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Reviewed
& Revised 8/25/05 CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE THIRD DISTRICT FIRE CHIEFS' ASSOCIATION MABAS 24, INC. ARTICLE I NAME The name of this organization shall be the “Third District Fire Chiefs’ Association MABAS 24, Inc.” ARTICLE II OBJECT AND PURPOSE The object and purpose of this Association shall be the mobilization of forces to assist one another under existing mutual aid agreements, especially in case of fire or emergency beyond the facilities or control of any individual department, and for the mutual education and advancement of the science of fire extinguishment, fire prevention, public education, EMS, and Hazardous Materials. ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP Section 1. Active Members. The active membership of this Association shall consist of the Chief Executive Officer representing Burnham, Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Country Club Hills, Dolton, East Hazel Crest, Flossmoor, Glenwood, Harvey, Hazel Crest, Homewood, Homewood Acres, Lansing, Lynwood, Markham, Matteson, Oak Forest, Phoenix, Richton Park, Riverdale, South Chicago Heights, South Holland, Thornton, and Tinley Park Fire Departments in Illinois and Munster Fire Department in Indiana. NOTE: Any new application from neighboring departments must be for an Associate Membership for a two-year probationary period. Upon completion of the two-year probation period they will be eligible to apply to become an Active Member if they have met with the established criteria (See Addendum A) of the Third District during their probationary period. Section 2. Associate Members. An Associate Member approved by a majority of the voting members present at any regularly scheduled Association Meeting, is defined as a person currently actively affiliated with the fire services (except dealers and distributors), neighboring fire departments, elected officials, other chief officers, line officers or staff of member fire departments. Section 3. Sustaining Membership. Shall include equipment distributors and related materials dealers whose products support the Association in carrying out its objectives. Section 4. Honorary Membership. Honorary membership shall be given to individuals of distinction who have retired and rendered 10 or more years of active service in the Association. ARTICLE IV OFFICERS AND SECRETARY Section 1. Officers. The Officers of the Association shall consist of a President, First Vice-President, and Second Vice-President. Section 2. Board of Directors. A Board of Directors shall consist of the three Officers of the Association and the Immediate Past President. ARTICLE V DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND SECRETARY Section 1. President. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Association, serve as an ex-officio member of all committees, and serve as Chief Liaison on the Mutual Aid Committee. Section 2. First Vice-President (Secretary). It shall be the duty of the First Vice-President to preside at meetings where the President is absent and at such time when the President may be unable to perform the duties of his office, and shall serve as Chief Liaison on the Hazardous Materials Committee. Additionally, the First Vice-President shall serve as the liaison officer representing the Association at other professional association meetings and to chair the Auditing Committee during the Association’s annual audit. Section 3. Second Vice-President (Treasurer). It shall be the duty of the Second Vice-President to serve in the absence of the President and First Vice-President, oversee the position of the Administrative Assistant, and serve as Chief Liaison on the Training Committee. Section 4. Administrative Assistant. The Administrative Assistant of the Association shall be appointed by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. Should a vacancy occur, the Executive Board shall make a recommendation for appointment to this Office to be approved by the full membership. The salary of the Administrative Assistant shall be determined by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. The Administrative Assistant shall pay out of the funds of this Association only such amounts as are properly authorized by vote of the membership at a regular meeting. The Administrative Assistant shall submit at the regular monthly meeting a report of all receipts, deposits, expenditures, and balance on hand. All bills to be paid shall be forwarded to the Administrative Assistant no later than one week prior to the monthly meeting for review by the Finance Committee. Only bills reviewed and approved by the Finance Committee will be presented to the Chiefs for payment approval. All Third District invoicing shall also be forwarded to the Administrative Assistant for review by the Finance Committee prior to the Administrative Assistant mailing out the invoices. The Administrative Assistant shall safely keep all records and books pertaining to the office and Association in a neat, legal manner. Within one week after the annual meeting in November, the Administrative Assistant shall submit his/her books and records to the auditing committee for examination and audit. The Administrative Assistant shall have a fiduciary bond executed in favor of this Association. The President, First Vice-President, or the Second Vice-President shall countersign all checks issued by the Administrative Assistant in the name of the Association. It shall also be the duty of the Administrative Assistant to keep the minutes of all meetings and a register of all departments. The Administrative Assistant shall give each Chief Executive Officer at least three full days’ notice of all meetings. The Administrative Assistant shall furnish each Chief Executive Officer with a copy of the Constitution and Bylaws. The Administrative Assistant shall keep all records of the Association in a neat, legal manner in a prescribed minutes book. ARTICLE VI ELECTION OF OFFICERS Section 1. Election of Officers. The Officers of the Association shall be elected on the second Thursday in November of each election year and shall hold office for two years until their successors are elected and qualified. A nominating committee shall be named in September of each election year and will present their nominations for office of President, First Vice-President, and Second Vice-President at the October meeting, giving the membership one month to consider the nominations. Further nominations will be permitted from the floor at the October meeting by those desiring to do so. The President, First Vice-President, and Second Vice-President shall not serve more than two consecutive terms in that office. The President, First Vice-President, and Second Vice- President must also hold the rank of Fire Chief of his or her respective department. Newly-elected Officers will take office in January. To be eligible to act as an Officer of the Association, said member shall have served as an Active Member for a minimum of two years. In addition, said member must be an Active Member with above average attendance at monthly meetings. Attendance at monthly meetings must be maintained at 75% in the preceding year and sustained at 75% during the term of office.
Section 2. A majority of all votes cast by the voting members present shall be necessary for the election of any Officer. Election of Officers shall be by ballot only. Section 3. Should for any cause no election be held at the annual meeting or should any vacancy occur in any office during the year, such office shall be filled at the next regular meeting of the Association in the above prescribed manner. ARTICLE VII MEETINGS Section 1. Regular Meetings. Regular business meetings for the general dues paying membership shall be held on the second Thursday of each month, except where the second Thursday would fall on a legal holiday, in which case the third Thursday would be designated as the regular business meeting day. The business luncheon meeting will commence at 11:30 a.m. In April and September of each year there will be a dinner meeting instead of a luncheon meeting. Meeting will be held at a centrally located restaurant facility, mutually agreed on by the majority of the voting members. Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the President provided that no other business shall be transacted than that for which the meeting was called, and provided that due notice of the time, place, and object of the meeting shall have been served on each member at least forty-eight hours prior to such meeting. Section 3. Voting Procedures. The voting representatives of the simple majority of member departments shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business. Section 4. Rules of Order. Roberts Rules of Order shall govern parliamentary procedures unless otherwise provided for in the conduct of the meetings. ARTICLE VIII COMMITTEES Section 1. Auditing Committee. An auditing committee of two members, chaired by the Second Vice-President, shall be approved by the President to oversee the audit of the book of the Secretary/Treasurer after the annual meeting in November or whensoever ordered and to submit recommendations as necessary. Section 2. Standing Committees. The standing committees of the Association shall be as follows: Mutual Aid/Communications, Training, Hazardous Materials, Canteen, Finance, and Comprehensive Planning. Section 3. Other Committees. The President, as required, may appoint other committees. Committee members are appointed for a one-year term or as designated by the President. ARTICLE IX REPRESENTATION AND VOTING PROCEDURES Section 1. Voting Privilege. Any item that affects the policy or expenditures of this Association shall be voted on by the Fire Chief of each member department who is in good standing, or in his absence by proxy vote. Section 2. Voting Procedures. A roll call of active voting members in good standing will be taken by the Secretary on all votes. Any Active Member who wishes can assign a list of members of his/her department to be a proxy vote in his/her absence. Each department is allowed only one vote. This list shall be submitted to the Secretary/Treasurer to be kept on file. If an Active Member does not wish to assign a list of members to be a proxy, he/she may submit a proxy dated for any meeting that he/she will be unable to attend and that proxy will be allowed to vote in his/her absence for that meeting only. ARTICLE X DUES & ASSESSMENTS
Section 1. See Addendum B Section 2. Dues. Any Active Member, Associate Member, or Sustaining Member who has failed to pay their annual dues for three months after the annual meeting in January shall be deemed NOT in good standing and shall be notified immediately of his/her delinquency. If the delinquency still exists two months after this notification, he/she shall be dropped from the rolls of this Association. Section 3. Assessments. Any Active Member who has failed to pay any applicable assessments for three months after they are invoiced shall be deemed NOT in good standing and shall be notified immediately of his/her delinquency. If the delinquency still exists two months after this notification, he/she shall be dropped from the rolls of this Association. Section 4. Reinstatement. A member may be reinstated upon application and payment of back dues plus the current dues and/or payment of any delinquent assessments. ARTICLE XI AMENDMENTS Section 1. Amendments. A proposition to amend the Constitution or Bylaws may be made at any regular meeting when a quorum is present and must be submitted in writing. Notice of the proposed amendment shall be mailed with the notice for the next regular meeting. A ballot will be taken on the amendment(s) at the next regular meeting. Section 2. Votes Required for Amendments. A two-thirds affirmative vote of voting members present shall be necessary to amend the Constitution and/or Bylaws. Such amendments shall take effect immediately unless otherwise directed. ARTICLE XII ORDER OF BUSINESS 1. Call to Order 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Acceptance of Minutes 4. Communications 5. Applications and Voting 6. Reports of Committees A) Comprehensive Strategic Planning B) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) C) Legislative D) Legal E) Inspectors F) Investigators (Arson) G) Dive Team H) Retirements I) Utilities J) Training K) Mutual Aid L) Hazardous Materials M) Canteen N) Finance 7. Approval of “Listed Bills” 8. Department Reports 9. Unfinished Business 10. New Business 11. Good and Welfare 12. Announcements 13. Adjournment
ADDENDUM A CRITERIA FOR
MEMBERSHIP IN THE THIRD DISTRICT FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION MABAS 24, INC. All members of this Association must be affiliated with the Fire Service or be a Fire service supporter. These members must provide active participation and support of this Association and its object, purpose, and mission. Active Members are the Chief Executive Officer from local Fire Departments or Fire Protection Districts. By being designated an Active Member, the Department or Fire Protection District that the Active Member represents will be considered an active member of this organization. New membership in this organization will be subject to review and approval by its current membership. This organization reserves the sole right to reject any applications for membership that do not meet the criteria of this organization. This criterion for
membership is to be expanded and refined later. DUES &
ASSESSMENTS Section 1. Fee Schedule. The following fee schedule will apply to members of the Association. Active Member Fire Chiefs $250 per year Associate Member Fire Chiefs $125 Associate Members $30 per year Sustaining Members $100 per year Honorary Members No Fee Retired Member with 10 years of Service to Association. ADDENDUM C THIRD DISTRICT
FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION MABAS 24,
INC., ORGANIZATION Said organization is organized exclusively for charitable, educational and scientific purpose, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of section 501(c)(3) purposes. No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code. Upon the dissolution of this organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or a local government, for a public purpose. |