Constitution and Bylaws of the Washington Association of School Social Workers
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS
ARTICLE I
Name: The name of the organization shall be the Washington Association of School Social Workers.
ARTICLE II
Jurisdiction: The territory over which this organization shall have jurisdiction shall be the State of Washington.
Article III
Purpose: The purpose of this organization shall be the promotion and development of school social work in Washington through involvement in coalitions, monitoring OSPI plans and programs, communication with other professional groups and universities, being active in student support organizations, providing professional development, having representatives on various state organizations and committees, and will not be aligned with any political party or organization.
Mission: The mission of WASSW is to promote and develop the profession of school social work and to empower school social workers as anti-racist educators dedicated to social justice and the mental health and well-being of our school communities.
Vision: Centering member voices and experiences, we co-create our spaces to ensure we are developing an association that cultivates an environment and mindset of anti-racism, inclusion and belonging in which school social workers grow, contribute and develop as practitioners.
ARTICLE IV
Membership
Full/Regular Membership: A person who has their Education Staff Associate Certification through the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to be a school social worker and is employed by a Washington state school shall be eligible for full membership.
Full/Regular Dual Membership with School Social Workers Association of America (SSWAA): A person who is eligible for full/regular membership who also chooses to be a member of SSWAA.
Premium Dual Membership with SSWAA: A person eligible for full/regular dual membership with SSWAA who chooses this higher level of access to SSWAA resources.
Retired/Unemployed WASSW: A person who is eligible for full/regular membership who is not employed.
Retired/Unemployed Dual Membership with SSWAA: A person who is eligible for full/regular membership who is not employed and chooses to be a member of SSWAA.
Associate Membership/Classified & Other Professionals: Any person who is interested in supporting the purpose of WASSW is eligible for associate membership.
Associate WASSW & SSWAA Membership/Classified & Other Professionals: Any person eligible for associate membership who chooses to also be a member of SSWAA.
BASW/MSW/PhD Complimentary Student Membership: Any person pursuing an undergraduate or graduate social work degree with an interest in school social work is eligible for student membership.
Student Dual Membership with SSWAA: A person who is eligible for student membership who also chooses to be a member of SSWAA.
Memberships run for one calendar year, beginning the first day of membership.
ARTICLE V
The Purpose, Mission and Vision of WASSW shall be carried out through a shared leadership structure, with the following Leadership Teams. Each team will review the Mission and Vision at meetings to align work with those goals.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENt
This Leadership Team shall be responsible for planning and implementing regular professional development for members, through conferences, book studies, or other appropriate format. It shall provide a practice oriented professional growth workshop at least annually.
ANTI-RACIST ADVOCACY
This Leadership Team shall be responsible for creating a safe environment for BIPOC member voices to be heard and validated. The intent is a space of racial reconciliation and intentionally driving our member voices to action. This can be done through regular and ongoing meetings with BIPOC members; developing and maintaining partnerships with BIPOC organizations, leaders, programs, and agencies; maintaining current knowledge and awareness of policies, news, laws, etc. pertaining to anti-racism or those that affect people of color; lead book studies pertaining to racial reconciliation or other relevant topics.
COMMUNICATION
This Leadership Team shall be responsible for ensuring regular communication to WASSW members through, for example, newsletters, bulletins, and social media.. It shall ensure the maintenance of the WASSW website, Facebook page, Facebook Members Only page, and other appropriate social media platforms such as Twitter and/or Instagram. It shall coordinate content with other Leadership Teams and ensure a “suggestion box” system for members.
POLICY & LEGISLATIVE
This Leadership Team shall set legislative priorities, liaison with the SSWAA legislative committee, track legislation to determine and organize association response (i.e. endorsement, opposition, give testimony at hearings, etc.), and communicate legislative priorities and actions to members and stakeholders during and after legislation sessions. The Team will hold regular meetings, liaison with lobbyists, WEA, NASW, SSWAA & OSPI, train new members to interact with legislators, and will communicate with individual legislators, to include gifts at the close of session.
RECRUITING FOR MEMBERSHIP & THE PROFESSION
This Leadership Team will plan and carry out activities to recruit and retain school social workers to the profession and to WASSW membership. It will coordinate promotional activities and publicity projects for WASSW, such as job fairs, speaking engagements, creative ways to recruit through members, etc.). This Team will monitor job postings for posting to WASSW website and social media. This Team will meet and connect with social work students, host information sessions about the profession of school social work, and liaison with UW Seattle, UW Tacoma, EWU as well as practicum instructors.
This Team will manage the membership list, be responsible for communication pertaining to membership (i.e. automated communication, respond to inquiries about membership, develop and mail out the Welcome Packet, outreach to members with lapsed accounts), create materials for membership recruitment, coordinate School Social Work week and provide membership reports at Leadership Team meetings.
PARTNERSHIPS
This Leadership Team will develop and maintain participation with organizations, agencies, and groups that further the Purpose, Mission and Vision of WASSW. These currently include Universities, OSPI School Social Work Program Manager, OSPI SEL Committee, OSPI School Counseling, additional OSPI committees as may be appropriate, SSWAA , PESB, ESA Behavioral Health Coalition, NASW-WA, WEA, WEA ESA Committee, and the Children and Youth Behavioral Health WorkGroup K-12 Behavioral Health Subcommittee. This group will develop new partnerships as may be appropriate.
LEADERSHIP COORDINATING TEAM
This Leadership Coordinating Team will be made up of representative(s) from each Leadership Team listed above and supporting leaders (e.g. those managing logistics, finances, etc). It will convene regular meetings to facilitate the work of the Leadership Teams as well as respond to and facilitate communication among the Leadership Teams, members, and other stakeholders. It will participate in and/or delegate duties that promote the school social work profession. It will:
The Board’s responsibility to the membership is to: 1) Meet on a regular basis; 2) Inform the membership of the Board’s activities on a regular basis through periodic communications and the President’s reports; 3) Have minutes available for inspection; 4) Select representatives to various state organizations and committees; 5) Organize network communication, as necessary; 6) At least annually provide a practice oriented professional growth workshop.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Team decisions will be made by consensus through a process created by the team, and in the absence of consensus, on a majority vote.
ARTICLE VI
Meetings: WASSW shall hold one annual meeting for all members. A simple majority of those in attendance shall constitute a quorum for decision-making.
ARTICLE VII
Dues and Finances: There will be regular annual dues for this organization as follows:(I wonder about rearranging these to reflect “full membership first, etc.)
The WASSW Leadership Coordinating Team will have the power to disburse funds for promoting and developing School Social Work in the State of Washington. In the event that WASSW is dissolved, all available funds will be disbursed for the promoting and development of School Social Work to a non-profit fund, foundation, or corporation which has established its tax-exempt status under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Revised 10/96
lp
Revised 10/08
edp
Revised 10/12
edp
Revised 11/15
evr
Revised 10/22
ces len
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKERS
ARTICLE I
Name: The name of the organization shall be the Washington Association of School Social Workers.
ARTICLE II
Jurisdiction: The territory over which this organization shall have jurisdiction shall be the State of Washington.
Article III
Purpose: The purpose of this organization shall be the promotion and development of school social work in Washington through involvement in coalitions, monitoring OSPI plans and programs, communication with other professional groups and universities, being active in student support organizations, providing professional development, having representatives on various state organizations and committees, and will not be aligned with any political party or organization.
Mission: The mission of WASSW is to promote and develop the profession of school social work and to empower school social workers as anti-racist educators dedicated to social justice and the mental health and well-being of our school communities.
Vision: Centering member voices and experiences, we co-create our spaces to ensure we are developing an association that cultivates an environment and mindset of anti-racism, inclusion and belonging in which school social workers grow, contribute and develop as practitioners.
ARTICLE IV
Membership
Full/Regular Membership: A person who has their Education Staff Associate Certification through the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to be a school social worker and is employed by a Washington state school shall be eligible for full membership.
Full/Regular Dual Membership with School Social Workers Association of America (SSWAA): A person who is eligible for full/regular membership who also chooses to be a member of SSWAA.
Premium Dual Membership with SSWAA: A person eligible for full/regular dual membership with SSWAA who chooses this higher level of access to SSWAA resources.
Retired/Unemployed WASSW: A person who is eligible for full/regular membership who is not employed.
Retired/Unemployed Dual Membership with SSWAA: A person who is eligible for full/regular membership who is not employed and chooses to be a member of SSWAA.
Associate Membership/Classified & Other Professionals: Any person who is interested in supporting the purpose of WASSW is eligible for associate membership.
Associate WASSW & SSWAA Membership/Classified & Other Professionals: Any person eligible for associate membership who chooses to also be a member of SSWAA.
BASW/MSW/PhD Complimentary Student Membership: Any person pursuing an undergraduate or graduate social work degree with an interest in school social work is eligible for student membership.
Student Dual Membership with SSWAA: A person who is eligible for student membership who also chooses to be a member of SSWAA.
Memberships run for one calendar year, beginning the first day of membership.
ARTICLE V
The Purpose, Mission and Vision of WASSW shall be carried out through a shared leadership structure, with the following Leadership Teams. Each team will review the Mission and Vision at meetings to align work with those goals.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENt
This Leadership Team shall be responsible for planning and implementing regular professional development for members, through conferences, book studies, or other appropriate format. It shall provide a practice oriented professional growth workshop at least annually.
ANTI-RACIST ADVOCACY
This Leadership Team shall be responsible for creating a safe environment for BIPOC member voices to be heard and validated. The intent is a space of racial reconciliation and intentionally driving our member voices to action. This can be done through regular and ongoing meetings with BIPOC members; developing and maintaining partnerships with BIPOC organizations, leaders, programs, and agencies; maintaining current knowledge and awareness of policies, news, laws, etc. pertaining to anti-racism or those that affect people of color; lead book studies pertaining to racial reconciliation or other relevant topics.
COMMUNICATION
This Leadership Team shall be responsible for ensuring regular communication to WASSW members through, for example, newsletters, bulletins, and social media.. It shall ensure the maintenance of the WASSW website, Facebook page, Facebook Members Only page, and other appropriate social media platforms such as Twitter and/or Instagram. It shall coordinate content with other Leadership Teams and ensure a “suggestion box” system for members.
POLICY & LEGISLATIVE
This Leadership Team shall set legislative priorities, liaison with the SSWAA legislative committee, track legislation to determine and organize association response (i.e. endorsement, opposition, give testimony at hearings, etc.), and communicate legislative priorities and actions to members and stakeholders during and after legislation sessions. The Team will hold regular meetings, liaison with lobbyists, WEA, NASW, SSWAA & OSPI, train new members to interact with legislators, and will communicate with individual legislators, to include gifts at the close of session.
RECRUITING FOR MEMBERSHIP & THE PROFESSION
This Leadership Team will plan and carry out activities to recruit and retain school social workers to the profession and to WASSW membership. It will coordinate promotional activities and publicity projects for WASSW, such as job fairs, speaking engagements, creative ways to recruit through members, etc.). This Team will monitor job postings for posting to WASSW website and social media. This Team will meet and connect with social work students, host information sessions about the profession of school social work, and liaison with UW Seattle, UW Tacoma, EWU as well as practicum instructors.
This Team will manage the membership list, be responsible for communication pertaining to membership (i.e. automated communication, respond to inquiries about membership, develop and mail out the Welcome Packet, outreach to members with lapsed accounts), create materials for membership recruitment, coordinate School Social Work week and provide membership reports at Leadership Team meetings.
PARTNERSHIPS
This Leadership Team will develop and maintain participation with organizations, agencies, and groups that further the Purpose, Mission and Vision of WASSW. These currently include Universities, OSPI School Social Work Program Manager, OSPI SEL Committee, OSPI School Counseling, additional OSPI committees as may be appropriate, SSWAA , PESB, ESA Behavioral Health Coalition, NASW-WA, WEA, WEA ESA Committee, and the Children and Youth Behavioral Health WorkGroup K-12 Behavioral Health Subcommittee. This group will develop new partnerships as may be appropriate.
LEADERSHIP COORDINATING TEAM
This Leadership Coordinating Team will be made up of representative(s) from each Leadership Team listed above and supporting leaders (e.g. those managing logistics, finances, etc). It will convene regular meetings to facilitate the work of the Leadership Teams as well as respond to and facilitate communication among the Leadership Teams, members, and other stakeholders. It will participate in and/or delegate duties that promote the school social work profession. It will:
- Provide leadership for the development of Leadership Teams.
- Route member and partner inquiries to the appropriate WASSW Leadership Team.
- Support communication to WASSW Leadership Teams and out to other organizations.
- Partake in or delegate duties that promote the school social work profession (example: presenting at principals’ and school board gatherings and state level conferences).
- Coordinate Leadership Team agendas, including Summer Leadership Team retreat.
- Ensure award process occurs (SSW of the year, advocate of the year, etc.)
- Ensure management of WASSW financial obligations: maintenance of financial records, payment of bills, filing of taxes, providing 1099 forms, establishment of an annual budget.
The Board’s responsibility to the membership is to: 1) Meet on a regular basis; 2) Inform the membership of the Board’s activities on a regular basis through periodic communications and the President’s reports; 3) Have minutes available for inspection; 4) Select representatives to various state organizations and committees; 5) Organize network communication, as necessary; 6) At least annually provide a practice oriented professional growth workshop.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Team decisions will be made by consensus through a process created by the team, and in the absence of consensus, on a majority vote.
ARTICLE VI
Meetings: WASSW shall hold one annual meeting for all members. A simple majority of those in attendance shall constitute a quorum for decision-making.
ARTICLE VII
Dues and Finances: There will be regular annual dues for this organization as follows:(I wonder about rearranging these to reflect “full membership first, etc.)
- Full/Regular Membership: $50.00
- Full/Regular BIPOC Membership: $35.00
- Full/Regular Dual Membership: $150.00
- Premium Dual Membership: $175.00
- Associate Membership: $35.00
- Associate Dual Membership: $135.00
- Student Membership: Free
- Student Dual Membership: $75.00
- Retired/Unemployed Membership: $20.00
- Retired/Unemployed Dual Membership: $95.00
The WASSW Leadership Coordinating Team will have the power to disburse funds for promoting and developing School Social Work in the State of Washington. In the event that WASSW is dissolved, all available funds will be disbursed for the promoting and development of School Social Work to a non-profit fund, foundation, or corporation which has established its tax-exempt status under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Revised 10/96
lp
Revised 10/08
edp
Revised 10/12
edp
Revised 11/15
evr
Revised 10/22
ces len