FAHN Constitution

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.

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.

ARTICLE XIII

COUNSEL / ACCOUNTING SERVICES

The President, with the approval by the Executive Board, may retain legal counsel and accounting services to furnish advice / assistance, as well as to represent the association in regulatory matters.

ARTICLE XIV

ASSETS

1. Retention: All rights, title and interest, both legal and equitable, in and to property of the Association, shall remain in the Association.

2. Release: Association property in the hands of others for the purpose of the association shall be returned to the Association immediately upon demand.

3. Dissolution: Should the Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators be dissolved, all of its interests shall be distributed to an organization(s) of similar purposes as selected by a two-thirds vote of an Annual Conference Quorum or similarly by the Executive Board if done between Conferences.

Revised June, 2008 – Post Conference