March 19, 2012
Dear TVSA Members:
It is time for our annual elections. The TVSA Nominations Committee is pleased to present the attached slate of candidates for election to the Board of Directors. TVSA is also submitting proposed Bylaws changes to its members. Our Bylaws committee, chaired by Kelly Willis, submitted the changes to the Board for approval. The Board approved the proposed changes. For the adoption of Bylaws changes, an affirmative vote of the membership is required.
Updates are in three primary areas:
1) Changing membership types. (Organizations will still enjoy a discounted conference fee through group pricing.)
2) Some grammatical changes throughout the document; and
3) Establishing rules for a vacancy in the office of President (Art. VI, Section 8 (B).
The ballot follows this page. Information about the candidates is provided after the ballot. The complete copy of the Bylaws with markings of what is to be deleted (like this) and added (in bold) follows the candidate information.
VOTING ELIGIBILITY: To vote you must be a TVSA member with dues current thirty (30) days prior to the deadline for voting. Region Coordinators are elected by members from their area, so only vote for a Coordinator from your region.
VOTING DEADLINE: Votes must be faxed or post-marked by April 19, 2012.
VOTING METHOD and DIRECTIONS:
As we must be able to validate the eligibility and region of all voters, you must vote by mail or by fax. Please print out, vote and return the one-page ballot on Page 2.
If mailing… please
PRINT YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS ON THE BACK OF YOUR MAILING ENVELOPE, and mail to: TVSA, 6800 West Gate Boulevard, Suite 132, Box #376, Austin, TX 78745-9997.
If faxing…please
INCLUDE A FAX COVERSHEET WITH YOUR NAME PRINTED ON IT, & YOUR ADDRESS, and fax to: John Cade at (214) 358-6046.
All identifying information is separated out before the ballots are counted.
Those running for office will be informed of election results in time for new Board members to be installed at the Annual Board of Director’s Meeting held prior to the Conference (April 30, 2012). The full Board will be introduced at the Annual Membership Meeting (May 2, 2012).
Serving on the Board is rewarding work, and we hope you’ll consider Board service yourself in the future. You can also serve on one or our standing committees: Bylaws, Communications, Conference, Finance, Membership, Nominations, and Strategic Planning. Contact the President or the Committee Chair to express your interest.
Sincerely,
The TVSA Nominations Committee: John Cade, Beverly Greiner, Katherine Gaehring, Susan Hass-Hatch, and Ana Verley.
Please Fax or Mail this Page Only
Texas Victim Services Association
Voting Ballot
2012 Board Election
President-Elect
______Amy Perkins
Secretary
______Stacy Miles -Thorpe
Conference Chair
No nominated candidate. You may provide the name of someone for consideration for appointment to this board position. Please provide contact info for the person you are suggesting.
______
*******VOTE ONLY FOR THE CANDIDATE FROM YOUR STATE REGION*******
Region A Coordinator (Only Region A Members Vote)
______Beverly Greiner
Region C Coordinator (Only Region C Members Vote)
______Connie Bergara
Region E Coordinator (Only Region E Members Vote)
______Susan Hass Hatch
*************************************************************************************************************
By-laws amendments
_____ I approve the by-laws amendments as presented by the Board.
_____ I do not approve the by-laws amendments as presented by the Board.
Return this ballot by mail or fax by April 19
TVSA
INFORMATION ON CANDIDATES FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2012 ELECTION
Candidate for President-Elect
Name _Amy Perkins TVSA member since 2007
Employment Executive Director, Advocacy Center for Crime Victims and Children, Waco
I am a member of the following associations/organizations: Licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (LPC-S) and National Certified Counselor (NCC), past member of Texas District and County Attorney Association (TDCAA) and certified as a Professional Victim Assistance Coordinator and serve as Vice-President of the McLennan County Crime Victim Coalition. I am active in Waco Rotary, a soon to be provisional member of the Waco Junior League, a wish granter for the Make a Wish Foundation of North Texas and for the Make a Wish Foundation of Central and South Texas, as well as active in our annual local Relay for Life and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. I have served on the TVSA Board in several capacities: At-Large Board Member, Secretary, Membership Chair and Treasurer.
Office I am seeking: President-Elect
I can best serve TVSA by:
Bringing enthusiasm, fresh ideas and a love for victim services to the best victim service association in Texas!
I bring the following qualifications to the Association:
Current board experience and active involvement in many TVSA committees. I also have over 16 years of experience in victim services. Educationally, I have a Master’s Degree in Community Counseling and am pursuing a doctorate in counseling.
Additional comments (add another sheet if necessary):
I would love the opportunity to continue serving on the Board for TVSA –it is a wonderful experience to be a part of such a great organization.
Candidate for Secretary
Name Stacy Miles -Thorpe, LCSW TVSA member since 2010
Employment Victim/Witness Counselor, Travis County District Attorney, Austin
I am a member of the following associations/organizations Texas District and County Attorney Association, TVSA
Office I am seeking Secretary
I can best serve TVSA in this position by:
In my work, I am passionate about promoting healing from the trauma of victimization, and in engaging other counselors and advocates in providing the best service possible in their setting. Believe it or not, I love meetings—no, really! I find the exchange of ideas and the work toward a finished product exciting. I’ve certainly led, contributed to, and taken notes for hundreds of clinical, operational, and coalition-type meetings. I’m looking forward to becoming more involved in TVSA.
I bring the following qualifications to the Association:
I have practiced Social Work in various settings for the past 14 years, from non-profit domestic violence crisis work, to formal mental health counseling in a private agency, to my current role in victim services in a government agency. I have provided numerous trainings and CEUs, including workshops on ethics, self-care, and victim service techniques. Published articles include working with male crime victims, and assessing and providing support for jurors after traumatic trials.
Candidate for Region A Coordinator
Name Beverly A. Greiner, LCSW TVSA member since 2010
Employment Clinical Social Worker, Private Practice Greiner Consultants, Lubbock
I am a member of the following associations/organizations
TVSA; Volunteer for Lubbock Police Department
Office I am seeking Region A Coordinator
I can best serve TVSA in this position by:
Continuing to promote TVSA in the Panhandle area by assisting in training for victim service providers in the Panhandle Area and being accessible to victim service providers who are new to the field of Victim Services.
I bring the following qualifications to the Association:
Experience as a law enforcement based victim services provider; experience as a trauma therapist and experience in working mass casualty events.
Candidate for Region C Coordinator
Name Connie Bergara TVSA member since Jan. 2007
Employment Crime Victim Advocate – Duncanville Police Department, Duncanville
I am a member of the following associations/organizations: TVSA, Law Enforcement Victim Assistance (LEVA), Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA), Crime Victims’ Council of Dallas County.
Office I am seeking Region C Coordinator
I can best serve TVSA in this position by:
Promoting membership in order to help further the vision and mission of
TVSA within Region C and throughout the state, thereby increasing the number of high quality and well trained victim service providers. By keeping Region C members informed of education and training opportunities as well as news and announcements within TVSA and other victim service provider agencies.
I bring the following qualifications to the Association:
Graduate of National and State Victim Assistance Academies as well as continued education thru attendance at various conferences throughout the year to stay informed of the latest trends in victim services and how to best obtain the resources providers need in order to connect victims with the services they need. Twelve years’ experience in the victim services field as a volunteer and paid advocate within law enforcement.
Candidate for Region E Coordinator
Name: SUSAN HASS HATCH TVSA member since: 2008 (this time)
Employment: University Medical Center of El Paso, Manager, Crime Victim Services
I am a member of the following associations/organizations: Crime Victim Rights Council of El Paso – Board member, West Texas Crisis Consortium – Co chair, Domestic Violence Prevention Commission, Steering Committee for the Child Abuse Clinic – El Paso Children’s Hospital, SANE Task Force – Co chair – UMC, Executive Forum, UTEP Alumni Assn
Office I am seeking: Regional Coordinator – Region E (Western Area)
I can best serve TVSA by:
Increasing awareness of TVSA and increasing TVSA membership.
I bring the following qualifications to the Association:
I have many years’ experience working with victim services organizations. I am a former trainer on CVC and Victim Rights.
Additional comments: I consider it a privilege to be a part of the TVSA board.
BY-LAWS CHANGES PRESENTED 2012
Texas Victim Services Association, Inc.
Bylaws
Article I
Name
Section 1. The name of the organization shall be Texas Victim Services Association, Inc., hereinafter “TVSA”.
Section 2. This organization shall be and is a non-profit organization, incorporated under the Texas Non-profit Corporation Act.
Article II
Mission and Purpose
Section 1. The mission of TVSA is education, support and recognition for victim service providers.
Section 2. The purpose of TVSA shall be to provide a network to facilitate communication, assistance and collaboration among those who assist victims of crime.
Section 3. The further purpose of TVSA is to promote quality services to victims of crime through training and education for members, victim service providers, victim advocates and volunteers.
Article III
Location
Section 1. The principle office of the organization, where records are kept, shall be located at a site to be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to change the location of TVSA’s principal office as the affairs of the organization may require.
Article IV
Powers and Responsibilities
Section 1. The organization shall have the power to indemnify and hold harmless any officer or chair person chairperson from any suit, claim, judgment, or liability arising out of, or asserted to arise out of conduct of such person in their capacity as an officer or chair person chairperson (except in willful misconduct). The organization shall have the power to purchase or procure insurance for such purposes.
Section 2. The organization shall keep correct and complete books and records for accounts and shall also keep minutes of the proceedings of the meetings of its members, Board of Directors, and Executive Committee. Said books and records of the organization may be inspected by any member for the purpose of reviewing the business of the organization at a reasonable time, after a written request by the reviewing member has been received by the Executive Committee. Said written request shall state the purpose for the request and state the books and/or records relevant to the review. The member shall have the right to examine the books and/or records relevant to that purpose.
Article V
Membership
Section 1. Eligibility
Membership is open to individuals or organizations who provide paid or unpaid services to victims of crime and/or public education regarding victimology and who subscribe to the mission and purposes set forth in Article II of this document, and also to individuals who, though not providers of such services or education, subscribe to the mission and purposes set forth in Article II of this document.
Section 2. Application for membership
Membership in any category shall be by application to the membership committee.
Section 3. Dues
Membership dues shall be paid annually. Organizational dues shall be twice that of individual dues. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to review and set the amount of member dues annually, but shall not with any increase in dues by more than fifty percent (50%) without requiring a vote of the membership.
Section 4. Categories and Benefits of Membership
A. Organizational Members:
An organization which provides services to or education about victims of crime shall be entitled to receive newsletters and its designated representative shall have one (1) vote, and may hold elective office and chair or serve on committees. An Organizational Member shall also be entitled to two (2) or more reduced conference fees as determined by the Board of Directors.
A. Individual Professional Members:
An individual who provides services to or education about victims of crime shall be entitled to receive newsletters, and reduced conference fees, have one vote, hold elective office, and chair or serve on committees.
B. Affiliate Members:
An organization or individual which who, although not providing services to or education about victims of crime, subscribes to the mission and purposes set forth in Article II of this document and supports the work of TVSA, shall be entitled to receive newsletters and recognition for their support.
Section 5. Termination
Any member may have membership terminated in accordance with policy established by the Executive Committee Board of Directors.
Section 6. Voting
A. Eligibility to vote on any matter brought before the membership shall require that the individual or organizational member must be a member in good standing, with dues current at least thirty (30) days prior to the membership meeting or to the deadline set for ballots to be returned by mail or facsimile.
B. Organizational representatives and iIndividual Professional members in good standing shall each have one vote at membership meetings and in elections conducted by mail or facsimile (fax). When voting by mail or fax, individual professional members and organizational representatives shall be required to use their signatures.
C. All members eligible to vote shall have the privilege of making motions, presenting resolutions and voting on all matters before the membership. A simple majority of eligible voting members shall be required and suffice for action by the membership, subject to the provisions of these Bylaws regarding quorum and Bylaws amendments.