CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
KANSAS AND WESTERN MISSOURI CHAPTER
OF THE
FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY ASSOCIATES
Lodge of the Four Seasons
Lake Ozark, MO
General Membership Meeting
September 4, 2014
FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY ASSOCIATES
KANSAS AND WESTERN MISSOURI CHAPTER
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
______
PREAMBLE
For God and Country, we the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Associates associate together for the following purposes:
To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to protect our country from any and all enemies, whether foreign or domestic; to cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and all duly constituted law enforcement agencies and officers, as well as the general public, in all matters of mutual interest, particularly in the exchange and dissemination of ideas and information, the detection and prevention of crime, and the apprehension of criminals; to perpetuate the memory of our Association with the members of our class, associates, and faculty; to encourage attendance at all retraining sessions and conferences; to provide exemplary law enforcement training to fellow law enforcement officers and agencies; encourage and assist in the enlightenment and education of the general public; enhance the professional development of our membership; strive for the highest degree of respect for law and order and the maintenance thereof; and,
To these ends, we pledge to always conduct ourselves in a manner that will lend strength, dignity and credit to the profession of law enforcement.
ARTICLE I.THE NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION
The FBI National Academy Associates-Kansas and Western Missouri Chapter.
ARTICLE II.TERM OF THE ASSOCIATION
The term of this Chapter under the National Academy Associatesshall be perpetual.
ARTICLE III.PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION
The purpose of the FBI National Academy Associates of Kansas and Western Missouri shall be to provide membership with continuing education, training, research, and professional development opportunities in law enforcement disciplines as well as promote improved law enforcement cooperation, services, and standards of professional conduct at every level: local, state and federal. To reflect the standards of excellence instilled in each graduate of the FBI National Academy to increase the professionalism, efficiency and effectiveness of law enforcement services throughout the world.
The FBI National Academy Associates-Kansas and Western Missouri Chapter will abide by the FBI National Academy Associates, Inc. By-Laws and Constitution as established.
ARTICLE IV.MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Section 1.MEMBERSHIP:
Membership in this Association shall consist of:
a.Active Membership – Membership in this Association shall consist only of those individuals who have satisfactorily completed the prescribed course of instruction in the FBI National Academy and who are actively engaged in law enforcement work of the type which would qualify a candidate for admittance to the FBI National Academy. Actively engaged is defined as one who possesses arrest powers as duly authorized in their jurisdiction.
b.Retired Membership - Retired graduates in good standing are eligible for continued membership. Membership shall be effective upon graduation from the FBI National Academy and upon payment of dues in this Association.
c.FBI Membership - Active and retired Special Agents of the FBI who have served as counselors for a National Academy Session, Field Office National Academy Coordinators and Special Agents who have been directly involved and supported the National Academy Program, National Academy Instructors, FBI National Academy Staff may be nominated for membership by the Kansas/Western Missouri Executive Board and approved for membership according to the approved procedures by the National Executive Board. Active and retired Special Agents shall not be eligible to hold elective offices.
d.There shall be no honorary, life, associate or other types of membership except as described above.
Section 2.DUES:
a.Chapter Dues - The annual dues of this Chapter shall be established by the Chapter Executive Board, with the concurrence of the general membership and majority vote during a general membership meeting. Dues are payable in advance for each calendar year, beginning the calendar year after graduation from the FBI National Academy. All reminders, dues notices, and collection of Chapter dues are completed by the National Academy Associates.
b.National Dues – The annual dues of the National Academy Associates are established by the National Executive Board and paid directly to them each calendar year.
c.Any FBI agent as defined by Article IV, Section 1c may be a member of the Chapter during the calendar year which they retire. After January 1st of the following year, they shall pay Chapter dues.
d.The dues of this Chapterwill be maintained by the Secretary-Treasurer whose duties are described hereinafter in Article VII, Section 5.
e.Members of this Chapter who are unable to pay their local and national dues may submit their reason for non-payment in writing to the Executive Board of the Chapter. The President shall, at that time, request the Executive Board to review and provide a recommendation to be voted upon by the ChapterExecutive Board.
Section 3.RIGHT TO VOTE:
All members in good standing and present are eligible to vote during the Chapterbi-annual general membership meetings.
Section 4.SUSPENSION AND REINSTATEMENT OF MEMBERSHIP:
Any member of this Association and Chapter shall be suspended from membership:
a.Upon termination of a member’s full-time employment from duly constituted law enforcement, other than members retired in good standing.
b.Upon participation in activity unworthy of or contrary to the best interest of law enforcement, as evidenced by any dismissal or requested resignation from any law enforcement agency based upon misfeasance or malfeasance, and by a majority vote of the Executive Board Officers of the Chapter.
c.Upon participation in activity unworthy of or contrary to the best interest of the FBI National Academy or upon participation in any activity unworthy of or contrary to the best interests of the Federal Bureau of Investigation when so decided administratively by the Bureau.
d.Upon non-payment of any required dues.
1.Notices in reference to unpaid dues are sent by the National Academy Associates.
2.Those members who do not pay their dues will no longer be considered members of this Chapter. The National Academy Associates maintains the active members list and those who have paid their dues and provides this information regularly to each Chapter electronically.
3.A member who has been suspended because of non-payment of dues may be reinstated as a member in good standing by paying their current year’s dues plus a 20% reinstatement fee.
e.Any member who has been informed that their membership has been placed in a suspended or expelled status may appeal, in writing, to the Chapter President and request a hearing before the Chapter’s Executive Board of Officers at the next closed meeting.
ARTICLE V.OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Section 1.EXECUTIVE BOARD OFFICERS:
President
President-Elect
First Vice-President
Second Vice-President
Secretary-Treasurer
Immediate Past President
a.The ChapterExecutive Board shall consist of the Officers set forth above of this Constitution. The Executive Board shall perform all other duties required of it by this Constitution and its By-laws, and shall meet whenever necessary to discuss Chapter business or at the call of the President.
b.Each ChapterBoard member will serve their term to which they have been elected and move up in order of succession to the next Board position.
c.When a vote is required pertaining to Chapter business, a majority of the members of the ChapterExecutive Board shall constitute a quorum. In the event of a tie, the FBI NA Coordinator shall be the deciding factor reference the final decision.
Section 2.VACANCIES:
a.President - In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of President, the President-Elect shall act as President Pro-Tem for the remainder of the term of office. The President-Elect is then eligible for the position of President and may move up in the order of succession.
b.President-Elect/First Vice-President - Should a vacancy occur in the office of President-Elect and/or First Vice-President, the current office holder(s) below the vacated position(s) shall move up in the order of succession to fill the office vacancy(ies). Subsequent nominations for the eligible offices will resume at the next scheduled election and general membership meeting.
c.Second Vice-President – Should a vacancy occur in the office of Second Vice-President, the office shall remain vacant for the remainder of the term, with subsequent nominations resuming for the offices of Second Vice-President and First Vice-President at the next scheduled election and general membership meeting.
d.Secretary-Treasurer – A vacancy in the office of Secretary-Treasurer shall be filled by the Chapter President with an eligible Chapter member. A special election would be held at the next regularly scheduled meeting.
e.Chapter Executive Board positions – A vacancy in any Executive Board Officer position due to removal for cause, resignation, incapacitation, and/or dereliction of duties, the President may make an interim appointment and follow the above procedures.
ARTICLE VI.ELECTION OF THE OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Section 1.ELECTION OF OFFICERS:
a.The Executive Board Officers of this Chaptershall be elected separately at the regular Fall business meeting of each year. The candidate receiving a simple majority of the votes shall be declared elected to the open Board position(s). These positions will be elected from the eligible Active and Retired Members present and in good standing as indicated in Article IV, Section 1. The Officers moving up in succession and elected shall be sworn in at the fall Re-Trainer. They will begin their duties as of the following calendar year.
b.It shall be the duty of the Secretary-Treasurer of the Chapter to ensure membership is notified of the time, date, and place of the general membership meeting. This information is contained in the annual Re-Trainer information and agenda schedule.
Section 2.TERMS OF OFFICE:
The ChapterPresident, President-Elect, First Vice-President and Second Vice-President shall serve for a period of one year, beginning January 1, following the Fall election. The Secretary-Treasurer shall serve and be elected for a four-year term or until such time as his/her successor is duly elected.
Section 3.NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICE:
Nominations for the Chapter Executive Board Officers shall be coordinated by the Second Vice-President, Chairperson for the annual nominations. Only Active and Retired Members in good standing shall be eligible to hold elected office. The slate of qualified candidates will be submitted to the general membership for election to office at the Fallgeneral membership business meeting. Nominations will be received from the floor only if no qualified candidates have been presented by the Second Vice-President. The incoming Second Vice-President position will rotate between an eligible Kansas and Missouri Chapter member each year.
ARTICLE VII.DUTIES OF THE ELECTED OFFICERS
Section 1.PRESIDENT:
The Chapter President shall preside at all regular meetings, special business meetings, and functions of the Chapter. In conducting meetings of the Chapter, his/her decision will be final unless otherwise provided for by a two-thirds vote of the membership present at any business meeting of the Chapter.
If in the opinion of the President, an occasion or circumstance should arise to warrant the calling of a special meeting of the Chapter, he/she shall have the authority to call such a meeting and shall notify the membership of the date, time and place of such meeting, and the purpose of the meeting.
The President shall be Chairperson of the Executive Board.
The President shall appoint the members of all committees and shall be a member of all committees.
The President shall correspond with Chapter members to inform them of meetings and other functions of theChapter.
The President will appoint a Sergeant-at-Arms each year to preside at the Spring and Fall Re-Trainers and general membership meetings. The President will be the Chairperson of the Youth Leadership Program (YLP) and will appoint a liaison to the National YLP for our Association. The President will appoint a Chairperson for Membership efforts. The President will appoint a liaison to assist with Vendor initiatives at the Spring and Fall Re-Trainers.
Section 2.PRESIDENT-ELECT:
The President-Elect shall be a member of the Chapter Executive Board. The President-Elect shall perform all duties for the good of the organization required of him/her by the President of the Chapterand this Constitution. He/she shall be the Chairperson of the Association’s Audit Committee. The President-Elect will be the Chairperson of the Finance Committee in regards to Chapter requests and donations and will work with the Secretary-Treasurer to be completed by the Spring Re-Trainer.
Section 3.FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT:
The First Vice-President shall be a member of the Chapter Executive Board. The First Vice-President shall perform all duties for the good of the organization required of him/her by the President of theChapterand this Constitution. He/she shall be Chairperson of the Association’s Hospitality Committee for the Fall Re-trainers. The First Vice-President will be the Chairperson of the appointed Chapter Historians, one for Kansas and one for Missouri, to ensure Chapter representation with the National Academy Associates and Chapter historical preservation.
Section 4.SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT:
The Second Vice-President shall be a member of the Chapter Executive Board. The Second Vice-President shall perform all duties for the good of the organization required of him/her by the President of the Chapterand this Constitution. He/she shall be Chairperson of the Association’s Election Nomination efforts. The Second Vice-President shall be the Chairperson of the Chapter Awards and will appoint a liaison for continuity to assist with coordinating the nominations, selection, and notification to the sponsoring award organization (the Clarence M. Kelley Counseling Resources, Inc.). In addition, the liaison will maintain a current Chapter list of members to be recognized at the Spring and Fall Re-Trainers.
Section 5.SECRETARY-TREASURER:
The Secretary-Treasurer shall be a member of the Chapter Executive Board. The Secretary-Treasurer shall perform all duties for the good of the organization required of him/her by the President of the Chapterand this Constitution. He/she shall serve for a four-year term commencing January 1st following the Fallgeneral meeting election.
The Secretary-Treasurer shall coordinate Chapter dues with the National Academy Associates. He/she will maintain all Chapter finances and make an accounting of all funds with a Treasurer’s Report at each regular business meeting of theChapter. The Secretary/Treasurer will submit a quarterly financial report to the ChapterExecutive Board or at any time requested by a member of the Executive Board. With the assistance of the Executive Board, the Secretary-Treasurer will prepare a budget for the coming year.
The Secretary-Treasurer shall have the authority to disburse such monies as required for ordinary operating or other expenditures as directed by the Chapter Executive Board. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep a copy of paid bills on any and all monies expended.
The Secretary-Treasurer shall prepare and maintain the minutes of all business meetings of the Chapter and the minutes of all meetings of the Executive Board.
The Secretary-Treasurer shall coordinate an audit of all Chapter funds with the Audit Chairperson (President-Elect) to be made after the first of the calendar year and prior to the Spring general membership business meeting. This audit will review revenues and expenditures of the previous calendar year. A report of this audit shall be made at the Spring general membership business meeting.
The Secretary-Treasurer will ensure coordination of all necessary financial and tax documents and that they are prepared and filed with the Internal Revenue Service on an annual basis.
The Secretary-Treasurer will ensure the Chapter’s Certificate of Incorporation is maintained. He/she will ensure the Chapter’s tax exempt status is maintained and all fees paid annually to the Secretary of State’s Office.
Section 6.IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT:
The Immediate Past President shall be a member of the Chapter Executive Board. The Immediate Past President shall perform all duties for the good of the organization required of him/her by the President of the Chapterand this Constitution. He/she will serve in an advisory role regarding Chapter business. The Immediate Past President will coordinate a transfer of duties at the beginning of the incoming President’s term. He/she will attend the scheduled ChapterExecutive Board meetings and the regular business meetings of the Association. The Immediate Past President will conduct a review of the Constitution and By-Laws on an annual basis and will make updates as necessary following procedures under Article XI.