Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (Apco)

ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC SAFETY

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICIALS (APCO)

NATIONAL EMERGENCY NUMBER ASSOCIATION (NENA)

OREGON JOINT APCO-NENA

CHAPTER CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I - GENERAL MATTERS

Section 1:Name and General Membership Requirements

A. This organization shall be known as The Oregon Chapter Association of Public Safety Communications Officials /National Emergency Number Association (Oregon APCO/NENA), Oregon non-profit public benefit corporation. Oregon APCO/NENA is a duly authorized Chapter of the parent organizations known as the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO International, Inc.) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).

B. Its membership shall be open to all persons who meet the membership requirements of this Constitution and/or Bylaws pursuant thereto, and who are residents of or employed in the State of Oregon or as otherwise provided herein.

C. Its voting privileges shall be limited to certain membership classifications, which are hereinafter specified.

Section 2:Purpose

The purpose of Oregon APCO/NENA Chapter shall be to:

Foster the development and progress of public safety communications by means of research, planning, training, and education; promote cooperation between towns, cities, counties, state and federal public safety agencies and policy-making bodies as may be appropriate, and through its efforts strive toward the end that the safety of human life, the protection of property and the civic welfare are benefited to the utmost degree;
Aid and assist in the rapid and accurate collection, exchange and dissemination of information relating to emergencies and other vital public safety functions;
Prepare, and electronically distribute or cause to be prepared and electronically distributed information at such regular intervals as may be deemed necessary, reasonable, and proper. This shall include technical, administrative, operational, training and educational information considered of interest to the membership of this Chapter and to other people who are interested in the field of public safety communications;
Establish and maintain the files, records, equipment and functions necessary for Chapter operation and activities; and
Provide for membership in this Chapter in accordance with the language and intent of its Constitution and Bylaws, which are now, and may later be, in effect.
Membership shall not be limited other than by classification and shall have such rights and privileges by classifications as may be provided from time to time in keeping with the development of public safety communications.

Section 3:Definitions and Names

"Association" refers to the Parent Chartering Organizations – APCO International, Inc. – Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, or NENA – National Emergency Number Association.
"Chapter" refers to Oregon APCO/NENA.
“Public Safety Entity” is defined as an agency, department, division, or section of a separate function of government which:
Has been created by state and/or federal laws, and which is fully or to the largest extent financially supported by tax revenue; and
Is concerned with the functions of police and general law enforcement, fire, highway safety, emergency rescue and/or medical services, civil defense, forestry conservation, and the various related activities of state and local government.

Section 4:Constitution and Bylaws

The objectives and purposes of this Chapter shall consist of a written constitution and written bylaws consistent with the Constitutions and Bylaws of APCO International, Inc., and NENA. These objectives and purposes shall include and be otherwise related to and in support of those of the Association and its Constitution and Bylaws.

Section 5:Amending Restrictions

This Chapter shall maintain its constitution and/or bylaws so that they are consistent with the objectives, purposes and requirements of both APCO and NENA’s Constitution and Bylaws and shall provide both Association offices with a copy of the documents in current condition.

Section 6:Membership Classification Restrictions

This Chapter shall have those classes of membership provided in the Chapter Constitution. The rights with respect to Chapter and Association matters provided by each class of membership, including voting rights, holding of Officer and Chair positions shall be specified for each membership classification.
There shall be no limit placed upon the number of members in any classification of membership.

Section 7:Requirement to Report Meetings

This Chapter shall submit a report of its meetings in writing to the Association Office not more than thirty (30) days after the adjournment of such meetings, or in accordance with any requirements set forth by either Association’s Office.
The report shall be made in the form of a copy of the minutes herewith required to be kept of each Chapter meeting. Minutes, as required in this Section, shall be substantially in accordance with the definition of minutes in Roberts Rules of Order.

Section 8:Membership from Adjacent Areas

Members may affiliate with Chapters in the adjacent area as multiple category members as provided for in the Chapter Bylaws, providing that dues are paid to each Chapter.

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1:Membership Designations

The membership of this Chapter shall be divided into the following classes: ACTIVE OR FULL MEMBER; ONLINE OR ASSOCIATE; COMMERCIAL; ASSOCIATION LIFE; CHAPTER LIFE and CHAPTER HONORARY.
Applications for membership will be processed in accordance with the provisions of Bylaws.
Members shall be admitted and afforded rights in accordance with the classification requirements set forth in this Article, and membership shall not be denied on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or numerical limitation.

Section 2:Active or Full member

The following individuals are eligible for membership in the Chapter in the ACTIVE or FULL MEMBER category and shall enjoy all benefits and privileges of the Chapter including the rights to vote, hold elected office or appointment and to chair a committee.

Personnel responsible for installation, maintenance, command and/operation of public safety systems and supporting information systems. Such persons must be employed by, retired from or volunteer of a governmental entity providing the described services.
No person shall be eligible for membership under any portion of this section who engages in the commercial manufacture, lease, or sale of public safety communications equipment.

Section 3:Online or Associate Member

The following individuals are eligible for membership in the Chapter in the ONLINE or ASSOCIATE MEMBER category and shall enjoy benefits and privileges of the Chapter which include access to the online Association and Chapter information and reduced rates for conferences, training and webinars.

Individuals meet the requirements of 2.A.1 above and who, at the applicants discretion, select this category; or individuals not meeting the requirements of any other category.
Online or Associate Members do not have voting privileges in the Chapter.

Section 4:Commercial Member

The following individuals are eligible for membership in the Chapter in the COMMERCIAL category and shall enjoy the benefits and privileges of the Chapter including the rights to vote, hold an appointed position and to chair a committee.

Those persons who receive compensation in any form of services rendered in business and industry are eligible to be Commercial Members.
Commercial members are eligible to serve on committees and groups, and as a Chapter Commercial Advisory Member on the Chapter Board of Directors.

Section 5:ASSOCIATION Life Member

The term LIFE MEMBER is an honorary term and shall be in addition to that of the regular membership classification title held by the member.
This honor is reserved for those persons who are members of any classification and who have made significant contributions toward the objectives of this organization at the level in a manner and for the purposes which are above and beyond those normally required for recognition at the Chapter level as a Chapter life member.
This highest Chapter honor shall be bestowed upon a person in the following manner:

1. Nomination for LIFE membership shall be made at the Chapter level by a Chapter quorum or by a Chapter Board of Directors, and shall be forwarded to the Board of Officers accompanied by a full and detailed statement of the basis upon which such nomination is believed to be justified;

2. If approved by the Executive Council, the nomination shall be submitted for consideration of the quorum of an annual conference.

3. The privileges of a LIFE member shall be determined by their other membership classification, provided, however, a LIFE member shall be exempt from the payment of dues.

Section 6:CHAPTER Life Member

The term CHAPTER LIFE MEMBER is an honorary term and shall be in addition to that of the regular membership classification title held by the member.
This honor is reserved for those persons who are members of any classification and who have made significant contributions toward the objectives of the chapter for recognition at the Chapter level as a Chapter life member.
The criteria for consideration for CHAPTER LIFE may include one or more of the following criteria:
Oregon APCO-NENA Chapter Member for more than 15 years;
Service on APCO, NENA or Chapter Committees for at cumulatively 10 years;
Service the Executive Board for a cumulative period of 4 years;
Other Significant Professional Contribution
This CHAPTER LIFE honor shall be bestowed upon a person in the following manner:
Nomination for CHAPTER LIFE membership shall be made at the Chapter level by request to the Chapter Board of Directors by a detailed statement of the basis upon which such nomination is believed to be justified;
Acceptance of the nomination shall be voted upon by the Chapter Membership at a business meeting.
The privileges of a LIFE member shall be determined by their other membership classification, provided, however, a LIFE member shall be exempt from the payment of chapter dues following retirement or honorable separation from service in the 9-1-1 profession.

Section 7:Chapter Honorary

This membership is limited to those individuals who may have no incentive to obtain membership in any category but, by virtue of their position or accomplishments, it is in the best interest of Oregon APCO/NENA:

The Chapter Board of Directors shall make a recommendation to the Chapter that such honor be bestowed; and
The appropriate Chapter quorum, during one of its regularly scheduled meetings, shall approve the recommendation by a majority vote.
The term of this recognition shall be at the discretion of the Chapter.
Privileges of a CHAPTER HONORARY member shall be determined by his/her other membership classification if any; provided the Chapter shall pay the regular member annual subscription fee for the BULLETIN in accordance with the requirements of Bylaws Article VI, Section 1 E.
Honorary members shall not vote or hold office in any capacity, except that they may serve as Ex Officio members of any committee.

Section 8:Dues

The dues rate for each class of membership in this Association and Chapter, and the policies pertaining thereto, are set forth in Bylaws.

Section 9: Voting and Officer Restrictions

The right to vote and hold elected office at all levels and in all areas of this Association are specified by each membership classification.

ARTICLE III - SPECIAL SESSION

Special session of the Chapter may be held for the purposes of amending the Constitution and Bylaws. These sessions may not be held more often than twice yearly. They may be included as part of a regularly scheduled meeting or session.

ARTICLE IV - AMENDMENTS – REVIEW AND CHANGE

The Constitution of this Chapter may be amended only by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of a quorum as defined in Bylaws Article X, Section 1, during a specific session called for this purpose.

Adopted on 10/15/2015 1