Table of Contents

Section
Introduction
ACBS Support of Affiliated Chapters
Guidelines for the Formation of Affiliated Chapters
Application for Affiliated Chapter Status
Recommended Practices for Successful Financial Management

Page number
1
3
5
7
9

Introduction
This handbook is intended to provide guidance to both new and well-established
Affiliated Chapters ACBS. Included in the handbook is contact information for all
affiliated chapters, a guideline of the support ACBS offers its chapters, advice for sound
financial practices for those chapters operating a budget, and sample documents. If you
have requests for additions to this manual please do not hesitate to contact Emily
Rodrigues in the ACBS office by e-mail at acbs@contextualpsychology.org.

About ACBS
The Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS) is dedicated to the
advancement of functional contextual cognitive and behavioral science and practice so as
to alleviate human suffering and advance human well being. It encompasses
contemporary scientific and social issues, theoretical advances, and the dissemination of
professional and public information. Advancing contextual behavioral science and its
applications in psychotherapy, education, and a variety of helping professions has
become an international effort as witnessed by the countries represented by our members.
ACBS began in 2005 and the Association seeks

The development of a coherent and progressive science of human action that is

more adequate to the challenges of the human condition
The development of useful basic principles, workable applied theories linked to
these principles, effective applied technologies based on these theories, and
successful means of training and disseminating these developments, guided by the
best available scientific evidence

The development of a view of science that values a dynamic, ongoing interaction

between its basic and applied elements, and between practical application and
empirical knowledge
Development of a community of scholars, researchers, educators, and
practitioners who will work in a collegial, open, self-critical, non-discriminatory,
and mutually supportive way that is effective in producing valued outcomes and
in exploring the additional implications of this work, and that emphasizes open
and low cost methods of connecting with this work so as to keep the focus on
benefit to others.

Advancing these values of ACBS has become an international effort as witnessed by the
countries represented by our members. Chapters provide an excellent way for members to
become involved at state, regional, and country levels, as well as in language groups.
Chapters are distinct from Special Interests groups (SIGS). Chapters are established
within regions, countries, or states, or within language communities, while Special
Interest Groups are defined by specific topical areas. Given their purpose, Chapters are
more formal entities than SIGs.
Note that chapters will no longer be established at the city level. ACBS will work with
existing city level chapters for them to establish themselves at a higher level over the next
year. Local support networks will be recognized at the city level, and listed on the
website, but the requirements will be minimal and the networks will not have formal
membership on the Chapter and SIG committee, nor the right to co-sponsor convention
events. (ACBS Board, Sept. 2012)
Chapters are encouraged to establish good working relations with chapters at higher and
lower levels and local support networks in their areas. Consortiums of Chapters can occur
at the continental level but if this occurs the "members" would be chapters, not individual
members. For example, there could be a European Consortium of ACBS composed of the
Chapters based in European countries. (ACBS Board, Sept. 2012)

ACBS Diversity Policy

The Association for Contextual Behavioral Science seeks to be an organization
comprised of people of different ages, races, nationalities, ethnic groups, sexual
orientations, genders, classes, religions, abilities, and educational levels. ACBS opposes
unfair discrimination.

Annual Event Calendar

The following calendar lists deadlines that pertain to all affiliated chapters. Included are
submission deadlines for the Board of Directors Agenda, annual conference meeting
space, as well as the submission of Chapter Annual Reports. These dates do not change
from year to year.
JANUARY 30th Deadline for requesting special meeting space, events, etc. at the annual
conference.

FEBRUARY 15th Deadline for submitting an Expo poster or booth request for the
annual conference.
APRIL 15th Deadline to place items on the Summer ACBS Board of Directors Agenda.
APRIL 15th Affiliated Chapter Annual Report due in ACBS office. (Annual reports are a
requirement to maintain affiliated chapter status.)

ACBS Support of Affiliated Chapters

Affiliated chapter chairs are invited to contact Emily Rodrigues at the ACBS office to
request support for any of the following services or to offer further suggestions for how
ACBS can aid chapters. Emily can be reached via e-mail at
acbs@contextualpsychology.org.

Clearinghouse Services
The ACBS office will file key documents that chapters are willing to share with other
chapters. Please send us electronic copies of current versions of your by-laws, handbooks,
or other materials that you believe will be of help to other chapters. This clearinghouse of
information, when complete, can also serve as an archival library for affiliated chapters.

Continuing Education (CE)

In the United States, ACBS is approved by the American Psychological Association to
offer continuing education for psychologists. We do not yet have CE approval status in
other core professions or in other countries.
In order to provide opportunities for continuing education, ACBS sponsors CE events
and co-sponsors CE events with other organizations or individuals throughout the year.
ACBS will co-sponsor continuing education workshops for APA credit with interested
chapters. Chapters interested in offering workshops for continuing education credit may
refer to the Guidelines for Co-Sponsoring Continuing Education, provided in this manual.
The Guidelines provide information regarding the policies and procedures that chapters
must follow to be approved as a co-sponsor of continuing education by ACBS. Samples
of materials that must be completed by the applicant as well as samples of other relevant
materials are included.

Conference Events
Business Meetings. ACBS will schedule and provide space at the annual conference
without charge for affiliated chapters to conduct business meetings. If you are interested
in organizing a meeting, please submit your request and room requirements by January
30th.
Additionally, the annual conference offers a wide variety of events for chapters and
chapter-member participants. The ACBS Board and Committees hold their meetings at
the convention and often address issues of interest to chapters.
Chapters are allowed to sponsor or co-sponsor convention sessions as a means of
orienting members to convention activities. Such events will be submitted and evaluated
in the normal fashion. Co-sponsorship may also occur after events are accepted, at the
choice of the program committee. (ACBS Board, Sept. 2012)

ACBS Poster Session/ Expo. ACBS provides space in the ACBS Poster Session/ Expo
at no charge for chapters to display promotional materials and network with other
chapters, special interest groups, and academic, clinical and research programs and
institutions. If you are interested in having Expo space at the conference, please use the
online paper/presentation/poster submission form to do so, prior to February 15th.

Networking
Promotional E-mails. ACBS will send an e-mail provided by chapter contacts to ACBS
members in the chapters geographic location to assist in advertising regional conferences
or other events or initiatives. ACBS can not send promotional e-mails to its full
membership. Interested chapters should send a text e-mail, subject line, and return
address, and deadline for e-mailing (please give us some lead time, as e-mails cannot
always be sent the day they are received) to acbs@contextualpsychology.org.

Web Page
Chapters are encouraged to work with the ACBS newsletter and website staff to give
visibility to their activities. The ACBS Web page is located at:
http://www.contextualpsychology.org.
Upon request, ACBS can link chapter Web pages to the ACBS Web page at
http://www.contextualpsychology.org/chapters_affiliates
In addition, ACBS includes the following information on its Web site as provided by
each chapter:
o Chapter mission/objectives
o Description of membership
o Recurring annual events
o Publications/newsletters and subscription details
o What specifically about this chapter is of interest to ACT/RFT practitioners
and researchers?
o Upcoming conference information (date, location, fees, continuing education
offered)
When submitting this information, it is best if the text is 300 600 words in length.

Guidelines for the Formation of Affiliated Chapters

Chapters include five types: International Area, National, State/Province, Regional, and
Language Community. International Area chapters combine areas that cross national
boundaries. National and State/Province chapters are defined by the legal boundaries of
their areas. Regional chapters include any combination of state/province and local
chapters. Language-based chapters serve a specific linguistic community, world wide. All
ACBS Affiliated Chapters must 1) include Association for Contextual Behavioral Science
in their names; 2) file a brief annual report to the ACBS Board of Directors by April 15th;
3) be comprised of ACBS members. Normally chapters meet at least once a year, but
Language Community chapters may meet virtually such as through a list serve.

Relationship between ACBS and Its Affiliated Chapters

ACBS and its chapters cooperate in the support of functional contextual cognitive and
behavioral science and practice around the world. However, formally, ACBS and its
chapters are separate. Chapters set and receive their own dues and fees and these are
separate from those collected by ACBS. Membership in a chapter does not include
membership in ACBS or vice versa. However ACBS membership is required to be a
member of a chapter, and chapters are expected to be composed of ACBS members
(ACBS Board, Sept. 2012). The ACBS Board requires an annual report from each chapter
to enhance communication and mutual support.

Application Process
To establish a chapter, applicants must submit 1) a completed application form (on page
6 or on the website http://www.contextualpsychology.org/chapterapplication ), which
addresses the requirements delineated in Criteria for Chapter Membership above, and
2) a copy of the chapter bylaws. The bylaws must describe criteria for membership in the
chapter. Samples of by-laws are on the web or are included in the appendix of this
Handbook.
Signatures: The required signatures do not have to be collected on one piece of paper,
and they do not need to be written longhand. Email signatures including the email
address, support statements I, John Doe, support the formation of SIG XXX, and
contact information/ signature (the usual information at the bottom of emails) are
sufficient to fulfill this requirement. These 10 should be current ACBS members who
will be chapter members, if your chapter is approved. Please submit these 10 signatures
to the ACBS office, acbs@contextualpsychology.org, in a single email or file. Please DO
NOT direct 10 people to individually send emails to the ACBS office.

Chapter Board Member Elections

ACBS encourages potential chapters to wait to elect board members until after the
chapter is approved by the ACBS board. This way, if the ACBS board recommends any
changes to the chapter by laws concerning board terms, etc., the election can proceed
with clearly defined roles/terms. Also, if desired, ACBS is willing to administer your
chapter's first election. ACBS will create an online ballot, email it to ACBS members

eligible for participation in your chapter, and report the results to your organizing
committee. Some chapters find this helpful in the early days of the chapter.

Application Submission Dates

Applications for Affiliated Chapter status are reviewed as needed by the ACBS Board.
Those received will be reviewed within 3 months of the receipt of the completed
application.

(Information requested on this page should be submitted via the online

form.)Application

for Affiliated Chapter Status

Name of Chapter (must include Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, ex.
Dutch ACBS):
Contact Persons Information:
Name:

Home Phone:

Mailing Address:

Work Phone:

Home Fax:

E-mail:

Work Fax:

Type of Chapter (mark one):

Regional
State/Province

National

Language Community

International Area

Describe the geographic boundaries of the Chapter (or specific Language

Community):
List the name and office held for each of the Chapter officers:
Chapter mission/objectives:
Description of membership:
Chapter journals and if printed, e-mailed, or posted on the Web:
Describe chapter activities (meetings, workshops, publications, etc.). Include
meeting dates and time of year of publications.
Materials to include with this application:
Signatures of 10 current ACBS members
who support the formation of this Chapter
Bylaws for the Chapter
One copy of the Chapters most recent
publication, if applicable

Please submit the above information via

the ACBS website form if possible.
ACBS
1880 Pinegrove Dr.
Jenison, MI 49428
E-mail: acbs@contextualpsychology.org
Fax: (225) 302-8688

(example if needed)

Application for Affiliated Chapter Status

(continued)
Signatures of 10 current ACBS members who support the formation of the Chapter
(These 10 should be current ACBS members who will be chapter members, if your
chapter is approved.):
Name (typed or printed)

Signature

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Recommended Practices for

Successful Financial Management
The intent of this document is to provide ACBS Affiliated Chapters with suggestions for
successful financial management. By no means should these suggestions be read as
requirements. The advice offered here is somewhat US-centric because the ACBS home
office understands these rules, so look at the large point and apply them to your situation
in your country.

Getting Started
Affiliated Chapters that choose to collect fees and run like a small organization have
several local resources available to them at no cost:
Contact a Small Business Development Center in your area. In the United States
each state has at least one and some have several, and there are similar agencies in
many other countries. These organizations provide free assistance with business
plans, marketing strategies, finances, and any other issues related to running a small
organization. These Centers can also help Chapters determine taxes and their legal
organizational status (such as partnership, corporation, etc.) Telephone numbers
should be in the local phone directory. In the US they may be found by contacting
your Chamber of Commerce or you may also find contact information for Small
Business Centers by contacting the United States Small Business Administration in
Washington at 202-205-6642 or using the SBA's Web site: http://www.sba.gov/.
Your local Chamber of Commerce or business support organization can provide
information about other businesses and services able to assist Chapters. For instance,
they may be able to recommend reputable accountants or legal assistance.
Many universities business colleges sponsor programs to assist small organizations.
Call the business programs nearest chapter officers to help determine what services
they provide or would be willing to arrange.

Record Keeping
The chapter secretary or treasurer should keep copies of all materials filed with local,
state, provincial, or federal government. He or she should also make copies of all
correspondence to and from the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, the
chapter accountant and lawyer, if applicable, and any correspondence with the governing
board, including any meeting minutes. These records should be kept for future reference.
For purpose of taxes, all financial records must be kept for seven years.

Professional Resources
It would be ideal for Affiliated Chapters to have access to legal help to review by-laws
and to consult when needed.
If possible, Chapters should contract the services of an accountant to prepare year-end tax
reports and review any decisions that may have financial implications. An accountant is
also a good resource when making financial decisions and can advise the chapter of tax
benefits that may otherwise be overlooked. An accountant can help determine if the

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chapter can establish not-for-profit status with your tax agency (e.g., the IRS in the US),
and will help with employment and other issues as well.
It is helpful if financial and legal service providers are maintained even when the officers
rotate.

Treasurer
It is recommended that the governing board of the chapter appoint a treasurer to maintain
proper financial records and reporting. The treasurer should have experience in handling
business accounts, including a basic knowledge of bookkeeping.

Non-Profit Status
Affiliated Chapters may be eligible for non-profit or not-for-profit status in their home
country. For those in the United States this status is covered under the Internal Revenue
Code 501(c)3 or 501(c)6. The Association for Contextual Behavioral Sciences is a
501(c)6 organization. It is recommended that the chapter seek legal assistance to file the
appropriate forms. If the treasurer or a board member wishes to petition for non-profit
status on behalf of the chapter, he or she should contact the tax agency directly. In the
United States the forms ordering telephone for the IRS is (800) 829-3676. The required
documents are Form 8718 (User Fee Form), Pkg. 1023 and Pkg. 1024 (Application to
Obtain Tax Exempt Status), and Publication 557. If you are outside the US, contact your
tax agency for assistance.

Hardware/Software
It is highly recommended that the treasurer have the appropriate hardware and software
for maintaining records. Accounting or bookkeeping software will eliminate much of the
hassle of recording transactions and reporting income. Popular accounting software
packages for small businesses in the United States include: Business Vision 32, Small
Business Manager, QuickBooks, Peachtree Complete Accounting, M.Y.O.B., and Simply
Accounting.

Backups
Periodic backups of financial data are essential to guard against loss of data. It is
recommended that a backup of financial databases be executed weekly while other data
such as correspondence files be backed up monthly. Every fifth backup should become an
archive copy until the following archive backup replaces it. At the end of the fiscal year,
a permanent archive copy should be made. This yearly archive should consist of
electronic records and hardcopy files.

Business Accounts
It is recommended that chapter cash assets be deposited into business bank accounts.
These accounts should be separate from personal checking and savings accounts, as the
chapter should be treated as its own entity. This aids in better financial tracking of assets,
income and expenditures. Shop around for banks. Although most banks do charge percheck fees and have minimum balance requirements, there are a few that dont,
particularly if the chapter is not-for-profit.
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Ideally, the chapters will set-up a business checking account and a business savings or
money market account with two co-signers. The co-signers should have mutual
accessibility to the funds so that in the event one co-signer is unavailable the other can
continue to act on behalf of the chapter. It is highly recommended that the institution in
which the chapter deposits its cash be insured by a government agency (such as the FDIC
in the US).

Reporting
It is recommended that the treasurer report the financial status of the chapter at least once
a year. The minimum recommended reporting should consist of an Income Statement, a
Balance Sheet, and a Cash Disbursements Statement. The board should take time to
discuss the spending and earning patterns of the chapter so those trends may be identified
and used to the advantage of the organization. The use of budgets will help greatly in
directing the future growth and services offered chapter members.

Budgeting
It is recommended that the treasurer, along with the board, develops and adheres to an
annual budget. The treasurer should use spending and earning information from the past
three to five years to develop a budget. If this is the first year in which this information is
to be tracked, estimate expenses based on anticipated activities. Seek estimates for
printing jobs, or conferences to be held during the year to help set up a first-time budget.
The chapter may not fare so well against its budget during the first year or two, but as the
years go by it may be fine tuned and prove itself invaluable.

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