. Treasurer:  The Treasurer shall cause regular books of account to be kept and shall render to the Board of Directors, from time to time as may be required, an account of the financial condition of the Corporation; shall deliver an annual report at the annual meeting; and shall perform all other duties properly required of the Treasurer by the Board of Directors.

Section 4. Secretary: The Secretary shall serve as a member of the CLC Board of Directors; record the proceedings of the CLC Board of Directors and CLC annual meeting; and maintain a current record of all motions made by the CLC Board of Directors.

Section 5. Immediate Past President: The Immediate Past President shall serve as a member of the Board of Directors and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the President of the Board of Directors and/or the Board of Directors.

The officers shall also perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the President of the Board, Executive Committee and/or Board of Directors.

Section 1. Appointment of Standing Committees: Standing committees, other than the Executive, Governance, Finance and Nominating Committees, may be created and abolished by the President as necessary to plan and review the goals and purposes of the CLC. These committees shall report to the Board of Directors and shall, within budget authorizations, create their own sub-committees as required to complete their assigned tasks.

Section 2. Duties of Standing Committees: All committees shall develop action plans related to committee guidelines and CLC goals; maintain records of meetings of committee consultations; and submit written reports to the CLC Board of Directors before the semi-annual CLC Board of Directors meetings.

Section 3. Appointment of Special Committees and Task Forces: Special committees and task forces may be appointed as necessary by the President in consultation with the Board of Directors to fulfill the programs and purposes of CLC. Special committees and task forces shall have a board liaison and be responsible to the board for their duration. The term of an additional committee and/or task force shall be equal to the length of time necessary to complete the assigned task.

Section 1: Authority and Responsibility: The CLC Certification Commission (CLCC) shall have authority over the establishment and refinement of all essential certification decisions, which include certification eligibility requirements, recertification requirements, disciplinary determinations related to certification, examination development, examination administration, examination scoring, and selection of subject matter experts. The CLCC has final decision-making authority over the complete examination development cycle, which includes practice analysis (i.e., job analysis or role delineation), exam content outline, item writing, item review, development of exam forms, standard setting (i.e., cut score study), exam administration, exam scoring, candidate score reporting, and data analysis and exam technical reports. The CLCC shall maintain authority over its credentialing criteria; policies and procedures; administration, time, place, and frequency of its meetings; election of officers and members; and all other lawful activities. The CLCC shall have no role in developing exam review materials, creating educational resources, or conducting educational programs that may be used by candidates pursuing successful completion of the certification program. Information related to policies governing the CLCC can be found in the CLCC Policies.  

Section 2. Composition: The CLCC will be comprised of a Chairperson, a Chairperson-elect, the Immediate Past Chairperson, a minimum of five at-large Commissioners appointed by the Chairperson, one pubic member appointed by the Chairperson, and one non- voting representative of the Board of Directors as designated by the Board of Directors President. Election and appointment procedures are set forth in the CLCC Policies. 

Section 1. Annual Meeting: The annual meeting of the members of CLC shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The annual meeting shall be held in conjunction with the annual conference. 

Section 2. Special Meetings: At the written request of at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the voting membership, the President shall call a special membership meeting to be held within sixty (60) days of the receipt of such request. Written requests shall be directed to the Secretary of the CLC Board of Directors. The purpose of such special meetings shall be designated in the call to meeting and no other business may be conducted. Special meetings shall be held at a time and place determined by the CLC Board of Directors.  

Section 3. Notice of Meetings: Notice of meetings shall be in writing and shall set forth the date, time, and place thereof. Such notices of meetings shall be mailed or otherwise transmitted no fewer than twenty (20) days before each meeting and be addressed to each member of the CLC at his or her address as it shall appear on the records of the CLC. Notices of adjourned meetings need not be given. 

Section 4. Quorum: At an annual or special meeting of the CLC, the presence of twenty-five (25) members shall be necessary for and shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but less than a quorum shall have the power to adjourn a meeting, from time to time, without notice. 

The fiscal year of the CLC shall be January 1 through December 31.

Section 1. Appointment: The Board of Directors shall employ and supervise a salaried Executive Leader. 

Section 2. Authority and Responsibility: The Executive Leader is authorized to receive compensation by the Board of Directors. The Executive Leader shall be responsible for promoting public relations between the CLC, the Board of Directors, and the community to ensure its continued growth and development. The Executive Leader has the power to appoint and remove all employees. The Executive Leader reports to the Board of Directors of the CLC, working closely with the President. 

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern CLC in cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the bylaws of CLC.

Section 1. Governance Committee and/or Board: When amendments to the bylaws have been submitted by the Governance Committee and approved by the CLC Board of Directors, the Board of Directors will email a written notice of intent to the voting membership of the CLC for approval. 

Section 2. Voting Membership: The Board of Directors shall initiate a vote for a bylaws change petitioned by the membership when presented with petitions signed by at least twenty-five percent (25%) of voting members of the CLC.  

Section 3. Approval: If two-thirds (2/3) of the votes returned by mail, email, survey instrument, and/or cast at the annual conference or special meeting, depending on which of these means is specified for voting, are favorable to the amendment, it shall be adopted. 

Section 4. Results: Members will receive email communication from the Board of Directors regarding the results of the vote. 

Section1. Oversight of the contracts, checks, deposits, and funds is the responsibility of the Treasurer and Executive Leader as defined by their specific roles outlined in Articles VIII and XIII. 

The corporation shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and shall also keep minutes of the proceedings of the CLC Board of Directors and its committees. 

CLC shall purchase insurance covering all members of the Board of Directors and designated agents of CLC for any and all legal expenses and costs incurred as a result of any legal action brought against her or him for any action performed in furtherance of her or his duties as an officer or agent, subject to such exclusions as may be provided by law or approved by the Board of Directors. 

In the event the CLC needs to dissolve, the Board of Directors shall present a plan to do so to the general membership. An affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the general membership in good standing that casts votes is needed to dissolve the CLC. Membership shall be advised at least thirty (30) days prior to a vote to dissolve the CLC. Upon the dissolution of the corporation or the winding up of its affairs, the assets of the corporation shall be distributed exclusively for charitable or educational purposes or to organizations that are then exempt from federal tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and to which contributions are then deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of such code. No financial benefits or emoluments shall accrue to any member of the CLC or the board by virtue of their position on the board or as a member of the CLC upon its dissolution.