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 last 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 one year,
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 each year, 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.
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
These By-Laws as amended will take effect the 27th day of
April, 2006.
