If you choose leave the ACO: And we hope you won’t

Please fill out and send this form and we’ll stop the payments.  If it’s less than 15 days since you were charged, we’ll happily refund your last payment.

Frequently asked questions about ACO Professional Membership Criteria.

1. I graduated from ADDCA, OFI or some other ADHD coach training school. Do I have to have 12 MORE hours in ADHD training?
2. I don’t have a certificate from the workshops I attended.Can they still count?
3. I didn’t study in any specific coach school. Can I still be a professional member?
4. I didn’t actually attend a certain conference, but I listened to the sessions on CD or tape. Does that count?
5. What do I have to provide to show that I have an active practice?
6. What are the dues?

1. I graduated from ADDCA, OFI or some other ADHD coach training school. Do I have to have 12 MORE hours in ADHD training?ADHD Coach Training programs that are taught by MCC or PCC level ICF Coaches that include at least 72 hours of training will fulfill the requirement of 60 + 12 hours. Therefore, completion of ADDCA or OFI training programs would fulfill the full requirement.
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2. I don’t have a certificate from the workshops I attended. Can they still count?Yes. You will need to provide the name of the session, the instructor including appropriate credentials, sponsoring organization, if appropriate, the date of session and the length of the class.
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3. I didn’t study in any specific coach school. Can I still be a professional member?You may apply as a professional member of the ACO if you provide documentation outlining your training. That means you must show 60 hours of coach-specific training and an additional 12 hours of ADHD education. The training must be specifically provided for each category (coaching and ADHD education) and may not be part of some larger nonspecific coach training.This means, for example:
   • Coach training included in some larger course work in management training would not count because the class was not specifically provided as coach training.
   • Personal development courses such as Forum, Landmark, Lifespring, Life Training, Science of the Mind, etc., do not count as coach-specific training.
   • Likewise education in psychology, counseling, NLP, etc. does not count as coach-specific training.
   • ADHD training acquired as part of a college class in behavioral psychology would not count toward the 12 hours of ADHD education.

   So what counts?

   Specific training includes classroom work, direct observation and/or teleconferencing. It must be taught specifically for each category, coaching and ADHD education. Coach training must be provided by a PCC or MCC level ICF certified coach. ADHD education must be provided by a Masters or PhD level trainer with expertise in the field of ADHD. ADHD coach training must be provided by a PCC or MCC level ICF certified coach.

   There is space on the membership form to list the courses you completed including the instructor’s name and credentials, class description and training hours.

   If your training is not coach-specific, you may be an Associate Member of the ACO until you complete appropriate coach training.

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4. I didn’t actually attend a certain conference, but I listened to the sessions on CD or tape. Does that count?Yes. ACO members ascribe to the ICF code of ethics. As such they do not misrepresent themselves or their training. If you listened to the session on CD or tape, you may claim the training time.
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5. What do I have to provide to show that I have an active practice?The primary reason for this criteria is to insure that people visiting our site and searching our “Find a Coach” database will be directed toward coaches who are actively practicing. We ask that you provide the URL of your website or an email address which refers to your business. e.g. Coachmary@xxx.com at least sounds like a coach; mary123@xxx.com does not. You may also provide a scanned copy of your business card.
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6. What are the dues?
   Membership in the ACO is $120 per year for Professional members and $60 per year for Associates.
   Using a credit card for payment, members may choose to:
   • automatically renew membership annually—every 365 days or
   • to automatically renew membership quarterly—every 90 days, paying just 1/4 of the total yearly dues every three months. For professionals this is just $30. For Associates just $15!

If you elect any automatic payments, you will receive a receipt for your payment at the time that your card is charged. But currently we are unable to send a reminder before that date. If you decide to leave us, just let us know within 15 days after payment. We’ll happily refund your money.

Please note:

• Currently PayPal payments can not be use for recurring payments.
• The ACO is no longer accepting international checks as payment for services.
• And starting January 1, 2012 we will no longer accept any checks.

Further explanation of renewal options is available here.

If you have another question not listed here, please use the reply form to ask.

Thank you.

This information has been moved to the Members’ Site here

If you have questions about using the ACO logo, please use our Contact form here.

Announced June 1, 2006 by the ACO Board of Directors
Updated October 28, 2009

• What’s the difference between Professional and Associate members?

• How will the ACO figure out what kind of member I should be?

• What are the requirements for a Professional Member?

It’s not just ADHD coaches who are noticing the number of other professionals who are co-opting the title “coach.” Some management consultants, some therapists, some teachers and tutors, and a host of others in helping professions are calling themselves coaches.

According to the International Coach Federation (ICF)

Coaches are trained to listen, to observe and to customize their approach to individual client needs. They seek to elicit solutions and strategies from the client; they believe the client is naturally creative and resourceful. The coach’s job is to provide support to enhance the skills, resources, and creativity that the client already has.

Key in that definition is training: specific coach training.
The ACO supports the value of coach-specific training, as well as education in the field of ADHD and ADHD coaching, as critical to the effective practice of ADHD coaching.

Therefore, because ACO Coaches are, first and foremost, coaches who endorse and accept the coaching paradigm of the ICF, and who additionally have specific training and expertise in coaching people and/or groups affected by ADHD, the ACO is implementing specific criteria for Professional Membership.

It is not the intent of the ACO to credential or certify any member’s qualifications or skill level. However, it is important to our mission of promoting ADHD coaches and coaching worldwide that we protect the integrity of the “Professional Member” designation of the ACO.

What are the requirements for a professional member?

Therefore, beginning on July 1, 2006, in order to be listed as a Professional ACO Coach, new members will need to provide information declaring:

Evidence of an active coaching practice
and either

• 72 hours of ADHD coach specific training taught by an ICF credentialed MCC or PCC coach

OR

• Certification as a Professional ADHD Coach by the Institute for the Advancement of ADHD Coaches (This option was added by the Board of Directors on November
  15, 2007)
  OR
• 60 hours of coach specific training provided by an ICF approved school or taught by an ICF credentialed MCC or PCC coach,
  plus
• 12 hours of addition training about ADHD and/or ADHD Coaching provided by a Masters or PhD level expert or by an ICF credentialed MCC or PCC coach or by a specific source recognized by the ACO .

So what’s the difference between a Professional Member and an Associate Member?

The only difference in benefits between the two levels is that Professional Members only are listed in the publicly searchable “Find a Coach” directory.

The entire database is available to all members after logging into the members-only portion of the website.This way members looking for others with particular skills, training, or for other information can find members who might fill a specific need.

Associate Members who wish to become Professional Members will be supported and encouraged by the ACO and its membership in their efforts to do so.

How will the organization find out what level of coach I am?

During the sign-up process, prospective members must fill out a form which includes specific information about training, experience and business. The ACO expects ethical behavior from its members.  Therefore, we trust that the information you provide on the application will be accurate and correct.

If you are sure there is no question that you qualify for professional membership, you may complete the form and then pay dues.  If you are not sure, you may complete and submit the form and wait for approval from the ACO.  Generally this takes a few days, but should not be more than a week.  If you do not hear back, please use the contact form here to poke the office.

For complete information, please check the FAQ online here.

The ACO has several active committees.
If you’re interested in participating in any of these, please contact the chairs directly.

Find more information about ACO committees, use the links below to get to the right line.

President
Past President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Communications
Conference
Membership Services
Programs
PR and Marketing
Finance
Nominating

The President shall:

1. Serve as presiding officer of the ACO
2. Set the agenda for meetings of the ACO Board of Directors
3. Appoint such committees as are deemed necessary by the ACO Board of Directors
4. Appoint the Chairs of committees subject to ratification by the Board of Directors
5. Select other staff subject to ratification by the Board of Directors
6. Sign all contracts on behalf of the Organization except as otherwise provided in the Policies and Procedures of the Organization or otherwise agreed up and recorded in the minutes
7. Participate as ex officio member on all committees
8. Participate as a member of the Professional Advisory Board

The Immediate Past President shall:

1. Advise the president and Board of Directors
2. Participate as a member of the Professional Advisory Board
3. And perform other duties as determined by the Board of Directors

The Vice President shall:

1. Perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President
2. Serve as interim President should the office of the President become vacant
3. And perform other duties as determined by the Board of Directors

The Secretary shall:

1. Be responsible to keep correct and complete books and records of accounts and shall also keep minutes of the proceedings of board of directors, committees having and exercising any of the authority of the board of directors, and the membership committee, and shall keep at the principal office a record giving the names and addresses of the members entitled to vote
2. Oversee correspondence
3. Be responsible to make available all books and records of the corporation which may be inspected by any member, or his or her agent or attorney, for any proper purpose at any reasonable time
4. And perform other duties as determined by the Board of Directors.

The Treasurer shall:

1. Chair the Finance Committee
2. Oversee the financial activities and records of the ACO
3. Provide treasurer’s report at appropriate meetings of the Board of Directors
4. Report on annual financial statement and budget
5. And perform other duties as determined by the Board of Directors

The Member Services Committee shall be responsible for the care of members. As such its responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. New member orientation
2. Answering questions from members
3. Managing renewals by members
4. Following up, as possible, with members who do not renew
5. Call new members who do not have complete bios
6. Call members who’s emails may be bouncing
7. Decide on (approve) the membership level of applicants
8. Communicating member issues to the board

The Programs Committee shall be responsible for the development and maintenance of programs of value to members. As such its responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. Develop, implement, staff, maintain and end as appropriate programs of value to the members and within the mission of the organization.
2. Make recommendations to the board for its approval when fees may be required or desired.
3. Communicate with Communications Committee for ongoing internal publicity of programs and events
4. Program leaders shall also endeavor to maintain a link to the membership for the purpose of publicizing events, using the [ACO members] list serve and such other avenues as may be available.

The Communications Committee shall be responsible for communications with members, prospective members, and the public. As such its responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. Maintenance of the website.
2. Publication of a monthly newsletter.
3. Maintenance of organizational email addresses and lists (eg president@, directors@, etc).
4. Maintenance of phone and fax service for the organization and handling of incoming communications from those numbers.
5. Maintenance of a postal address for the organization and handling of mail arriving at that address.
6. In concert with other committees as necessary, production of Organizational materials such as business cards, brochures, directories, marketing and advertising materials, etc.

The Public Relations and Marketing Committee shall be responsible for ACO outreach to potential members, to related professionals, and to the community of those affected by ADHD. As such its responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. Putting the ACO in front of potential members and the public.
2. Promoting the ACO in appropriate venues.
3. Recruiting new members.
4. Determining when and where to advertise within the bounds of the budget.
5. Taking advantage of appropriate PR and Marketing opportunities.

The Finance Committee shall be chaired by the Treasurer and be responsible for the fiduciary oversight of the Organization. As such its responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. Development of the annual budget with input from committee chairs and board members .
2. Filing of tax reports and making appropriate payments.
3. Supplying the board with at least a quarterly report of financial status of the organization.
4. Providing an annual report for the board.

The Nominations Committee shall be responsible for identifying and recruiting leadership for the organization. As such, its responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. Facilitating annual Board Member reviews
2. Developing a slate of candidates for annual elections of officer and standing committee chair positions
3. Identifying members who’s participation on the Board or on Committees would benefit the Organization

The Conference Committee shall be responsible for planning and producing the annual ACO Conference. As such, its responsibilities include but are not limited to:

1. Identifying a venue and negotiating the contract.
2. Identifying and acquiring advertisers and sponsors.
3. Soliciting presentation proposals and key note speakers.
4. Planning an appropriate program.
5. Creating a fiscally responsible budget.
6. Advertising the event in all appropriate venues.

Robb Garrett – President
Kricket Harrison – Vice President
Katherine Jahnke – Secretary
Ose Schwab – Treasurer
Susan Macintosh – Marketing and PR Chair
Judith Champion– Conference Chair
Kay Axtell – Member Services
Joyce Kubik – Programs Chair
Maureen Nolan – CIRCLE editor
Chuck Blocker – Research Committee Chair

Robb Garrett — President	Robb Garrett has a diverse academic, business, and coaching background that makes him well suited to understand how organizations grow and evolve, how they become more effective, and what is needed to move an organization forward. In graduate school, he focused on Personal and Organizational Communications and Survey Research, completing post graduate work in group process and dynamics. At Auburn University he instructed undergrads in group process and public speaking while also working as a project manager for a survey research consulting firm. He went on to working with a series of boutique management consulting firms as a management consultant. Later he co-built a national company with manufacturing, wholesale, retail and design services. His diverse coach training includes CoachU, Corporate CoachU, Coachville, The Graduate School of Coaching (Studying with Thomas Leonard), and ADHD Coach Training at OFI. All of this experience he now brings to bear in service to the ACO. As Vice President he supports the President in the functioning and execution of his job. Additionally, he takes responsibility for the tasks that don’t naturally fall under any one committee’s purview. This gives him a great opportunity to meet new people and network.  My goal is to help the ACO become both the source for ADHD coaching solutions and the must-join organization for ADHD coaches worldwide for developing their skills and businesses, participating in community, and gaining referrals. Read more about Robbhere. Back to the top
Kricket Harrison -Vice President	Kricket Harrison, ACC, CPCC, PACG, is a Professional Coach in practice since 2002. She is certified through the ICF, CTI and ADDCA. She has additional training in team/ relationship systems coaching, and DiSC. Locally, Kricket is an active member in several professional and service organizations. She has a degree in Psychology and Organizational Communication from the University of Texas.  Kricket brings her experience to the board from corporate and small business, and 7 years in leadership roles for Not-for-Profit Boards. Most recently, Kricket served 2 years as VP of Membership for the Georgia Coach Association, doubling membership. She was also part of the team that created a new membership model and sponsorships. Kricket’s strengths are in communication, mediation, team/business development, strategic planning, and performance. Kricket currently serves on the Programs and Marketing Committees. I see my role as supporting the President, and then supporting the other Board members, both individually and together, while keeping us in line with our Strategic Plan and our notion of a Learning Organization. Read more about Kricket here.
Katherine Jahnke —Secretary	Katherine Jahnke trained as a coach with CTI in 2007 and is currently working on her certification. She is the coordinator of two CHADD support groups – one for parents and one for adults. She is the mom of a son with ADHD and her husband has ADHD also. She lives in a college town and has had the pleasure of coaching college students and coaching parents about the realities of ADHD. Before her coaching career, Katherine working in the fundraising field for Texas A&M University and a local hospital and has also served as a Human Resources Director for several companies. Her strengths lie in communication, human resources and organization. She has a real love for people and a passion to help those who are hurting and need support. As Secretary and Treasurer, Katherine is responsible for the records and finances of the ACO. She additionally takes on tasks as requested by the ACO Board.  My goal as the Secretary/Treasurer is record keeping to the best of my ability. My goal is to have all ACO records accurate and timely. Membership will be able to stay informed on board decisions. I will try to resolve any questions or concerns in a timely manner. Read more about Katherine here. Back to the top
Ose Schwab —Treasurer	Ose Schwab is a coach (or treasure hunter as she likes to put it) who loves to help students, academics, scientists, and artists discover and harness strengths. As founder of Potentia Vita, Ose also provides Marriage NavigationT, a hybrid coaching-education-consulting service, to married or engaged couples. In Greater Boston Ose facilitates a group of ADHD coaches and an adult support group. She is a board member and occasional speaker for the Peruvian Association Attention Deficit (APDA). Trained through Coach Training Alliance, ADD Insights, and JST Coaching, Ose also draws from other affiliations for training in neuroscience, personality, and learning organization. Experienced as account manager, product developer, and help desk designer in the high tech world, Ose infuses engagements with some techno revamping. For example, as former webmaster for the Institute for the Advancement of ADHD Coaching (IAAC) she not only helped further develop and update the website but established processes and crafted technical and functional specification documentation.  My goal as treasurer is to align ADHD Coaches Organization (ACO)’s fiscal plans and procedures with its strategic vision – or put in my terms—breathe visionary life into the money that flows to and through ACO. To do this I will harness human and technological resources so that the fiscal planning and fulfillment of responsibility and intentions are carried out in the most effective, innovative, and integrity-filled manner possible. Read more about Ose here. Back to the top
Judith Champion —Conference Chair	Read more about Judith here. Back to the top
Joyce Kubik —Programs Chair	Joyce Kubik holds BA degrees in Psychology and Communications from Cleveland State University and has been coaching since 1998. She trained as an ADHD Coach with the American Coaching Association, and conducted the first ADHD Coach study published in the Journal of Attention Deficits (March 2009). She has strong communication and computer skills. Before she became a coach, she worked as a trainer in corporate offices and taught at local community colleges. For 20 years she served on many state and district boards in Ohio for a national women’s organization. She is well known for her organization, time management skills and program development.  Read more about Joyce here. Back to the top
Kay Axtell —Membership Services Chair	Kay Axtell, MA, SCAC, received her ADHD Coach Training from the American Coaching Association. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Loretto Heights College in Denver and a Master’s Degree from the University of Denver. She has been coaching children, adolescents and adults with ADHD symptoms for the past seven years. Prior to that, she taught high school special education classes. In addition to coaching, she has facilitated groups for ADHD teens, women, adults and couples, and conducted presentations regarding ADHD issues to parents, schools, and college and university audiences. She stays abreast of current research and successful coaching strategies through reading, coursework, and attending conferences. She has served for two years on the ACO conference committee. As Membership Services Chair, Kay’s responsibilities will include orienting new members to the ACO, communicating with both new and renewing members, and responding to any questions or suggestions members might have. She will also serve as liaison between ACO members and the ACO Board of Directors.  I want to develop a strong sense of community among current members of the ACO and those joining our organization for the first time. I believe that the ACO is a viable organization worthy of growing. I hope to assist in promoting a sense of acceptance and belonging among members that will contribute to the overall health of our organization. Read more about Kay here. Back to the top
Susan Macintosh —Marketing and PR Chair	Susan Macintosh recently moved to Canada from Australia. Before training as an ADHD Coach, Susan worked and built a rich life across a number of spheres. This included raising a family, nursing – specializing in CCU and ICU , paramedics trainer, Occupational Health provider, part time farmer, business owner, Board Member on a Board or two and a foundation and/or working member of many committees for Charities and NGO’s. She has been a builder of community and a promoter of excellence in the support and treatment of those with ADHD.  I would love to see the ACO become truly international. As an Australian, who has lived in a number of countries, I see that the ACO has the opportunity to become a wonderful and collaborative support base for the International ADHD Coaching community. The ACO has the equally important opportunity of being able to raise profile of excellence in ADHD Coaching world wide. I have committed to the ACO in supporting the dual roles of Membership and Co Conference Chair for 2011. Read more about Susan here. Back to the top
Maureen Nolan —Circle Editor	Maureen Nolan, ACC is credentialed in ADHD coaching by the ADHD Coaching Academy, is certified ACC by the International Coaching Association, is the only ADHD Coach in the country certified by Dr. David Grand in Brainspotting. In addition she has taken extra ADHD Coach training by Jodi Sleeper-Triplett through the EDGE Foundation to become an EDGE Certified Coach.  Maureen Nolan is a former trade magazine editor and was a Communications Specialist for a school with students K-8th grades with ADHD and LD. She also edited Kids Enabled Magazine, an Atlanta-area magazine for families with children with learning differences, and she has been published in ADDitude Magazine. Maureen has led ADHD support groups and ADHD coaching groups for goal achievement. She supported Landmark College’s Annual Fund Drive when her son was a student there, a premier two-year college for students with ADHD. My commitment to editing the Circle is to effectively communicate the messages of the ACO, its membership and issues related to the further development of the profession of ADHD Coaching. Read more about Maureen here. Back to the top
Chuck Blocher —Research Committee Chair	Chuck is a successful adult with both dyslexia and ADHD. He holds a Ph.D. with a concentration in psychology and a specialization in leadership. He received his coach training at the Coach Training Institute and the ADD Coach Academy where he earned his Advanced Coach Training PACG specializing in ADHD. He has been coaching since 2005. His diverse business and technical back-ground includes the military, corporations, and technology.  His background and inclinations are well suited to helping the ACO develop its organizational, research, and technical infrastructure. Chuck is an aviation enthusiast, and his hobbies are amateur radio, KC2IQV, and building unique electronics devices. Develop the process of evaluation of current coaching in all aspects of ADHD and life coaching. Recruit members of the research committee that are experts in research and evaluation of research. Develop a process to for find grant funding and how to propose, develop, and encourage professionally developed research study. Develop a process to submit research articles to Circle and summaries of research articles, tools, and other resources that would be deemed helpful to our coaches. Read more about Chuck here.

The Vision of the ACO

We envision a world where ADHD coaches are known and highly prized, respected, and sought after for their ability to help clients achieve goals and realize their full potential; a world where every person living with ADHD knows about coaching, and can easily find and work with an ADHD coach who is a perfect match for their needs.

The Values of the ACO

• Community – The ACO is a nonprofit professional association of ADHD coaches, providing a community for ADHD coaches to come together and grow in supportive and successful ways.
• Excellence – The ACO values excellence in ADHD coaching, providing an environment that encourages members to develop and excel professionally.
• Education – The ACO values education, providing current, reliable, and pertinent information about ADHD and ADHD coaching to our members and to the general public.
• Advocacy – The ACO stands for promoting awareness of ADHD coaching and its value to people living with ADHD.

Our goals are to:

• support high professional and ethical standards for our profession,
• promote awareness of ADHD coaching and its value to people living with ADHD,
• provide up-to-date resources to our members, and
• serve as an informational link to the general public and other professionals working with people who are affected by ADHD.

The ADHD Coaches Organization is a 501(c)6 non-profit association created to advance the profession of ADHD coaching worldwide.

Table of contents

Bylaws of the ADHD Coaches Organization, Inc.

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of the organization is ADHD Coaches Organization, Inc. hereinafter referred to as ACO.

ARTICLE II : OBJECTIVES

1. The ADHD Coaches Organization is a non-profit association created to advance the profession of ADHD coaching worldwide.
2. The goals are to support high professional and ethical standards for the profession; promote awareness of ADHD coaching and its value to people living with ADHD; provide up-to-date resources to the members; and serve as an informational link to the general public and other professionals working with people who are affected by ADHD.

ARTICLE III: PROFESSIONAL AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERS

1. The ACO’s membership shall be comprised of Professional Members and Associate Members.
2. Both Professional and Associate members are entitled to certain benefits.
3. These memberships will have no role in the governance of the organization.

Section 1. Classifications

1. A Professional Member shall be an ADHD coach who:
   1. Has received specific ADHD coach training determined by resolution of the Board of Directors and published on the website.
   2. Can provide some evidence of existence of actual business. e.g. website, business card, etc.
   3. Professional Members membership shall be renewed annually, provided that the member:
      1. abides by these Bylaws, ICF’s Code of Ethics and any other rules or regulations adopted by the Board of Directors from time to time, and
      2. pays all applicable membership dues, fees and other assessments as and when due.
2. An Associate member may be anyone interested in the association or the profession of ADHD coaching
   1. Associate Members pay dues annually and their membership shall be renewed annually, provided they
      1. abide by these Bylaws, ICF’s Code of Ethics and any other rules or regulations adopted by the Board of Directors from time to time, and
      2. pay all applicable membership dues, fees and other assessments as and when due.

Section 2. Resignation

1. Any member may resign by filing a written resignation to the ACO office. No portion of any dues paid shall be refunded to the resigned member.
2. Members who have not paid their dues within 60 days of the date established by the Board of Directors shall be presumed to have resigned from the ACO.

Section 3. Expulsion

1. The board may censure, suspend or expel any member for cause and after a fair hearing — by an affirmative vote of four-fifths (4/5) of the board members present and voting at a meeting.
2. The specific process is outlined in the Policies and Procedures Manual.

ARTICLE IV: DUES AND FEES

Section 1. Annual Dues

1. Annual dues and the dues structure shall be established by the Board and shall be paid directly to the organization according to procedures as established by the Board of Directors.
2. Each member shall pay applicable dues for membership renewal on January 1.
3. New members pay first year dues on a prorated basis.
4. Any change in dues shall be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Fees

All fees will be approved by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of ACO shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The affairs of the ACO shall be managed by the Board of Directors, hereafter also referred to as the Board. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for carrying out the duties prescribed in these Bylaws and the Policies and Procedures Manual of the Organization.

Section 1. General Board Meetings

1. Board meetings may be conducted in person by arrangement or by phone in such a way that all members participating can hear each other at the same time.
2. Meetings are scheduled, rescheduled, or canceled by email or phone to each board member using his contact information of record.
3. Board meetings are to be held at least monthly.

Section 2. Election

1. Members of the Board of Directors (excluding the Immediate Past President) shall be elected by the Board.
2. The Board shall have all responsibility for electing or replacing board members.
3. Directors must be members in good standing.

Section 3. Term of Office

1. In order to serve on the Board of Directors, each member except the Past President must be elected or reelected at the annual meeting with half the board positions being voted on at any one time.
2. The Immediate Past President shall serve a one (1) year term.
3. All other terms shall begin on January June 1 and last for two years.
4. Procedures for this election shall be spelled out in the Policies and Procedures Manual of the Organization.

Section 4: Members

1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Past President, as appropriate, and at least three (3) other directors.
2. The entire Board (including officers) shall be made up of not less than six (6) members and not more than ten (10) members.
3. Board members may not own, or be employed by, or serve on the Board of Directors of, or serve on the Professional Advisory Board of a related organization without expressed permission of the Board.

Section 5: Information Action By Directors

1. Any action required by law to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by all members entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.
2. Written approval may be provided by email from the member’s address of record.

Section 6: Special Meetings

1. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the president or not less than one-third (1/3) of the members of the Board of Directors.
2. These meetings may be held by telephone conference call. At such meetings any corporate action may be taken.
3. Notice of any special meeting of the board of directors shall be given at least 7 days previously thereto by written notice delivered personally, by phone or sent by mail or email to each director at his or her address as shown by the records of the corporation.
4. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mailed in a sealed envelope so addressed, with postage thereon prepaid.
5. If notice is given by email, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when the email is sent to the address shown by the records of the corporation.
6. The business to be transacted at the meeting must be specified in the notice.

Section 7: Board Decisions

The act of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, unless the act of a greater number is required by law or by these bylaws.

Section 8: Quorum

A two-thirds (2/3) of the board of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the board; but if less than a quorum of the directors are present at any meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice.

Section 9: Compensation

1. Directors as such shall not receive any stated salaries for their services, but by resolution of the Board of Directors, a fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, may be allowed for attendance at any regular or special meeting of the Board.
2. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefore.

ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS OF THE BOARD AND DUTIES

Officers of the organization shall be President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Section 1: Election And Term Of Office

1. The officers of the corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors at the regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors for staggered two year terms according to the procedure outlined in the Policies and Procedures Manual.
2. If the election of officers is not held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as is convenient.
3. New offices may be created and filled at any meeting of the board of directors.
4. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor has been duly elected and takes his position.

Section 2: Officers’ Duties

The President shall:

1. Serve as presiding officer of the ACO
2. Set the agenda for meetings of the ACO Board of Directors
3. Appoint such committees as are deemed necessary by the ACO Board of Directors
4. Appoint the Chairs of committees subject to ratification by the Board of Directors
5. Select other staff subject to ratification by the Board of Directors
6. Sign all contracts on behalf of the Organization except as otherwise provided in the Policies and Procedures of the Organization or otherwise agreed up and recorded in the minutes
7. Have authority to appoint a Meeting Facilitator whose qualifications and responsibilities shall be determined by resolution of the board of directors

The Vice President shall:

1. Perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President
2. Serve as interim President should the office of the President become vacant
3. And perform other duties as determined by the Board of Directors

The Secretary shall:

1. Be responsible to keep correct and complete books and records of accounts and shall also keep minutes of the proceedings of board of directors, committees having and exercising any of the authority of the board of directors, and the membership committee, and shall keep at the principal office a record giving the names and addresses of the members entitled to vote
2. Oversee correspondence
3. Be responsible to make available all books and records of the corporation which may be inspected by any member, or his or her agent or attorney, for any proper purpose at any reasonable time
4. And Perform other duties as determined by the Board of Directors.

The Treasurer shall:

1. Chair the Finance Committee
2. Oversee the financial activities and records of the ACO
3. Provide treasurer’s report at appropriate meetings of the Board of Directors
4. Report on annual financial statement and budget
5. And perform other duties as determined by the Board of Directors

The Immediate Past President shall:

1. Advise the president and Board of Directors
2. And perform other duties as determined by the Board of Directors

Section 3. Vacancy in Office

1. A vacancy in any Board of Director position other than that of President, because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or otherwise, may be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term based on process outlined in the Policies and Procedures Manual.
2. Should the office of President become vacant, and the Vice President be unable to serve as President, a new President shall be appointed by the ACO Board of Directors.
3. A two-third (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors shall elect in either case.

Section 4. Executive Staff

The President, with approval of the ACO Board of Directors, may appoint or hire Executive Staff, whose title, duties and responsibilities shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 5. Removal of a Member of the Board of Directors

1. If a member of the Board of Directors should engage in behavior that is unethical or should appear to constitute a conflict of interest, or is unwilling or unable to carry out the responsibilities of office upon the request of the President and with a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the remaining Board of Directors and after a fair hearing, then such a member shall submit a resignation from such office.
2. In the event that the President is engages in any of the above listed behaviors, then the Vice President shall manage the proceedings against the President who, after a fair hearing, may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the remaining Board of Directors.
3. Specific process for removal of a member of the Board of Directors is outlined in the Policies and Procedures Manual.

ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees

Standing committees shall be:

1. Finance
2. Such other committees as the President may request and a majority of the Board approves.

Section 2. Chair Appointments

1. Committee Chairs shall be appointed by the President upon approval by a majority of the Board of Directors.
2. Chairs of Standing Committees must be members of the board of directors.

Section 3. Special Committees and Chairs

The President may appoint special Ad Hoc Committees and chairs as may be deemed necessary and approved by a majority of the Board of Directors.

Section 4. Ex-Officio Member

The President shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees, except the Nominating Committee.

Section 5. Removal of Committee Members

Any member thereof may be removed by the person or persons authorized to appoint such member whenever in their judgment the best interests of the corporation shall be served by such removal.

Section 6: Nominating Committee

1. The President of the Board of Directors shall appoint a Nominating Committee by April September 15 of each year.
2. The committee shall be chaired by the Past President if appropriate. If the Past President is unwilling or unable to chair this committee, the President shall appoint the Chair who must be a board member.
3. The committee shall have at least three members: the chair as listed above, one other board member and one member of the organization at large.
4. Such Directors shall be responsible for consideration and proposal of persons to be considered for election as directors at such times as vacancies shall occur on the board of directors. the Nominating committee shall offer a slate of at least one person for each post on the board.
5. Elections shall be held at the annual meeting of the Board of Directors.

Article VIII: PROFESSIONAL ADVISORY BOARD

Section 1. Composition

The Professional Advisory Board shall consist of the President, Immediate Past President and other persons appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Term of Office

All members shall serve two (2) year terms.

Section 3. Duties and Responsibilities

The Professional Advisory Board shall recommend to, and assist the Board of Directors as needed and requested by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IX: ANNUAL MEETINGS

1. There shall be an annual meeting of the Board of Directors held during the month of November April or soon thereafter for the purposes of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting.
2. If the election of directors is not held on the day designated for the annual meeting, the Board of Directors shall cause the election to be held at a special meeting of the Board of Directors as soon thereafter as is convenient.

ARTICLE X: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

1. Decisions of the Board of Directors shall be made by Consensus Building Approach (CBA). The goal is to seek unanimity, but settle for overwhelming agreement after concerted effort has been made to meet everyone’s interests. At the end of each meeting a document is produced that all stakeholders not only can live with, but are committed to implementing. This document shall be recorded as the minutes of the meeting.
2. The rules contained in the current edition of Breaking Robert’s Rules (co-authored by Jeffrey Cruikshank and published by Oxford University Press) shall govern ACO in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order ACO may adopt.

ARTICLE XI: AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended in accordance with the following procedure:

1. Amendments to the bylaws shall be presented in writing at least two (2) weeks prior to a vote.
2. Notification shall include the original text, the proposed change or addition, and an explanation for the suggested change.
3. Upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the directors present and voting an amendment shall be considered adopted.
4. Amendments shall become effective as of the date the votes are counted, unless a different effective date is specified as a proviso.

ARTICLE XII: INDEMNIFICATION

The ACO shall have the authority to indemnify and hold harmless to the full extent permitted by law and to purchase and maintain liability insurance on behalf of any person who serves or has served as a director, officer, employee, or authorized agent of the Organization or who services or who has served at the request of the Organization as a director, officer, employee or authorized agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other entity.

ARTICLE XIII: DISSOLUTION

The ACO may dissolve and conclude its affairs in a manner consistent with the Non-Profit Corporation Act of the state that it is incorporated in at the time of dissolution and the applicable provision(s) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or corresponding provisions of any subsequent U.S. Internal Revenue Code).

Footnotes:

Changes made February 11, 2011
Changes made March 24, 2011

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Read Circle here.

(Updated December 5, 2007)

The newsletter of ACO, ADHD Coaches Organization, Inc., the world’s first professional organization dedicated to ADHD Coaching, will be published monthly. It is the goal of the publication to support ACO’s mission:

First and foremost: ADHD Coaches are coaches. We endorse and accept the coaching paradigm of the International Coach Federation (ICF). In addition to meeting all requirements and qualifications of a coach as defined within that paradigm, ADHD Coaches have specific training and expertise in coaching individuals and groups with ADHD.

The goal of this publication is to be a useful and comprehensive publication with articles, interviews with AD/HD professionals, book and website reviews.

Types of content: We use feature articles as well as monthly columns. We cover the topics of interest or of use to coaches who work with people with ADHD.

Getting published in this publication: We accept unsolicited manuscripts, but prefer that you first send a query. Send queries by e-mail to editor@adhdcoaches.org Include a brief description of your story idea, the approach you plan to take and why it would be valuable information to our readers.

Simultaneous submissions and reprints: We will consider both but request that you let us know when you have submitted an article to another publication or when the article has been published elsewhere.

Copyrights: this publication publishes original articles and reprints, as allowed. ACO holds all copyrights to original work. Authors maintain the right to distribute copies of their work. Please let us know when you wish to use an article. We will supply permission language which includes contact information for ACO.
In addition, ACO may use these published articles on their website: www.adhdcoaches.org
Payment: this publication is the newsletter of ACO, a fully volunteer organization. At this time we can not pay for material.

Deadlines for submission

For information about future deadlines and themes, please email editor@adhdcoaches.org

General Topics for Consideration:

We are looking for articles and stories that have to do with all facets of coaching people with ADHD or with running and ADHD coaching business. These pieces may include issues such as:

• Marketing
• Ethics
• Book reviews
• Interviews with professionals in the field
• Research updates
• Treatment
• Medication updates

There is no limit to the number of articles you can submit, although we do ask that you submit them separately.

Most articles are about 500 words each. Feature articles can be up to 1200 words. Please be sure that you are clear about the expected length of your article. Few authors are pleased with severe editing for length by editors.

In certain circumstances, longer versions of this publication’s articles may be published on the web.

All contributors must be the original author, at least 18 years of age and hold copyright on their submission.

Format

All correspondence should be directed to the Editor by email: editor@adhdcoaches.org

Please note the following numbers 1-4 carefully: Submissions received not in the prescribed form will be returned for the author’s adjustments.

1. Each article MUST include a 100 word abstract as well as the full article. The shorter form will be included in the electronically distributed version of the newsletter. The full article will be available on line. The abstract should be included in the body of the email. The full article should be submitted as an attached Word document (.doc) or as a text only file (.txt).
2. Name the file with YOUR last name first and another word or two to describe the article. (e.g., Smith memory retention.doc)
3. Include a header with your complete name, mailing address, phone/fax, and email address with each submission. Please submit work single spaced with no extra space before paragraphs and no lines between paragraphs. Use indents to mark them.
4. Style comments:
   ACO is committed to the highest levels of professionalism. Therefore, please use the AD/HD rather than ADD.
   Under no circumstances will we publish any articles using the terms “ADDers” or “ADHDer.”
   Articles should not be written in the royal first person plural. While sometimes “we” is appropriate, do not suppose that WE are the same.
5. ACO uses the APA style guide for copy editing.
6. If you have something in mind but have not yet written the article, please send a query or a note with your idea. That way the editorial staff can determine what to do with the completed work and can appropriately bug you about getting the article finished.
7. About the Author: Please include a one- to two- sentence biography of yourself that will appear at the end of your article. This should not exceed 50 words. Include contact information if you would like.
8. If your piece has been previously published or submitted to another publication, we need to know that. It might not preclude publication in this publication , but we want to know.
9. Book Authors — If you have a book you would like reviewed in this publication , please submit the request to editor@adhdcoaches.org
10. Book Reviews must be less than 500 words.
11. Please ensure all quotations in your submission are accurate and credited correctly. If you are using statistics, ensure they are correct. If you got information from a web site, please let us know when you checked it.
12. For all quoted or attributed material, please indicate the primary source of the quote or attribution. This need not necessarily be part of the article but we want to keep the information on file.
13. Consider a list of resources to compliment the article. The list may include print and cyber sources such as e-newsletters and websites.

The Fine Print:

The Editor shall solicit original articles that will be of interest and importance to those dealing with coaching people with ADHD. Determination of appropriateness of submissions is at the discretion of the Editor. Wherever controversial matter requires additional judgment, the decisions of the Executive Board will be final. Editor is responsible for receiving all articles, editing as appropriate and submitting to graphic designer. Editor will oversee issues related to ads and distribution of complimentary issues.