Membership Qualifications

KACM By-laws

 

There are four categories for KACM membership:

Full

Full members shall have the privilege of voting and holding office. Chief administrative officers (CAO), assistant CAOs, and senior level staff members may qualify for full voting membership based upon the following criteria. A CAO qualifies for full voting membership if the individual:

  • Occupies a position that is appointed by an elected representative or representatives and is directly responsible to an elected representative and/or representatives;
  • Has significant responsibility in the development and analysis of public policy alternatives and in the implementation of policy once adopted;
  • Has major responsibility for the preparation and administration of the operating and capital improvements budget;
  • Exercises significant influence appointing key management personnel (especially administrative and financial staff) of the local government;
  • Is recognized within the local government organization as the principal general management professional and have a continuing direct relationship with the operating department heads on the implementation and administration of the programs; and
  • Is appointed to the position based on education, experience and on qualifications to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position as defined by ICMA's Practices for Effective Local Government Management.
  • Agrees to uphold adopted Code of Ethics with Guidelines for Professional Conduct.

An assistant CAO or senior-level staff member is eligible for full voting membership if the individual:

  • Is appointed by the CAO;
  • Reports to the CAO;
  • Has significant general administrative responsibilities; and
  • Has the approval of the CAO.

Affiliate

Affiliate members shall have the privilege of voting, but shall not be eligible to hold office. In order to qualify for affiliate membership, the individual may be any person who does not otherwise meet the qualifications for full membership and who is currently, or was formerly, employed by a city, a county, or a university.

Business Affiliate

Business affiliates shall not have the privilege of voting or holding office. In order to qualify as a business affiliate, the individual must complete the application and pay the appropriate fees as established by the board.

Students

Any person registered as a student in a university public administration program qualifies to join as a student. Students do not have the privilege of voting or holding office.

Retired

A former KACM or ICMA member retired under KPERS or other applicable retirement system qualifies to join as a retired member. Retirees do not have the privilege of voting or holding office.

Life

The board of directors may grant life memberships. To be eligible, the individual must have been a full or affiliate member and currently retired from or no longer employed in the profession. Life members shall pay no dues, hold no office, or vote. Upon retiring from active service with a local government, any Full Member who has completed twenty-five years of membership and, for those same twenty-five years, has been eligible to be an officer of the Association may become a Life Member. Also, any Full Member who has been eligible to be an officer of the Association for at least fifteen years and retires from active service with a local government at age sixty-five or older may become a Life Member. In addition, any Full Member who has retired from active service with a local government and who, in the opinion of the Board Officers, has made an outstanding contribution to the development of the profession may be granted a Life Membership by vote of the Board Officers.

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Approval of Application

Upon submission of the application and payment of the appropriate dues, such applicant shall be considered a provisional member of the organization. For applicants moving to Kansas, their membership in good standing of another state’s professional association shall be verified.  

Notice to Members

Notice of such application shall be sent to the membership on the organization's Listserv. During the 10 days following notification on the Listserv, any member in good standing of the organization may file a protest regarding the applicant's membership. The identity of members who file protests shall not be revealed. If there is no protest filed during the 10 days following notification on the listserv, the application shall be considered complete, and the membership status shall no longer be provisional.

Adjudication of a Protest

At the end of the protest period, if a protest is filed, the designated board member or committee receiving applications and protests shall forward such protest to the officers of the board of directors who shall serve as the adjudicating committee for such protests. The officers or their designee shall notify the applicant that a protest has been filed and the procedure for consideration of such protest. The officers of the board of directors may call a special meeting of the officers to consider said protest. Within 15 days of the end of the protest period, the officers or their designee shall notify the applicant of the basic protest reasoning and give notice that the applicant may, within 10 days, present a written response to be considered by the officers when considering the membership application. Within 60 days from the date of the protest period, the officers shall make the determination of whether to approve the membership application. If a split decision of the officers shall occur, the Past President shall hold authority to cast a tie-breaking vote. If the officers fail to act within 60 days from the date of the protest period, the application shall be considered complete, and the membership status shall no longer be provisional.

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Dues

Member Type Population Dues
Full Cities less than 4,000 $100
  Cities 4,001-20,000 $200
  Cities 20,001 and over $300
  Counties less than 70,000 $200
  Counties 70,000 and over $300
Affiliate N/A $75
Business Affiliate N/A $150
Student N/A $25
Retired N/A $45
Life N/A $0

Dues for full, affiliate, business affiliate, and student members shall be set for the upcoming year by the full board of directors at the annual conference. Life members shall be exempt from dues. Effective January 1, 2013 and subject to a protest filed pursuant to Article VI, Section 3, an individual who accepts a chief administrative officer position for the first time with a Kansas city or county and was not previously a full member of KACM shall be granted a complimentary full membership for their first year of KACM membership.

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