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KANSAS
EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN
ASSOCIATION, INC.
CONSTITUTION
AND
BYLAWS
June 25, 2008
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
KANSAS EMERGENCY
MEDICAL TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION, INC.
ARTICLE I
ORGANIZATION
SECTION 1. NAME. The name
of this organization shall be the Kansas Emergency Medical Technicians
Association, Inc., hereafter known as the "Association".
SECTION 2. CORPORATION.
This Association shall be a corporation not for profit under the laws of the State
of Kansas.
SECTION 3. GOVERNMENT. The
Government of the Association shall be vested in a state membership and, in the
interim between it's annual seminars, in a Board of Directors.
SECTION 4. OBJECTIVES AND
PURPOSES. Subject to the specific, primary and general purposes stated in the
Articles of Incorporation, and as a supplement thereto, the objectives and
purposes of this Association are:
(a) To do all
things appropriate to the advancement and maintenance of high standards in the
art, science and skills of emergency medical care and to encourage, establish and
maintain high standards of emergency medical care education and training for the
attendant.
(b) To
promote general awareness of the field of emergency medical care as an allied
health profession.
8) To gather,
publish and disseminate information via a periodic newsletter pertinent to growth,
development and the improvement in the skills of the attendants of Kansas. To
establish an efficient communication network throughout the State of Kansas for
this purpose.
(d) To
affiliate, cooperate and work with other health system agencies, professionals and
associations of the health service field, and to cooperate, work with and obtain
professional recognition from local, county and state medical societies by
improving and maintaining high standards in the field of emergency care.
ARTICLE II
THE STATE
ASSOCIATION
SECTION 1. NAME. The name
of the Association shall be the Kansas Emergency Medical Technicians Association,
Inc.
SECTION 2. WHO COMPOSE. The
Association shall be composed of all active members and associate members.
SECTION 3. NAMES OF STATE
OFFICERS. The State Officers shall be the: President, Vice-President,
Secretary and/or Treasurer, Legislative Liaison, and not less than
three (3) nor more than ten (10) Directors, and the immediate Past
President.
SECTION 4. QUORUM. A quorum
at the Seminar business meeting shall be those present.
SECTION 5. SEMINARS. The
meetings of the Association shall be called Seminars and shall be held annually,
at such times and places as the Board of Directors shall designate. In cases of
extreme emergency such as a general war or very severe and long continued
financial depression, which would make an Seminar impossible, the Board of
Directors may postpone the holding of an Seminar until the emergency has
terminated.
SECTION 6. AUTHORITY. The
membership shall be the only source of authority, and shall exercise general and
exclusive original jurisdiction over all subjects of Association legislation,
except as hereinafter provided, and full appellate and supervisory jurisdiction
over acts and decisions of the Board of Directors and Executive Director, and may
adopt general and special laws, regulations and do whatever it may consider
necessary to the well being and perpetuity of the Association, when not
inconsistent with this Constitution.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. WHO COMPOSE. The
state officers shall constitute the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2. TIME AND PLACE OF
MEETING. The Board of Directors shall meet at such times, places and
frequency as may be designated by a majority of the Board, but no less than four
(4) times each year.
SECTION 3. AUTHORITY OVER LAWS.
The Board of Directors shall have power to enact, amend or suspend laws, under
the following conditions and limitations:
First: Such
law, amendment or suspension shall continue in force only until the next Seminar
of the state membership, when if not expressly confirmed, such law, amendment or
suspension shall thereafter be null and void, and any such amended or suspended
law shall again be in force in it's original form.
Second: No
law shall be passed, amended or suspended except by unanimous vote, and then only
in case of emergency, which emergency shall be stated in detail in the enacting
clause of the act, amendment or suspension. Provided, however, that an
unconstitutional law may, by two-thirds vote, be suspended or amended to conform
to the constitution.
Third: No
law shall be passed, amended, or suspended after the state membership has once
refused to confirm such enactment, amendment or suspension, nor, except in the
case of an unconstitutional law, within three (3)months next succeeding an annual
Seminar.
SECTION 4. ADDITIONAL ORIGINAL
JURISDICTION. In addition to the foregoing, the Board of Directors shall have
original jurisdiction as follows:
First: To
supervise the property of the Association, regulate the use and authorize or
prohibit the sale or encumbrance thereof.
Second: To
supervise the finances of the Association and adopt budgets and financial
estimates.
Third: Over
such other matters as the Seminar shall, from time to time, direct or authorize.
SECTION 5. STATE
HEADQUARTERS. The Board of Directors shall establish a state headquarters for
the keeping of the books, records, documents and other property of the Association
in current use and for the performance of the administrative details of the
Association.
SECTION 6. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
The Executive Director of the Association shall serve in this capacity under
the direction of the Board of Directors. The State headquarters shall be in the
charge of the Executive Director, appointed by the Board of Directors for such
term, and at such compensation, and with such administrative assistants and budget
for expenses that the Board of Directors may from time to time provide. As
assigned by the Board of Directors, the Executive Director acts for the Board of
Directors in meetings with a variety of public and private organizations, resolves
broad administrative problems of the Association, provides active leadership in
the implementation of Association policies and performs related work as required.
The Executive Director shall prepare any and all reports to the Board of Directors
in addition to regular periodic oral and written reports. The Executive Director
shall perform the duties and responsibilities stated in the Executive Director job
description. The Executive Director may be removed for cause by the Board of
Directors at any time.
SECTION 7. QUORUM. Those officers
present at a Board of Directors meeting shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business.
ARTICLE IV
STATE OFFICERS
SECTION 1. ELIGIBILITY. A state
officer at the time of his/her declaration of candidacy, nomination, name
appearing on a ballot, election, appointment or succession to office must be a
current active or associate member and must maintain that current membership
during their term of office.
SECTION 2. The Association shall elect from it's active and/or associate members, officers
being a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Legislative
Liaison Officer. The office of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by one
individual. Elected officers shall serve for two (2) years. The office of
President is limited to two (2) terms. The President, Secretary and Treasurer
shall be elected during odd years and the Vice-President and Legislative Liaison
during even years.
SECTION 3. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association. In the President's
absence, the Vice-President shall preside.
SECTION 4. The Directors shall be elected by a popular vote of the Association members or
appointed by the President with the approval of the Board. The membership of each
Trauma Region of the State, as designated by the Kansas Trauma System Plan,
effective January 2001, shall elect one director from those members residing or
working in the region. The North West, South Central and South East regions
shall elect in odd years and the South West, North Central and North East regions
in even years. There shall be up to three Members-At-Large elected by the
membership. Member-At-Large, Position One and Member-At-Large, Position Two shall
be elected in odd years. Member-At-Large, Position Three shall be elected in even
years. The Past President shall automatically be a Director. Directors shall
serve for a two (2) year term.
SECTION 5. Elections of
officers and directors shall be conducted by a ballot. The ballot shall be
prepared by a nomination committee appointed by the president and approved by a
majority vote of the Board. Nominations will be accepted by the committee until a
time set by the Board. The Secretary of the Association shall be responsible for
conducting and overseeing the election process. Results of the election shall be
announced at a Seminar.
ARTICLE V
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. The Association
may accept into it's activities any attendant, interested individual or entity as
an Association member.
SECTION 2. ACTIVE MEMBER.
An Active Member is any person who has completed an attendant course as approved
by the United States Department of Transportation and/or the Department of Health,
Education and Welfare, who is duly registered by the State of Kansas and/or by the
National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, Inc., and who pays annual dues
as determined by the membership.
SECTION 3. ASSOCIATE MEMBER.
An Associate Member is any person or entity who has an interest in the
purposes of the Association and wishes to further and support it's endeavors in
the emergency services delivery system, and who pays dues as determined by the
membership.
SECTION 4. Membership shall
not be limited by any consideration of race, creed, religion, sex, or national
origin.
SECTION 5. TERMINATION. Any
member may resign at any time by submitting a written resignation to the Board of
Directors, but such resignation shall not become effective until accepted by the
Board of Directors.
SECTION 6. EXPULSION. Any
member who shall willfully violate the Bylaws of the Association or the standards
of professional ethics may be expelled from membership by a two-thirds vote of the
Board of Directors, after a hearing. Said member shall have been given a copy of
the charges preferred together with sixty (60) days notice in writing of the time
and place of the hearing.
SECTION 7. LIABILITY OF MEMBERS
AND OFFICERS. No member or officer of this Association shall be personally
liable for any of it's debts, liabilities, or obligation, nor shall any member be
subject to any assessment except such assessments as may be adopted in the manner
set forth by the Board of Directors and membership.
ARTICLE VI
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. PRESIDENT. The
President shall be an active member of the Association, an ex-officio member of
all standing committees, and shall preside at all meeting of the Association. In
the event of the death or resignation of the President during the term of office
or if the President shall for any reason be unable or unqualified to serve, the
Vice-President shall succeed to the office of President for the unexpired portion
of the President's term. In the event of death, resignation or incapacity of both
the President and Vice-President, the Board of Directors shall appoint a President
until the next Seminar, at which time the membership shall elect a new President,
who shall serve until the next election of officers occurs.
SECTION 2. VICE-PRESIDENT.
The Vice-President shall succeed to the office of President and assume the
President's duties for the unexpired term in the event of death, resignation or
removal of the President.
SECTION 3. SECRETARY. The
Secretary shall cause to be kept an adequate and proper file of the Association
correspondence. The Secretary shall also transmit adequate announcements of all
Association meetings and appropriate agenda material.
SECTION 4. TREASURER. The
Treasurer shall cause to be kept adequate and proper accounts of the properties,
funds and records of the Association and perform such other duties as prescribed
by the membership. The Treasurer shall deposit or cause to be deposited all
monies and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Association with
such depositories as may be designated by the membership. The Treasurer shall
disburse or cause to be disbursed the funds of the Association as may be directed
by the membership, shall render to the membership, whenever it is requested, an
account of all transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the
Association and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may
be prescribed by the membership or the Bylaws. Any of the duties of the Treasurer
may, by action of the membership, be assigned to the President.
SECTION 5. LEGISLATIVE LIAISON
OFFICER. The Legislative Liaison Officer shall be responsible for maintaining
adequate contact with the Legislature of the State of Kansas, and to uphold the
policies, rights and responsibilities of the Association and it's membership and
it's profession to the legislature in it's deliberations. The Legislative Liaison
Officer shall make known to the membership any pertinent action of the state
legislature and recommend, to the membership, appropriate action.
SECTION 6. DIRECTORS. The
Directors shall serve on the Board of Directors. They shall advise and consider
for approval any fiscal proposals of the President or Executive Director. They
shall assist in implementation of policy as directed by the membership. The
Regional Directors shall serve as regional representatives of the Association in
the Trauma region of Kansas from which they are elected or appointed.
Member-At-Large Directors shall serve as representatives of the Association as
directed by the Board.
SECTION 7. IMMEDIATE PAST
PRESIDENT. The Immediate Past President shall function as the Chairperson Of
The Board. Their duties shall be as set by the Board Of Directors. The Immediate
Past President, as Chairperson Of The Board, may represent the Association as
necessary.
SECTION 8. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
The Executive Director shall assume the duties and responsibilities as stated
in Article III, Section 6. The Executive Director may be bonded at the expense of
the Association in an amount specified by the Board.
SECTION 9. VACANCIES. In
the event of the death, resignation or incapacity of the Vice-President,
Secretary, Treasurer, Legislative Liaison Officer or a Director, the President
shall appoint, with the approval of the Board Of Directors, a replacement from the
membership to serve the unexpired term.
ARTICLE VII
FINANCE
SECTION 1. FEES AND DUES.
The Board of Directors may assess and collect from any member such fees and dues
as it shall see fit.
SECTION 2. ENDOWMENT. The Association may provide for
an endowment fund or funds, to be raised from such sources and in such manner as
it may, by Bylaw, provide. If deemed desirable, a separate corporation may be
formed to receive, hold and invest said endowment fund or funds.
SECTION 3. DUES, ETC., HOW LEVIED. Each member shall
be responsible for all fees and dues and the same shall be assessed directly
against each individual.
ARTICLE VIII
PUBLICATIONS
SECTION 1. MAGAZINE. The Association may publish an
official magazine.
SECTION 2. GENERAL PUBLICATIONS. The Board of
Directors shall authorize the publications necessary to the successful operation
of the Association.
ARTICLE IX
HONORS AND AWARDS
SECTION 1. AUTHORITY TO
ESTABLISH. The membership may, by Bylaw, establish honorary orders and
awards, authorize the persons by who and those upon whom the same may be
conferred, establish the form in which the same shall be memorialized, and ratify
and confirm any such orders, honors and awards as have been established by the
Board of Directors and the conferring thereof. The state headquarters shall keep
a permanent record of all persons or groups upon which any such honors shall have
been conferred.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1. HOW AMENDED.
This Constitution may be amended only by a two-thirds vote of the quorum at the
Seminar. The method of voting may be prescribed by Bylaw.
SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This constitution, as amended, shall supersede all previous constitutions of this
Association and shall have full force and effect from and after March 26, 2004.
KANSAS EMERGENCY
MEDICAL TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION, INC.
BYLAWS
DIVISION ONE
ORGANIZATION
CHAPTER I
ORGANIZATION OF
THE STATE ASSOCIATION
SECTION 1. TIME OF MEETING.
The Seminar shall convene annually, except in case of emergency, at such time and
place as shall be designated by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2. STANDING COMMITTEES.
The Standing Committees of the Association shall be: Finance Committee,
Education Committee, Publicity Committee and Ethics Committee. Appointment of the
Standing Committees shall be at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
Finance.
The Finance Committee shall be composed of the Treasurer of the Association as
chairperson and three (3) or more members from the Association appointed by the
President. This committee shall supervise the keeping of the accounts, and
arrange for an audit of the books annually by an approved certified public
accountant and formulate financial policies of the Association.
Education.
The Education Committee shall be composed of the Secretary of the Association as
chairperson and three (3) or more members from the Association appointed by the
President. This committee shall:
1. Conduct,
develop or assist in programs, lectures, courses or other means of education for
the benefit of the members and the profession at large.
2. Create such
funds as may be necessary to further the education of attendants.
3. Encourage and
assist emergency medical services offices and hospitals in developing and
maintaining adequate courses and facilities for the education and training of
attendants.
4. Plan and
conduct the programs for all education meetings of the Association.
Publicity.
The Publicity Committee shall be composed of the Legislative Liaison Officer as
chairperson and three (3) or more members from the Association appointed by the
President. This committee shall:
1. Supervise or
cause to be supervised all official publications of the Association.
2. Inform or
recommend means by which the membership can be informed of news pertinent to
emergency medical care.
3. Assist the
President in any publicity regarding the Association for distribution to the news
media and for magazines or pamphlets.
Ethics. The
Ethics Committee shall be composed of the Vice-President as chairperson and three
(3) or more members from the Association appointed by the President. This
committee shall:
1. Promote an
Emergency Medical Technician Code of Ethics as adopted by the Association.
2. Encourage all
attendants to maintain a high degree of professionalism consistent with other
health professionals.
SECTION 3. MINUTES. The
minutes of each Seminar, and of all Board of Directors meetings in the interim,
shall be printed and shall not be read at the succeeding Seminar, but approved as
printed, with such corrections as may be necessary.
SECTION 4. REPORTS AND AGENDA.
The Executive Director shall make available to each member at the Seminar, a
copy of all current minutes of the Board of Directors, all reports of the Board of
Directors, Executive Director, standing and interim committees and commissions and
an agenda for the Seminar.
CHAPTER II
RULES OF SEMINAR
SECTION 1. ORDER OF BUSINESS.
The order of business shall be as follows:
1. Welcome
2. Roll Call (May
be done by utilizing a sign-in sheet)
3. Corrections,
if any, of minutes of previous Seminar
4. Corrections,
if any, of minutes of Board of Directors meeting
5. General report
on the status of the Association, by the President
6. Reports of
professional staff
7. Committee
reports
8. Unfinished
business
9. New business
10.
Adjournment
SECTION 2. RULES OF ORDER.
Except as otherwise herein provided, Robert's Rules of Order (Revised) shall
govern the proceedings of the Seminar.
SECTION 3. VOTING. Voting
on all business shall be by voice vote. Voting may be by a show of hands at the
discretion of the President.
CHAPTER III
INTERIM
ORGANIZATION
SECTION 1. INTERIM STANDING
COMMITTEES. Between Seminars, there shall be such interim committees and
commissions as the President or Board of Directors shall authorize.
SECTION 2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MEETINGS. The Board of Directors shall meet at such times and places as the
President or a majority of the Board shall designate. Each Board member missing
more than two Board meetings per year shall be subject to dismissal by a majority
vote of the Board, subject to a hearing conducted by the Board.
SECTION 3. EXPENSES OF THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS. The members of the Board of Directors may be allowed actual
transportation and living expenses for attendance at any meeting of the Board of
Directors, Seminar, or when engaged in authorized travel on behalf of the
Association. Except for meetings of the Board of Directors or Seminars, all
travel by members of the Board of Directors for which reimbursement is made shall
be authorized by the President, within the Association's budget authorizations.
CHAPTER IV
RECORDS
SECTION 1. MEMBERSHIP ROLL.
The Executive Director shall keep a complete official Association membership roll,
containing the name, address and occupation of each member. Included shall be the
date of birth, membership date and such additional details as he/she may deem
advisable. The official roll shall also reflect the status of the membership
held.
SECTION 2. OTHER RECORDS.
All other records shall be preserved in the state headquarters.
CHAPTER V
ASSOCIATION POLICY
SECTION 1. POLICY AND PROCEDURES. The Board of
Directors shall adopt such policy and procedures as they may deem necessary to
accomplish the business of the Association.
DIVISION TWO
PUBLICATIONS
CHAPTER I
PUBLICATIONS
SECTION 1. SUPERVISION. The Board of
Directors shall exercise general policy supervision over any Association magazine
and over all printed matter issued by the Association.
SECTION 2. BUSINESS MANAGER. The
Executive Director shall be the business manager for any magazine and publications
and shall keep all accounts and pay all bills for their publication and
circulation, under the signature of the Treasurer.
SECTION 3. OTHER PUBLICATIONS. The
Board of Directors shall authorize, in the Association budget, the issuance of
whatever manuals, books and other publications which may be deemed necessary.
KANSAS EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS ASSOCIATION,
INC.
BY-LAWS
DIVISION THREE
AWARDS AND HONORS
CHAPTER I
AWARDS AND HONORS
SECTION 1. AWARDS COMMITTEE.
An Awards Committee of at least three (3) members shall be appointed by the
President. A member of the Board of Directors shall be chairperson and other
members may be appointed from the Board and/or the membership.
SECTION 2. NOMINATIONS. Any
person may nominate a deserving person or entity for an award. Nominations for
all awards, with accompanying support material, shall be forwarded to the awards
committee chairperson and are due prior to the Seminar.
SECTION 3. INDIVIDUAL AWARDS.
The individual awards shall be:
Bob Orth Award.
To be presented to any person with Kansas EMS certification or higher,
that has displayed a lasting impression and selfless commitment to the KEMTA
organization. Recipient must be a KEMTA member.
Lyle E. Eckhart
Award. This award shall be presented to a person who the awards committee
feels has made one of the highest and overall most substantial contributions to
emergency medical services during the award recipient's career in emergency
medical services.
Norman E. Mc
Swain Award. This award shall be presented to a person who the awards
committee feels has made the most outstanding contribution to emergency medical
services in his or her community.
Outstanding
Attendant Award. This award shall be presented to a person who the awards
committee feels has best exemplified the excellence of pre-hospital care in
Kansas.
Outstanding
Service Director. This award shall be presented to a person who the awards
committee feels has created or continued the most outstanding emergency medical
service in Kansas.
Outstanding
Instructor/Coordinator. This award shall be presented to a person who the
awards committee feels has demonstrated the best commitment to the highest ideals
of EMS education in Kansas.
Outstanding
Training Officer. This award shall be presented to a person who the awards
committee feels has demonstrated the best commitment to the highest ideals of
continuing education in their service.
Outstanding Medical
Director. This award shall be presented to the person that has demonstrated
the best commitment to excellence in pre-hospital care.
Outstanding Elected
Official. This award shall be presented to the elected official that has
contributed the most to emergency medical services.
Outstanding
Emergency Service. This award shall be presented to the emergency service
that has delivered the best in pre-hospital care in their community.
Outstanding
Civilian. This award shall be presented to a non-certified person who the
awards committee feels has demonstrated the best commitment to the highest ideals
of pre-hospital care in their community.
Kansas EMS Hall
of Fame. This award shall be presented to the individual that has made a
lasting impression on Kansas EMS during their lifetime. This award can only be
given to a person that is no longer active in EMS.
SECTION 4. OTHER AWARDS.
These awards shall be:
Special
Recognition. These awards shall be presented to any individual, organization
or business that has substantially contributed their talents to the benefit of
KEMTA.
Certificates Of
Appreciation. These awards shall be presented to the persons and
organizations aiding KEMTA during the year.
SECTION 5. If no deserving
nominations are received by the awards committee, the awards committee may elect
not to award one or more awards at any Seminar. The decisions of the awards
committee are considered final.
SECTION 6. FORM OF AWARDS.
There shall be two (2) forms of awards given at a Seminar:
Individual
Plaque. Individual plaques shall be given to the recipient of the Lyle E.
Eckhart Award, the Norman E. Mc Swain award, the Outstanding Attendant award, the
Outstanding Service Director award, the Outstanding Instructor/Coordinator award,
the Outstanding Training Officer award, the Outstanding Medical Director award,
the Outstanding Emergency Service award, the Outstanding Elected Official award,
the Outstanding Civilian award and Kansas EMS Hall of Fame inductees.
Certificates.
Certificates shall be presented to those receiving either Special Recognition
awards or Certificates of Appreciation.
SECTION 8. No
other award may be given in the name of KEMTA unless such an award has the
approval of the Board of Directors prior to the award's presentation.
DIVISION FOUR
SERVICE MEMBERSHIPS
CHAPTER I
DUES
SECTION 1. SERVICE DUES.
Those services desiring to establish Service Membership status shall pay yearly
dues as set by the Board.
SECTION 2. MEMBER
DUES. The dues for the members of the Service Membership shall be ten dollars
($10.00) less, per member, then the regular dues of the Association in effect at
the time the Service Membership is submitted.
DIVISION FIVE
SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP
CHAPTER 1
SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. MEMBER. Any person, organization or
business desiring to support the Kansas Emergency Medical Technicians Association
may become a Sustaining Member.
SECTION 2. LEVELS. Three
levels of participation shall be available:
Gold Level -
$500.00 per year
Silver Level -
$250.00 per year
Bronze Level -
$150.00 per year
SECTION 3. LENGTH OF MEMBERSHIP.
A sustaining membership shall be on a calendar year basis.
SECTION 4. RECOGNITION.
Plaques shall be presented each year and suitable recognition shall be made in
publications of the Kansas Emergency Medical Technicians Association.
SECTION 5. IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS. The Board may
recognize individuals or entities that have made in-kind contributions to the
Association and award them a Sustaining Membership
DIVISION SIX
AMENDMENTS
CHAPTER I
BYLAWS
SECTION 1. HOW AMENDED.
These bylaws may be amended only by
majority vote of the membership attending
the Seminar, according to the method(s) prescribed by
these bylaws.
SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE.
These bylaws, as amended, shall be in effect from
and after June 25, 2008 and shall repeal and
supersede all existing bylaws heretofore
enacted by the Association. |
