Policies & Procedures Manual

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Policies and Procedures Manual*.
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Overview 

The Alabama Counseling Association began as the Alabama Guidance Association, a locally-organized autonomous group on January 24, 1954.

In 1964, at its state convention at the Dinkler-Tutwiler Hotel in Birmingham, the question of national affiliation was discussed. With those questions as impetus, then President Wilbur Tincher appointed a committee of seven to study the possibility of affiliating with the American Personnel and Guidance Association and, following discussions and visits from American Personnel and Guidance Association representatives Willie Dugan, Kenneth Hoyt, and C. Winfield Scott, the committee proposed affiliation on February 14, 1966.

A proposed new constitution which aligned the state organization with the American Personnel and Guidance Association constitution was presented at the 1966 state meeting in Montgomery. The membership approved the new constitution and endorsed the merger. The Alabama Guidance Association then petitioned for national affiliation with APGA. Application for formal recognition was made in the Fall of 1966. Acceptance by the Senate of the American Personnel and Guidance Association was soon forthcoming. The charter for affiliation of the Alabama group was presented at the national convention of the American Personnel and Guidance Association in Dallas, Texas, in 1967.

On November 18, 1983, the General Session of the Alabama Personnel and Guidance Association voted to change its name to the Alabama Association for Counseling and Development in compliance with the national association's change to the American Association for Counseling and Development.

In the business session at its twenty-fifth Annual Fall Workshop meeting in Huntsville in 1992, the state organization changed its name to the Alabama Counseling Association again to coincide with the new national affiliate name, the American Counseling Association.

ALCA has enjoyed remarkable growth and success in its illustrious history. Today it has a total membership of approximately 2000 members including nine chapters and thirteen  divisions. Each year the meeting includes nationally known keynote speakers and a variety of professional opportunities.