SECTION 1
PRESIDENT
1. The President of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the organization.
2.
It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the
Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators and to enforce rules and
regulations regarding its administration. The President shall vote only
in the case of a tie vote. He/she shall serve for a term of one year
and can succeed him or herself in office, however, he/she cannot serve
for more than two consecutive terms. The President shall, as occasions
demand, call meetings of the Executive Board or the Review Committee.
SECTION 2
VICE PRESIDENT
1.
The Vice President shall hold office for one year and can succeed him
or herself in office, however, he/she cannot serve for more than two
consecutive terms. It shall be the duty of the Vice President to
preside at all meetings in the absence of the President, and to assist
the President in the enforcement of the rules and regulations regarding
the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators.
2. In the
event of resignation, suspension or termination of the President, the
Vice President shall ascend to the office of President and serve until
the next scheduled general election of officers of the Florida
Association of Hostage Negotiators.
3. In the event of the
resignation, suspension, or termination of both the President and the
Vice President, the Treasurer shall ascend to the office of President,
and serve until the next scheduled general election of the Florida
Association of Hostage Negotiators.
SECTION 3
SECRETARY
1.
The Secretary shall be elected during the scheduled general election of
the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators, and shall hold office
for one year. The secretary may succeed him or herself. He/she shall
keep minutes of all meetings, act as parliamentarian, conduct
correspondence, issue notices of meetings, keep current a record of
membership, and perform all other duties normally pertaining to the
office of Secretary. He/she shall furnish a copy of the minutes of all
meetings to Executive Board and the Review Committee. A member shall be
furnished a copy of the minutes upon a request in writing to the
Secretary.
SECTION 4
TREASURER
1. The
Treasurer shall be elected during the scheduled general election of the
Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators, and shall hold office for
one year. The Treasurer may succeed himself or herself. He/she shall
maintain all financial records pertaining to the office of Treasurer.
He/she shall ensure that all applicable tax obligations are met and
corporate filings are made, within the time limits imposed by
statute. He/she shall furnish regular financial reports to the
Executive Board and the Review Committee. A member shall be furnished a
copy of the financial report upon request in writing to the Treasurer.
SECTION 5
SERGEANT AT ARMS
1.
The Sergeant at Arms shall be elected during the scheduled general
election of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators, for a term
of one year, and may succeed him or herself.
2. The duties
of the Sergeant at Arms shall be to insure that only members in good
standing or a special guest or any other person or persons approved by
the Executive Board are present during the closed sessions of the
meetings, and to perform other duties as directed by the President.
3.
The duties of the Sergeant at Arms shall also include coordinating and
monitoring the elections process and ensuring that only members present
during the designated election period cast a ballot.
SECTION 6
AMBASSADOR AT LARGE
1.
The Ambassador at Large shall be elected during the scheduled general
election of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators, for a term
of one year, and may succeed him or herself.
2. The duties
of the Ambassador at Large shall include promotion of the works and
efforts of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators throughout
the Criminal Justice community, and the general public, to actively
encourage agency and member support and recruitment into the Florida
Association of Hostage Negotiators, as well as perform other duties as
directed by the President.
SECTION 7
PROGRAM/TRAINING DIRECTOR
1.
The Program/Training Director shall be appointed by the incoming
President during the scheduled general election of the Florida
Association of Hostage Negotiators, for a term of one year, and may
succeed him or herself.
2. The duties of the
Program/Training Director shall be to secure/coordinate suitable
locations and topics for future training seminars along with arranging
for speakers, vendors and trainers for designated meetings and
seminars. The Program/Training Director shall also maintain
routine contact with Regional Directors and assist them with requested
training needs.
SECTION 8
CHAPLAIN
1.
The Chaplain shall be appointed by the incoming President during the
scheduled general election of the Florida Association of Hostage
Negotiators, for a term of one year, and may succeed him or herself.
2.
The duties of the Chaplain shall include providing member counseling
for the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators throughout the
Criminal Justice community, and the general public. To preside over the
benediction and invocation at the opening and/or closing of the annual
conference, and the conference banquet, as well as perform duties as
directed by the President.
SECTION 9
PAST PRESIDENTS
1. Past Presidents shall serve as a member of the executive board, and act as advisors on matters of concern to the
organization.
2. Past Presidents shall have any and all privileges associated to a seat on the Executive Board; to include voting rights.
3. Past Presidents shall have the right to run for the office of President after one-year absence from the office.
4. Past Presidents shall be considered lifetime members, not subject to annual dues or fees.
SECTION 10
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
1.
All members of the founding Executive Board (elected at the first
organization meeting, held at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office on
December 12, 1996) shall serve as a Board of Trustees for FAHN. These
members shall be considered lifetime members, not subject to annual
dues or fees. These persons have shown an overwhelming desire to ensure
the success and longevity of the association, and are to act as
advisors and mentors to the Executive Board, as well as be available to
assist in the day to day operations of FAHN.
2. The
members of the Board of Trustees shall serve so long as they remain
members in good standing of FAHN. Once all members of the founding
Executive Board have left the Association, the Board of Trustees as is
herein defined, will cease to exist.
SECTION 11
REVIEW COMMITTEE
1.
The Review Committee shall be made up of the Executive Board and the
Regional Directors. Regional Directors shall be nominated by members
from their respective regions and elected by those members during the
scheduled general election of the Florida Association of Hostage
Negotiators. Regional Directors may succeed themselves without limits.
2.
The duties of the Review Committee shall be to investigate any actions
of individual members in regard to the possible effect on the Florida
Association of Hostage Negotiators; to take emergency action in
suspending members; to recommend to the general membership follow-up
action on a suspension or termination; to recommend changes in policy
and procedure; and to periodical review and to purge records and files
of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators; to actively
encourage agency and member support and recruitment into the Florida
Association of Hostage Negotiators and to perform any other duties as
directed by the president.
SECTION 12
COMMITTEES
1. The Executive Board shall be responsible for the overall operation of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators.
2. The following committees are designated as standing committees; the Rules Committee, the Program Committee, and the
Training Committee.
3. Other committees may be established and disbanded as deemed necessary and directed by the President.
4. The director of each committee shall be appointed by the President and serve at his or her pleasure.
SECTION 13
MEETINGS
1.
Regular Board meetings of the Florida Association of Hostage
Negotiators shall be held once each quarter in a manner and/or location
as prescribed by the President. Meetings shall be held at host agencies
or any other suitable locations.
2. One regular annual
statewide meeting shall be scheduled each year, and will be open to all
members. Dates and locations of these yearly meetings shall be
determined by the Executive Board, and will include business, training,
equipment demos and technique updates whenever possible, utilizing
instructors and experts in the field of crisis management/intervention.
The Program/Training Director, with the assistance of the Program
Committee, shall be responsible for planning the meeting program.
3.
Special meetings of the Association may be held in cases of serious
emergency and shall be called by the President at a time and place
designated by the President upon the request of the Executive Board or
by a two-thirds vote of the members.
4. Individual member
representation regardless of number, from two-thirds of the members in
attendance shall constitute a quorum at any meeting. Unless otherwise
required by the Constitution or By-Laws, a majority vote of members
present after a quorum is established is all that is necessary for
approval of matters coming before the meeting.
5. Regional Directors shall ensure that periodic regional training is conducted within the region they represent.
SECTION 14
AMENDMENTS
1.
Procedure for modifying or adding amendments: The Constitution and/or
Bylaws of this Association may be amended by presenting a resolution,
in writing, to the Association President, who shall have the Secretary
post the proposed changes on the Association’s web site, or by any
other manner as prescribed by the Executive Board, at least thirty (30)
days prior to the annual conference. A two-thirds ( 2/3 ) majority vote
of voting members in attendance at the conference is required to amend
the Constitution and a simple majority vote of voting members attending
the conference is required to amend the Bylaws. A qualified member is
one whose dues are current and is in good standing with the Association.
2.
Effective date of amendments and resolutions: All
amendments/resolutions passed and adopted by this Association, in
accordance with the rules set forth in the Constitution or Bylaws,
shall be in force and effective upon the adjournment of the conference
wherein considered and adopted, provided an exception to this effect is
not otherwise contained in the language of the amendment/resolution
itself.
SECTION 15
RULES OF ORDER
1.
The Rules of Order of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators
shall be Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, in all instances not covered
by the Constitution or By-Laws.
SECTION 16
ENLARGEMENT OR REDUCTION OF TIME
1.
When any act is required or allowed to be done at, before or within a
specified time by the provisions of these By-Laws, for good cause
shown, the Executive Board may order the period enlarged or reduced or
may permit the act to be done when failure to act was the result of
excusable neglect or an enlargement or reduction is warranted by reason
of exceptional circumstance.
SECTION 17
ETHICAL CONDUCT
1.
Each individual member shall, at all times, conduct himself or herself
with integrity, and in a manner to reflect credit upon the criminal
justice profession, as well as the Florida Association of Hostage
Negotiators.
SECTION 18
RESOLUTION
1. Every
resolution, unless of a formal character or involving amendments to the
Constitution and/or Bylaws, requiring handling in accordance with
Bylaws Section 14, shall be in writing and presented to the Executive
Board for consideration and report prior to the last day of the
conference. Any resolution considered by the Executive Board shall be
presented to a quorum, along with the recommendation of the President
in sufficient time for consideration prior to voting on the resolution.
SECTION 19
ELECTIONS
1.
Eligibility: Candidates for President-Elect and Vice President-Elect
shall meet or exceed the minimum qualifications listed below. A
committee appointed by the (current) President shall evaluate the
qualifications of each candidate and shall validate compliance with
these requirements to the quorum.
a. Be an active member of the Association in good standing.
b. Candidates for President shall have served at least one year in an elected Executive Board position.
2. Elections process/procedures:
a. Elections will be held during the general membership business meeting of the Association’s annual conference.
b. Only members in good standing and present at the time of elections are permitted to cast a ballot. There will be no
absentee ballots.
c. A member may vote for the Executive Board positions and ONLY for the Regional Director position in their respective
region. Ballots which are not properly completed (i.e. someone
votes for more than one person in any category) shall
make
the entire ballot null and void. Failure to vote for at least one
candidate in any category will not invalidate a ballot.
d. Members seeking a position on the Executive Board must be present at the time that elections are conducted, unless
extenuating circumstances preclude it. Such circumstances
must be approved by a majority of the current Executive Board
in order to be excused from this provision. In the event that a
candidate for an Executive Board position is not present
and/or the absence is not excused by the Executive Board, then the candidate will be disqualified.
e. Candidates for Regional Director Positions do not have to be present during the election process.
f. Once ballots are cast, the ballots will be tabulated by a committee, to include all past Presidents present at the annual
conference or any designee, excluding those who are running for
office. Ballots which are not properly completed shall be
considered null and void. Ballot election results will
remain confidential until released at the time designated by the
current
President.
g. Once the ballots are tabulated, they will be secured with the Association Secretary, until the time they are validated.
h. The ballots will be retained for a period of six months from the closing date following the conference.
i. Any protest or challenge of the election results must be submitted to the Secretary in writing, by the aggrieved party, no
later than thirty (30) days after the closing of the annual conference.
1) Contested results will be resolved by the Executive Board of Directors at the first quarterly meeting after the grievance is
filed.
2) The aggrieved party may elect to be present at the meeting and during the validation process.
3) Once the Executive Board arrives at a decision, the President will notify the aggrieved party in writing, within thirty (30)
calendar days.
j. In the event of a tie vote:
1) In the case of a Regional Director’s position, the Executive Board of Directors will appoint a candidate.
2) In the case of an Executive Board position, the Board of Trustees, to include past Presidents, will appoint the candidate.
k. In the event that there is no qualifying candidate for a position, an exception may be
made with a 2/3rds vote of Executive Board members present at the current election.
SECTION 20
DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY
1.
Candidates for any Board of Directors position, to include the
Executive Board, shall submit a declaration of their candidacy, in
writing, to the Secretary by the end of the regularly scheduled session
the day prior to the business meeting, the year they are seeking
election by the quorum.
SECTION 21
TERMS OF OFFICE
1.
Members of the Board shall serve from the time they are installed in
office until their successors are installed in office, unless they
officially resign in writing, or are suspended or removed from office.
2.
Officers shall be installed in office during the Association’s annual
conference, unless exigent or extenuating circumstances exist.
3. Officers may be installed in office at such time as may become necessary due to the filling of a vacancy or other cause.
SECTION 22
VACANCIES
1.A
vacancy in the office of the President shall be filled by the
advancement in rank, as previously stated in Section 2. Such
advancement in rank shall be in an “acting” capacity only until the
next regular election of officers.
2.A vacancy in the office of
any Board of Directors shall be filled by an appointment made by the
President and shall be subject to confirmation by a simple majority of
the remaining members of the Executive Board.
3.Once appointed, the “acting” Board member assumes all duties, responsibilities and privileges the position holds.
4.Officers
who were either advanced in rank due to a vacancy or appointed by the
President may declare their candidacy for the office in which they are
“acting” at the next regular elections of officers and if elected,
shall be eligible to serve a full term in office.
SECTION 23
REMOVAL/SUSPENSION FROM OFFICE
1.
The President, Vice President, or member of the Board of Directors of
the Association may be removed from office only for reason of
malfeasance of duty, misfeasance of duty, nonfeasance of duty, for
being arrested, or for committing an act that brings significant
discredit to the Association.
SECTION 24
OFFICERS AND DUTIES
1. President - In addition to other duties as may be required, the President shall:
a. Appoint committees in accordance with the mission of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators.
b. Keep members appropriately informed of Association activities.
c. Make appointments to fill vacancies in office, subject to confirmation by the Executive Board.
d.
Ensure that the FAHN policies are adequately maintained and
properly adhered to in day-to-day functioning of the
Association.
e. Set goals, policies, and procedures for the Association to follow.
f.
Present any proposed amendments to the FAHN budget in effect
during the term of office for consideration and
approval by the Executive Board of Directors.
g.
Represent, or appoint a designee to represent, the Association at
the scheduled NCNA meeting(s) and/or other
official meetings or proceedings where FAHN representation is required or desirable.
2. Other Officers –
a.
Duties: The other officers shall serve in the same manner and for
the same purposes as the President and shall in good faith support and
carry out the mission of the Association. In such manner, they
shall serve in the absence of the President and/or any of themselves in
the order of their rank/position.
SECTION 25
FUND EXPENDITURES
1.
Specified Expenses: The Treasurer shall be authorized to spend
necessary funds to fulfill the requirements of his/her office as
outlined in the Constitution and/or Bylaws of the Association.
2.
Unspecified Expenses: The Board of Officers shall be authorized to
approve all other expenses not specifically outlined in the
Constitution and Bylaws of this Association.
3. Authorizing
Funds Expenditures: Expenditures of Association funds shall be governed
by the Executive Board of Directors. Major expenditures of organization
funds, which exceed $2500, shall be approved by the Executive Board of
Directors.
4. Expenditures of Association funds, which do not exceed $2500, may be authorized by the president or his Board designee.
SECTION 26
LIABILITY
1.
Bonds: The Executive Board shall require persons in the Association,
who are identified as those handling significant amounts of the
Association’s funds, to be adequately bonded.
2. Liability: The
Executive Board shall be responsible for having the Association
adequately covered by liability and other necessary insurance.
3. Costs: The Association shall bear the costs associated with the provisions of this Article.
SECTION 27
MEMBERSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS
1. Active Member: (Previously Defined in Bylaws)
Active
membership is limited to current, and/or retired Law Enforcement
Officers, Corrections Officers, Parole and Probation Officers, and
Criminal Justice Support Personnel of municipal police departments,
sheriff’s offices, State Attorney Offices, and the Florida Department
of Law Enforcement. This will also include federal, state, county or
local agencies having law enforcement jurisdiction and/or
responsibilities in crisis incidents.
2. Associate Member:
Those
persons not meeting the requirements for any other class of membership
and are from law enforcement agencies outside the State of Florida or
employed in the educational or mental health field and not directly in
a criminal justice support role are eligible for this class of
membership. Associate members may not vote and may not hold
office, but may serve on special and service committees.
3. Honorary Member:
Those
persons who have made significant contributions to the objectives of
FAHN. This membership is limited to those individuals who may have no
incentive to obtain membership in any category but, by virtue of their
position or accomplishments. The Honorary member shall not vote or hold
office in any capacity, except that they may serve as Ex Officio
members of any committee. Eligibility for this category may only be
initiated upon a recommendation by a member to the Board of Directors.
Honorary Member status must be approved by a majority vote of the
Executive Board.
4. Life Members:
Members of FAHN, who have
made significant contributions, by actions or deeds beyond the normal
call of duty toward the successful attainment of the FAHN objectives.
This membership status is different from the lifetime active membership
granted to founding members. This highest level of membership may
be awarded only to those persons currently holding another category of
membership in the Association. This honor may only be bestowed upon
nomination by the Executive Board, following a recommendation by a
member of the Board of Directors, in accordance with the requirements
for this class as outlined in the Bylaws, and the subsequent
confirmation by a majority vote of the membership Quorum present at the
Annual Business Meeting. The title of Life Member, when bestowed, shall
be in additional to the regular membership title of member. He/she
shall enjoy all of the privileges and benefits of his/her regular
membership classification and shall be exempt from the payment of any
association dues for the life or resignation of such member. The
privileges of a Life Member shall be determined by the class of
membership for which the member would otherwise qualify.
a. The criteria for eligibility:
1) Been a member of FAHN for a minimum of 5 years; and
2) Served at least five years on the Executive Board or completed at least five major accomplishments which have
contributed significantly towards meeting the needs of the Organization; or
3) A combination of both. This honor shall be bestowed in the following manner:
(a) The
nomination shall be accompanied by documentation of
eligibility, shall be sent to the Executive Board more than 90
days prior to the convening of the Annual Conference at which the nomination is to be considered.
(b) Nominations for Life Membership may also be initiated by the unanimous vote of the Executive Board more than 30 days
prior to the convening of the Annual Conference at which the nomination is to be considered.
(c) The nomination shall be presented to the Quorum of such an Annual Association Conference, which shall make its
decision by majority vote.
Revised post 2010
conference as ratified by a vote of the attending membership. |
