Current Chapter Responsibilities
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Chapter Responsibilities

III. Current Chapter Responsibilities

- Effective March 1, 2016

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of other mutual promises and agreements hereinafter set forth, CAMFT and the CHAPTER agree as follows:

1. Formation/Rights of CHAPTERS. CHAPTERS shall be formed in accordance with the provisions of the CAMFT Bylaws and other policies pertaining to CHAPTERS. So long as CHAPTERS are in good standing (which includes but is not necessarily limited to full compliance with this Agreement, its own bylaws, the CAMFT bylaws, the CAMFT Code of Ethics, and all other policies and procedures of CAMFT pertaining to CHAPTERS), CHAPTERS shall have the right to utilize the name of CAMFT in the name of the CHAPTERS, to represent itself as affiliated with CAMFT, and to receive all other benefits bestowed by CAMFT upon its affiliated CHAPTERs.

2. Relationship. CAMFT and CHAPTERS are separate legal entities. CHAPTERS are not and shall not be considered a partner, joint venturer, subsidiary, legal representative, or agent of CAMFT. At no time shall CHAPTERS act or represent themselves to be acting in any of these capacities. Neither CAMFT nor CHAPTERS shall have the right or power to bind or obligate the other party in any manner, and shall not make, or represent that it has the power to make, any contract, agreement, representation, warranty or obligation, express or implied, on behalf of the other party. Neither CAMFT nor CHAPTERS shall be liable for any act, error, omission, debt, or other liability or obligation of the other.

3. Bylaws. CHAPTERS shall abide by and promote the purposes and objectives of CAMFT as set forth in the most current version of CAMFT’s Bylaws. CHAPTERS shall also adopt and 2 abide by its own bylaws which shall not conflict with CAMFT’s Bylaws. CHAPTERS shall submit all proposed bylaw amendments to CAMFT to ensure compliance with this paragraph. Alternatively, CHAPTERS shall retain independent legal counsel to ensure any proposed bylaw amendments do not conflict with CAMFT bylaws and submit revised bylaws to CAMFT in the event changes are made.

4. Membership. Clinical, pre-licensed, and associate CAMFT members in good standing, as defined by the CAMFT Bylaws, shall be eligible for membership in CHAPTERS. CHAPTERS may establish other categories of membership as CHAPTERS deem appropriate and these individuals do not need to be members of CAMFT, so long as individuals or entities accepted for such memberships do not otherwise qualify as clinical, pre-licensed, or associate members of CAMFT. Loss of membership in CAMFT as a clinical, pre-licensed, or associate member shall result in loss of membership in CHAPTER.

5. Board of Directors if the above provision is not achievable. Such request is granted solely for a one year period. The CHAPTER may make a separate request to the CAMFT Board of Directors should the necessity arise for a variance in any subsequent year.

6. Annual Report. CHAPTERS are required to submit to CAMFT an annual report on the membership and financial status of the CHAPTER within sixty (60) days after the new CHAPTER Board is seated. Specifically, the CHAPTER’S annual report shall include but not be limited to: (a) An updated listing of outgoing and newly elected CHAPTER officers and committee chairs; (b) A roster of current members, both voting and non-voting as applicable, the CHAPTERS’ mailing list (including at a minimum the full name, mailing address, and email address for each CHAPTER member. License number is also helpful), and (c) A balance sheet showing the current assets and liabilities of the CHAPTER or a copy of the annual financial reports prepared in accordance with the CHAPTER’s bylaws.

7. Taxes. CHAPTERS shall obtain their own federal employer identification number for use in opening CHAPTER’S accounts. CHAPTERS shall obtain their own tax exempt status or pay taxes as appropriate for their organizational structure.

8. CAMFT Name and Logo Use. The distinction between CHAPTERS and CAMFT must be maintained. Communication by a CHAPTER and its officers or members, in correspondence, reports, or other materials, must always identify the CHAPTER by name. 3 The use of CAMFT’s name and logo and the CAMFT acronym by the CHAPTER must always include the name of the CHAPTER (not just the CAMFT name) so as not to confuse communications from CAMFT with those of CHAPTERS, especially when communicating with the general public.

9. CAMFT Membership List Use. A CHAPTER may request and receive, at no charge, up to four mailing labels/lists per year comprised of members in good standing of CAMFT located within the region represented by the CHAPTER. The mailing labels/lists may only be used for official CHAPTER activities (i.e. publicize CHAPTER events, assist with CHAPTER membership drives, etc.) and may not be sold. They also may not be distributed to or shared with individuals inside or outside of the CHAPTER. A CHAPTER that does not comply with this policy may lose the privilege of receiving future mailing labels or lists. Any CHAPTER that wishes to request mailing lists/labels from CAMFT should complete the “CHAPTER Mailing Label/List Request Form.”

10. CAMFT Member Suspension/Expulsion. In the event CAMFT suspends or expels a member, CAMFT agrees to notify CHAPTER of the suspension or expulsion within 15 days. CHAPTER acknowledges loss of membership in CAMFT as a clinical, pre-licensed, or associate member shall result in loss of membership in CHAPTER.

11. Indemnification/Defense. CHAPTERS and CAMFT agree to mutually indemnify, defend and hold each other harmless from any and all claims, loss, liabilities, damages, costs (including attorneys’ fees and costs) that CAMFT, CHAPTER or any of CAMFT’s or CHAPTER’s past, present, or future officers, directors or employees incurs as a result of the acts or omissions of the other or the breach of this Agreement by either.

12. Insurance. CHAPTER shall obtain and maintain at its own expense a broad form Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance policy providing coverage of at least One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence and a Two Million Dollar ($2,000,000.00) aggregate. CHAPTER shall obtain a Directors & Officers Liability policy of at least One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) per occurrence for any act or omission committed by CHAPTER or its officers, directors, employees, or volunteers during the term of this Agreement which causes harm, liability, or damages to CAMFT or CAMFT’s officers, directors, employees, volunteers, or invitees. CHAPTER shall name CAMFT as an additional insured on the CGL and D&O policies. CHAPTER shall provide CAMFT with written proof of insurance at any time requested by CAMFT, but no less than once per year.

13. Suspension or Termination. Upon the dissolution of CAMFT for any reason, CAMFT shall provide immediate notice of the dissolution to all CHAPTERS by personal communication, personal hand delivery, or sent by overnight express mail service to the CHAPTER’s last address as shown on CAMFT’s records as well as to the President of each CHAPTER if that person’s address is different than the CHAPTER’s address. Upon such 4 notice of dissolution, each CHAPTER’s charter and this agreement shall terminate, and each CHAPTER shall cease using the CAMFT name, logo, and mailing lists of CAMFT members, except for those CAMFT members who are also members of such CHAPTER. CAMFT’s dissolution shall have no effect on CHAPTER’s continual and perpetual existence as a corporation under state law or its tax-exempt status under federal and state law, so long as the CHAPTER’s name is changed and does not include the CAMFT name.

A CHAPTER may be suspended and its charter terminated by a majority vote of the CAMFT Board of Directors (“CAMFT Board”) if the CHAPTER has breached this Agreement, or if the Board believes that the CHAPTER is not operating in the best interests of CAMFT. Pursuant to the CAMFT bylaws, CHAPTERS that do not comply with the policies of the CAMFT Board of Directors and/or the bylaws of CAMFT will be considered as not operating in the best interest of CAMFT. Prior to any suspension or termination of a CHAPTER’s charter, CAMFT shall follow the following procedure:

(a) The CHAPTER shall be given sixty (60) days prior written notice of the proposed suspension or termination. Said sixty (60) days begin upon the CHAPTER’s written acknowledgement of receipt of notice sent by first-class mail, facsimile, or email transmission to CAMFT. Notice of proposed suspension or termination shall be either personally hand delivered or sent by overnight express mail service to the CHAPTER’s last address as shown on CAMFT’s records as well as to the President of the CHAPTERS if that person’s address is different than the CHAPTER’s address.

(b) The notice will describe the suspected violation in detail and allow the CHAPTER to respond with a plan to remedy the suspected violation,

(c) CAMFT will allow the CHAPTER an opportunity to first try, in good faith, to remedy the suspected violation. If the CHAPTER and CAMFT cannot agree to a plan to remedy the suspected violation, the CHAPTER shall be given an opportunity to be heard, either orally or in writing, at least five (5) days before the effective date of the proposed suspension or termination. The hearing shall be held, or the written statement considered, by the CAMFT Board to determine whether the suspension or termination should take place.

(d) The CAMFT Board shall decide by a majority vote whether or not the CHAPTERS should be suspended, terminated, or sanctioned in some other way. The decision of the CAMFT Board shall be final.

(e) Any court action challenging the suspension or termination of a CHAPTER by the CAMFT Board, including a claim alleging defective notice, must be commenced within one year after the effective date of the suspension or termination.

Upon suspension or termination of a CHAPTER’s charter, the CHAPTER shall cease utilizing CAMFT’s name, acronym, mailing lists and logo (all of which are owned completely and exclusively by CAMFT), and may no longer claim any affiliation with CAMFT.

14. Ethics Committee. CHAPTERS may, but are not required to, create an “ethics committee” to advise the CHAPTER’s Board and membership regarding CAMFT’s Code of Ethics and procedures. However, no CHAPTER may establish its own code of ethics or make determinations regarding ethics-related cases. All such cases are subject to CAMFT’s Code of Ethics and procedures for handling such matters. Any ethics committee created by a CHAPTER is advisory only.

15. Dispute Resolution. In the event of a dispute between a CHAPTER and CAMFT, and if the dispute cannot be settled through negotiation, the parties agree to first try in good faith to settle the dispute by mediation before resorting to arbitration, litigation, or some other dispute resolution procedure. Any mediation or arbitration regarding this agreement shall be held in a mutually agreeable location. If the dispute is submitted to arbitration, or if an action at law or in equity is necessary to enforce or interpret the terms of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs in addition to any other reasonable relief to which it may be entitled. With respect to any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or related to this Agreement, or the documentation related hereto, the parties hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of the appropriate court in the State of California for any proceeding arising hereunder. In the event that CAMFT is meritorious in any lawsuit, whether acting as Plaintiff or Defendant, CAMFT has the discretion to request only a portion of or no attorneys’ fees from the CHAPTER.

16. Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless continue in full force and effect without being impaired or invalidated in any way.

17. Assignment/Amendment. Neither party may assign or transfer this Agreement without the express written consent of the other party. No change, amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be valid unless in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

18. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be construed and governed pursuant to the laws of the State of California. 6 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement effective on the day and in the year first set forth above.

Policy on Use of CAMFT Name

Accepted: April 2, 1993

 

The CAMFT name is the exclusive property and right of this Association. No individual, Chapter of the Association, group of individuals, or other entity, may list in a yellow page or other directory, or in any other advertising under the heading California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (or CAMFT), nor may they use the name or acronym CAMFT on any letterhead or in any other manner except upon the written consent of this Association.

A CAMFT duly chartered chapter may use the CAMFT name, provided that the chapter is in compliance with this policy and provided that the chapter name appears with the name or acronym California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT). The manner and extent of such use shall also be subject to the approval, by written consent, of the Association. Following are the rules concerning the listing in any directory or other usages or advertising under the name, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists or acronym, CAMFT.
  A. Chapter Listing Under the CAMFT Name
Any Chapter which is duly chartered by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists may request the right to list its members under the heading of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (or CAMFT) in any directory or any other advertising. The granting of permission to use the CAMFT name in the manner above stated shall be contingent upon the satisfaction of the requirement enumerated in items 1 through 6 (see below).

B. Individual or Collective Listing under the CAMFT Name
CAMFT members wishing to individually or collectively list in any directory or other advertising under the CAMFT name shall request and be granted permission to use the CAMFT name. If a CAMFT Chapter wants to list its members or a CAMFT member or group of members want to be included in a listing in a directory or other advertising under the name California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists or CAMFT, with the word "members" prominently and appropriately placed, then he/she/they shall contact all CAMFT members in the geographic area covered by the directory or other advertising to see whether any other members wish to be included in that listing. The Association will, of course, look carefully at the documentation to assure that all members in the area served by the directory are given the opportunity to be listed. The granting of permission to use the CAMFT name in the manner above stated shall be contingent upon satisfying the requirements enumerated in items 1 through 6.

  1. The request is in writing addressed to the principle office of the Association.
  2. The request contains a statement that the name "California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists" (or CAMFT) belongs to the Association.
  3. The request contains a statement that the name of CAMFT will be used as a heading in any directory or the advertising listing member names, and that the word "members" will be prominently displayed.
  4. The request shall contain the name(s) of the person(s) who will be responsible for coordinating the advertising.
  5. The request shall contain the names and addresses of the members of CAMFT or members of the Chapter who are to be listed under the name of California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (or CAMFT).
  6. Receipt by the Chapter, individual, or group of individual members making the request, of written permission from the Association to so use or display the name of CAMFT

Policy on Use of CAMFT Logo

Accepted: September 18, 1987
Revised: June 9, 2012

CAMFT restricts the use of the logo as stated in the following policy:

The Association’s logo is the exclusive property of CAMFT. However, CAMFT grants permission to use the CAMFT logo to any person who is a member in good standing of the Association. Only members who have maintained their paid membership in the Association can use the CAMFT logo. This policy does not authorize members to use any other logo or trademark that is the property of CAMFT.

Members in good standing are authorized to use the CAMFT member logo for the purpose of identifying their membership in CAMFT. The CAMFT member logo may not be used in any manner to imply that a member is in any way an agent of CAMFT or that CAMFT in any way warrants, approves, or endorses any product or service provided by the member.

The CAMFT logo may be displayed on a member’s personal business card, letterhead, website, in advertising, or in a directory. Any other use of the CAMFT member logo not specifically stated herein must be approved by CAMFT.

Any Chapter which is duly chartered by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists may use or display the logo on Chapter stationery, advertising leaflets or brochures, in directory advertising in any listing of members, or other advertisement or usage provided that the logo will only be displayed together with the words "California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists," and that the name of the chapter is clearly indicated in the advertisement so that it is clear that the Chapter is advertising and not the Association.

The right to use the CAMFT member logo shall terminate and be revoked upon the member’s failure to remain in good standing, in the event of misuse by the member as determined by CAMFT, or any other breach of this Policy for Use. Upon such termination and/or revocation, the member will eliminate the use of the CAMFT member logo from all materials, products, and services, regardless of whether such materials, products, and services are preprinted or pre-existing at that time.

Legal action will be taken against anyone who uses the CAMFT logo in violation of the above policy.

Policy on Use of CAMFT Mailing Liss

Accepted: September 15, 2007

A chapter may request and receive, at no charge, up to four mailing labels/lists per year comprised of members in good standing of CAMFT located within the region represented by the chapter. The mailing labels/lists may only be used for official chapter activities (i.e. publicize chapter events, assist with chapter membership drives, etc.) and may not be sold. They also may not be distributed to or shared with individuals inside or outside of the chapter. A chapter that does not comply with this policy may lose the privilege of receiving future mailing labels or lists.

Any chapter that wishes to request mailing lists/labels from CAMFT should complete the “Chapter Mailing Label/List Request Form.

Policy on Use of CAMFT/Foundation Banking of Funds for Chapters

Accepted: June 9, 1985
Revised: March 13, 2015

Neither CAMFT nor the CAMFT Educational Foundation, Inc., (hereafter called Foundation) shall accept funds from any of CAMFT’s chapters to be deposited in Foundation/CAMFT accounts for the purpose of awarding chapter scholarships, sponsoring of chapter events, or for any other chapter purpose.

All scholarships shall be awarded by the Foundation Board of Directors or its designee. Nothing in this policy is intended to prevent any person or chapter from recommending or proposing a specific candidate to receive a scholarship, or from recommending or proposing that a new scholarship be established. Such recommendations or proposals shall be made in writing to the Foundation Board of Directors.

Chapters are required to submit to CAMFT an annual report on the membership and financial status of the chapter within sixty (60) days after the new chapter board is seated. Specifically, the chapter’s annual report must include:

1 .An Updated listing of outgoing and newly elected chapter officers and committee chairs, including:

  • Titles and Term limits for each position
  • Vacant positions if you have any
  • Email addresses that Board members and Chairs will be monitoring frequently, whether chapter or personal

This will ensure that all Board members and Chairs 1) receive information and updates from the Chapter Relations Manager 2) have the option to opt into and take part in Listservs relevant to their positions.

2. A Roster of current members, both voting and non-voting, including:

  • CAMFT Member ID
  • First & Last Name
  • License #
  • Email address
  • Mailing address

3. Financial reports year-end prepared in accordance of the chapter’s bylaws, including:

  • PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT: Showing all income and expenses for the Financial year at year-end
  • BALANCE SHEET: Showing total assets, liabilities, and equity at year-end
  • BUDGET for upcoming year

4. Your next election date

  • Month and year

Each Chapter must obtain Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance policy providing coverage of:

  1. At least One Million Dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence
  2. Two Million Dollar ($2,000,000.00) aggregate,
  3. A Directors & Officers Liability policy of at least One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000) per occurrence.
  4. In order to be compliant, chapters must provide CAMFT with the CGL and D&O insurance policies annually upon renewal. Chapters must name CAMFT as an additional insured on the CGL policy. As of 2021, chapters do not need to name CAMFT as an additional insured on the D&O policy.

Chapters need to provide documentation to either CAMFT, the IRS, or their Insurance Carrier. Refer to the table below for CAMFT deadlines.Refer to section IV for IRS and Insurance Deadlines.

Item Date Refer to Section
Provide CAMFT with the date of the
Board election and when the new board
takes affect

Early January
of each year

 
Balance Sheet to CAMFT Early January 
of each year
III
Annual Reporting
requirements
Review Add/Drop reports provided
by CAMFT for any chapter
Monthly II
Add/Drop Reports
Members who are NOT members
of CAMFT
   
Board Roster to CAMFT 60 Days after new Board
is seated
III
Annual Reporting
Requirements
Membership Roster to CAMFT 60 Days after new Board
is seated
III
Annual Reporting
Requirements
Provide CAMFT proof of CGL
and D&O insurance. If CAMFT is added
as additional insured to the CGL policy,
Chapter will receive $750 stipend
Within 15 days of renewal III
Insurance
Requirements
Review Policies Affecting Chapters Ongoing III
Review Chapter Affiliation Agreement Ongoing III