Louisiana Society of the American Association

        for Respiratory Care

    Bylaws

 

 

 

               Approved: July 27, 1974---------Effective January 1, 1975

 

 

                                Amended: April 19, 1985

 

 

 

                               Amended: February 1, 1991

       

         

               Amended: November 15, 1994------Effective January 1, 1995

 

 Amended : Sept. 26 1998-------Effective January 1, 2000

 

             Amended:  August 28, 2000-------Effective January  26, 2001

 

Amended:  November 19, 2008------Effective January 1, 2009

 

                                      ARTICLE I

                                         NAME

 

This organization shall be known as the Louisiana Society of the American Association for

Respiratory Care, a chartered affiliate of the American Association for Respiratory Care,

hereinafter referred to as the "AARC", which is incorporated under the General Not For Profit

Corporation Act of the State of Illinois. The Louisiana Society is incorporated under the General

Not-For-Profit Corporation Act of the State of Louisiana.

 

The short name of this organization shall be the Louisiana Society for Respiratory Care, and shall

hereinafter in these Bylaws be referred to as the "Society".

 

 

                                       ARTICLE II

                                      BOUNDARIES

 

 

The area included within the boundaries of this Society shall be the boundaries of the State of

Louisiana.

 

 

                                       ARTICLE III

                                        OBJECT

 

 

Section 1.Purpose

 

a.To encourage and develop on a regional basis educational programs for those persons

interested in the field of Respiratory Care. 

 

b.To advance the science, technology, ethics, and art of Respiratory Care through regional

institutes, meetings, lectures, and the preparation and up keep of website and other materials.

 

c.To facilitate cooperation between Respiratory Care personnel and the medical profession,

hospitals, service companies, industry, and other agencies within the State interested in

Respiratory Care; except that this Society shall not commit any act which shall constitute

unauthorized practice of medicine under the laws of the State of Illinois in which the parent

Association is Incorporated, or any other state.

 

d. To provide education of the general public in pulmonary health promotion and disease prevention.

 

Section 2.Intent

 

a.No part of the net earnings of the Society shall inure to the benefit of any private member

or individual, nor shall the corporation perform particular services for individual members thereof.

 

b.Distribution of the funds, income, and property of the Society may be made to charitable,

educational, scientific, or religious corporations, organizations, community chests, foundations or

other kindred institutions maintained and created for one or more of the foregoing purposes if at

the time of distribution the payees or distributees are exempt from income taxation under the

provisions of Section 501, 2055, and 2522 of the Internal Revenue Code, or any later or other

sections of the Internal Revenue Code which amend or supersede the said sections.

 

 

                                       ARTICLE IV

                                      MEMBERSHIP

 

 

Section 1.Classes

 

The membership of this Society shall include three classes: Active Member, Associate Member,

and Special Member.

 

Section 2.Eligibility and Classification

 

 

a.Membership eligibility and classification shall be established in accordance with Article III

of the AARC Bylaws.

 

b.Only members in good standing of the AARC shall be members of this Society with the

exception that the AARC Board of Directors may confer Honorary or Life Membership.

 

Section 3.Annual Registration

 

Each Society member must annually reassert AARC membership by whatever means the AARC Board of Directors deems appropriate.

 

 

                                       ARTICLE V

                                OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

 

 

Section 1.Officers

 

The officers of the Society shall consist of President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President,

Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

 

Section 2. Directors-at-Large

 

a.There shall be four (4) Directors-at-Large. Two (2) Directors-at-Large shall be elected every two years and such others as necessary in order to fill existing vacancies.

 

b.When multiple vacancies are being filled, the member with the most votes shall fill the

longest term, the member with the second highest number of votes shall fill the next longest term, and so on according to the number of votes received.

 

Section 3.Chapter Representation

 

Each Chapter shall be represented on the Board of Directors by the Chapter President.

 

Section 4.Term of Office

 

a.The term of office for Society Officers shall be for two (2) year term. The term shall begin immediately following the Annual Business Meeting following their election.

 

b.The President-Elect shall not serve more than one (1) consecutive term in

the same office.

 

c.The Vice President, and Secretary, and the Treasurer shall not serve more than three (3)

consecutive terms in the same office.

 

d.The term of office for Directors-at-Large shall begin immediately following the Annual

Business Meeting following their election and shall be for a four year term nonrecurring term of office.

 

Section 5.Vacancies in Office

 

a.In the event of a vacancy in the Office of President, the President-Elect shall become

acting President to serve the unexpired term and shall serve the successive term as President.

 

b.In the event of a vacancy in the office of President-Elect, the Vice-President shall assume

the duties, but not the office, of President-Elect as well as the Vice-Presidency until the next

meeting of the Board of Directors at which time the Board shall elect a qualified member to fill

the vacancy. This individual shall serve the remainder of the term as President-Elect and then

accede to President for a regular term as if elected by the membership.

 

c.In the event of a vacancy in the office of Vice President, Treasurer, or Secretary, the

Board of Directors shall elect a qualified member to fill the vacancy until the Annual Business

Meeting following the next election.

 

d.In the event of a vacancy in the office of Immediate Past-President, that office shall remain

vacant until filled by the normal process of Presidential succession.

 

Section 6.Duties of Officers

 

a.President

 

The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Society. The President shall

preside at the Annual Business Meeting and all meetings of the Board of Directors and present an 

annual report of the Society; prepare an agenda for the Annual Business Meeting and submit it to

the membership via the LSRC website not fewer than thirty (30) days prior to such a meeting in accordance with these Bylaws; prepare an agenda for each meeting of the Board of Directors and submit it to the members of the Board of Directors not fewer than fifteen (15) days prior to such meeting; appoint standing and special committees subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, and present an annual report of the Society's activities to the Board of Directors and the membership. The President shall automatically become and serve in the office of Immediate Past President following the completion of their two year term and perform such duties as assigned by the President with voting privileges.

 

b.President-Elect

 

The President-Elect shall become acting President and shall assume the duties of the

President in the event of the President's absence, resignation, or disability; and shall perform such

other duties as shall be assigned by the President, the Board of Directors, or elsewhere by these

Bylaws. The President-Elect shall serve as Chair of the Nominations and Elections Committee.  The President-Elect shall be a one year term.

 

 

 

 

c.Vice-President

 

The Vice-President shall assume the duties but not the office of the President-Elect in the

event of the President-Elect's absence, resignation, or disability; and will also continue to carry

out the duties of the Vice-President.

 

d.Treasurer

 

The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds and securities of the Society; endorsing

checks, notes, or other orders for payment of bills; disbursing funds as authorized by the Board of

Directors and/or in accordance with the adopted budget; depositing funds as the Board of

Directors may designate. The Treasurer shall see that full and accurate accounts are kept, submit

quarterly trial balances to the Executive Committee; make a written financial report to each

meeting of the Board of Directors. At the expense of the Society, the Treasurer and all other

signatories of Society (not Chapter) checks shall be bonded in an amount determined by the

Board of Directors. The outgoing Treasurer shall automatically become Immediate Past Treasurer as a non-voting member of the BOD in order to insure smooth transition of all society finances. Immediate Past Treasurer may hold another concurrent office. The Treasurer, the President  or the President-Elect  shall be included  on  all Society’s  financial institute’s signature cards.. All debt to accounts will require two signatures.

 

e.Secretary

 

The Secretary shall have charge of keeping the minutes of the regular meetings of the

Board of Directors, the annual business meeting, and meetings of the Executive Committee;

executing the general correspondence; affixing the corporate seal on documents so requiring; and

in general, performing all duties as from time to time shall be assigned by the President or the

Board of Directors.

 

f. Immediate Past President

 

The Immediate Past President shall serve on the executive committee with voting privileges and assist in formulation of the LSRC annual budget and also serve on the Legislative Committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                      

                                                ARTICLE VI

                              NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

 

 

Section 1.Nominations 

 

a.Calendar of Nominations Process

 

i.Nominations shall open not later than May 15.

 

ii.The Nominations Chairperson shall report the slate of nominees to the Board of Directors not later than August 15 for their approval.

 

iii.On written petition of ten (10) or more Active members filed at any office of the

Society, no later than September 1, any other member or members eligible to hold office will be

added to the approved slate.

 

iv.The Nominations Committee shall present the slate of nominees to the

Elections Committee no later than September 15.

 

v.Ballots shall be mailed to the membership no later than October 10. The

membership shall have no less than twenty-five (25) calendar days to return their ballots.

 

vi.Returned ballots must be postmarked not later than November 10.

 

b.The Nominations Committee shall determine the eligibility of all nominees. Only Active or

Life members may be candidates.

 

c.The Nominations Committee shall name at least two (2) nominees for all Offices, Board of

Directors positions, and vacancies.

i.If, despite every reasonable effort, the Nominations Committee is unable to

assemble a slate with at least two (2) candidates for each position, the Board of Directors may

authorize publication of a ballot with only one (1) candidate for some or all of the positions to be

filled.

ii.If, despite every reasonable effort, the Nominations Committee is unable to solicit

any nominee for any position(s), the Board of Directors shall appoint a qualified member to serve

the next term.

 

Section 2. Ballot

 

a.The Nominations Committee's slate and biographical sketches shall be mailed to every

Active or Life Member in good standing according to the last available membership galley at the

time of mailing at their last address on the record of the Society not later than October 10.

 

b.The Ballot shall be so designed as to be a secret mail ballot with provisions for write-in

votes for each office. Ballots, to be acceptable, must be postmarked by the stipulated deadline

date, which shall be no later than November 10. The deadline date shall be clearly indicated on

the ballot.

 

Section 3. Elections Committee

 

The President shall appoint an impartial Election(s) Committee which shall prepare the ballots, conduct the election, check the eligibility of each returned ballot and tally the votes not later than November 20. The results of the election shall be announced at the last regular Board of Directors meeting of the calendar year.

 

 

                                      ARTICLE VII

                                 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

 

Section 1.Composition and Powers

 

a.The executive government of this Society shall be invested in a Board of Directors of no

fewer than twelve (12) members and no more twenty (20)  voting members consisting of the Officers, Delegates, and Directors-at-large (as defined in Article V, Sections 1 & 2) and the President of each chapter (as defined in Article XII, Sections 3 & 5).

 

b.The President shall be Chairperson and presiding officer of the Board of Directors and the

Executive Committee. The President shall invite in writing such individuals to the meetings of the

Board of Directors as deemed necessary, with the privilege of voice but not vote.

 

c.The Board of Directors shall have the power to declare an office vacant by a two-thirds (2/3)  vote, upon refusal or neglect of any member of the Board of Directors to perform the duties of

that office, or for any conduct deemed prejudicial to the Society. Written notice shall be given to

the member that the office has been declared vacant.

 

d.The Society's Medical Director and Immediate Past Treasurer shall be non-voting members of the Board of Directors.

 

e.No Board of Directors member may hold concurrent Board of Directors-level elective

offices. This limitation does not preclude Board of Directors members from holding chapter

offices other than Chapter President.

 

Section 2.Duties

 

a.Supervise all business and activities of the Society within the limitations of these Bylaws.

 

b.Adopt and rescind standing rules of the Society.

 

c.determine remuneration, stipends, the amount of membership dues for the following year,

and other related matters, after consideration of the budget.

 

d.Receive and act upon the reports and recommendations of the special and standing

committees.

 

Section 3.Vacancies

 

a.Any vacancy that occurs on the Board of Directors, with the exception of the President,

Immediate Past President,  Immediate Past Treasurer, Delegates and the Chapter Presidents, shall be filled by qualified members elected by the Board of Directors. Individuals so elected shall serve until the Annual Business Meeting following the next annual election.

 

b.An elected President shall serve until the Annual Business Meeting following the

next annual election and then accede to the Past President.

 

c.In the event of a vacancy among the Chapter Presidents, the respective Chapter(s) shall fill

the vacancy through their defined ascendancy process. This individual must be eligible to be a

member of the Society's Board of Directors. In the event the chapter fails to name a replacement,

the Board of Directors shall appoint a qualified member. 

 

Section 4.Meetings

 

a.The Board of Directors shall meet as part of the Annual Business Meeting of the Society

and shall not hold fewer than two (2) regular and separate additional meetings during the calendar year. The planned dates and locations of these additional meetings shall be presented at the Annual Business Meeting. In the event of an emergency or unexpected circumstances, the date and location of these additional meetings may be changed, provided the members of the Board of Directors are given at least fifteen (15) days notice of the new date and location; or the business of the scheduled meeting may be conducted by mail vote in accordance with Section 5 of this Article.

 

b.Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be called by the President at such times as

the business of the Society shall require, or upon written request of three (3) members of the

Board of Directors filed with the President and Secretary of the Society.

 

c.A majority of the voting members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum at

any meeting. 

 

Section 5.Mail Vote

 

Whenever, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, it is necessary prior to the next regular or

annual business meeting, the Board of Directors may, unless otherwise required by these Bylaws,

instruct the Elections Committee to conduct a vote of the membership by  mail. The question thus presented shall be determined according to a majority of the valid votes received by mail within thirty (30) days after date of such submission, except in the case of a change in the Bylaws when a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the valid votes received is required. Any and all action approved by the members in accordance with the requirements of the Bylaws shall be binding upon each member of the Society. 

 

Section 6.Executive Committee

 

The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors shall consist of the President,

President-Elect, Vice-President, Immediate Past-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Immediate Past Treasurer. The Immediate Past Treasurer is a non-voting member.  The Executive Committee shall have the power to act for the Board of Directors and such action shall be subject to ratification by the Board at its next meeting. The Executive Committee shall also function as the Budget and Audit Committee.

 

 

                                      ARTICLE VIII

                               ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

 

 

Section 1.Date and Place

 

a.The Society shall hold an annual business meeting within sixty (60) days following the end

of each calendar year.

 

b.The date and place of the annual business meeting shall be decided in advance by the

Board of Directors. In the event of a major emergency the Board of Directors shall cancel the

scheduled meeting, set a new date and place if feasible, or conduct the business of the meeting by mail provided the material is sent in the same words to the voting membership.

 

Section 2.Purpose

 

The Annual Business Meeting shall be for the purpose of installation of the new Board of

Directors, receiving reports of officers and committees, and for other business brought by the

President.

 

Section 3.Notification

 

Written notice of the time and place of the Annual Business Meeting shall be sent to all members

of the Society, or published in an official Society publication which is mailed to all members, or posted on LSRC website not fewer than ninety (90) days prior to the meeting. An agenda for the Annual Business Meeting shall be likewise distributed to the membership not fewer than thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.

 

Section 4.Quorum

 

A majority of the voting members registered at a duly called Annual Business Meeting shall

constitute a quorum. 

 

                                       ARTICLE IX

                  SOCIETY DELEGATES TO THE AARC HOUSE OF DELEGATES

 

 

Section 1.Election

 

a.Delegates of this Society to the House of Delegates of the AARC shall be elected as

specified in Article VII of the AARC Bylaws.

 

b.To be nominated for the position of Delegate from this Society the nominee must

attend a minimum of 75% of all Society Board of Directors meetings for two years prior to their

vying for said position.

 

c.The society’s delegation will consist of up to three delegates, one of whom may be the President. If the President selects a designee, he or she must be a member elected by the entire membership of the LSRC. For the other members of the delegation, one will be elected every two years for a four year term. The delegates will be limited to five consecutive terms.

 

Section 2.Duties

 

The duties of the Delegates shall be as specified in the Bylaws of the AARC.

The Delegate on their 3rd or 4th year in elected office shall actually prepare all reports for the society and act as a mentor to other society delegates and cast the LSRC’s vote while the house is in session. In the absence of the delegate in their 3rd or 4th year the delegate in their 1st or 2nd ` year of elected office will assume the afore mentioned responsibilities. The 1st/2nd year and 3rd/4th

year Delegate shall serve as Co-Chair’s of the Fundraising Committee for the Society.

 

Section 3.Board Member

 

The Delegates shall be voting members of the Society Board of

Directors.

 

Section 4.Multiple Offices

 

Elected Delegates may not hold concurrent elective offices.

 

Section 5.Vacancy

 

a In the event of a vacancy in the position of Delegate, the Board of Directors

may designate a qualified member to fill the role but not the office of  Delegate until the next annual election..

 

b.The President may be designated to attend the House of Delegates in the place of any of the Delegates if they are unable to attend. In the event the President is seated in place of the 3rd or 4th year Delegate the1st or 2nd year delegate shall be the lead member of the delegation.

 

 

                                       ARTICLE X

                                    COMMITTEES

 

 

Section 1.Standing Committees

 

The members of the following Standing Committees shall be appointed by the President, subject

to the approval of the Board of Directors, to serve for a term of  two (2) years. 

 

a. Membership

b. Budget and Audit

c. Elections

d. Respiratory Care Advisory Committee

e. Nominations

f. Education

----1. Program

----2. Scholarship

----3. Pelican Bowl

---4. Pioneer 

g. Bylaws

h. Public Relations

----1. Publications

----2. Chapter Affairs

i. Legislative

j. Fundraising

 

Section 2. Special Committees and Other Appointments

 

Special committees may be appointed by the President to carry out specific tasks.

 

Section 3. Committee Chairperson's Duties

 

a.The Chairperson of each Committee shall confer promptly with the members of the

committee on work assignments. If a committee has written policies or procedures they will reviewed  and approved by the BOD annually

 

b.The Chairperson of each committee may recommend prospective committee members to

the President. When possible, the Chairperson of the previous year shall serve as a member of the new committee. The Chairperson shall submit a written report to the President and Secretary of the Society at each Board of Directors meeting.

 

c.Nonmembers or physician members may be appointed as consultants to committees.

 

d.Each committee Chairperson requiring operating expenses shall submit a budget for the

next fiscal year to the Budget and Audit Committee at least ninety (90) days prior to the annual

business meeting.

 

 

                                       ARTICLE XI

                                 DUTIES OF COMMITTEES

 

 

Section 1.Membership Committee

 

a.This committee shall consist of one (1) member of the Board of Directors and one (1)

member from each chapter.

 

 

b.This committee shall encourage recruitment and retention of applicants for membership in

the AARC and report to the Membership Committee of the AARC as required by the AARC

Bylaws.

 

Section 2.Budget and Audit Committee

 

 

a.This committee shall be composed of the Executive Committee and the Medical

Advisor(s).

 

b.The Budget and Audit Committee proposes an annual budget for approval by the Board of

Directors. The budget shall then be submitted to the Society website for publication at prior to the Annual Business Meeting.

 

Section 3.Elections Committee

 

a.This committee shall prepare, receive, verify, and count ballots for all elections held during

the calendar year.

 

b. This committee shall consist of at least five (5) voting members of the Society. No

member of this committee is eligible to be placed on a Society ballot during their term on the

committee, although they will remain eligible to run for chapter offices other than Chapter

President. Members of the Board of Directors may be on, or chair, the Elections Committee

provided they are not in their final year of their term or are willing to decline all nominations for

the year(s) they serve on this committee. This committee shall be chaired by the President- Elect.

 

c.This committee will work in conjunction with the Nominations committee for the timely

election of officers. The ballots shall be true secret ballots, with the process completed within the

time frames defined in Article VI of these Bylaws.

 

d.It shall be the duty of the Chair of the Elections committee to notify the various candidates

of the results of the election not later than November 27. If the Chair is unable to reach any of the

candidates by this date, the President of the Society shall be notified immediately.

 

Section 4. Respiratory Care Advisory Committee

 

a. This committee shall consist of six (6) members. These six members shall be the Respiratory Therapists represented on the Respiratory Care Advisory Committee of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners. 

 

b.  This Committee shall:

 (1) Advise the board on issues affecting applicants for licensure and

 regulation of respiratory therapy in the state.

 (2) Provide advice and recommendations to the board regarding the

 modification, amendment, and supplementation of rules, regulations, standards,

 policies, and procedures for respiratory therapy licensure and practice.

 (3) Serve as liaison between and among the board, licensed respiratory

 therapists, and professional organizations.

 (4) Review and advise the board on issues affecting requests for temporary

 licenses.

 (5) Conduct audits on applications to ensure satisfactory completion of

 continuing education and competency as specified by the board's rules.

 (6) Perform such other functions and provide such additional advice and

 recommendations as may be requested by the board.

 

Section 5.Nominations Committee

 

a.This Committee shall prepare for approval by the Board of Directors a slate of candidates

for officers, delegates, directors-at-large, and Chapter Presidents for the annual election.

 

b.The Committee shall be chaired by the President-Elect and consist of at least four (4)

Active Members, with a least one (1) Active Member from each Chapter, who shall serve for a

term of one (1) year.

 

c.It shall be the duty of this Committee to solicit nominations from the membership,

determine the eligibility to hold office of each submitted nominee, prepare a slate of those

nominees who meet the criteria for eligibility to hold office, present the slate to the Board of

Directors for review and approval, and collect the information for the biographical sketches to be

included with the Ballot. These obligations shall be accomplished in accord with the time frames

defined in Article VI of these Bylaws.

 

d.The Nominations Committee shall work closely with the Elections Committee in processing

ballot distribution.

 

Section 6.Education Committee

 

a.This Committee shall consist of at least six (6) members and be so constructed as to

provide experienced members for program and education planning.

 

b.The Medical Advisor(s) will be a consultant member of the Committee.

 

c.The Committee shall encourage and assist Chapters in the efforts to conduct educational

programs and maintain a list of educational materials for the Society.

 

d.There will be three subcommittees of the  Education Committee. These committees are

Program, Scholarship, Pioneer and Pelican Bowl.

 

1.Program Subcommittee shall plan, coordinate, budget, implement and publicize the

State Annual Meeting. Members shall be invited to join as need indicates.

 

2.Scholarship Subcommittee shall advertise, coordinate, and award the Society

scholarships.

 

3.The Pelican Bowl Subcommittee shall plan, coordinate and implement the Pelican

Bowl at the Society's annual meeting; complete all necessary correspondence with the teams, the

Society and/or the AARC.

 

4. Pioneer Committee shall honor and induct new members.

 

Section 7. Bylaws Committee

 

a.This Committee shall consist of three (3) members, one (1) of whom shall be a

Past-President, with one (1) member being appointed annually for a three (3) year term, except as is necessary to establish and maintain this rotation.

 

b.The Committee shall receive and prepare all amendments to the Bylaws for submission to

the Board of Directors. The Committee may also initiate such amendments for submission to the

Board of Directors.

 

Section 8.Public Relations 

 

 a. The Committee shall maintain such liaison as has been established by the Board of

Directors with other organizations whose activities may be of interest to the members of this

Society. This shall include the preparation of exhibits, programs, and other items to bring the

message of respiratory care and the AARC to medical, nursing, and hospital groups as well as

educational facilities where using such material can be expected to recruit new people to the field

of respiratory care. Such material shall be subject to the approval of the Medical Advisor(s).

 

 b. Coordinate state wide observances of the National Respiratory Care Week.

 

 c. Delegate and maintain PR mailing list for State Society.

 

 d. Establish correspondence with programs across the state and serve as a resource to

them.

 

e. There will be two subcommittees of the Public Relations Committee. These committees are Publications and Chapter Affairs. Each subcommittee shall consists of at least three (3) members, one (1) of whom shall be a Past President, with members being appointed annually by the President for a one (1) year term, subject to reappointment.

 

 1. The Publications Subcommittee shall concern itself with the execution of a Society Website and all other publications of this Society with the public, hospitals, and other organizations through dissemination of information concerning respiratory therapy.

 

2. The Chapter Affairs Subcommittee shall receive applications for Chapters and review the proposed  Policies and Procedures for compliance with the objectives of  Section XII of  the bylaws of the Society, and report its findings to the Board of Directors.

 

 i. Review amendments to existing Chapter Policies and Procedures.  

 

 ii. Review the minutes of all meetings of the Chapter and advise the Chapter

President and Secretary of any irregularities or other recommendations.

 

 iii. Coordinates the Chapter of the Year Program as well as the Affiliate of the Year

award program.

 

 iv. Collect information on Respiratory Care Departments within the state which are undergoing any type of patient care restructuring; monitor statewide supply and demand trends and restructuring. Report this information to the Board of Directors.

 

Section 9.Legislative Committee

 

a.This committee shall consist of the President, Past-President, President Elect, President of

Chapter VI and others as appointed by the chairperson. The chairperson shall be appointed by the President.

 

b.This Committee shall inform the Board of Directors of all legislative activity pertinent to

the role of the respiratory care practitioners. The Committee shall communicate directly with the

lobbyist and network all information to the Board of Directors.

 

Section 10. Fundraising Committee

 

a. This committee shall be chaired by the 1st/2nd year and 3rd/4th year Delegates. Committee members shall be appointed by the President.

 

b. The duties of this committee is to carry out fundraising activities as directed by the Executive

Committee.

 

 

 

                                      ARTICLE XII

                                CHAPTER ORGANIZATIONS

 

 

Section 1. Boundaries

 

The Society may be divided into a maximum of ten (10) chapters and no fewer than (3) chapters. Boundaries of the chapters will be determined by the association's operating rules.

 

 

Section 2.Organization

 

The rules under which the Chapter is governed shall not be in conflict with these Bylaws.

 

Section 3.Officers and Chapter Representation

 

a.The President of each active Chapter shall be a voting member of the Society's Board of

Directors.

 

b.The Active Members of this Society employed within the Chapter boundaries shall elect a

President and Secretary and other officers as circumstances may require. The Secretary shall be

the official correspondent for the Chapter to the Society.

 

c.The membership in a Chapter shall be determined by address listed with AARC with stipulations by petition.

 

Section 4.Activities

 

Each Chapter organization shall be encouraged to expand the membership of the Chapter and to

develop educational activities and such other activities as is consistent with the Articles of

Incorporation and these Bylaws.

 

Section 5.Responsibilities of the Chapter President

 

a.Represent the Chapter from which elected.

 

b.Submit a written report with three copies at each Board of Directors meeting, relating to

the activities in the Chapter.

 

c.Carry out the duties and responsibilities as detailed in the Chapter Handbook.

 

Section 6.Chapter Admission Requirements

 

a.Ten or more Active Members of the Society meeting the requirements for affiliation may

become a Chapter of the Society upon approval of the Chapter Affairs Committee, subject to

ratification by the Board of Directors of the Society. Members of Chapters must be members of

the State Society.

 

b.The formal application shall be sent to the Society's office and shall consist of a list of

officers, membership, minutes of the organizational meeting, Chapter Bylaws, geographical

location (by parishes) and a letter requesting approval of the proposed Medical Advisor.

 

c.Active Chapters are defined geographically in Article XII, Section 1. In addition, an

active chapter must maintain no less than twenty (20) active members and must submit to the

Nominations Committee no less than two (2) candidates for Chapter President.

 

Section 7.Duties

 

a.Two copies of the minutes of the governing body and business meetings of the Chapter

shall be sent to the Society's Board of Directors  following the meeting: One

copy shall be forwarded to the Society Secretary, the other to the Chairperson, Chapter Affairs

Committee.

 

b.The names and addresses of Officers and Medical Advisor shall be sent to the Society's

office following the meeting.

 

Section 8.Dissolution of Chapter

 

a.Any chapter which no longer wants to maintain its separate identity may petition to

dissolve by simply failing to place into nomination potential president of that chapter.

 

b.The boundaries of that chapter shall then be incorporated into a neighboring chapter as

determined by the Board of Directors and consent of the neighboring chapter.

 

 

                                    

                                         ARTICLE XIII

                               SOCIETY MEDICAL ADVISOR

 

 

The Society shall have at least one (1) Medical Advisor who shall conform to Article X, Section 3

of the AARC Bylaws. Each Chapter shall have at least one (1) Medical Advisor. Together, they

shall form a Board of Medical Advisors of which the Society Medical Advisor shall be

Chairperson.

 

 

                                      ARTICLE XIV

                                      FISCAL YEAR

 

 

The fiscal year of this Society shall be from January 1 through December 31.

 

 

                                      ARTICLE XV

                                DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

 

 

Section 1.Active, Associate Members Within the Society's Boundaries

 

Society dues shall be considered paid in full upon payment of AARC dues. Compliance with

Article III, Section 7, paragraph a, of the AARC Bylaws is required for Society membership.

 

Section 2.Active, Associate Members Not Within the Society's Boundaries.

a. This is considered a separate state membership, in which does not qualify these members to vote for the AARC Delegation.

 

Annual Society dues for each category of membership other than Honorary and Life shall be

determined for the following year by the Board of Directors after consideration of the budget.

 

Section 3.Assessments

 

The Society shall retain the right to assess fees if it is necessary to carry on local activities. The

amount of this fee will be set by the Board of Directors yearly as needed.

 

                                      ARTICLE XVI

                                        ETHICS

 

If the conduct of any Society member shall appear, by report of the Society or the AARC Judicial

Committee, to be in willful violation of the Bylaws or standing rules of this Society or the AARC,

or prejudicial to this Society's interests as defined in the AARC Code of Ethics, the Board of

Directors may, by a two-thirds  vote of its entire membership, suspend or expel such a member. 

A motion to reconsider the suspension or expulsion of a member may be made at the next regular

meeting of the Board of Directors. All such suspension or expulsion actions shall be reported

immediately to the AARC Judicial Committee.

 

                                      ARTICLE XVII

                              PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

 

The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order Revised shall govern whenever they are not in

conflict with the Bylaws of the Society or the AARC.

 

 

                                     ARTICLE XVIII

                                     AMENDMENTS

 

These Bylaws may be amended at any regular or called meeting or by mail vote of the Louisiana

Society of the AARC by a two-thirds majority of those voting, provided that the amendment

has been presented  or posted on website to the membership in writing at least sixty (60) days prior to vote. All amendments must be approved by the AARC Bylaws Committee and shall become effective upon ratification by the AARC Board of Directors.