Constitution & By-laws
You may download the documents in Microsoft Word format of read them below:
FIRE MARSHALS ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA Constitution
FIRE MARSHALS ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA By-Laws
FIRE MARSHALS ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA
CONSTITUTION
Article I
NAME
SECTION 1. The name of the organization shall be the Fire Marshals Association of Minnesota.
SECTION 2. Within the organization of the Fire Marshals Association of Minnesota, there shall be a Fire Safety Educators Committee.
Article II
OBJECT
SECTION 1. The objectives of the Fire Marshals Association of Minnesota and the Fire Safety Educators shall be:
- To provide training and education of public officials involved in fire prevention duties;
- To enhance public education in fire safety and fire prevention methods and practices;
- To preserve the welfare of the community through advocacy of improved legislation concerning fire safety and fire prevention;
- To further the understanding of fire prevention practices through interaction and communication of ideas of the membership.
Article III
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. ACTIVE MEMBER - any public official of the state, county, city, or organized fire department in Minnesota who is engaged in the prevention of fire through property inspection, enforcement of fire laws and regulations or through public education.
ASSOCIATE MEMBER - any person not qualifying for active membership may apply for associate membership. An associate member shall have no voting power, nor be able to hold any office within the Fire Marshals Association of Minnesota. Application shall be in writing and shall state why the applicant has an interest in joining the organization. Approval of the membership shall be by 2/3rds majority of members present. Vote shall be by secret ballot.
SECTION 2. Termination of membership shall occur upon failure to pay the annual dues on or before the second regular quarterly meeting.
SECTION 3. Reinstatement of membership shall occur upon payment of annual dues.
Article IV
OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. The officers of the Fire Marshals Association of Minnesota shall be:
- President
- Vice President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
SECTION 2. The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers and six other members, one of whom shall be the immediate past president, if there be one, the chairperson of the Fire Safety Educators Committee and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal.
SECTION 3. The President shall appoint the “Chapter Representative” for the International Fire Marshal’s Association (IFMA).
SECTION 4. The President, Vice-President, Secretary Treasurer, and IFMA Chapter Representative shall be members or associate members of the International Fire Marshal’s Association.
Article V
ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. Officers and Board of Directors shall be elected at the first quarterly meeting of the year in which their term expires. Officers shall be elected as follows:
President - odd year
Vice President - even year
Secretary - odd year
Treasurer - even year
One Board of Director shall be elected in the odd year and two shall be elected in the even year.
The Minnesota State Fire Marshal shall serve on the Board of Directors.
In case of a vacancy, the Board of Directors shall have the power to fill the same until the next first quarterly meeting.
Article VI
COMMITTEES
SECTION 1. Committees shall be formed at authorized meetings of the membership by a majority vote of the members present.
SECTION 2. Committees shall be for the good of the organization and shall report to the membership.
SECTION 3. PUBLIC EDUCATION COMMITTEE: There shall be a permanent Fire Safety Education Committee whose chairperson shall be appointed by the President and become a member of the Board. Any special funds of this committee shall be recorded separately by the Treasurer.
Article VII
RATIFICATION
SECTION 1. The constitution and by-laws shall be submitted to all members and shall be ratified by a majority of the members voting.
Article VIII
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1. Amendments to the constitution or by-laws of the Fire Marshals Association of Minnesota shall be made only at the first quarterly meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present. No proposition to amend shall be acted upon unless written notice thereof has been given to the secretary at least 60 days prior to the meeting. A copy of such a proposition shall be sent to every member of the association 30 days before the date of the first quarterly meeting at which time the amendment is to be voted upon.
Article IX
FINANCIAL DISCLAIMER
SECTION 1. No financial obligations or financial responsibilities of the Fire Marshals Association of Minnesota shall be incurred or assumed by the International Fire Marshal’s Association, the National Fire Protection Association, and the International Fire Code Institute.
FIRE MARSHALS ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA
B Y – L A W S
Article I
OFFICERS
President
SECTION 1. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings and to enforce all regulations relating to the administration of the association.
SECTION 2. The president shall call meetings of the association or board of directors when he deems it necessary to the efficient operation of the association or when requested to do so by a majority of the board of directors.
SECTION 3. He shall appoint all committee members.
Vice President
SECTION 4. In the absence of the president, the vice president or in his absence, an elected member of the board of directors shall have all the powers and prerogatives of the president.
Secretary
SECTION 5. It shall be the duty of the secretary to record minutes of the regular quarterly meetings, Board of Directors meetings and perform such other secretarial duties as directed by the president and/or the Board of Directors.
Treasurer
SECTION 6. The Treasurer shall deposit and disburse all money by check as directed by the Board of Directors, keeping an accurate record of all receipts and expenditures, and perform other duties as may be directed by the President and/or Board of Directors.
Article II
MEETINGS
SECTION 1. The regular meetings of the association shall be on the second Wednesday of the months of March, June, September, and December. The meetings shall be held at such time and place as the board of directors shall decide.
SECTION 2. The meeting on the second Wednesday of March shall be known as the first quarterly meeting.
SECTION 3. Special meetings may be called by the president and shall be called by the president at the request of a majority of the board of directors. Notice of special meetings shall be sent to each member at least 14 days in advance of the meeting date.
SECTION 4. A majority of the board of directors shall constitute a quorum of the board of directors meeting which shall be held at least 30 days prior to the regular meeting or as specified in Article II SECTION 3.
Article III
NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. Nominations for officers and board of directors shall be from the floor at the first quarterly meeting.
SECTION 2. Election shall be by secret ballot.
SECTION 3. The secretary and three members appointed by the presiding officer shall canvass the ballots cast and announce the result to the presiding officer who thereupon shall declare the members receiving a plurality of the votes cast elected to the respective offices.
Article IV
RULES OF ORDER
SECTION 1. The rules of parliamentary procedure as laid down in “Roberts Rules of Order – Revised” shall govern all meetings of the association.
|