Operational Guidelines. The Board is responsible for creating and maintaining a set of Operational Guidelines to implement its policies. Approval of the changes to the Operational Guidelines shall require a majority vote of the Board.

Meetings of the Association. The Association shall have regular meetings for the purpose of disseminating information and fostering the welfare of its members.

The Association shall have annual conventions at times and places approved by the Board.

The Association shall conduct meetings at times and places agreed to by the Regional Vice Presidents and the Executive Director. Meetings shall be open to all members, regardless of their regional affiliations.

Committees, and Their Chairpersons. The Board of Directors shall create, combine, or disband standing and ad hoc committees as necessary to fulfill the objectives of the Association and to meet the needs of the Association members. The names and functions of these committees shall be defined in the Operational Guidelines of the Association.

The outgoing First Vice President shall appoint chairpersons for each ad hoc and standing committee, the Publications Board, and the Web Board at the end of the annual convention meeting. The First Vice President shall appoint new ad hoc committees as needed.

Chairpersons of standing committees shall be appointed to one- year terms by the First Vice President. Individuals may be re-appointed as committee chairpersons. Chairs of ad hoc committees may be appointed for as long as the task requires; their performance shall be reviewed annually by the Executive Committee, and a new chair shall be appointed if the progress of such a committee is deemed inadequate.

The First Vice President and the Second Vice President shall be responsible for encouraging members to serve on Association committees.

Within 90 days of assuming office, the President shall publish a list of committee membership for both standing and ad hoc committees and the charges to those committees for the year in an official publication of the Association. Appointments to standing committees shall be for one year.

The President may create ad hoc committees at other times during the year.

Committee chairpersons shall be responsible for reporting committee activities in accordance with the Operational Guidelines.

Service on committees and as committee chairpersons shall be one of the criteria used in considering an individual's qualifications to serve as a Director or Officer of the Association, and committee chairpersons shall be responsible for reporting on the service rendered by members.

Committee chairpersons shall follow the Operational Guidelines approved by the Board.

The Publications Board. The Publications Board shall consist of seven members and the Executive Director, who shall be a continuing, ex-officio member of the Publications Board and shall have full voting privileges unless prohibited elsewhere by these Bylaws.

The Nominating Committee shall nominate a slate of candidates for the Publications Board; the Board of Directors will elect members to the Publications Board to serve three-year, staggered terms.

The Publications Board shall be responsible for recommending for Board approval editors of Association publications and for evaluating the regular and special publications of the Association, the editors of the publications, and the written statements of editorial policy and procedures provided by the editors.

The Publications Board shall be responsible for proposing and selecting timely special publications and for coordinating their production with the Executive Director of the Association.

The Publications Board shall determine recipients for awards specified by the Board of Directors.

The Web Board. The Web Board shall consist of three to five members and the Executive Director, who shall be an ex-officio member of the Web Board and shall have full voting privileges unless prohibited elsewhere by these Bylaws.

The Web Board shall be responsible for providing guidelines for policy and content to ensure the web site meets Association goals.

Special Recognition. The Association shall provide five kinds of special recognition: designation as Fellow, as Distinguished Member, as Honorary Member, as Recipient of the Francis W. Weeks Award of Merit, and as Recipient of the Bernadine P. Branchaw Spirit Award.

The qualifications for these forms of recognition shall be specified in the Operational Guidelines and approved by the Board.

Once a year, the names of the awards and their qualifications shall be published in an official publication of the Association and nominations shall be solicited from members. Additionally, once a year the Regional Vice Presidents and chairpersons of the Association's committees shall be solicited for their nominations.

The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for soliciting and evaluating recommendations for these awards and for submitting a list of individuals selected to receive awards, along with the reasons for their selection, for Board approval.

These awards and special recognitions will be given only when warranted by the qualifications of the nominees.

Expenses,Reimbursements and Bonuses. The Board may authorize reimbursement for expenses incurred on its behalf or payment for services rendered.

The President and the Executive Director may direct the members of the Executive Committee, Directors, committee representatives, and employees and other representatives of the Association be reimbursed for expenses incurred while conducting Association business.

The Board shall set or confirm the salary for the Executive Director at its annual meeting.

The President and Executive Director may recommend for Board approval bonuses for services rendered by headquarters personnel.