About MABA
A Midwest Association for Behavior Analysis was founded in 1974 and held its inaugural meeting in 1975 in Chicago. That organization quickly outgrew its regional roots and evolved into the Association for Behavior Analysis, now an international organization.
Like the original MABA, we are a membership organization designed to promote scholarly exchange in behavior analysis, primarily through our annual convention.
The organization began informally in 2000 at a special day-long symposium called Scientific Issues in Behavior Analysis, held in conjunction with the Behavior Analysis Society of Illinois (BASIL) Conference in Orland Park, IL.
The new MABA took shape officially in 2001 and became an affiliate of the Association for Behavior Analysis during the same year.
For information about membership, please contact Jonathon Baker at (jonathan.c.baker@siu.edu)
Bylaws
MID-AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
BYLAWS
Amended October 4, 2002
Article I: Name and Purpose
The name of this organization shall be the Mid-American Association for Behavior Analysis (MABA). MABA is a regional organization whose purpose is to promote behavior analysis, primarily through an annual convention.
Article II: Membership
MABA shall have three classes of members: Full Members, Student Members, and Affiliates. Membership is contingent upon payment of MABA dues and upon fulfillment of the following conditions. Student Members are those currently enrolled in a college degree program or in a full-time post-graduate training program. Student Members must provide documentation of student status by an official of the training institution. Full Members must hold a terminal degree in a field related to behavior analysis. Affiliates are those who do not qualify as Student or Full Members. Membership dues will be set by a vote of the Full Members. Student Member fees may not exceed 50% of those for Full Members.
Article III: Governance
At the annual convention, the President, or a representative appointed by the President, shall convene a Business Meeting to conduct the affairs of the organization. Full Members may vote at this meeting. Initiatives proposed at the Business Meeting, other than bylaw amendments, will be enacted if endorsed by a majority of Full members voting. MABA shall have the following officers, nominated and elected at the annual Business Meeting: President, Treasurer, Operations Coordinator, and Directors. At the Business Meeting, the Operations Coordinator shall invite nominations and ask nominees if they are willing to stand for election. Those who are willing to serve become candidates. For all offices except that of Student Director, Full Members present at the Business Meeting may select among the candidates by paper ballot. For the Student Director office, Student Members present at the Business meeting may select among the candidates by paper ballot. A candidate is elected if endorsed by a plurality of eligible members voting at the Business Meeting. All terms of office begin upon conclusion of the Business Meeting at which elections are held. No individual may hold two MABA elected offices at the same time. To accept a new office, an individual must resign from a current office. Office vacancies created by resignation, other than that of President, will be filled by election at the annual Business Meeting. The President is elected to a two-year term. This individual serves as President-Elect during the first year and President during the second year. The President arranges the site of the annual convention that will take place during the second year of the term, and appoints a Program Chair who coordinates the scholarly content of the convention and serves as its master of ceremonies. In the event that a President cannot complete his or her term, the President-Elect will assume the office. A five-member Board of Directors advises the other officers on organization policy as needed. One Director, the Student Director, is a student serving a two-year term. The remaining Directors, who must be Full Members, serve four-year terms. Their elections shall be staggered so that one Director is elected each year. The remaining officers serve three-year terms. The Treasurer manages the organization's financial affairs in consultation with the other officers. The Operations Coordinator keeps minutes at the annual Business Meeting, conducts officer elections, archives important documents related to organization business, and communicates with members as needed.
Article V: Convention
MABA shall hold an annual convention at a time and place determined by the President. In all membership categories, members may register for the convention at no cost. Convention registration for nonmembers is equivalent to the membership fee for members.
Article VI: Amendments
Amendments or changes to these bylaws may be suggested by any Full Member, and are implemented if endorsed by more than two-thirds of the Full Members voting at the Business Meeting. Proposed amendments or changes must be submitted in writing to Full Members present at the Business Meeting prior to the vote.