Seventh District. Volunteer. Rescue Squad. Bylaws

Seventh District Volunteer Rescue Squad Bylaws Revised 01/2015

Table of Contents Seventh District Volunteer Rescue Squad Bylaws... 1 Article One:Organization... 3 Article Two: Membership and Application Procedures... 4 Article Three: Administration... 5 Article Four:Amendments and Bylaws... 6 Article Five:Dissolving the Squad... 7 Article Six: Nomination, Election, and Installation of Elected Officers... 8 Article Seven: Elected Officers and their Responsibilities... 10 Article Eight: Appointed Officers and their Duties... 13 Article Nine: Membership Qualification and Member Duties... 15 Article Ten: Meetings and Drills... 20 Article Eleven: Leave of Absence (LOA) and Resignation... 22 Article Twelve: Expulsion... 23 Article Thirteen: Standing Committees... 24 Article Fourteen: Educational Reimbursements... 25 Appendix A: Education Scholarship... 26 Appendix B: Application For Work Permit For A Minor... 34 2

Article One: Organization A.) The name of this organization shall be the Seventh District Volunteer Rescue Squad, Incorporated, hereafter referred to as the squad in these bylaws. B.) The purpose of the squad is to provide Basic Life Support and/or Advanced Life Support service to St. Mary s County. This organization will provide this service in conjunction with the St. Mary s County Ambulance and Rescue Association, the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS), and the Maryland State Fireman s Association (MSFA). This squad will maintain standards set by the county, state, and national agencies at all times. C.) The primary area served by the squad is to be the Seventh District and part of the Fourth District area. D.) The Squad shall also respond to other areas as directed by the proper authority. 3

Article Two: Membership and Application Procedures A.) Membership shall consist of active members, auxiliary members, associate members, honorary members, lifetime members, junior members, and cadet members. B.) This organization shall prohibit any discrimination in all types of Membership as well as in all other types of activities that it may engage in on the basis of race, religion, sex, or national origin. C.) Application Procedures: 1.) All applications must be received by any active member. The member should sign and date the application and place it in the president s box. 2.) All applications will be read at the business meeting and tabled until the next business meeting. 3.) Applicants shall be afforded only two attempts at attaining membership. Those not accepted upon their initial application may resubmit an application no sooner than six (6) months and no less than twelve (12) months later. 4.) After applicants have been tabled for a month, they shall be voted upon by simple majority of the quorum. The voting will be done by secret ballot. 5.) The applicant will be contacted by the Vice President to set up an interview with the membership committee. This interview will be conducted prior to the meeting in which the application shall be voted on. 6.) All applicants, upon being accepted will serve a probationary period of one (1) year or more, as defined in these bylaws. 7.) The squad will use the county subsidized company to perform background checks on perspective candidates applying for membership. The information provided by the county subsidized company will be reviewed by the membership committee. The membership committee will be responsible for determining if the candidate should or should not be considered for membership. The vice president will make the final decision for membership consideration and present his/her decision to the squad. 4

Article Three: Administration A.) Election of a President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Chief, and two (2) Board Members at Large shall be held annually at the regular business meeting in December. Voting shall be by secret ballot. A simple majority of the quorum and eligible to vote shall be necessary to be elected to an office. B.) The Executive Board shall meet at the discretion of the President or two (2) or more Board members. C.) The Executive Board of the Squad shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Chief, and two (2) Members at Large. D.) The President of the Squad will serve as President of the Executive Board. 5

Article Four: Amendments and Bylaws A.) Proposed amendments to the bylaws shall be presented in writing by any active, lifetime, honorary, or associated member at a regular business meeting. The proposed amendment(s) shall be read. They shall be tabled and discussed at the next regular business meeting. B.) A simple majority of the quorum present and eligible to vote shall be required to carry an amendment or single group of amendments, except: Article Five, Section A. C.) A unanimous vote of all eligible voting members is necessary to Amend Article Five, Section A. D.) Each member shall be given a copy of the amendment(s) to be attached to his/her copy of the bylaws by the bylaw committee chairperson. 6

Article Five: Dissolving the Squad A.) To prevent the dissolution of this Squad, only five (5) active members desirous of its continuance, may hold the property and assets of the Squad in trust. 7

Article Six: Nomination, Election, and Installation of Elected Officers Nominations shall be held at the November business meeting. Any person who has been an active member for five (5) or more years, who has reached his or her 25 th birthday, and who meets all other qualifications of an active member may be eligible for nomination to any elected office. All nominations will remain open until the election at the December business meeting. Declinations for nomination will be accepted from the nominee during the November and the December meetings. Members nominated and not present at either meeting must state in writing their desire to serve in the position for which they are nominated. A.) Election of officers shall be held at the December business meeting. 1.) Prior to voting, the recording secretary or his/her designee will take a roll call to determine eligibility to vote. 2.) A simple majority of the quorum present and eligible to vote shall elect a nominee to office. No member shall be elected to more than one office. All officers will be elected by secret ballot. 3.) If the first ballot fails to elect an officer by majority vote, a second secret ballot will be held from the top three (3) candidates nominated for the office. 4.) If no selection is made from the three (3) candidates, a third secret ballot will be conducted from the top two (2) candidates nominated for office. 5.) If more than two (2) persons are nominated for the two (2) positions of Board Members at Large, no member may vote for the same nominee more than once. B.) Elected and appointed officers shall take office on the first regular business meeting in the month of January. C.) Officers will be officially installed at the Annual Installation Banquet. D.) The term of office shall be for one year. At the end of the term, all Squad properties shall be surrendered to the successor. E.) In the event of a vacancy of an elected office, the vacancy will be filled by a special election at the next regular business meeting. F.) An elected officer may be removed from office if found guilty of improper conduct or infraction of the rule and regulations (SOP s) or bylaws of this Squad. 1.) Charges must be presented in writing to the membership at a meeting of the Executive Board. 8

2.) After reviewing the charges and evidence, the active membership will vote by secret ballot. A 2/3 vote of those present and voting will be required to remove the officer from the elected position. 9

Article Seven: Elected Officers and their Responsibilities A.) There shall be seven elected officers of the Squad: President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Chief, and Two (2) Executive Board Members at Large. 1.) President: a.) The President shall preside at all business, special, and executive board meetings. He shall see that all meetings are conducted according to Robert s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, unless otherwise explicitly spelled out in these bylaws. b.) All committees and committee members shall be appointed by the President. He shall serve as an ex-officio member to all committees of the Squad. c.) The President shall call special meetings at his discretion. d.) The President has transferable signature authority from the Treasurer in his/her absence. See Article 7; Section A, Bullet 2C. e.) The President shall be bonded for a minimum of $500,000.00 at the Squad s expense and shall be audited by an Auditing committee annually. f.) The President or his appointee shall serve as a delegate to the St. Mary s County Ambulance Association and to the Southern Maryland Volunteer Fireman s Association. g.) The President shall appoint a Chaplain. h.) The President or his appointee shall ultimately be responsible for the proper administration of the length of service awards program (LOSAP), i.e. membership retirement system. 2.) Vice President a.) The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President during his absence. b.) The Vice President shall be the Parliamentarian of the Squad. 1. The Parliamentarian shall act as the Sergeant-at- Arms. 2. The Parliamentarian shall have available a copy of Robert s Rules of Order, Newly Revised all meetings. c.) The Vice President shall serve as the chairperson of the membership committee. d.) The Vice President shall perform other duties as assigned by the President. 10

3.) Recording Secretary a.) The Recording Secretary shall maintain all the written records, reports, minutes, and meeting roll call list of this Squad. b.) The Recording Secretary shall record and report all the minutes for meetings held at and for the Squad. 4.) Treasurer a.) The Treasurer shall maintain all financial records and reports of the Squad. b.) The Treasurer shall submit a monthly report of currency received and disbursed by the Squad at each regular business meeting. c.) The Treasurer shall have the primary signature authority on all Squad banking accounts. If the Treasurer is unavailable then this authority will pass onto the Squad President. See Article 7; Section A, Bullet 2D.. d.) The Treasurer shall pay all bills for normal operating expenses of the Squad. These bills must be presented to the Treasurer. e.) The Treasurer shall be bonded for a minimum of $500,000.00 at the Squad s expense and shall be audited by an Auditing committee annually. 5.) Chief a.) The Chief shall be responsible for the maintenance and operation of the equipment of the Squad. b.) The Chief shall be responsible for the assignment of duties to his officers and enforcement of the rules and regulations (SOP s) of this squad. c.) The chief shall appoint the following line officers: an Assistant Chief, a Deputy Chief, Captain(s), Lieutenant(s), Sergent(s), Chief Engineer, a Quality Assurance Officer and a Supply officer. d.) The Chief shall assign the following responsibilities among the appointed line officers: a PEIP Program Administrator, an IV Tech Coordinator, a Transport Coordinator, an AED Station Coordinator, a Safety Officer, a Training Officer, an Equipment Officer, an EMAIS Consultant and a Mentor/Liaison for new members. e.) The Chief shall be responsible for assigning or delegating assignment of all drills. f.) The Chief shall suspend temporarily any member for a violation of operation procedures (SOP s) until a special meeting of the Executive Board is called. This shall be done within 30 days. g.) The Chief or his appointee shall serve as the delegate to the St. Mary s County Ambulance Association and Southern Maryland Volunteer Fireman s Association. h.) The Chief shall approve emergency bills for operating purposes, but not to exceed $1000.00. i.) The Chief must maintain a minimum certification of EMT-B. 11

6.) Executive Board Members at Large a.) Two (2) active members of the Squad, at least 18 years of age, may be elected to sever as an Executive Board Member. b.) The Board shall be responsible for execution of the authorized policies (SOP s) and bylaws of this Squad. 12

Article Eight: Appointed Officers and their Duties A.) Assistant Chief 1.) The Assistant Chief shall be appointed by the Chief. 2.) In the event that the Chief is unable to fulfill his office, the Assistant Chief shall perform all duties of the Chief until the next business meeting. At the next business meeting, a special election shall be held to fill the position of Chief. 3.) The Assistant Chief shall be responsible for duties as assigned by the Chief. The Assistant Chief shall be held accountable by the Chief. 4.) In the absence of the Chief, the Assistant Chief shall perform all duties of the Chief. 5.) The Assistant Chief shall maintain a minimum certification of EMT-B. B.) Deputy Chief 1.) The Deputy Chief shall be responsible for duties assigned by the chief. The Deputy Chief shall be held accountable by the Chief. 2.) In the absence of the Assistant Chief, the Deputy Chief shall perform all duties of the Assistant Chief. 3.) The Deputy Chief shall maintain a minimum certification of IV-TECHEMT- B. C.) Captain(s) The Captain shall be responsible for duties assigned by the chief. The Captain shall be held accountable by the Chief. 1.) In the absence of the Deputy Chief, the Captain shall perform all duties of the Deputy Chief. 2.) The Captain shall maintain a minimum certification of EMT-B. D.) Lieutenant(s) 1.) The Lieutenant(s) shall be appointed by the Chief. 2.) The Lieutenant(s) shall be responsible for duties as assigned by the Chief. They shall be held accountable by the chief. 3.) The Lieutenant(s) shall be responsible for members when called to duty. 4.) The Lieutenant(s) shall maintain a minimum of EMT-B. 13

E.) Chief Engineer 1.) The Chief Engineer shall be appointed by the Chief. 2.) The Chief Engineer shall be responsible for maintenance and general upkeep of all vehicles owned by the Squad. The Chief Engineer shall be held accountable by the Chief. 3.) The Chief Engineer will report all vehicle conditions to the membership at each regular business meeting. 4.) The Chief Engineer may recommend Assistant Engineers for each vehicle owned by the Squad and the Chief will approve or decline the recommendation. F.) Assistant Engineer(s) 1.) The Assistant Engineer(s) shall be appointed by the Chief Engineer. 2.) The Assistant Engineer(s) shall be responsible for the maintenance and general upkeep of the vehicle to which they are assigned by the Chief Engineer. 3.) The Assistant Engineer(s) shall be accountable to the Chief Engineer and Chief or his/her designated officer as required. G.) Corresponding Secretary 1.) The Corresponding Secretary shall be appointed by the Recording Secretary. 2.) The Corresponding Secretary will keep accurate minutes of all meetings in the absence of the Recording Secretary. 3.) The Corresponding Secretary shall notify all members of special meetings at least 48 hours in advance. 4.) The Corresponding Secretary shall handle all correspondence and be accountable to the Recording Secretary. 5.) The Corresponding Secretary may not vote as a member of the Board in the absence of the Recording Secretary. H.) Chaplain 1.) The Chaplain is appointed by the President. 2.) The Chaplain shall perform religious duties as the Squad may require. 14

Article Nine: Membership Qualification and Member Duties A.) Probationary Membership 1.) Upon being accepted for membership, applicants shall serve a probationary period of one (1) year. 2.) During the probationary period, the member must enroll in an Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT-B) course. This pertains to any member who applies for active or junior membership. 3.) If unsuccessful in completing the EMT-B course, the probationary member must obtain at least a minimum certification of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Responder. 4.) Probationary members who were enrolled in a course but were unable to complete the course shall be given one (1) additional year to obtain the above training. Those failing to obtain the specified training within (2) years can, upon membership approval, be moved to either Associate or Driver status provided the prospective member meets the requirements for said position, and provided that such a vacancy exists on the rolls. 5.) Probationary members may not vote or hold an office. 6.) Probationary members shall attend all business meetings and drills unless excused by the President or Chief. 7.) Upon completion of the probationary period, a secret ballot will be held in order to move the member into active or junior membership. A simple majority of the quorum present and eligible to vote is necessary to move the member from the probationary status. 8.) Probationary members may be an emergency driver if authorized by the Chief. The authorization shall be in writing only after the member has completed the Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC). 9.) All applicants will be notified by the Vice President of the outcome of the vote on their application. If an applicant is denied membership, (s)he may pursue reapplication in accordance with the procedures in Article Two, Section C. B.) Active Membership 1.) All active members shall be of good moral character, and good physical and mental health. 2.) Active members shall be at least 18 years old, but may be 17 years old so long as (s)he has graduated from high school. 3.) Active members shall attend all business meetings, special meetings, drills, and training classes. They shall respond to emergency calls and transports as requested by the community. 15

4.) Active members not attending at least 50% of the meetings and drills during the calendar year shall follow Article Ten, unless excused by the President, Vice President, or Chief. 5.) All active members shall be eligible to vote, unless on leave of absence. 6.) It is the duty of each active member to maintain a level of professionalism on all calls. 7.) All active members shall maintain minimum certifications of CPR, and EMT- B. All members who desire to drive in an emergency mode shall also complete EVOC. 8.) All active members shall comply with the provisions of these by-laws and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP s) as defined by the Squad. 9.) All active members serving a duty shift shall respond during their shift. If a member cannot serve a shift, (s)he shall fill the vacancy by obtaining another Squad member to fill their shift. 10.) Any active member who resigns or is voted out of this Squad shall turn over all Squad possessions to the Member s Equipment Committee. C.) Associate Member, Inactive 1.) Associate members shall have the right to attend all business meetings and drills. They are encouraged to express their opinions at said meetings and drills. 2.) Associate members are non-voting members, unless they are summoned to hold an Executive Office. 3.) An associate member shall be any active or previously active member who shows good cause to be moved to associate membership status. 4.) Associate members may be one who, because of health, age, or other physical condition cannot continue to run as an active member. 5.) An associate member may request to return to active member status so long as (s)he meets the requirements and such vacancy exists on the rolls. 6.) Upon resigning or being voted out of the Squad, the member shall return all Squad possessions to the Member s Equipment Committee. D.) Active Member, Driver Only 1.) Driver Only shall be any individual who meets the requirements as specified below. 2.) The individual must fill out an application if they are not a current Squad member. The individual will then be required to serve a one (1) year probationary period and follow the guidelines established in Article Nine, Section A, Item 3. 3.) The individual must be at least 18 years of age. 4.) The individual must maintain minimum certification levels of CPR, AED, and EVOC. 5.) The individual must complete EVOC within the probationary period. Should an EVOC course not be available or if the individual is unable to complete the class (s)he will be given an additional year to obtain such training. 16

6.) The membership committee reserves the right to request a valid copy of the individual s driving record at any time. 7.) Any active member who has good cause may request to be moved to Associate (Driver Only) status. 8.) There shall be only 8% of the roster reserved for Active Member, Drive Only status. 9.) Persons with Active Member, Driver Only status will follow all guidelines as outlined in Article Nine, Section B, except Item 8. E.) Lifetime Membership 1.) A lifetime member shall be an active member who has served at least 20 years of active service to the squad and shall be a member in good standing. 2.) A member must be nominated for lifetime membership by an active member. A member cannot nominate themselves. The nomination must receive at least ¾ of the quorum present and voting to be moved to lifetime status. The nomination need not be tabled for 30 days. 3.) The lifetime member shall maintain all privileges of an active member, so long as he/she attends 50% of the business meetings during the calendar year. 4.) The Lifetime member must attend 50% of the business meetings during the year in order to be eligible to vote. F.) Junior Membership 1.) A junior member shall be at least 16 years of age. He/she must have written parental/guardian consent in order to apply for membership. 2.) All junior members shall be of good moral character, and in good physical and mental health. 3.) All junior members shall live or work in the first due areas serviced by Companies 5 and 59. 4.) Junior members shall attend all business meetings and drills. They shall be allowed to respond to emergency calls and transports, so long as they meet the minimum training certification of CPR. 5.) Junior members will be under the direct supervision of an active or lifetime member. 6.) Junior members are subject to child labor law restrictions on duty hours. They may not serve as ambulance attendants for more than eight (8) hours in one day, and must be given a half-hour off duty meal break if they are on duty for more than five (5) straight hours. Further, they may not serve on duty past 2400 hours on school nights. However, junior members who answer ambulance calls prior to the 2400 hours deadline may continue to serve as attendants for the duration of that call, even if this means serving past 2400 hours. They shall not go out on any additional calls after 2400 hours on a school night. There are no night restrictions during summer vacation. 7.) Junior members must complete an application for work permit for a minor and obtain a Maryland Minor Work Permit. Instructions for completing a work permit can be found at: Appendix B or http://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/wages/empm.shtml#minorinst. 17

8.) Junior members are non-voting members. 9.) Junior members must maintain a C (2.0) average in school. A copy of the report card must be submitted to the Vice President during the mid-term and final term of each school year. 10.) Junior members shall vacate the building and grounds by 2400 hours, Sunday through Thursday, during the school year. 11.) Junior members shall be voted on by secret ballot. A simple majority of those present and eligible to vote will be required to accept or reject the individual into junior membership. 12.) Upon his/her 18 th birthday or 17 years old for those who have graduated from high school, the member may move to active membership status as long as they meet the requirements or move to associate membership. G.) Auxiliary Membership 1.) Auxiliary members are a group of members who operate under the direction of the Squad. 2.) Auxiliary members shall follow the by-laws as set forth by their organization. 3.) The Squad reserves the right to approve all by-laws and amendments of the auxiliary membership. H.) Cadet Membership 1.) All cadet members shall be at least 15 years of age. He/she must have written parental/guardian consent in order to apply for membership. 2.) All Cadet members shall be of good moral character, and in good physical and mental health. 3.) All Cadet members shall live or work in the first due areas serviced by Companies 5 and 59. 4.) Cadet members shall attend all business meetings and drills. They shall be allowed to respond to emergency calls and transports, so long as they meet the minimum training certification of CPR. 5.) Cadet members will be under the direct supervision of an active or lifetime member at all times. 6.) Cadet members are subject to child labor law restrictions on duty hours. They may not serve as ambulance attendants for more than eight (8) hours in one day, and must be given a half-hour off duty meal break if they are on duty for more than five (5) straight hours. Further, they may not serve on duty past 2400 hours on school nights. However, Cadet members who answer ambulance calls prior to the 2400 hours deadline may continue to serve as attendants for the duration of that call, even if this means serving past 2400 hours. They shall not go out on any additional calls after 2400 hours. on a school night. There are no night restrictions during summer vacation. 7.) Cadet members must complete an application for work permit for a minor and obtain a Maryland Minor Work Permit. Instructions for completing a work permit can be found at: Appendix B or http://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/wages/empm.shtml#minorinst. 8.) Cadet members are non-voting members. 18

9.) Cadet members must maintain a C (2.0) average in school. A copy of the report card must be submitted to the Vice President during the mid-term and final term of each school year. 10.) Cadet members shall vacate the building and grounds by 2400 hours, Sunday through Thursday, during the school year. 11.) Cadet members shall be voted on by secret ballot. A simple majority of those present and eligible to vote will be required to accept or reject the individual into Cadet membership. 12.) Upon his/her 16 th birthday, the cadet member may move to junior membership status. I.) Honorary Membership 1.) Honorary membership may be bestowed upon a distinguished individual who has dedicated service and/or contributed significantly to the squad in a volunteer capacity. This individual does not meet the requirements for other membership categories. Honorary membership is a distinguished honor. 2.) The Honorary member will not qualify for LOSAP. 3.) The Honorary member shall not be eligible to vote at business meetings or will not be eligible to hold any elected for appointed office. The individual shall not have the rights and privileges of regular members or auxiliary members. 4.) The Honorary member may participate in squad social functions. 5.) The nomination must be made in writing by a member in good standing of the squad and voting is held in accordance with other membership categories. 19

Article Ten: Meetings and Drills A.) Meetings 1.) Business meetings of the Squad will be held the second Monday of each month, unless otherwise directed by the majority of the membership. 2.) The business meeting will be held at 7:30PM, unless otherwise directed by the majority of the membership. 3.) Special meetings may be called by the President, Vice President, Chief, or a minimum of four (4) active members. All members shall be encouraged to attend special meetings. These meetings will be announced 48 hours prior to the meeting time by the Corresponding Secretary. 4.) A minimum of one third (1/3) of the members from the roles shall constitute a quorum at each meeting. 5.) Members who are unable to attend meetings must be excused by the President, Vice President, or Chief. 6.) Members who are unexcused for more than 50% of the meetings shall lose their right to vote in the December elections or hold an office for a one (1) year period. 7.) A letter of intent from the President shall be sent to any who exceeds unexcused absences grater than 50%. The member shall have 30 days in which to respond to the President or Vice President. Any member who does not respond will be automatically dropped from the rolls and may not reapply for a period of one (1) year. 8.) The order of business at the meetings shall be as follows: i. Call to Order ii. Roll Call iii. Welcome of any guest iv. Meeting minutes from the previous meeting will be available to the membership to review, prior to the next business meeting. The meeting minutes will be emailed to the membership. Any questions can be addressed at the meeting. After all questions have been addressed, the president will make a motion to accept the minutes as reviewed by the membership. v. Reading and approval of financial report vi. Officers Reports vii. Committee Reports viii. Membership Actions ix. Communication x. Old Business xi. New Business xii. Nomination of Officers (November) xiii. Nomination and Election of Officers (December) xiv. Remarks for the Good of the Order xv. Adjournment 20

B.) Drills 1.) The third Monday of each month shall be designated for training. The drill shall be held at 7:00PM unless otherwise directed by the Chief or Training Officer, or their designee. 2.) All drills will be conducted by or scheduled by the Chief or Training Officer, or their designee. 3.) Members are expected to attend all drills. 4.) Members may be excused from drills by the Chief, Assistant Chief, or Training Officer. 5.) Members who are unexcused for more than 50% of the drills shall lose their right to vote in the December elections or hold an office for a one (1) year period. 6.) A letter of intent from the President shall be sent to any who exceeds unexcused absences greater than 50%. The member shall have 30 days in which to respond to the President or Vice President. Any member who does not respond will be automatically dropped from the rolls and may not reapply for a period of one (1) year. 21

Article Eleven: Leave of Absence (LOA) and Resignation A.) Any member who desires an LOA must submit a letter of intent to the Executive Board. B.) Any member who is on LOA shall lose the right to vote. C.) A LOA shall be granted by the Executive Board for any active or non-probationary member. Each decision will be based on individual circumstances. D.) The LOA shall not exceed one year. Upon completion of the period, the member must specify in writing that he/she wishes to return to active status. E.) Any members may be placed on LOA for military and/or school purposes. If the member was a probationary member at the time of LOA, time previously served on probation will be accredited toward active membership. F.) Resignation of any member terminated all rights at the Squad. All Squad property must be turned into the Member s Equipment Committee. G.) Any member who has resigned and wishes to rejoin the Squad must follow the rules as they apply for new members. 22

Article Twelve: Expulsion A.) Any member of the Squad may be expelled or expended for violating the by-laws. B.) Any member of the Squad may be expelled for committing an act that is considered detrimental to the Squad. C.) Each case shall be presented to the Executive Board in writing. A meeting will be held with all members involved and the Executive Board. D.) The Executive Board may not take action against the individual. They will make a written recommendation to the President. E.) The President shall bring the issue to the next business or special meeting. Only voting members shall be allowed to attend the meeting. The Executive Board recommendation and facts about the incident shall be read at the meeting. F.) The matter will be tabled for 30 days. The Executive Board will then determine if the member in question is to be suspended from all Squad activity until resolution of the matter. No discussion will be held on the issue until the next meeting. G.) All members not present at the meeting will be notified by the Corresponding Secretary via First-Class mail of the next meeting and the issues to be discussed. H.) At the next meeting, The President shall remove all non-voting members. A second reading of the Executive Board recommendation, the letter to the Board, and the facts shall be read. The matter will be open to discussion to the membership. I.) After the issue has been discussed, those accused may present their concerns. Upon review of the facts and issues, a vote will be held. In order to carry out an expulsion, it requires 2/3 of the members present and voting. 23

Article Thirteen: Standing Committees A.) The standing committee members and chairperson of said committees will be appointed by the President. B.) Any additional committees shall be appointed as needed by the President. C.) The standing committees of the Squad shall be as follows: 1.) Membership 2.) Installation 3.) Ambulance and New Equipment 4.) Fund Raising 5.) By-Laws 6.) Building and Grounds 7.) County Ambulance Association 8.) Maryland State Fireman s Association and Southern Maryland Fireman s Association 9.) United Givers Fund 10.) Audit 11.) Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) 12.) Goodwill Ambassador 13.) Parades 14.) Community Service 15.) ACTS Representative 16.) EMS Week/Public Relations 17.) Member s Equipment 18.) Generator 19.) Auxiliary Liaison 20.) Computer Technology 21.) Calling Tree 22.) Memorials 23.) Chaplin 24

Article Fourteen: Educational Reimbursements A.) Scholarships 1.) The scholarship is in conjunction with the St Mary s County ESC Scholarship Program. To qualify for the Squad Scholarship, the student must qualify for the county scholarship and be a member of good standing with company 59 for 1 year. See. Appendix A; St. Mary s County FIRE/EMS Scholarship Program, Scholarship Eligibility. 2.) The student shall provide confirmation of scholarship acceptance by the county. 3.) The squad scholarship will be capped at an amount set by the executive board. B.) Continuing Education 1.) A Training request must be submitted to the chief and/or training officer prior to attendance. 2.) Continuing education assistance, less then $250 per class, is left to the discretion of the Chief or Training Officer. 3.) Special Considerations, greater then $250 per class should be requested and brought before the Executive Board. 4.) Continuing education is considered as EMS training taken to benefit the squad. 25

Appendix A.: ST. MARY S COUNTY FIRE/EMS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM YEAR 2006 2007 To: Fire/EMS Scholarship Applicant Date: 6 June 2006 Enclosed you will find a brochure outlining the St. Mary s County Scholarship criteria for the 2006-2007 school year, an application form and a blank Agreement. If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, please submit the following to the St. Mary s County Emergency Services Committee, Attention: Ms. Gloria LeDonne, Post Office Box 653, Leonardtown, Maryland 20650-0653. 1. Completed the application form. Any items left unanswered on the application or attachments omitted may cause this application not to be processed. 2. Complete the Agreement by entering your name on the first page and signing and printing your name on the second page also enter the date on the second page under your name. If you are awarded a scholarship a completed copy of this document will be mailed to you. 3. A copy of your acceptance letter into your post secondary education institution AND a copy of your acceptance into the clinical portion of your studies (if applicable). NO FAXED COPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED. The Scholarship Committee will review the information and make recommendations to the SMCESC for approval. You will receive a letter by the end of August informing you of your status. 26

If you have any questions concerning this program, please contact Ms. Gloria LeDonne at 301-475-4200 x 2112. Thank you for your interest in the St. Mary s County Fire/EMS Scholarship Program. GUIDELINES FOR ST. MARY S COUNTY FIRE & EMS EXTENDED EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP Scholarships for courses leading to a certificate, diploma, or other evidence of qualification required for graduation from a recognized post secondary educational facility has been established by the Board of County Commissioners for St. Mary s County. Scholarship Eligibility: An active member is defined as a member that met the minimum program requirements for the previous calendar year in the Length of Service Program for Members of the Volunteer Fire Departments, Rescue Squads and Advanced Life Support Unit as defined in the Code of the County of St. Mary s, Maryland, Division 2, Code of Ordinances and Resolutions, Chapter 181 (LOSAP for VFD, VRS or ALS). Scholarship awards will be made annually to active members of a St. Mary s County Volunteer Fire Department, Rescue Squad, or Advance Life Support Unit. 27

Scholarship Awards Process: (1) Applicants will make application to the St. Mary s County Emergency Services Scholarship Sub-committee by deadline dates established by the Emergency Services Committee. (2) Applicants will be selected from a pool of candidates recommended by the President, Chief or their designee of a St. Mary s County Volunteer Fire Department, Rescue Squad or the Advanced Life Support Unit. (3) The total funding available will be divided evenly amongst the applicants that have met eligibility requirements, submitted a properly completed application, and approved by the ESC. (4) Upon notification of award, recipients will furnish the County via the Emergency Services Committee Scholarship Sub-committee a signed Memorandum of Agreement to provide the following: a. Upon registration: 1) The course or courses the student is taking that the scholarship will subsidize. b. Upon course completion: 1) A copy of the applicant s registration and bookstore receipts that indicates the dollars paid for tuition and course materials. Scholarship reimbursement will not exceed the cost of tuition and course materials. 2) The institutions grade report showing satisfactory completion with a minimum of a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale or better. 3) A document signed by the President, Chief, or their designee providing proof that the applicant met the minimum program requirements of LOSAP for VFD, VRS or ALS for the previous twelve months while attending these scholarshipsubsidized classes. 28

(5) On satisfactory completion of the requirements of the Memorandum of Agreement the Scholarship Sub-committee will forward the Memorandum of Agreement with all four attachments to the County Finance Department via the ESC Chairman. (6) The County Finance Department will issue approved funds to the scholarship recipient. (7) Recipients of said scholarship shall be required to resubmit a valid application for each school year the scholarship is requested and the Scholarship Sub-committee will make renewal determination at that time. 29

AGREEMENT NO. ST. MARY S COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE (SMCESC) THIS AGREEMENT is entered into this day of, 2006, effective as of 1 July, 2006, by and between St. Mary s County, Maryland, hereinafter referred to as County and, hereinafter referred to as Applicant. IN CONSIDERATION of the promises contained herein and the promises made to each, the parties do agree as follows: ARTICLE I REQUIREMENTS The Applicant agrees to provide a copy of their registration and course materials receipts that indicate the dollars paid for tuition and course materials within one month of enrollment. The Applicant agrees to provide the names of the courses for which this tuition was paid within one month of enrollment. The Applicant agrees to provide the learning institutions grade report showing satisfactory completion with a minimum of a 2.0 on a 4.0 scale or better within two weeks of course completion. The Applicant agrees to meet the minimum program requirements of LOSAP for VFD, VRS or ALS for the year in which they are enrolled. The Applicant agrees to provide a copy of their annual LOSAP form to the SMCESC within one month of the forms generation. Each of the items above will contain the following information: 30

a) The number of this Agreement; b) Signature of the Chief or his designee. The Applicant agrees that should he or she later be reimbursed for tuition or books through another State of Maryland award program, they will repay Saint Mary s County for those funds that exceed the total costs incurred for tuition and books immediately upon reimbursement by the other program. ARTICLE II TERM Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Agreement or other document to the contrary, the Student may terminate this Agreement at any time upon written notice; however, the Student may be subject to forfeiture of funds for the tuition program for which they have placed. ST. MARY S COUNTY, MARYLAND Applicant Chairman/Co-Chairman SMCESC Signature Applicant Signature Chairman/Co-Chairman SMCESC Printed Name Applicant Printed Name Date Date 31

ST. MARY S COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES COMMITTEE FIRE / EMS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION Name: Date of Application: Address: Phone # (Home) (Work) S.S.# Email Address: EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE High School: Years attended: Special courses and/or higher education if any: Name of School: 32

Address of School: Number of course credits hours to be taken under this scholarship. Cost per credit hour. Attach completed and signed Agreement and confirmation of acceptance to your application. FIRE/EMS EXPERIENCE What department(s) do you currently volunteer in? How long have you been a volunteer in this department(s)? Prior year LOSAP points? Do you have prior Fire/EMS experience; if so, where? I certify that the facts contained in this application are true and complete to the best of my knowledge and understand that, if awarded this scholarship, falsified statements or omission of facts on this application shall be grounds for forfeiting the scholarship. Date Signed: Signature of Applicant: INFORMATION MUST BE EITHER HAND DELIVERED TO THIS OFFICE OR POSTMARKED BY 25 June 2006 33

Appendix B. Application For Work Permit For A Minor 34