PA NENA Constitution & By-Laws

Section 1. Name and General Membership Requirement

This organization shall be known as the Keystone State Chapter of NENA.
Its membership shall be open to all persons of good character who meet the membership requirements of the Constitution and/or By-Laws adopted pursuant thereto.

A. Foster the development, availability, and implementation of a universal emergency telephone number common to all jurisdictions by means of research, planning, training and education; represent its members before communications regulatory agencies and policy making bodies as may be appropriate; and through its efforts, strive towards citizens having immediate access to public safety emergency services to the end that the safety of human life, the protection of property, and the civic welfare are benefited to the utmost degree.

B. Aid and assist in the timely collection and dissemination of information relating to a universal emergency number.

C. Establish and maintain an office, if deemed necessary and appropriate, wherein shall be housed its staff, files, records, equipment and those functions necessary for the adequate management of the chapter's activities.

D. Provide for membership in this chapter in accordance with the language and intent of its Constitution and By-Laws, which are now, and may later be in effect. Membership shall not be limited other than by classification and good character. Membership classifications shall have such rights and privileges provided in keeping with the state of development of the art and science of public safety emergency communications.
ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

The membership of this chapter shall be divided into the classes as outlined in the NENA By-laws. These classes are: ACTIVE, COMMERCIAL, and ASSOCIATE.

Members shall be admitted in accordance with the classification requirements set forth in the Article. Membership shall not be denied on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, or numerical limitation. All members are eligible to serve on committees, if appointed.

The following shall be eligible for Active membership in this chapter: any administrative, supervisory, and telecommunications personnel responsible for planning; organizing; staffing; directing; controlling and operating functions required in the design, promotion, construction, installation, maintenance, command and/or operation of public safety emergency communications systems. ACTIVE members must be employed and salaried by a federal, state or local government agency, or an agency substantially supported by government funds, or who serve on the Board of Directors of an Emergency Communications District or other "9-1-1" agency established in accordance with Pennsylvania State Law.

The following shall be eligible for Commercial membership in this chapter: those persons in the business sector who receive the majority of their compensation from the design, manufacture, sale, service, maintenance, lease rental or promotion of equipment or systems, which are used or can be used in public safety emergency systems. Also, those persons who are engaged in writing, publishing, advising, and consulting in the public safety emergency communications field, or who distribute goods and represent companies, firms, or persons, including themselves, or others who profit materially from such activities.

Those persons not eligible for, or restricted from the Active or Commercial classes of membership shall be eligible for Associate membership.

The dues rate for each class of membership in the Chapter is set forth in the NENA National By-laws.

Section 3. Voting and Officer Restrictions

Active and Commercial members, as defined herein above, in good standing, may vote for and hold elected positions in the Keystone State Chapter. Associate members are specifically prohibited from voting for or holding elected office.

The officers of the Keystone State Chapter shall consist of the following:
President, First Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

All offices will be filled by election at the first annual conference of the Chapter. A succession of officers as set forth in By-Laws Article II requires only the election of Secretary and Treasurer at subsequent annual conferences.

The term of office for the officers of this Chapter is established in By-Laws Article II.

2.1 The Nominating Committee shall call for nominations for particular offices from the membership at least 60 days prior to the annual conference and prepare a slate of candidates. Officers shall be elected by secret ballot, in the event of more than one candidate for a particular office, from the slate submitted by the Nominating Committee in accordance with By-Laws Article IV, Section 1.1 of this Article. Officers must be eligible to hold office in accord with the Constitution Article II Section 3.

2.2 After receipt of nominations from the membership, the Nominating Committee will report a final slate of candidates to the Active membership at least one (1) month before the date of the annual conference together with ballots. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, any Active or Commercial member in good standing may be nominated for any elected position at the annual conference.

2.3 Election ballots shall be returned to the President of the Keystone State Chapter no later than 2:00 PM on the first day of the annual conference. All ballots shall then be delivered, unopened, to the Chairman of the Nominating Committee. The full Nominating Committee will then open and count each ballot. The Chapter President shall decide challenges to the validity of any ballot. Upon completion and certification of the ballot count, the results shall be forwarded to the Chapter President for announcement during the annual conference.

2.4 Elections shall take place at a regularly scheduled business meeting of the annual conference and shall be determined by a simple majority (50% plus 1) of the ballots cast. In the event of more than two (2) candidates for a particular office, should a simple majority not be determined on the first ballot, the candidates receiving the two largest numbers of votes shall engage in a run-off election to be conducted at the same session of the annual conference.

The annual meeting of this Chapter shall be known as the ANNUAL KEYSTONE STATE CHAPTER CONFERENCE.

The selection of site(s) and date(s) for the ANNUAL KEYSTONE STATE CONFERENCE(S) of the Chapter shall be the responsibility of the Chapter Executive Board according to the provisions of By-Laws Article III.

Section 1. Definition

In addition to the annual conference, three (3) Regional Conferences shall be held during each calendar year.

The selection of the site(s) and date(s) for each Regional Conference shall be the responsibility of the Chapter Executive Board according to the provisions of By-Laws Article III.

The NENA logo is a registered Trademark and its use is limited to the provisions of Article V Section 1, items 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3, of the NENA National Constitution.

Applications for membership and the reporting thereof shall be executed upon standard forms as approved and directed by the chapter Executive Board.

Elected officers shall assume their duties and authorities upon their being installed in office during the annual conference at which they were elected. Officers shall remain in office until the installation of their elected successors or the investiture of their successor, as provided in Section 2 herein.

At each annual conference an investiture will be held wherein the person holding the office of first vice president shall succeed to the office of president, and the person holding the office of secretary shall succeed to the office of first vice president.

3.1 Should the office of president become vacant; the first vice president shall fill the vacancy. The fulfillment will be in an acting capacity until the next annual conference where the acting president shall be invested in office as president for the new term. Such acting capacity shall have no other effect upon normal terms of office or eligibilities thereto.

3.2 Vacancy in the office of first vice president, secretary, and treasurer shall be filled by majority vote of the chapter Executive Board and such approved appointee shall perform their duties in an acting capacity until the next annual conference where the person so acting shall be eligible for regular nomination to office.

A. Carry out duties as delegated in this Article and those policies adopted by the chapter Executive Board, as well as any duties and authority of the Executive Director if there be no Executive Director.

B. Appoint special committees to perform tasks deemed necessary during their term of office.

C. Authorize reasonable and proper expense not to exceed $100.00 of any member for the purpose of specific chapter duties.

E. Engage any employee or agent, including an Executive Director, in accordance with Article XII of these By-Laws, if approved by chapter Executive Board action.

F. Engage legal counsel in accordance with Article IX of these By-Laws if approved by chapter Executive Board action.

G. Appoint a secretary on an interim basis to serve at any meeting until the secretary or returns.

In addition to such other authority as they may have, the president's duties shall include the following:

A. Preside at all meetings of this chapter and/or the chapter Executive Board and serve as chairperson of the chapter Executive Board.

C. Serve as the coordinator of the functions of the chapter representing the chapter Executive Board in those matters where he/she has a responsibility in accord with his/her required duties.

D. Supervise the general conduct, planning, and activity of the annual conference and provide for the official requirements of the chapter Executive Board during these and other meetings of such bodies.

E. Carry out the purposes of this chapter as set forth in its Constitution and By-Laws.

The president's parliamentary decision upon the conference floor shall be final, provided it not be in conflict with the conference rules of this chapter and for other matters by Roberts Rules of Order to the extent practicable.

It shall be the duty of the first vice president to perform all the duties of the president in his/her absence, or in the event of the president's inability to act. When so acting, the first vice president shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president.

Conduct a continuous effort to increase all classes of membership and to increase the revenues of this chapter in a manner approved by the chapter Executive Board.

The secretary shall have such duties and exercise such authority as from time to time may be delegated or assigned by the president or the chapter Executive Board.

A. Provide for the notice and keeping of minutes and records of the annual conference of the chapter.

B. Serve as historian of the chapter, coordinate the input and maintain an archive which shall store, list and maintain that which is deemed to be of historical value to the chapter, including the morgue of all official publications of historical interest to the membership of this chapter.

C. Maintain the records, files and library of the chapter and handle its general correspondence.

E. Furnish a copy of the chapter or chapter Executive Board meeting minutes to the National NENA offices within thirty-days (30) of the meeting.

The treasurer shall have such duties and exercise such authority as from time to time may be delegated or assigned by the president or the chapter Executive Board.

A. Establish banking facilities; prepare checks for the expenditure of funds to cover the chapter's indebtedness and deliver them to the president or any other authorized officers, for his/her counter-signature.

B. Keep complete records of all moneys owed to the chapter and of expenditures incurred by the chapter and take all appropriate measures to assure the prompt collection of payment of, and accounting for, chapter funds.

C. Receive all funds due this chapter and maintain bank accounts for the orderly processing of all funds.

D. Make at each regional and annual conference a full report of his/her activities.

E. Furnish quarterly financial statements containing his/her comments and recommendations to the members of the chapter Executive Board.

3.1 Three (3) regional vice-presidents shall be appointed by the president. One from each region designated in section 3.2. Regional vice-presidents shall serve one-year terms at the discretion of the president, and shall have full voting privileges on the chapter Executive Board as described in Section 4.

3.2 The three (3) designated Regions of the Keystone State Chapter, and the Counties contained therein, are as follows:

The chapter Executive Board shall consist of the regularly elected officers, as defined in the Constitution, Article III, currently serving the Association in their designated capacities, and the three (3) regional vice presidents. The immediate past president shall also be a member of the chapter Executive Board in advisory capacity without voting power.

Authority is hereby provided for the chapter Executive Board, between annual conferences, to perform all functions and do all acts, which this chapter might do or perform, except it shall not have the power to amend the Constitution and/or By-Laws. Its decision shall be final in matters determined reasonable and proper. It has the power to convene or poll itself by a majority vote. The chapter Executive Board may utilize telephone conferences in addition to meeting in person, and any decisions made telephonically shall be valid and binding as those made otherwise. Decisions made telephonically shall be documented by the secretary and distributed to the general membership.

A. To report at each annual and regional conference of this chapter, all measures considered during the current year.

B. Make recommendations to the membership at the annual and regional conferences on matters published to the membership and/or matters of which the membership has received notice.

C. Supervise all accounts and expenses of the chapter and review the financial status of accounts of the Executive Director if there be one.

D. Review, modify as necessary and approve the proposed budget of the chapter. The budget will show anticipated revenues by source, anticipated expenses and the desired objective, and anticipated expenses of any projects that are not a part of the regular activities of the chapter.

E. To select the site(s) and date(s) of annual and regional conferences and to inform the membership thereof.

F. Be responsible for the operation of any publication, which the chapter publishes or sponsors.

The chapter Executive Board shall meet at such times and places as the Board may otherwise deem necessary by a majority vote of its members. Reasonable advance notice of such meetings shall be provided in writing to all members of the chapter Executive Board.

A meeting of the chapter Executive Board shall not be official unless attended by a simple majority of its members (50 percent + 1).

The president shall appoint the membership of this committee. This committee shall include at least one member from each region designated in the By-Laws Article III Section 3.2. This committee shall report a slate of nominees for secretary and treasurer. The slate of nominees shall be presented to the membership in accord with the election procedure stated in the Constitution Article III, Section 2.3.

Section 2. Special Committees

The president as deemed necessary for specific tasks may appoint special committees. Members of these committees shall serve at the discretion of the president and their terms otherwise shall expire concurrently with that of the president.

Where not otherwise specified, the president shall designate duties of committees.

Section 1. Dues Rates

The NENA National dues as stated in the NENA By-Laws Article V shall cover the annual dues rates for this chapter in whole or in part. If additional funds are needed for budget, the chapter Executive Board reserves the right to levy a surcharge to the state chapter members.

Membership dues are payable annually. The Treasurer will contact members who are delinquent over 90 days from their anniversary date.

The Constitution and/or By-Laws of this chapter may only be amended by a majority vote of the membership attending the regional or annual conference at which the amendment is put to vote.

A proposal to amend the Constitution and/or By-Laws of this Chapter shall be honored from any member. Errors in the format of such proposal shall not be cause for rejection of that proposal. The maker in written form to the chapter Executive Board shall submit an amending proposal and its format shall in order be:

D. Indication of the Article (s), Section (s), and Paragraph (s) of the Constitution and/or By-Laws proposed to be amended

A resolution to amend the Constitution and/or By-Laws of this chapter shall be based upon the required amending proposal and with the guidance of the chapter Executive Board; it shall be so devised and drafted. A copy of the draft resolution shall be provided to the maker prior to publication for their concurrence.

Participation by the chapter Executive Board in these matters shall not be considered therein except when the chapter Executive Board initiates an amending resolution.

An amending resolution which has been processed in accordance with the requirements of Section 1.2 and 1.3 of this Article shall be published and distributed to all members of this chapter with no less than 30 calendar days before the conference at which it will be put up for consideration.

A conference quorum may make amendments to a resolution to amend the Constitution and/or By-Laws by means of a majority vote on each proposed resolution amendment.

Resolution passed and adopted by this chapter in accord with other provisions of the Constitution and/or By-Laws shall be in force and effect upon the adjournment of the regional/annual conference where considered and adopted, provided an exception to this effect is not otherwise contained in the text of the resolution adopted.

A two-thirds majority vote of the total membership shall be required for the removal from office of an officer of this chapter. This is to include the 3 regional appointees.

Upon any question coming before this chapter not otherwise specifically provided for in the Constitution and/or By-Laws the presiding officer shall be governed to the extent practicable by Roberts Rules of Order.

Section 1. Conference Quorum

The members attending a business session of an annual chapter and regional conference shall constitute a conference quorum.

Conference rules may be established by the chapter Executive Board between annual chapter conferences or by a majority vote of an annual chapter conference quorum. The conference rules shall be part and parcel of these By-Laws provided the provisions of By-Laws Article VI, Section 1.5 are waived with respect to the conference rules only.

Upon the dissolution of the Keystone State Chapter of NENA, the Executive Board shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all of the liabilities of the organization dispose of the assets of the organization in such manner, or to such organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code of 1954, as the governing staff shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the corporation or organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

Counsel shall be employed for the purpose of providing legal advise to the Chapter and for the preparation and presentation of matters before governmental bodies ad desired by the chapter.

Section 1. Application for Funds

The president of this chapter or any member designated by them may make application to any organizations, corporation, agencies, groups or person for grants or contributions of funds or property for carrying out general or specific purposes of this chapter.

No application shall be made to, or contribution received from, any person or agency except after a determination by the chapter Executive Board that a grant or contribution to the chapter would be motivated by the desire to further the purposes of the chapter and not to derive personal benefit or privilege to the donor.

Section 2. Acceptance of Grant or Contribution

Any member who may be offered a grant, or contribution, or contract for this chapter shall immediately notify the president and Executive Director, but no grant or contribution shall be finally accepted by the chapter except upon approval of the chapter Executive Board. The terms of any such grant or contribution shall be set forth in writing and signed both on behalf of the chapter and the donor.

Any grant or contribution to the chapter shall be credited to its general fund unless under the terms there of a special fund is prescribed. The budgeting, receipt, custody, and disbursement of any such grant or contribution shall follow the procedure defined for general funds of this chapter unless provided otherwise in the terms of the grant or contribution and agreed to by the chapter Executive Board. No part of the Keystone State Chapter of NENA's net earnings shall inure to the benefit of any private individual.

All right, title and interest, both legal and equitable, in and to property of this chapter shall remain in the chapter.

Any property of the chapter in the possession or trust of a member or employee shall be returned immediately to the chapter in the event of their death, resignation, suspension, or expulsion.

The president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer shall be bonded in the minimum amount of the total assets of this chapter and/or as otherwise stipulated by the chapter Executive Board. Estimates of the value of the chapter treasury are to be made at the annual chapter conference and each officer identified above is to be bonded to that level at a minimum. No bonding will be required until the chapter assets are valued over $1,000 dollars.
RESOLUTION

TITLE: A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION TO THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY NUMBER ASSOCIATION ON BEHALF OF THE KEYSTONE STATE CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY NUMBER ASSOCIATION (NENA) RELATIVE TO CHARTER DESIGNATION.

WHEREAS, the Keystone State Chapter of NENA supports and adheres to the Constitution of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) and consistent therewith has developed a proposed Constitution and By-Laws for this Chapter and desire recognition and formal chartering by NENA; and,

WHEREAS, NENA is authorized to grant charters to state chapters pursuant to Article 1, Section 3.1.A of the NENA Constitution, the requirements of which Article are met by the Keystone State Chapter for the proposed Charter area which will include the State of Pennsylvania.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE OFFICES OF THE CHAPTER OF NENA IN SESSION ASSEMBLED:

That we do hereby authorize the President of the Keystone State Chapter of NENA to submit the proposed Constitution and By-Laws of this Chapter to the National Emergency Number Association for this purpose of having same accepted and approved; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THIS RESOLUTION TAKE EFFECT FROM AND AFTER ITS PASSAGE, THE PUBLIC WELFARE REQUIRING IT.

________________________
President First Vice President
Scott A. McAliley Jeffrey A. Wittek

Site Designed and Created By Seibert's Websites

	*Welcome to*
	PANENA.ORG
	Constitution & By-Laws