CLEVELAND COUNTY FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION 

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I

 MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1  

Any member of a rated Fire Department, whether the department is paid or volunteer, shall, upon payment of dues as prescribed by the By-Laws of this Association, qualify as a member of this Association. 

SECTION 2

The term of membership in this Association shall be one year, commencing at the first of each year. New members may be admitted, however, at any time during the year upon compliance with the By-Laws of this Association. 

ARTICLE II

DUES

SECTION 1

The monies necessary to further the objectives and purposes of the Association may be raised by the assessment of dues against each member in an amount to be fixed and determined by the Board of Directors once a year at the commencement of each fiscal year, the payment of such dues as are determined and assessed also being a prerequisite to membership in this Association. 

SECTION 2

Members who fall within thirty (30) days from the time dues are assessed to pay their dues, shall be notified by the Treasurer by mail at the last known address of such member, and if payment is not received of such member on or before the next meeting of the Board of Directors, occurring more that seven (7) days after the mailing of such notice, the Treasurer shall report this fact to the Board of Directors who shall order that such delinquent member be dropped from the rolls of the membership of the Association and thereupon forfeit all rights, title, and privileges of membership.

ARTICLE III

MEETINGS OF MEMBERS

SECTION 1

The regular meetings of members of the Association shall be held quarterly, the Fourth Thursday night during the months of January, April, and July, and the second Thursday night of November at such places as determined by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 2

The regular meeting held each year during the month of November shall be and constitutes the Annual Meeting of the Association.

SECTION 3

Special meetings of the members shall be held upon the call of the Board of Directors, a majority thereof, the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, at such time and place as may be fixed and stated in the call of notice.

SECTION 4

Notice of the time, place, and purpose of every meeting of the members shall be given in writing by the Secretary at least one week prior to the date of such meeting. 

ARTICLE IV

DELEGATES

SECTION 1

All members of member departments in good standing shall be delegates in the Association 
 
 
 

ARTICLE V

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 1

The Board of Directors shall have the duty, power and authority to direct the management of the business of the Association, and may adopt such rules and regulations as it shall deem proper and consistent with the law, the charter and the By-Laws of the Association.

SECTION 2

The Board of Directors shall consist of the Chief, or his/her authorized representative of each department in good standing, the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and immediate Past President of the Association.

SECTION 3

Members of the Board of Directors shall serve for a term of Two years, or until their successors in the office are determined.  Vacancies occurring on the Board of Directors shall be filled by the Board of Directors from the membership of the Association.

SECTION 4

The Board of Directors shall meet from time to time and at such place or places as may be necessary for the proper and effective management and control of said Association upon a call or notice from the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, or any five members of the Board of Directors, provided that written notice be sent to every member of the Board of Directors at the last known mailing address of such member not less than one week prior to such meeting.

SECTION 5

All voting to control the affairs of the Association shall be by a roll call vote by departments. The Chief, or his/her authorized representative of each department in good standing, shall cast one (1) vote for each department present. A majority vote of the departments present shall be required to pass any motion.  
 
 

ARTICLE VI

 OFFICERS

SECTION 1

The delegates (members) shall at the Annual Meeting of the Association every two years, elect from the membership of the Association a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Chaplain.

Each delegate shall be give a paper ballot containing the names submitted by the Nominating Committee and approved by the Board of Directors. Each member shall also be given the right to write-in one (1) additional nominee for each Officer position.

Nominees for each Officer position receiving the majority of the votes shall be elected to the respectful position. 

The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for generating, distributing, collecting, and tallying the ballots at the Annual Meeting of the Association every two years.

SECTION 2

The President shall be the chief executive officer and presiding officer of the Association and the Board of Directors, and shall be charged with the duty, authorized, and empowered to employ, on behalf of the Association, such technical, legal, and professional assistance and personnel for such purpose or purposes as he may deem in the best interest of the Association.

The President shall make a report to the members of the corporation at the Annual Meeting of the Association covering briefly the activities and the accomplishment of the corporation during his term of office, and any plans or projects which have begun but Incomplete at the time of the meeting.

The President will have the authority to spend up to $300 at one time without the consent of the Board of Directors of the Association.

No President shall serve more than two consecutive terms.

SECTION 3

The Vice-President shall be the principle assistant to the President, shall in the absence of the President perform all duties of the President, and shall, in case of death, resignation or other disability of the President, succeed to the Office of President.

SECTION 4

The Treasurer shall be in charge of all the financial operations of the corporation and shall keep financial records of the corporation.  He shall make recommendations to the Board of Directors and general membership with respect to financial matters.  The Treasurer is authorized to assume the duties of the Secretary in the event of his absence, illness, or disqualification.  The treasurer shall be bonded in at least the amount of money under his control and such bond premiums shall be paid from the Treasury.

The Treasurer shall be in charge of administrating the Fraternal Benefit Fund. 

SECTION 5

The Secretary shall keep a complete record of all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Directors and shall have general charge and supervision of the books and records of the Association.  He shall sign all papers with the President and such other papers pertaining to the Association as he may be authorized and directed by the Board of Directors.  Upon the election of his successor, the Secretary shall turn over to him all books and other property belonging to the Association as he may have in his possession.

SECTION 6

The Chaplain shall act as counselor and advisor and in particular shall promote the spiritual and Physical welfare of the members and their families.  He shall open all meeting of the Association and shall visit members in the hospital.  He shall deliver suitable eulogy before the Association upon the passing of any of its members.  He

Shall accept any other duties assigned by the Officers of the Association.

SECTION 7

All Officer and Officer-elects shall meet the last week of December at a pre-designated place and make the necessary transactions for the change of positions. 
 
 
 
 

ARTICLE VII

 COMMITTEES

SECTION 1

The President shall with the advice and assistance of the Board of Directors, appoint a By-Laws Committee consisting of three (3) members, a Nominating Committee consisting of three (3) members, and any other committees he deems necessary for the successful operation of the Association.

ARTICLE VIII

FRATERNAL BENEFIT FUND

SECTION 1

The purpose of the Fraternal Benefit Fund shall be to reinforce more firmly the bonds of fraternity and friendship now existing between the members of the Firefighters Association.  

SECTION 2

All members and /or Board of Directors of member departments in good standing shall be eligible for membership in the Fraternal Benefit Fund. To become a member of the Fraternal Benefit Fund the standard application shall be completed and sent to the Treasurer of the Association.

SECTION 3

Each member shall be assessed $5.00 for each death of a member of the Fraternal Benefit Fund. 

SECTION 4

Upon receiving satisfactory notice of a death of a member of the Fraternal Benefit Fund the Treasurer shall promptly forward to the beneficiary identified in Association Records a sum equal to $5.00 times the total number of members enrolled in the Fraternal Benefit Fund, minus $100.00, at the time of death.  

SECTION 5

The Board of Directors shall assess additional fees to each member of the Fraternal Benefit Fund as may be needed to keep the viable for future benefit expenditures.  

SECTION 6  

If a fire department is over 30 days delinquent in payments to the Fraternal Benefit Fund, no death benefit shall be paid to the family of a member of that department until all delinquent payments are resolved. 

ARTICLE IX

SEAL

SECTION 1

The Association shall have a corporate seal with name of the Association inscribed thereon and such other appropriate legend as the Board of Directors may determine. 

ARTICLE X

BY-LAWS

SECTION 1

The By-Laws of the corporation may be amended, altered, supplemented, or repealed at any meeting of the Board of Directors, provided that two-thirds (2/3) of the Board of Directors present are in favor of the changes.

SECTION 2