PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Joseph D. Dear, Ed.D. CSCA President July 2007

A gauntlet has been thrown down by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in the form of $200 million funding for school counselors and other support services. School counselors have been given the opportunity to take on the challenge of helping California schools to increase student test scores, cut back on junior and high school dropout and to provide direction for students to be better prepared to become employed after high school or to pursue postsecondary educational endeavors of their choice.

Just two years ago hundreds of school counselors were losing their jobs to budget cuts. Fortunately, however, in the school years 2006-07 and 2007-08, school counselors are in great demand, primarily because of the state budget funding increases for school counselors.

The question that many politicians, school administrators and others within the educational community are asking is, "will the increased presence of counselors in the schools make a difference?" The answer to that question has to be a resounding "YES!"

It is going to be up to school counselors, with the help of others, to not only make a difference in the schools, but we must also be able to document that a difference has been made. School counselors must solicit the help of our colleagues in the schools (teachers, administrators and other school support personnel) to join forces to take advantage of this opportunity to help California junior and senior high school students improve their chances of being successful in life. Research has shown that there is a positive correlation between those individuals who are successful in life and their academic grades in school, their test scores, active involvement in team sports and other school activities. School counselors must incorporate whatever preventive measures are needed in the California school systems to improve upon the existing situation. Early interventions and the immediate application of creative solutions to existing barriers to learning will be the new order of the day.

As president of this organization, I stand ready and committed to help make things happen in California schools. I invite you (the reader) to join me in this monumental endeavor.

Again, I say, WELCOME ABOARD!!!

Dr. Joseph D. Dear
CSCA President

ABOUT CSCA

The California School Counselor Association draws its membership from counselors at the elementary, junior high/middle school or high school level. CSCA is a division of the California Counseling Association (CCA) which is chartered by the American Counseling Association (ACA). Its membership categories are:

• Professional (Voting) - School counselors, teacher-counselors, pupil service workers, coordinators, supervisors, counselor educators or those who have a current assignment in counseling or other guidance activities; those who hold such employment but are on leave for no more than two years for maternity or sabbatical reasons, temporary assignment to other duties, or graduate study in the field; and who have a Master's Degree in counseling or guidance, or a clear standard Designated Service Credential
• Associate (Non-Voting) - Those interested in guidance but not employed as a counselor or in position requiring a pupil personnel credential.
• Graduate Student (Non-Voting)
• Emeritus - Those retired from active employment.
  
  
  Join CSCA Now!
  

As President of the California School Counselor Association (CSCA), I am delighted to provide this message of encouragement to our members. Being a member of CSCA during the 2007-2008 academic year is going to be exciting and challenging for those of you who choose to be active in our State’s organization.

One of the main areas of focus for my tenure in office is to encourage an active and involved membership and to “grow” a strong leadership for the organization. Consequently, you are encouraged to contact me to let me know that you are interested in being involved in making this organization the absolute best state school counseling organization in the nation. We will be as strong and as exciting as YOU make it. It has been my experience from working with the American Counseling Association and other national and state organizations that those state branches that have strong divisions have a very active and involved membership. It has also been my experience that those who have gotten involved not only had fun but were better counselors who learned how to enjoy their jobs and enjoy the interaction with other school counselors, counselor educators and other professionals within the organization.

The exciting part of being a part of this organization is that we are beginning to chart new ground. For the first time in many years I am encouraging us to have (at least quarterly) a newsletter, a minimum of two annual workshop/seminar opportunities for members and others (at least one southern and one northern California) and an active recruitment of leaders from within the CSCA organization. My hope is that we can have our first newsletter published in December 2007 (no later than January 2008) and the dates for the workshop/seminar can be announced in the coming months.

Once our website is completed, viewers will be able to come on line and get connected to a number of links that can be helpful to individuals for their professional enhancement as well as for personal benefits. Because we are connected to the California Counseling Association website, we will also have access to everything that they have to offer. There are several of us CSCA members who are also involved in the national counseling organizations and can thereby keep our state CSCA members informed about what is happening on the national scene.

And finally, least we forget that practical aspect of what individual members want and can use, I hope to be able to offer practical resources that can be useful for the school counselor in the trenches dealing with the youth gangs on campus, bullying and other such topics through various very resourceful links to very credible and well-respected sources.

I look forward to working with you in the coming months. Let me hear from you.

Your President for 2007-2008

Joseph D. Dear, Ed.D.

Join CSCA Now!

• American Counsling Association (ACA), Western Region Conference - November 8 - 11, 2007 - Burlingame California
  • Information Flyer & Registration Form on the ACA Website
  • Download the information and registration form in PDF Format
    
    
• California Counseling Association (CCA) - Educational Conference Cruise to Baja, Mexico - February 15 - 18, 2007

CALIFORNIA SCHOOL COUNSELOR ASSOCIATION
BYLAWS

ARTICLE I
NAME

The name of the Association shall be the California School Counselor Association (CSCA), a Division of the California Counseling Association (CCA).

ARTICLE II
PURPOSE

The purpose of the CSCA is to promote and advance the interests of school counseling and guidance services in the State of California.

ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. General Qualifications:

Membership is open to all professionally trained counselors and supporters of counseling. Members must agree to abide by the CSCA, CCA and the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.


Section 2. Classes of Membership:

• A. Professional: Professional members shall meet at least one of the qualification criteria below:
  
  Criteria:

(1) Currently or previously employed as a school counselor, counselor educator, teacher-counselor, supervisor or coordinator of guidance services and currently or previously assigned to counseling or other guidance activity. (2) On leave of absence from such employment for a maximum of two years for one of these reasons: maternity leave, sabbatical leave, temporary assignment to another type of duty. (3) Actively engaged in graduate study in professional counseling or guidance. (4) Possess a Pupil Personnel Services Credential with a Specialization in School Counseling. (5) be a member in good standing (paid dues) of CCA.

• B. Associate: An Associate shall meet the following qualifications:
• 1. Demonstrated an interest in school counseling and guidance work,
• 2. A member in good standing (paid dues) in CSCA and CCA.

• C. Student: A Student member shall meet the following requirements:
• 1. A graduate student enrolled in a program of study leading to a Pupil Personnel Services Credential
• 2. Paid CSCA/CCA student membership dues.

Section 3. Rights and Privileges: Professional Members shall have the right to vote in elections and General Membership Meetings and hold office. Associate and Student Members shall have the privilege of voting in the election of CSCA officers and at General Membership meetings.

Section 4 Dues: Shall be determined by the Executive Council and approved at a General Membership Meeting.

Section 5. Severance of Membership: A member may be dropped from membership for any conduct that tends to injure CSCA, CCA or ACA or to affect adversely their reputation or that is contrary to or destructive of their purpose according to the CSCA Bylaws and ACA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. . .

ARTICLE IV
CSCA GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

A general membership meeting will be held not less than once every two years, the time and place to be determined by the Executive Council. Members will be notified of the date and place thirty (30) days prior to the date of the meeting.

Section I. Quorum: A quorum for the General Membership Meeting shall be a minimum of 10 members, each of whom is entitled to one vote.

Section 2. Authority:

• 1. Acts upon recommendations of the Executive Council.
  
• 2. Grants or denies, for cause, petitions for admission of Local Branches.
  
• 3. Ratifies the Bylaw Amendments adopted by the Governing Council.
  
• 4. Initiates action on policies, programs and activities.

Section 3. Presiding Officer: The President of CSCA shall preside at General Membership meetings and in his/her absence the President-Elect shall preside.

ARTICLE V
LOCAL BRANCHES

Section 1. Charters: Any local or regional organization whose purposes are in harmony with those of CSCA's and which meet requirements established by the Executive Council may apply to the Executive Council for a Charter as a Local Branch requiring approval of the Executive Council and the General Membership.

Section 2. Affiliate: A Local Branch shall designate that it is an affiliate of CSCA by the words: "A local branch of the California School Counselor Association".

Section 3. Autonomy: A Local Branch shall be autonomous in the conduct of its affairs within the limitations set forth in the CSCA Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers, Qualifications and Term of Office

• A. Officers: Officers shall be the President, President-Elect, Immediate past president, Financial Officer, Secretary, Regional Directors, four Level Vice Presidents (Elementary, Middle/Junior High School, High School and Supervisory/Post Secondary), and Northern and Southern Human Rights Representatives.
• B. Qualification; To qualify for an elected office, the nominee must be a Professional Member in good standing in CSCA.
• C. Term of Office: Officers' terms of office will be from July 1 to June 30 for one year or until their successors are elected.

Section 2. Nominations and Election

• A. Nominations
  The Nominating Committee:
  • 1. The immediate Past President shall serve as Chairman of the Nominating Committee.
  • 2. The Nominating Committee shall issue a call for nominations for elected officers in the CCA newsletter at least 60 days prior to the election.
  • 3. Members may be nominated from the field by notifying the Nominating Committee within 30 days after the call for nominations.
  • 4. It shall be the duty of the Nominating Committee to determine the eligibility of nominees and ascertain their willingness to serve, if elected.
• B. Elections
  1. Election of officers shall be by mail ballot, general assembly membership vote or Executive Council approved electronic process and a plurality vote elects.
  2. The election ballot shall be prepared by the management firm and published in the CCA Newsletter or electronic notification at least 30 days prior to the election.
  3. Election ballots or electronic votes will be received by the management firm until the closing date which appears on the notification.
  4. CCA Nominating and election committee shall count the election ballots and/or electronic votes and the results will be announced in the next issue of the CCA newsletter or electronic notification.
  5. Tie votes shall be resolved by the drawing of lots.

Section 3. Duties of Officers

A. President
The President shall be the chief executive officer and preside at all meetings of the Executive Council and General Membership. The President shall appoint the Chairman of all committees and be ex officio member of all committees, except the Nominating Committee. A professional parliamentarian may be appointed by the president with the approval of the governing council to advise on parliamentary procedures.

B. President-Elect
The President-Elect shall serve as a member of the Executive Council. In the event that the President is unable for any reason to serve his/her full term, the President-Elect shall succeed him/her and serve the unexpired remainder of the term and continue through his/her own term.

C. The Financial Officer
The Financial Officer shall serve as a member of the Executive Council. He/she will carry on the functions of the office as established by the Executive Council in receipt and disbursement of funds and keep full and complete records of transactions. An annual financial report will be given to the Executive Council.

D. Secretary
The Secretary shall serve as a member and secretary of the Executive Council and General Membership Meetings and keep the records of all meetings. He/she shall conduct official correspondence and issue calls and notices of meetings,

Section 4. Vacancies

A. In the event that the President of CSCA shall resign, die or become incapacitated and unable to complete his/her term of office, the President-Elect shall automatically succeed to the office of President.

B. If the President-Elect is unable to complete his/her term or the President's unexpired term, the Executive Council shall hold a special election to fill the vacancy until the next regular election.

C. In case of the resignation, death or incapacity of the Financial Officer or Secretary, the Executive Council shall appoint a member to serve the remainder of the term.

ARTICLE VII
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Section 1. Composition: The Executive Council shall be composed of the officers of CSCA

President, President-Elect, Financial Officer and Secretary, Regional Directors and four (4) Level Vice Presidents (Elementary, Middle/Junior High School, High School and Supervisory/Post Secondary) Northern and Southern Human Rights Representatives.

A. President: The President of CSCA shall be the presiding officer of the Executive Council.

B. Regional Directors: Regional Directors shall serve as resource persons for all CSCA members within their region and represent the interests of region members on the CSCA Executive Council.

1. Election: Regional Directors shall be elected at the same time as the officers of CSCA and shall serve a term of two (2) years or until their successor is elected. Each geographic region^. shall elect one Director to the Executive Council with no more than one-half of the Directors elected in any given year.

2. Geographic Region: The Executive Council will periodically review the boundaries and membership counts of the geographic region and adjust the boundaries and apportionment deemed necessary to provide an equitable representation and delivery of services to members in each region.

3. Vacancy: In the event that a Regional Director is unable to complete his/her term of office, a replacement may be appointed by the Executive Council.

C. Level Vice Presidents: Level Vice Presidents shall serve as resource persons at their Level and provide professional leadership throughout the State by generating interest in and activities for professional development.

1. Levels: There shall be four (4) Level Vice Presidents: Elementary School, Middle/Junior High School, High School and Supervisory/postsecondary.

2. Eligibility: A. member shall be currently or previously employed as a counselor in the work setting to be represented (or a supervisor of counselor or counselor educator for the Supervisory/Postsecondary Vice President position).

3.Election: No more than one half of the level vice presidents shall be elected in any given year.

Section 2. AuthorityThe Executive Council shall be the policy-making board of CSCA and shall

• A. formulate and recommend policies to the General Membership for action.
  
• B. develop policies appropriate for executive action and direct their execution.
  
• C. conduct, manage and control the business of CSCA between its General Membership Meetings.

Section 3. Meetings

• A. The Executive Council shall meet at a time and place designated by the president. Upon petition of a majority of the members of the Executive Council, the Council shall be convened within thirty (30) days.
• B. The quorum to conduct business at an Executive Council meeting shall be at least one-third of the Council members then in office.

Section 4. Reports

• A Elected Officers
  • 1. President: The President shall submit an annual report to the CSCA governing council.
  • 2. Financial Officer The Financial Officer shall render an annual report in writing to the Executive Council. At the conclusion of the fiscal year (July1 to June 30) and as soon thereafter as feasible the Financial Officer's books shall be reviewed internally.
  • 3. Distribution of Reports: The Executive Council may distribute to the membership the annual reports of officers.

ARTICLE VIII
COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees
The standing committees shall be:

• Bylaws Committee
• Membership Committee
• Finance Committee
• Scholarship Committee

Appointments and Terms

• (A) All committee chairs will be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Executive Council. The president will also fill all committee chair vacancies. Committee chairpersons will appoint members to the committees.
• (B) The terms of all standing committee chairs will be one year. Committee members will serve 3-year terms.
• (C) Each standing committee will have a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of five (5) members.

Section 2 Special Committees

Special Committees may be established by the President with the approval of the Executive Council. The president will appoint the chairperson. The chairperson will appoint members to the committee.

ARTICLE IX
FINANCES

Section 1. Fiscal Year: The Fiscal year shall be from July 1 to June 30.
Section 2. Budget: A proposed annual budget will be submitted by the financial officer to the Executive Council for approval by a majority vote at its last meeting of the administrative year.
Section 3 Expenditures:

• A. Expenses incurred conducting the affairs of CSCA shall be paid by the Financial Officer out of appropriations budgeted for such purpose.
• B. Expenses of committees authorized by CSCA shall be paid from the funds appropriated. Any liability incurred in excess of the funds appropriated shall not be the liability of CSCA or CCA but shall be the personal liability of the person or persons responsible for incurring or authorizing such liability.

ARTICLE X
ELECTRONIC MEETINGS

The Executive Council, Standing and Special Committees are authorized to meet by telephone conference or through other electronic communications media as long as all members may simultaneously hear one another and participate in the meeting in accordance with the California Non-Profit Corporation Code.

ARTICLE XI
DISSOLUTION

All property of CSCA shall be subject to the control and management of the Executive Council. Upon dissolution of CSCA, none of its property shall be distributed to any of the members and all of such property shall be transferred to: such other organization or organizations as the Executive Council shall determine to have purposes and activities most nearly consonant to those of CSCA provided that such other organization or organizations shall be exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or corresponding provisions of the Internal Revenue Laws.

ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

Section 1. Bylaw amendments shall be adopted as follows:

• 1. At a properly called Executive Council meeting with a quorum present and a 30-day notice of a proposed Bylaw amendment shall be adopted by a 2/3rds vote of those present and voting;
  or
• 2. by mail or electronic transmission sent to eligible members with the exact wording of the proposed amendment. It shall be adopted by a 2/3rds vote of returned ballots and/or electronic votes. The deadline for returning ballots shall be no less than 30 days from the date of notification.

Section 2. Bylaw amendments duly adopted by the Executive Council or by a mail ballot or electronic vote of the membership shall be ratified by a 2/3rds vote of those present and voting at a properly called General Membership Meeting with a quorum present and 30 days previous notice.

ARTICLE XIII
Parliamentary authority

Section 1.

The rules contained in the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the association in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the association may adopt.

Amendments: