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ARTICLE I
ORGANIZATION AND PURPOSE
This organization shall be known as the Florida Association of Hostage
Negotiators. It shall be comprised of Florida law enforcement officers
or other law enforcement personnel having responsibilities of
negotiating and/or facilitating negotiations during crisis incidents,
all of proven integrity and ability, representing agencies which
maintain a dedicated interest in the successful resolution of crisis
incidents. Its purpose is to assist in the sharing of information,
training, equipment technology updates and techniques of crisis
intervention, with the continuing goal of future successful resolutions
of crisis incidents occurring within the state of Florida.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
1. Membership in the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators shall
be limited to current, and/or retired Law Enforcement Officers,
Corrections Officers, Parole and Probation Officers, and Criminal
Justice Support Personnel of federal, state, county or local agencies
having law enforcement jurisdiction and/or responsibilities in crisis
incidents. For the purpose of this constitution, all such entities
shall here after be referred to as agencies.
2. Agencies making application to or participating as a member of the
Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators must demonstrate a
significant and ongoing commitment to the successful resolution of
crisis incidents.
3. Regardless of the number of individual members from within any
member agency, each individual member in good standing, shall be
entitled to vote on matters coming before the Florida Association of
Hostage Negotiators, in accordance with the stipulations outlined in
the Bylaws.
4. Members can also be from agencies outside the State of Florida.
These members will be considered "Associate Members" and not entitled
to voting.
5. Each member is charged with the responsibility of assisting the
furtherance of the association by providing information and
intelligence concerning incidents of crisis negotiations occurring
within the member’s jurisdiction, to include techniques and equipment
utilized during the incident. Each member shall also assist in
identifying topics for training and instruction along with qualified
instructors for these topics to present useful information and/or
training to members of the association.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
1. The officers/executive board of the Florida Association of Hostage
Negotiators shall consist of the following officials:
President
Vice-President
Secretary
Treasurer
Sergeant at Arms
Program Training Director
Ambassador at Large
Past Presidents
2. No candidate, for any elected position on the executive Board, shall
be eligible to hold said office, unless he/she has served as Regional
Director for at least one year or has served previously on the
Executive Board for one year.
3. The office of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer
and Sergeant at Arms shall be elected by a majority vote of individual
agency representatives. The offices of Program/Training Director,
Ambassador at Large, and Chaplain shall be appointed by the President
with the concurrence of the other elected officials of the Florida
Association of Hostage Negotiators. Past Presidents shall serve as
advisors and members of the executive board with full voting privileges.
4. Each member of the Executive Board member shall be entitled to one
vote.
5. No member agency may be represented on the Executive Board by more
than one elected member per member agency, excluding Past Presidents.
6. The Executive Board shall have the authority to appoint members to
fill vacancies in any of the elective offices should any elected office
holder be unable to serve the full term of office.
7. The Executive Board shall have the authority to approve the
attendance of any special guest or individual at any regular Florida
Association of Hostage Negotiators meeting.
ARTICLE IV
REVIEW COMMITTEE
1. There shall be a Review Committee consisting of the members of the
Executive Board along with each Regional Director as elected by members
from within each region of the state of Florida. A Review Committee
President shall be appointed by the Association President from the
Regional Directors.
2. The President, with the concurrence of a majority of the Executive
Board, shall have the authority to appoint members to fill vacancies
occurring on the review committee.
3. The review Committee shall assure the integrity of the membership of
the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators, may review and make
recommendations on all requests for membership to the Florida
Association of Hostage Negotiators, and will assist in the furtherance
of the Association by aiding the Executive Board in the normal
operation of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators.
4. In addition each Regional Director shall bring forth to the
Executive Board any matter of business, request for assistance,
problems or suggestions that may arise from members within their
regions.
ARTICLE V
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
1. Application for membership into the Florida Association of Hostage
Negotiators shall be made to the Secretary in writing.
2. The Secretary shall advise the Chairman of the Review Committee of
all pending applications prior to their approval into the Association.
3. Any member of the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators who has
reason to believe that any person under consideration for membership in
the Association should not be admitted into the Association should
communicate the specifics giving rise to the belief to any member of
the Review Committee or the Executive Board
ARTICLE VI
SUSPENSION OF MEMBERS
1. A member may be suspended at any time for any of the following
reasons:
(a) Acts detrimental to the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators,
or the profession of law enforcement.
(b) Improper or indiscreet handling of Association intelligence
information.
(c) Failure to timely pay the annual membership assessment.
2. The Secretary shall notify all members of any suspensions of members
resulting from either (a) or (b) above.
3. All suspensions made by the Review Committee shall be reviewed by
the full voting membership present at the next regular meeting. The
voting membership present by way of a two-thirds vote may:
(a) Continue the suspension pending further investigation by the Review
Committee, then again addressing the problem at the next regular
meeting as described within #3 above.
(b) Terminate the member as set forth in Article VII. Suspension not
affirmed by a two-thirds of the voting members present will result in
the immediate cancellation of the suspension.
4. Any member suspended shall have the right appear and appeal at the
next regular meeting by filling an "Intention to Appeal" in writing to
the Secretary at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.
ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
1. Failure to pay annual membership assessment in the allotted time set
forth will result in the automatic termination of a member. Termination
for this reason alone shall result in immediate reinstatement upon
receipt of payment to the Treasurer, and approval of the review
committee.
2. Any member under suspension pursuant to the previsions of Article VI
herein, may be terminated by a two-thirds vote of members present and
voting at a regular meeting of the Florida Association of Hostage
Negotiators.
3. Any terminated member shall have the right to appear and appeal at
the next regular meeting by filling an "Intention to Appeal" in writing
to the Secretary at least thirty (30) days prior to the next meeting of
the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators.
ARTICLE VIII
REINSTATEMENT
Upon being terminated for any reason as set forth in Article VII, a
member may be reinstated by a two-thirds vote of the voting members
present at any regular meeting of the Florida Association of Hostage
Negotiators.
ARTICLE IX
ANNUAL ASSESSMENT AND CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES
1. A conference registration fee per attendee will be assessed at each
regular conference in accordance to the amount agreed upon by the
Executive Board.
2. An annual membership assessment in amount determined by the
executive board shall be assessed to each member.
3. The annual membership assessment will expire on June 1 of every year
and if a member renews between January 1 and June 1, their annual
membership will be good until the next June 1.
ARTICLE X
ENLARGEMENT OR REDUCTION OF TIME
When an act is required or allowed to be done at, before or within a
specified time by the provisions of the Constitution, for good causes
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 of time is warranted
by reason of exceptional circumstance.
ARTICLE XI
CONFERENCE CALL AND SIMILAR MEETINGS
If the President determines that circumstances warrant, a meeting of
the Executive Board or Review Committee may be conducted by telephonic
conference call, video teleconferencing or by other similar method.
Quorum and voting requirements otherwise provided herein shall apply to
any such meeting.
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS
1. Limitations: The Constitution or Bylaws of the Association may be
amended only by the vote required and outlined in (Bylaws) Section 14
(1), at an Annual Conference Quorum in regular session.
2. Requirements: A proposal to amend the Constitution or Bylaws of the
Association shall be considered only when it is made in proper form by
an Association Member, Annual Conference Quorum, Executive Board, Board
of Directors, Board of Trustees or a committee.
(a) A proposal to amend shall be submitted, in writing, to the
President. The form of the resolution should include:
1) Intent;
2) Purpose;
3) Name of the person making the proposal;
4) Name of Annual Conference Quorum for which consideration is desired;
5) Deficiencies of current, or need of added, language; and
6) Gains and benefits.
7) Article(s), Section(s) and Paragraph(s) if helpful to be amended in
order to correct such deficiencies and enjoy such gains and benefits.
8) Narrative of the methods and/or language for the proposed amendment.
3. Drafting: The President, in accordance with Section 2, shall assist
in the drafting of amending resolutions when so requested by the
maker(s). The President shall submit such drafts to the Executive Board
for such comment as may be appropriate before returning them to the
maker(s) with such comments. Such assistance shall not be considered
support for such measures.
4. Publication: An amending proposal so processed shall be published in
a bulletin and/or Internet Publishing and posted at least 30 days prior
to the convening of the Annual Conference at which the proposal is to
be considered.
5. Revisions: An Annual Conference Quorum may amend and revise the
language of the proposed resolution to amend by majority vote on each
such proposed revision.
6. Effective Date: Resolutions to amend shall be in effect upon the
adjournment of the Conference wherein adopted, provided an otherwise
effective date is not specified in such adopted resolution.
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