Saginaw County Fire Chiefs Association

Whereas, in all regulated organizations, certain laws and rules are adopted as necessary for the operation thereof;

Now, therefore we, the administrative heads of the several Fire Departments in Saginaw County, do, for the purpose of furthering the objectives for which we have united, agree to support the following as our code of laws:

Let it hereby be known that this Association is to be a non-profit organization.

ARTICLE 1 - NAME
This organization shall be known as the Saginaw County Fire Chiefs Association.

ARTICE 2 - PURPOSE
The purpose of this Association is:

To promote the advancement of fire prevention, fire suppression, emergency medical services, and other fire service related services for the preservation of life and property;

To secure a close official and personal relationship among fire service officials;

To elevate the standards of fire institutions by urging the elimination of politics from their conduct;

To promote and support legislation for the advancement of the fire service;

To assist in providing for the temporary relief of Association members and their families in certain emergencies at all times.

ARTICLE 3 - REGULAR MEMBERSHIP
Membership in this Association shall be open to Fire Chiefs, regardless of title, of any municipal, industrial, or institutional fire department within the jurisdiction limits of Saginaw County.

The title " Fire Chief" shall apply to any person who is the recognized head of any of the foregoing departments, regardless of his / her local title.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
Associate membership shall be all chief officers, as designated by the fire chief, regardless of their title who assist in leading the department. Associate membership will be a no voting member unless the chief is unable to attend.

ARTICLE 4 - REGULAR MEMBERSHIP DUES
Members shall be required to pay annual dues in an amount established by the regular membership. Annual dues shall be due and payable during the month of January of each year.

Any member who is in arrears for dues for ninety (90) days shall, after notification by the secretary, be suspended from the membership of the Association until he / she shall have paid all delinquent dues.

ASSOCIATE MEMBER DUES
Associate members shall be required to pay annual dues in an amount established by the regular membership. Annual dues shall be due and payable during the month of January of each year.

ARTICLE 5 - MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the membership of the Association shall be held on the third Wednesday of every month, except when such meeting day falls on a legal holiday, or when the membership votes to change a date. An alternate meeting day shall be set by majority vote of the membership present at the preceding meeting.

All meetings shall be conducted under the accepted rules of parliamentary procedure.

Special meetings of the membership may be called by the President, or upon written request to the President by five (5) or more members, in which case such request shall be made at least seven (7) days preceding such special meeting.

Meetings of the Executive Board shall be held as often as shall be deemed necessary by the members of such Executive Board to properly conduct the business of the Association.

ARTICLE 6 - QUORUM
Twelve (12) or more members present at any regular or special meeting of the membership shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE 7 - OFFICERS
The officers of the Association shall be: a President; a Vice-President; a Secretary; a treasurer, and two (2) Trustees, all of whom shall be chosen from among the ranks of the members in good standing.

The Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers of the Association.

The term of office for all officers of the Association shall be for one (1) year. Elected officers shall assume the duties of their respective offices at the first regular meeting following the election to office.

ARTICLE 8 - ELECTIONS
A Bi- annual election shall be held for the purpose of electing the officers of the Association. The Bi- annual election shall be held at the regular meeting in January of every other odd year.

Elections of officers shall be by secret ballot. Each officers position shall be voted separately starting with the president. The term of office shall be two years. These positions take effect at the conclusion of the vote. A majority of the votes cast shall be required to elect a member to office. In the event of a tie, a second ballot shall be taken, and this procedure followed until a majority vote is obtained and the officers position is filled.

An election committee shall run the election. Committee members shall not be eligible run for an office.

ARTICLE 9 - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
PRESIDENT - It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Association and it’s Executive Board; appoint all committees and perform such other duties as may be incidental to his / her office, or which may be required of him / her by action of the membership of the Executive Board. He / she shall be the Public Information Officer for the Association.

VICE - PRESIDENT – In the absence of or inability of the President to act, he / she shall perform all duties of that office, and when the President is presiding, shall assist the President in every way possible. He / she shall serve along with the two (2) Trustees, as a member of the Board of Auditors.

SECRETARY – It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a record of the proceedings of the meetings of the Association and the Executive Board. He/ she shall receive and answer communications pertaining to the business of the Association. He / she shall be prepared to give a record of the proceedings of the previous meetings at the request of the President.

TREASURER - It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to conduct the financial activities of the Association. He / she shall collect and keep records of all duties paid by the members. He / she shall receive and disburse all moneys of the Association, and shall keep a true and correct account of all Association moneys. He / she shall be prepared to give a financial report at the request of the President. He / she shall prepare printed detailed financial report of the Association annually. He/ she shall deposit the funds of the Association in a bank approved by the Executive Board. Deposits thus made shall be in the name of the SCFCA. He/ she shall send flowers in case of death for retired chief, chief’s spouse, or mother / father of a member chief. By unanimous vote of the members present at the regular monthly meeting of April 18, 2001, a $400.00 annual stipend, paid $100.00 per quarter, has been authorized to the Treasurer.

TRUSTEES – The Trustees, together with the Vice-President, shall make an annual audit of the treasurer’s books and present a report of such audit to the membership once each year. They shall, with other members of the Executive Board, transact all business of the Association not otherwise provided for in this Constitution, and shall carry out any plans as shall be determined and assigned to them by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE 10
In the event this organization dissolves, all financial assets of the Association shall be donated to the Delta Community College General Scholarship Fund.

ARTICLE 11 - AMMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION

The Constitution may be amended or altered at a regular meeting or special meeting called for that purpose by a majority of those members present and voting at such meeting; provided that written notice of such proposed amendments or alterations be given to all members at least sixty (60) days preceding such vote.

THIS CONSTITUTION AND BY LAWS APPROVED AND ADOPTED AT REGULAR MEETING 15 MARCH 1995, AMMENDED 5-15-01, 5-19-04