Region II Consortium for Alcoholism &

Substance Abuse Services

(C.A.S.A.S.)

A. To provide governmental planning and regulatory bodies with information, advice and proposals on issues relating to alcoholism and substance abuse.

B. To provide a means for disseminating and sharing information.

C. To promote inter-agency communication, support and cooperation.

D. To improve the quality of alcoholism and substance abuse related services by planning, coordinating and providing training and technical assistance programs.

A. Membership is open to any group, individual or agency in Region II with an interest in the problems of alcoholism or substance abuse and the desire to promote the goals of the Consortium. Membership is defined as Full, Associate, Ex-Officio and Supporting.

B. Membership year is January - December.

C. Categories:

     1. Full Membership: Full members are agencies, groups or nonaffiliated individuals who have
          met the dues requirements of Full Membership and are primarily engaged in providing
          services to alcoholics and substance abusers and their families. Each member shall have
          one vote and each agency or group shall delegate one person to cast their vote. Any
          member not attending at least one-third of the meetings held during the preceding calendar
          year shall lose voting privileges until they have attended two consecutive meetings.

      2. Associate Membership: Associate members are agencies, groups or individuals with an
          interest in alcoholism or substance abuse who attend Consortium activities and who have
          met the dues requirements of Associate Membership. They do not have voting status,
          but may derive benefits from the Consortium not available to the general public.

      3. Ex-Officio Membership: Ex-Officio members are representatives of governmental,
          regulatory, planning or funding agencies who serve as liaison to the Consortium. Ex-Officio
          members do not have voting status and cannot hold office.

     4. Supporting Membership: Supporting members are individuals who do not meet the
          requirements of Sections 1, 2, or 3, but who do participate in Consortium activities. They
          have no voting status.

D. The Executive Board shall decide any questions relating to membership status.

A. Consortium Officers are a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Only Full Members may hold office.

B. Officers are to be elected to the Annual Meeting, take office in January and serve for one year not to exceed two consecutive terms for a given office.

C. The elected officers shall comprise the Executive Committee.

D. Duties and responsibilities of officers:

     1. President:

          a. Chairs all regular meetings.

          b. May serve on all Consortium Committees.

          c. Chairs all Executive Committee meetings.

          d. May appoint special committees to research and make recommendations on issues of
               interest and/or concern to the Consortium.

          e. Maintains the voting privileges of membership both in committees and full Consortium
              meetings.

          f. Has the responsibility of ensuring the overall functioning of the Region II Alcoholism and
             Substance Abuse Consortium.

          g. Is responsible for any function not specifically delegated to a committee, officer or
              membership as a whole.

          h. Is responsible for representing the Consortium at the regional, district, state and/or
              federal levels. He/she may designate a representative.

          i. Coordinates times and locations of regular Consortium meetings. He/she may call special
             meetings of the Consortium.

     2. Vice-President

          a. Serves in the capacity of the President in his/her absence. He/she shall succeed in the
              case of a resignation or the incapacitation of the President.

          b. May serve on all Committees of the Consortium except the Nominations Committee.

          c. Shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the Treasurer and/or Secretary in the
              event that either or both resign or become incapacitated, until such time as the
              Consortium secures a replacement.

          d. Coordinates inter-committee activities.

     3. Secretary

          a. Coordinates Consortium meetings and notification of members, at least two weeks in
              advance of upcoming full Consortium meetings.

          b. Is responsible for ensuring that minutes are taken and promptly distributed to Consortium
              membership for each Consortium Meeting.

          c. Maintains files and records of all Consortium proceedings and correspondence. These
              files and records shall be accessible to all members as defined in section(s) III-1, 2, 3,4.

          d.   Maintains membership lists according to memebrship status.

          e. Is responsible for taking attendance and determining the existence of a quorum at all
              Consortium meetings.

           f. Shall update By-laws as amended by the Consortium.

     4. Treasurer

           a. Handles all Consortium finances at the direction of the voting members.

           b. Maintains permanent records of all Consortium financial transactions, reports on
               Consortium finances at each regular meeting, and prepares an annual Financial Report
               for presentation at the Annual Meeting.

           c. The Treasurer and any other Officer must sign any check or disbursement of
               Consortium Funds.

           d. Develops an annual plan for fund raising activities.

     5. Training Coordinator

V. COMMITTEES

A. The Consortium functions through a Committee Process. Members are responsible for actively participating in committee functions.

B. All committee members and chairpersons are appointed by the President unless otherwise herein specified.

C. Standing Committees:

     1. Executive Committee

          a. The Executive Committee is designated to maintain the continuity of Consortium activities
               in between regular meetings and to act on behalf of the Consortium when it is impractical
               to convene a meeting.

          b. Two members of the Executive Committee, one of whom should be the Treasurer, must
              sign any disbursement of funds.

     2. Training Committee

          a. The Training Committee is charged with developing opportunities for the professional
              community to enhance their skills and knowledge and for providing the community with
              alcoholism awareness programs and substance abuse programs.

          b. The Training Committee identifies the training needs of the professional community,
              develops plans for meeting them, disseminates information about available trainings and
              works with community and other professional groups to facilitate training programs.

     3. Public Policy Committee

          a. The Public Policy Committee exists to research issues concerning alcoholism and
              substance abuse and to present information to the public.

          b. The Public Policy Committee researches and responds to proposed legislation and
               regulations concerning alcoholism and substance abuse.

     4. Insurance and Other Funding Source Committee

          a. The IOFSC is charged with informing providers and insurers about the implications
              of the funding stream’s effects on service provisions.

          b. The IOFSC and public functions by serving in an advisory capacity for insurers and
               public funders of services. The IOFSC conveys to Consortium members research
               into manages care, outcome measurement, and advocates with funders for adequate
               alcohol and other drug services.

D. The Consortium may vote to establish Ad-hoc Committees as desired.

E. A Nominating Committee will be selected each September by floor nominations and election by the membership.

     1. The Nominations Committee will solicit input and interest from the membership and will
          present a slate of officers at the October meeting.

     2. The Nominating Committee will conduct a secret written ballot election to choose new
         officers at the annual meeting.

VI. MEETINGS

A. The Consortium will meet a minimum of six times a year, alternating between Monroe County and another county for meeting sites.

B. The November meeting shall be the annual meeting.

C. Officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting and take office in January.

     1. The Nominating Committee will nominate its slate of officers.

     2. Additional nominations may be made from the floor.

     3. A secret written ballot will be used a the request of any Full Member.

     4. In order to be elected, a candidate must receive a simple majority of all votes cast by
          members present and voting.

D. A quorum shall exist when at least 50% of the Full Members eligible to vote are present.

E. In the event a quorum is not present, the meeting will be held on an informal basis. Any decisions requiring action will be made by the Executive Committee providing at least three members of that Committee are present.

F. Unless otherwise specified herein, Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern conduct of all meetings.

G. While it is to be hoped that consensus will guide the actions of the Consortium, any question may be submitted to a vote at the request of any Full Member.

     1. To pass, a question must receive a simple majority of all votes cast by eligible members
         voting.

     2. A secret written ballot will be used at the request of any Full Member.

     3. The Secretary will maintain a record of the vote and include the official count in the minutes.

H. Special Meetings may be called at the request of any member of the Executive Committee or by any 5 Full Members, providing at least 5 days notice is given to all Full Members in writing of the agenda of such meeting.

VII. AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

A. Amendments to the ByLaws must be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee at least one month before the next scheduled meeting and will be distributed to Full Members at least 14 days before that meeting.

B. To pass, the proposed amendment must receive a 2/3rds majority of all votes cast by eligible members voting.