www.agreatworkforce.com COMPETITIVE WORKFORCE ALLIANCE ALLIED HEALTH REGIONAL SKILLS PARTNERSHIP BY-LAWS ARTICLE I Name SECTION 2 The name of the organization shall be the Competitive Workforce Alliance Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership, herein referred to as the Partnership. The Partnership is organized exclusively for workforce development, education and training purposes, more specifically to increase the allied health care workforce within the designated 16 counties of the Carolinas (Anson, Alexander, Cabarrus, Catawba, Cleveland, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly and Union in North Carolina and also Chester, Chesterfield, Lancaster and York in South Carolina). ARTICLE II Purpose The major purposes of the Partnership are as follows: (1) to facilitate collaboration and partnerships with the local business community and community agencies, including the Workforce Development Boards, the North Carolina Department of Commerce, institutions of higher education and the K-12 school system and other organizations with interest in Allied Health (2) to identify allied health care training needs and demands within the region, and to foster exemplary, accountable allied health education and training programs within the region.
SECTION 2 The Partnership works closely with NC Department of Commerce, to ensure the proper implementation of its Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership initiatives. The Partnership assists the designated communities in an advisory role on issues related to Allied Health careers and related workforce issues. The Partnership serves in an advisory capacity to the employer and educational communities vested in Allied Health Care workforce and training needs, demands and opportunities. The Partnership shall seek activities and means to ensure the sustainability of its endeavors to further the growth and development of Allied Health careers and trained professionals in the designated region of the Carolinas. SECTION 3 In order to accomplish its purposes, the Partnership shall (1) establish and maintain contact with persons, groups, and associations having an interest in Allied Health; (2) make recommendations to NC Department of Commerce, employers and education and training providers of allied health professionals regarding significant issues in the education of allied health personnel; (3) may advise the designated public and private schools of higher education in the region in their efforts to ensure the provision of appropriate services to adult students. ARTICLE III Membership Members of the Partnership may be proposed by (a) current Partnership members, (b) other community organizations and representatives, and (c) other interested parties. Procedures SECTION 2 Membership: The members of the Partnership shall be comprised of, but not limited to, representation from the following organizations and/or agencies: Business and Industry, K-12 School System, Community College System, Colleges and Universities, Workforce Development Boards, Economic Development Agencies, Chambers of Commerce, 2
NC Area Health Education Centers, Charlotte Regional Partnership, Community Representative(s), JobLink/One-Stop Career Center Other organizations/associations Partnership membership shall be open to any interested party or organization that supports the purpose statement in Article II. The Board shall have the authority to establish and define non-voting categories of membership. SECTION 3 SECTION 4 Membership appointments: Partnership members may submit recommendations for new members to the Secretary for review and recommendation by the Steering Committee Chairman and final approval by the Steering Committee. Membership development: The members of the Partnership shall include entities, both public and private, with essential expertise and interest in addressing the needs and growth of the Allied Health workforce. The composition of the Partnership shall be as geographically diverse and broad-based as possible. The Partnership may extend membership to include other groups or representatives. ARTICLE IV Steering Committee Steering Committee role, size and compensation: The Steering Committee is responsible for overall policy and direction of the Partnership. The Steering Committee shall have up to fifteen (15) members. Membership will include a representative from each of the following areas: Workforce Intermediary Community College System College/University Private Education and Training K-12 Career and Technical Coordinators Participating Workforce Development Boards Economic Development Boards JobLink/One Stop Career Center Organization providing healthcare services in from the county cluster of: Gaston/Lincoln/Cleveland 3
Organization providing healthcare services in from the county cluster of: Catawba/Iredell/Alexander Organization providing healthcare services in from the county cluster of: Rowan/Cabarrus Organization providing healthcare services in from the county cluster of: Union/Stanly/Anson Organization providing healthcare services in from the county cluster of: Chester, Chesterfield, Lancaster and York Organization providing healthcare services from Mecklenburg County (2 representatives). The Steering Committee receives no compensation other than allowable expenses under the NC Department of Commerce Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership grant award or any future funding awards. SECTION 2 Terms: All Partnership Steering Committee Member terms shall be for one year, except for the Chairman, with half the Committee renewed in odd-numbered years and half in even-numbered years. Terms will commence in January and end in December of the respective position year. SECTION 3 SECTION 4 SECTION 5 Election procedures: The Partnership shall inform interested parties of upcoming vacancies. Steering Committee Members whose terms are expiring, but who are interested in retaining their position on the Steering Committee, may submit a letter of intent to the Steering Committee Chair by December 1 of that year. Election procedures: Members of the Steering Committee shall be responsible for nominating a slate of prospective Steering Committee members representing the Partnership s diverse constituency and approving said members. In addition any partnership member can nominate a candidate to the slate of nominees. Steering Committee Quorum: A quorum must be attended by at least five members of the Steering Committee for business transactions to pass and motions to pass. If a member is unable to attend, he/she may send a representative in their place for attendance/voting purposes or may give their proxy vote to another member of the Steering Committee. If attendance is inadequate to meet the quorum, electronic voting on motions will be acceptable with at least five members of the Steering Committee members participating in the voting process. 4
SECTION 6 Officers and Duties: There shall be three officers of the Steering Committee, consisting of a Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary/Treasurer. Their duties are as follows: The Chair shall convene regularly scheduled Steering Committee and partnership meetings, shall preside or arrange for other officers of the Steering Committee to preside at each meeting in the following order: Vice-Chair, Secretary/Treasurer. The Vice-Chair shall chair committees on special subjects as designated by the Steering Committee. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for ensuring that records of Steering Committee actions and Steering Committee and partnership meetings, including overseeing the taking of minutes at all Steering Committee and partnership meetings, sending out meeting announcements, distributing copies of minutes and the agenda for meetings, and assuring records are kept. The secretary/treasurer shall work with the fiscal agent of the NC Department of Commerce Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership grant award(s) (and any other additional funding agents public or private), to assist in the preparation of financial reports. The Secretary/Treasurer shall make a financial report at each Steering Committee meeting. In addition, they will serve as a liaison to the Sustainability Committee. Financial information will be available to the partnership members and the public. SECTION 7 SECTION 8 Vacancies: When a vacancy on the Steering Committee exists, nominations for new members may be received from the present Steering Committee or Partnership members. All Steering Committee members must work within the geographic area of the Competitive Workforce Alliance Allied Health Regional Skills Partnership. All vacancies will be filled only to the end of the particular Steering Committee member s term. Resignation, Termination and Absences: Resignation from an officer of the Steering Committee must be in writing and received by the Secretary/Treasurer. An officer of the Steering Committee member shall be dropped from the Steering Committee if he or she has three unexcused absences from Steering Committee meetings in a year. A Steering Committee member may be removed for other reasons by three-fourth s vote of the remaining Steering Committee members. 5
SECTION 9 Special meetings: Special meetings of the Steering Committee shall be called upon the request of the Chair or one-third of the Steering Committee. Notices of special meetings shall be sent out by the Secretary/Treasurer to each Steering Committee member one week in advance. ARTICLE VI Committees Committees: The Steering Committee may create sub-committees as needed, such as Short Term Priority, Long Term Priority, Career Ladder Committee, Research and Education Committee and Sustainability Committee. Each committee shall consist of a minimum of three members. The Steering Committee Chair approves all sub-committee chairs. Committee chairs determine the frequency and avenue(s) of committee meetings and may coordinate these with the Workforce Intermediary. Committee chairs report back to Partnership at the quarterly meetings. Committee functions are as follows: A. The Steering Committee shall develop and maintain by-laws to provide organizational structure to the Partnership. In addition, they will provide guidance and oversight to the whole Partnership project, including recommendations for funding disbursement. B. The Short Term Priority Committee will address immediate needs and projects, identify strategies and resources to address the issues, create a 6-12 month implementation plan and develop an evaluation process with recommendations for improvements or next steps. C. The Long Term Priority Committee will address future needs and projects, identify strategies and resources to address the issues, create an implementation plan or a series of plans with timelines and develop an evaluation process with recommendations for improvements or next steps. D. The Career Ladder Committee shall explore horizontal and vertical advancement opportunities and avenues for healthcare workers. 6
E. The Education and Research Committee shall collect analyze and present research deemed by the group to be important to the mission of the Partnership, as well as plan educational programs/conferences as needed. In addition, the Committee will provide input to the content and maintenance of the Partnership web Site. F. The Sustainability Committee shall develop an avenue through which the efforts and achievements of the Partnership continue beyond the life of the grant. ARTICLE VII Meetings SECTION 2 SECTION 3 SECTION 4 The time and place of regular meetings shall be determined, by the Partnership, prior to the first meeting of the calendar year. Special meetings may be called by the Steering Committee Chair as necessary. The schedule of all meetings shall be disseminated in writing to all Partnership members and shall be posted on the program s website, when available. All meetings of the Partnership shall be open and public. Meeting notices and agendas will be sent to Partnership members at least five days prior to each regularly scheduled Partnership meeting. Whenever special meetings are required, the Secretary/Treasurer will give all Partnership members notice. Electronic/distance participation is acceptable. ARTICLE IX Voting Quorum: A quorum of the Partnership shall consist of members present. 7
ARTICLE X Amendments Section 1 These Bylaws may be amended when necessary after approved by the Steering Committee with no less than 5 members in attendance. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Secretary to be sent out with regular Steering Committee announcements. CERTIFICATION These Bylaws were approved by 9 members of the Steering Committee, including the Workforce Intermediary at a meeting of the Steering Committee on October 10, 2008 8