Society of Indian Psychologists
BYLAWS
(Approved: June 2022)
Article I: Name and Mission
1.1 Name of the Society
1.2 Mission Statement
1.3 Purpose of the Society
Article II: Membership
2.1 Membership Criteria
2.2 Application for Membership
2.3 Membership Dues
2.4 Membership Rights & Responsibilities
2.5 Removal from Membership
Article III: Executive Committee and Officers
3.1 Composition of Executive Committee
3.2 Election and Term of Office
3.3 Removal and Resignation of Officers
3.4 President
3.5 Past President
3.6 President Elect
3.7 Treasurer
3.8 Secretary
3.9 Student Representatives
3.10 APA Council Representative
3.11 Council of Elders
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Society of Indian Psychologists Bylaws 2022
Article IV: Meetings
4.1 General Membership Meetings
4.2 Executive Committee Meetings
Article V: Committees
5.1 Standing Committees
5.2 Special Committees and Task Forces
5.3 Committee Reports
Article VI: Non-Discrimination
6.1 Society Policy
Article VII: Bylaw Amendments
7.1 Proposing Bylaw Amendments
7.2 Review of Proposed Bylaw Amendments
7.3 Voting on Bylaw Amendments
Article VIII: Affiliated Membership Chapters
8.1 Eligibility
8.2 Applications
8.3 Dues
8.4 Liaison to the Executive Committee
8.5 Removal
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Society of Indian Psychologists Bylaws 2022
Article I: Name and Mission
1.1 Name of the Society
The organization will be known as the Society of Indian Psychologists (SIP). “Indian” refers to
the American Indians and other Indigenous peoples of the United States, including Alaska
Natives and Native Hawaiians.
1.2 Mission Statement
The mission of SIP is to advocate for the psychological well-being of American Indian and other
Indigenous peoples and to advance knowledge pertaining to Indigenous psychology.
1.3 Purpose of the Society
The purpose of SIP is to:
a) Create a forum in which SIP members can network and support each other
b) Provide outreach and mentorship to American Indian psychology students.
c) Advance the understanding of the psychology of American Indian people.
d) Further the development of research methods and models of treatment and intervention
that are ethically and culturally appropriate for American Indian people.
e) Contribute to the scientific understanding of features of ethnicity, culture and class
among American Indian people.
f) Promote adequate education and training related to American Indian people.
g) Facilitate a professional exchange concerning relevant policy, practice, and research
related to American Indian people at the annual SIP convention and beyond.
Article II: Membership
2.1 Membership Criteria
SIP membership is open to individuals who subscribe to the Mission Statement, including
psychologists, mental health and related professionals, students, and others interested in
advocating for American Indian psychology. The three categories of membership include Full
Member, Student Member, and Golden Age Member (aged 65-years or older).
2.2 Application for Membership
Individuals who wish to join SIP can complete a membership application at the current Society
of Indian Psychologists website or, if necessary, request membership information directly from
SIP leadership.
2.3 Membership Dues
Membership dues are established by the Executive Committee. Discrete fees are defined for
Student Membership, Golden Age Membership (aged 65 years and older), Past Presidents
(lifetime membership with no dues), and those contending with financial hardship. SIP members
in good standing must be current on their annual membership dues (or applications for due
waivers) and have provided an up-to-date email address for communication purposes. All Past
Presidents of the SIP are entitled to lifetime membership in the Society without further payment
of dues.
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2.4 Membership Rights & Responsibilities
SIP members, in good standing, have the right to vote in SIP elections, and to subscribe to the
SIP listserv. SIP members are responsible for working collaboratively to strengthen SIP,
including providing an updated email address. SIP members should not engage in any activities
that harm other SIP members or those served by the Society, put SIP in structural or financial
jeopardy, or bring discredit to SIP.
2.5 Removal from Membership
If the Executive Committee determines that specific SIP members have violated their
responsibilities, their membership may be revoked. Such individuals will be removed from SIP’s
active membership list.
Article III: Executive Committee and Officers
3.1 Composition of Executive Committee
There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the Presidential Trio (President, Past
President, and President Elect), Treasurer, Secretary, Council of Elders, APA Council
Representative, Student Representatives, and ad hoc appointed committee Chairs as determined
by the Elected Officers (e.g., Conference Coordinator, Newsletter Editor, Webmaster, Awards
Committee Chair, Mentorship Committee Chair, Chapter Liaisons). Only the Elected Officers
will vote on official SIP business (when formal votes are deemed necessary). Generally, all will
be American Indian people unless membership approves otherwise.
3.2 Election and Term of Office
SIP Officers are elected through an annual vote by SIP members, in which a simple majority
vote among those voting wins the election. Normally, elections will be conducted online, at the
discretion of the Elected Officers. Officers shall hold office for a two-year term with the APA
Council Representative serving a three-year term. SIP President will be elected in odd years and
the nominee for SIP President shall provide evidence of American Indian heritage. Evidence of
American Indian Heritage can include tribal enrollment, tribal descendant, direct tribal lineage,
BIA documentation, letter of acknowledgement from the tribe, or other acceptable
documentation as determined by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer and Secretary will be
elected in even years. Student representatives will serve for two years with one being elected
annually. Vacancies will be filled by appointment by the Presidential Trio until the following
election.
3.3 Removal and Resignation of Officers
An Elected Officer may be removed from office when the membership holds “no confidence” for
the office holder. The decision for removal will be made by a simple majority vote of the
Executive Committee in Executive session. Elected Officers may resign from office by sending a
letter or email of resignation to the President and/or Secretary.
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3.4 President
The President shall provide leadership and preside at Executive Committee meetings. The
President will also represent SIP at meetings where such presence is necessary. The President
may delegate these duties to the Past President, President Elect or another member. The
Executive Committee may designate further duties to the President to meet the demands of the
Society.
3.5 Past President
The Past President shall advise the President of the duties and responsibilities of the Office of the
President, and perform other duties delegated by the President or requested by the Executive
Committee.
3.6 President Elect
The President Elect shall assume the office of the President at the end of a two-year term, and
perform other duties delegated by the President or requested by the Executive Committee in the
interim.
3.7 Treasurer
The Treasurer shall supervise the financial affairs of the Society, prepare a report on SIP finances
at least twice a year, and perform other duties as directed by the Executive Committee.
3.8 Secretary
The Secretary shall record the minutes of the meetings of the Society, share minutes with the
Executive Committee, schedule and convene meetings, and perform other duties as directed by
the Executive Committee. If unavailable for a specific meeting, the Secretary will request
another Executive Committee member to perform their duties.
3.9 Student Representatives
Student Representatives shall have the responsibility to represent Student members’ interests as a
part of the Executive Committee, to plan student activities for SIP’s annual convention, and to
attend the Executive Committee meetings.
3.10 APA Council Representative
The SIP representative to the American Psychological Association’s Council of Representatives
shall represent SIP’s interests at APA Council meetings and routinely engage with and report
about APA activities to the Executive Committee and SIP’s membership.
3.11 Council of Elders
The Council of Elders is comprised of previous SIP Presidents. The Council of Elders serves as
an advisory group for the Presidential Trio and the Executive Committee. They hold an honored
role as keepers of the Society’s history and maintenance of the cultural integrity of traditional
governance. The Council of Elders recognizes that there are different traditions for different
tribal groups and works together in respectful ways to reach decisions in everyone’s best interest.
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Society of Indian Psychologists Bylaws 2022
Article IV: Meetings
4.1 General Membership Meetings
General Membership Meetings will be convened twice annually in association with the annual
SIP convention (typically in June) and during the winter months (typically in January).
4.2 Executive Committee Meetings
The Executive Committee will meet monthly or as needed.
Article V: Committees
5.1: Standing Committees
The Standing Committees of the Association shall be the Bylaws Committee, Membership
Committee, Mentoring Committee, and the Awards Committee. The Bylaws Committee will be
appointed by the Presidential Trio and may be comprised of the Council of Elders, an Early
Career member, and Trio Member. The other committees will be appointed by the Presidential
Trio.
5.2 Special Committees & Task Forces
The President and Executive Committee may establish time limited Special Committees or Task
Forces for specific, temporary purposes beyond the purview of existing committees. Such
committees shall conduct their work in consultation with the President and Executive
Committee.
5.3 Committee Reports
All committees will report on their activities to the President and/or Executive Committee no less
than twice annually. Some committee chairs may be asked to report on their committee’s
activities at General Membership Meetings.
Article VI: Non-Discrimination
6.1 Society Policy
SIP is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination based on race,
color, religion, creed, national origin, veteran status, ancestry, disability, gender, gender identity,
gender expression, sexual orientation, or age. Concerns can be reported to the Executive
Committee for assessment and remedy.
Article VII: Bylaw Amendments
7.1 Proposing Bylaw Amendments
Amendments to the SIP Bylaws may be proposed by members of the Executive Committee.
Membership at large may also submit proposed changes to the Presidential Trio for review and
comments, which will then be forwarded to the Executive Committee and the Council of Elders.
The Executive Committee may then provide comments to the Bylaws Committee.
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Society of Indian Psychologists Bylaws 2022
7.2 Review of Proposed Bylaw Amendments
The Bylaws Committee will review the proposed amendments and make recommendations to the
Executive Committee, who will make the final decision to reject the amendments or to submit
the proposed amendments to a vote of the general membership. Rejected proposals will not move
forward.
7.3 Voting on Bylaw Amendments
Proposals deemed acceptable by the Executive Committee will be submitted to SIP membership
for a vote, which requires support from a two-thirds majority of participating voting members to
pass. Proposed Bylaw amendments should be circulated to the general membership at least six
weeks prior to the annual SIP election (usually in association with the SIP convention in June). If
this is not feasible, then voting will occur at the subsequent election.
Article VIII: Affiliated Membership Chapters
8.1 Eligibility
Local groups of psychologists and other mental health professionals and trainees that subscribe
to the Mission Statement and maintain good standing in SIP may form an Affiliated Membership
Chapter. All Affiliated Chapter members must also be SIP members in good standing.
8.2 Applications
Local groups of professionals or trainees may apply for Affiliated Chapter Membership.
Applications for Affiliated Chapter Membership will be reviewed and approved by the Executive
Committee.
8.3 Dues
Chapter dues will be assessed annually.
8.4 Liaison to the Executive Committee
Each Chapter will select a (non-voting) liaison for the Executive Committee.
8.5 Removal
Any Affiliated Membership Chapter that is not in good standing will be removed from SIP, as
determined by the Executive Committee.
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