ROANE STATE STUDENT NURSES ASSOCIATION. Bylaws

Transcription

1 ROANE STATE STUDENT NURSES ASSOCIATION Bylaws Article I - The name of this organization shall be the Roane State Student Nurses Association (RSSNA), a constituent of the National Student Nurses Association, Incorporated (herein referred to as NSNA). Article II - Purposes and Functions A. The purposes of RSSNA shall be: 1. To assume responsibility for contributing to nursing education through leadership development and political activism in an attempt to provide for the highest quality of health care. 2. To provide programs representative of the fundamental and current professional interest and concerns. 3. To aid in the holistic development of the individual in his/her professional role, including his/her responsibility for the health care of people in all walks of life. B. The functions of the RSSNA shall be: 1. To have input into the standards of nursing education and to have an influence in the educational process. 2. To influence health care, nursing education, and nursing practice through appropriate legislative activities.

2 3. To promote and encourage participation in community affairs and activities towards improving health care and resolving related social issues. 4. To represent nursing students to the health care consumer, institutions, and other professional organizations. 5. To promote and encourage student nurse participation in interdisciplinary activities. 6. To promote and encourage recruitment efforts, participation in student activities, and educational opportunities, regardless of a person s race, color, creed, sex, lifestyle, national origin, age, or economic status. 7. To promote and encourage collaborative relationships with nursing/health related organizations. Article III - Members Section I. Constituent Associations A. The RSSNA will be composed of at least 10 members. It will include all satellite campuses. B. In order to be recognized as an NSNA constituent the RSSNA shall annually submit the Official Application for NSNA constituency status. Conformity shall occur in the following areas: purpose and function, membership, dues, and representation. Section II. Categories of RSSNA Membership A. Members of the constituent association shall be: 1. Active members: Membership shall be open to all students enrolled in nursing curriculum, all pre-nursing students, and students accepted for re-admittance into the nursing program at Roane State Community College. a. National and state memberships shall have all the privileges of membership as follows: a subscription to Imprint, eligibility for financial assistance, opportunities for participation in nationally sponsored contests on individual, chapter, and state level, eligibility for special low cost malpractice insurance, an opportunity for involvement in educational programs, RSSNA, TASN, and NSNA activities, and a vote in all RSSNA matters. Section III. Membership Extension

3 Active, associate, and special individual membership may be extended by the six months beyond graduation from the student s nursing program. Section IV. Dues A. Annual dues for the RSSNA chapter shall be $10.00 and is a prerequisite for active membership. B. NSNA and TASN dues shall be payable, under one designated cost, directly to the NSNA. Local dues shall be collected separately by the elected treasurer. C. Payment of the annual dues to the NSNA, which includes the cost of the annual TASN dues, is a pre-requisite for membership. D. Any member who fails to pay current local, state and national dues shall forfeit all privileges of membership in the RSSNA, NSNA and the TASN. Article IV Board of Directors Section I. Directors/Officers The Board of Directors of RSCC SNA shall consist of elected officers. Section II. Eligibility of Office The officers of SNA shall be the president, vice president, secretary/treasurer, TASN liaison, nurse recruiter, and public relations director. Section III. Term of Office The term of office shall be one year. Election for new officers will be held in April. Section IV. Duties of the Officers A. The President shall: 1. Preside at all meetings of the RSSNA and Board of Directors. 2. Appoint special committees with the approval of the Board of Directors. 3. Serve as ex-officio member of all committees. 4. Represent RSSNA in matters relating to the association and perform all other duties pertaining to the office. 5. Arrange locations for all meetings of the association. 6. May serve as a member on any committee and attend any committee meetings. 7. Approve emergency expenditures as submitted by the treasurer. 8. Perform other duties as enumerated in the RSSNA policies.

4 B. The Vice-president shall: 1. Assume the duties of the President in the absence, vacancy, or disability of the President; 2. Perform other duties as designated by the President. C. The Secretary/Treasurer shall: 1. Prepare the minutes of all the meetings of the Association and the RSSNA Board of Directors. 2. Keep a current, accurate list of names and addresses of all Board of Directors members, committee chairpersons, individual members of SNA, and individual members of NSNA. 3. Prepare the minutes of all business meetings of the association and the Board of Directors and forward copies to the appropriate individuals. 4. Act as custodian of the Association s funds. 5. Perform other duties as designated by the President. 6. Sign checks for monetary disbursements. 7. Serve as Chair of the Standing Committees, labeled as the Finance and Fundraising Committee. 8. Prepare and assist with a compilation of the financial records every year. 9. Perform other duties as enumerated in the RSSNA policies. E. The Nurse Recruiter shall: 1. Plan programs for the purpose of educating students and the community on the role of nurses. 2. Promote career opportunities in nursing for traditional, non-traditional and minority students. 3. Perform other duties as designated by the President. 4. Perform other duties as enumerated in the RSSNA policies F. The TASN Liaison shall: 1. Conduct the correspondence of the association as requested by the president or Board of Directors. 2. Send to TASN and NSNA the names and addresses of newly elected officers by June Forward copies of approved minutes to TASN. 4. Perform other duties as designated by the President. 5. Serve as chair of Resolution Committees. G. The Public Relations Director shall: 1. Have adequate computer skills to understand and run publications and the web page of RSSNA. 2. Notify all members of the time and place of all meetings of RSSNA. 3. Perform other duties as designated by the President. 4. Perform other duties as enumerated in the RSSNA policies.

5 Section V. Vacancies A. The Board of Directors as specified in these bylaws shall fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors. All candidates for vacant positions must comply with the eligibility requirements. B. Any resignation from the Board of Directors shall be received in writing and will be effective immediately upon receipt of the resignation by the President. In the case that the President is resigning, resignation should be sent to the Vice-President. Verbal resignations shall not be accepted. C. If a member of the Board of Directors fails to fulfill his/her responsibilities as defined in the bylaws and policies of RSSNA, the Board of Directors shall have the option of removing the Board member from office. The action will require a three-fourths vote of the Board of Directors at an official Board meeting. An appeal to this decision must be submitted in writing to the RSSNA President within two weeks following the Board of Directors action or removal. The Board of Directors will reconsider the appeals case at an official Board meeting within two weeks of receipt of appeal. The appealing officer may be reinstated by a three-fourths vote of the Board of Directors. Section VI. Board Meetings and Attendance A. Board members are expected to attend all Board meetings. B. The President shall determine the date and place of meetings. C. The RSSNA shall meet once a month for the purpose of giving and receiving reports, and conducting other business relating to the association. The Public Relations Director shall give notice of these meetings to the members at least 2 weeks prior to the meeting. D. The Board of Directors meetings are closed to all members unless otherwise approved by the Board of Directors. Section VII. Special Called Meetings A. A special meeting may be called by the President upon written request of five or more members. Notice of time, place and agenda for the meeting shall be sent to all persons involved by the President not less than ten days prior to the meeting. B. The voting body shall be persons involved in the special called meeting with the exception of the Consultants and faculty advisors. Other members may attend and shall only have the privilege to speak once on the issue.

6 C. The quorum shall be two-thirds of those persons who requested the special meeting, including the President or Vice-President. D. Minutes must be maintained by the Secretary and voted on at the next regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting. E. The Board of Directors shall not be responsible for any contract, claim or obligation of any kind by any local constituency or its individual member(s) unless the Board of Directors authorized the same in writing. Section VII Management Duties of the RSSNA Board of Directors A. Constitute the membership of the RSSNA Board of Directors and hold meetings to conduct the business of the Board of Directors. B. Review and approve the terms of official relationships and/or contracts established singly or in coalition with other organizations. C. Fill vacancies for RSSNA Board positions and Consultants unless otherwise specified in these bylaws. D. Vote on and approve any commitment in the form of action, statement of policy or position, or financial obligation that involved RSSNA relationships with other organizations. E. Assist in the development and approval of the line item budget each year. F. Vote by referendum, conference call, or , in the case of an emergency, provided the same information/material is sent to each Board member prior to the vote, and provided the actions are ratified at the next scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors. Article V Nominations and Elections Section I. Elections A. The RSSNA members shall elect the officers of the RSSNA Board of Directors at each annual meeting in April. B. The elections shall be by ballot, in which a majority vote shall elect. A tie vote shall be decided by a revote.

7 Article VI Meetings Section I. Motions and Voting The privilege of making motions and voting shall be limited to the voting body. A voting member shall have one vote in any election or on any question. This vote must be exercised in person by the member. Article VII Committees Section I. Ad Hoc Committees At its discretion, the Board of Directors shall establish ad hoc committees deemed necessary to carry on the work of the Association. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to determine the functions, terms and membership of the ad hoc committees. Unless otherwise designated, each committee shall consist of a Chair and three members. A quorum for the ad hoc committee meetings shall be two-thirds of those members of the committee. Section II. Committee Policies A. Each Standing Committee and Ad Hoc Committee shall develop and maintain a notebook containing policies relating to the number of members, terms of service, selection of members, minutes of meetings and duties of the committee. B. Each Standing Committee and Ad Hoc Committee Chair must present an annual written report to RSSNA Board of Directors. C. Each Standing Committee and Ad Hoc Chair is responsible for sending minutes of each meeting to the RSSNA president. These minutes will be placed on the next Board meeting agenda for the Board to review and vote upon. D. Each Standing Committee and Ad Hoc Committee report shall be turned over to the President prior to the last meeting of the House of Delegates at the annual Convention. The President shall report on each book s status at the last House of Delegates meeting. Article VIII Parliamentary Authority

8 All meetings of this Association shall be conducted according to parliamentary law set forth in Robert s Rules of Order Newly Revised unless in conflict with the bylaws. Article IX Fiscal Year The fiscal year of the Association shall be from the beginning of the newly elected Board of Directors term of office to the following year s new election of the Board of Directors. Article X Amendments A. These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting. B. Proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing with the sponsor s signature to the Board of Directors for review. Only Board of Directors may submit proposed amendments. C. NSNA bylaws changes that would affect the RSSNA bylaws that directly relate to the business of RSSNA in areas of NSNA conformity shall be promptly incorporated into these bylaws. Article XI Dissolution In the event of dissolution of this organization, all assets remaining after payment of its obligations shall be distributed to the NSNA Foundation and designated for a scholarship to a Tennessee nursing student. Article XII Faculty Representation There shall be one faculty member from RSCC nursing department acting as advisor for the RSSNA. The faculty advisor will be responsible for providing the exchange of information between the RSSNA and the faculty.