Membership

Voting Members

1. The number of voting members is limited to 23 as outlined in the by-laws (Article 111, Section 1).
2. Membership is for four years, and an individual can serve two full terms. Terms begin at the start of the Council fiscal year, July 1. Terms are staggered so that one-fourth of the seats become vacant through term expiration each year.
3. Vacancies on the Council can occur through resignation of a member, term expiration, or termination of membership by the Council. Grounds for termination by the Council are failure to attend council meetings (four total absences in one year are grounds for dismissal and inactivity on committee.
4. The process for termination of membership by the Council is as follows:
   1. Recommendation is made by the Membership Committee and submitted for sustaining vote by the Council. Upon affirmative vote by Council the recommendation is then submitted for approval to the Board of Supervisors.
5. Procedure for filling vacancies:
   1. A vacancy is declared by the Membership Chairperson at the first Council meeting following the expiration of a member's term or the receipt of a letter of resignation. The opening is posted through appropriate channels as prescribed by the Board of Supervisors and applications are accepted for a minimum of 35 days.
   2. The Child Abuse Council has requested that the Board of Supervisors refer all
       interested applicants to the Membership Committee.
   3. The Membership Committee reviews the applications and makes its selections
       based on the requirements as outlined in the Bylaws.
   4. At the first Child Abuse Council business meeting following its selection of applicants, the Membership Committee presents its recommendation to the Child Abuse Council for approval. These names are then submitted as recommendations to the Board of Supervisors who will make the appointments.
   5. New Council members will be sworn in at the first business meeting following
       appointment by the Board of Supervisors.

Role and Responsibilities of Voting Members

1. Members are required to be actively involved with furthering the mission, goals and objectives of the Council.
2. Members shall attend both business and non-business () Council meetings. Members who miss more than three Council meetings without excuse in a year may be dropped from the Council membership. (Absences may be excused if arranged in advance).
3. Members shall serve and be active on at least one committee or task force. (See Section V for discussion of committees). Those who miss more than three Committee meetings without being excused in a year may be dropped from the committee and the Council. (Absences may be excused as arranged in advance).
4. Resignations from committees shall be submitted in writing to the Chairperson of the committee.
5. Resignations from the Council shall be submitted in writing to the Chair of
    the Membership Committee and filed with the Clerk of the Board.

Non-Voting Members

Anyone with an interest in, and committed to, improving child abuse prevention and intervention services in the County may apply to be a non-voting member of the Council. The criteria for selecting non-voting members is the same as for voting members as presented above. (see Bylaws)

Procedure for selection of non-voting members:

• Non-voting membership applications are received at any time. Consideration and approval of applicants will occur three times per year, i.e., at the business meetings in January, May, and September.
• An individual wishing to apply must submit an application to the Membership Chair. The individual will be first approved by the Membership Committee and then submitted to the Council for approval. They do not need to be approved by the Board of Supervisors.

Roles and Responsibilities of Non-Voting Members

1. Non-voting members are expected to be actively involved with furthering the mission, goals, and objectives of the Council.
2. Non-voting members are required to attend business Council meetings.
3. Members shall serve and be active on at least one committee or task force. Those who miss more than three committee meetings in a year may be dropped from the committee and the Council.
4. Resignations from committees shall be submitted in writing to the committee chairperson.
5. Resignation from the Council shall be submitted in writing to the Membership Chairperson.
6. Non-voting members may not serve as sole chair of a committee, but may co-chair with a voting member.