 |
|
Bylaws
Adopted by the membership on June 5, 2002. Amended by the membership on June 17, 2003.
Article I: Name and Purpose
Section 1. Corporate Name
The name of the organization is “Wheeling Citizens’ Police Academy Alumni Association, Inc.”, hereafter referred to as “WCPAAA.”
Section 2. Purpose
The purposes for which WCPAAA is organized are exclusively religious, charitable, scientific, literary and educational within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law.
The goals of WCPAAA shall be to continuously present and promote a positive image of law enforcement, the Wheeling Police Department, and their constitutionally mandated functions; to promote awareness and provide education in law enforcement issues and community concerns, and to support and assist the Wheeling Police Department when requested. The Wheeling Citizens’ Police Academy Alumni Association, as a non-profit organization, shall utilize any funds generated through its activities to support its purposes and objectives.
Section 3. Principal Office
The principal office of WCPAAA in the State of Illinois shall be located in the Village of Wheeling, County of Cook.
Section 4. Registered Office
The registered office of the corporation may be, but not need be, identical with the principal office in the State of Illinois. The address of the registered office may be changed from time to time by the Executive Board.
Article II: Membership
Section 1. Membership Requirement
Individuals who have completed the Citizens’ Police Academy or Youth Police Academy as provided by the Wheeling Police Department, State of Illinois.
No person shall be denied membership in WCPAAA because of race, sex, religion, or ethnic background.
Section 2. Initiation Fee
An initiation fee shall be the sum fixed by the Executive Board. Failure to pay the initiation fee within 60 days shall result in removal of membership from WCPAAA.
Section 3. Membership Dues
Membership dues shall be the sum fixed by the Executive Board. Failure to pay dues within 60 days of expiration of membership shall result in removal of membership from WCPAAA.
The Treasurer shall recommend, and the Executive Board shall establish, the fiscal year and when payment of dues is required.
All funds of WCPAAA shall be derived from dues or proceeds from fundraising. Funds secured by WCPAAA shall be used for the purchase of materials and/or equipment for the Wheeling Police Department, and/or to assist in the continuing education of WCPAAA members and/or the citizens of the community. Any funds remaining at the end of the calendar year shall be carried over to the next year. An audit shall be conducted at the end of the calendar year to insure the non-profit objective of WCPAAA.
Section 4. Rights and Privileges of Members
Members may vote, attend all meetings and functions, and be elected to all positions within WCPAAA subject to the restrictions of the office they seek to hold.
Section 5. Termination
The Executive Board may take disciplinary action against any Member and any membership may be terminated for cause by affirmative vote of the majority of the Executive Board for the following reasons:
Conviction of a Felony, Class A, or Class B misdemeanor.
Violation of any policy or procedure of the Wheeling Police Department or the lawful directives of any police officer when acting as a member of WCPAAA.
Any activity or action that is disruptive to the goals and objectives of WCPAAA.
Any act that is considered unethical or would cause a negative image of WCPAAA.
Any member may be removed at any time by direction of the Wheeling Chief of Police without a disqualification hearing.
Membership termination requests may be instituted by any member of WCPAAA. The request must be submitted in writing to the Executive Board, detailing the reason warranting termination.
The procedure for termination shall be as follows:
Upon receipt of any termination request, the President shall convene a meeting of the Executive Board at a convenient date and place.
All members of the Executive Board shall be present. The subject of the termination shall be notified of the time and place of this meeting, and invited to appear on his or her own behalf, or provide written comments in lieu of appearance.
Initially, the Board shall review and discuss the termination request and any other pertinent, applicable information available, not to exclude the member’s overall performance history. This initial review shall be conducted in private, outside the presence of the member.
Following this initial review, the member will be allowed to address the Executive Board either in person or with a written statement to offer any information or extenuating circumstances on their behalf. At this time, the Executive Board shall go into a private discussion of the charges without the member in attendance. After the Executive Board has made its decision, the member shall be offered the option of accepting the Board’s decision or resigning.
A resignation of a member shall be made by letter to the President and shall be effective upon receipt provided that no resignation shall discharge any indebtedness or other obligation due WCPAAA.
If a member is terminated or resigns, they shall immediately surrender any materials which identified them as a member.
Options other than termination shall be as follows:
No basis for termination, case dropped.
Probation for a period of no more than one year (any violation of probation shall result in immediate non-readressable termination).
Only the final disposition of termination requests shall be reported to the membership (no specifics) at the next possible membership meeting.
Article III: Executive Officers and Directors
Section 1. Executive Board
The Executive Board shall consist of four elected officers (the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer), and a minimum of three elected Members of WCPAAA, who shall be known as Directors. The Executive Board shall have responsibility for the control, direction and general management of the affairs and business of WCPAAA. However, the Executive Board may act in the name of WCPAAA only when the Executive Board has been properly convened as defined in Article V.
Section 2. Duties and Powers of Executive Officers
President
It shall be the duty of the President to preside at and develop agendas for all meetings of WCPAAA; to expound and enforce a due observance of the bylaws; decide all questions of order; call all special meetings; appoint all committees not otherwise provided for and fill all temporary vacancies with the advice and consent of the Executive Board; present views of WCPAAA to the Police Department liaison; represent WCPAAA at public affairs, and perform such other duties as the office may require. The President shall be empowered to sign checks on behalf of WCPAAA in the absence of the Treasurer.
Vice President
The Vice President will preside in the absence of the President assuming all his/her powers and duties. It shall also be the duty of the Vice President to serve as Chairperson of the Membership/Fundraising Committee.
Secretary
It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep an accurate record of the minutes of all Board meetings; send out all notices of the Executive Board and Special meetings; send letters of thanks to speakers, guests, etc. (in conjunction with the President). The Secretary will send reminders to members assigned special duties, notify persons and committees affected by action taken by the Executive Board, keep an updated calendar of events, enter new policies in policy files, maintain a supply of stationery and answer correspondence promptly (in conjunction with the President). The Secretary keeps copies of letters sent, received, and presents a summarized report of the past year’s activities at the Annual Meeting.
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall receive all monies and shall deposit them in the name of WCPAAA in a Federally insured bank approved by the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall keep a book provided for the purpose of an account of financial transactions. A treasurer’s report shall be submitted, in writing, at every Board meeting, and will give a verbal financial report to the General membership at the annual meeting. The Treasurer or the President shall be authorized to sign all checks of WCPAAA. The Treasurer has the authority to pay all normal recurring expenses; all other expenses must be authorized and approved by the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall, at the expiration of the term of office, present a full accounting of the receipts and expenditures during said term in office, and hand over to the successor within 20 days all books and monies belonging to WCPAAA.
Past Presidents
Past presidents shall act as advisor(s) to the Executive Board, but do not have voting rights. The immediate past president may be counted to meet the required quorum for any meeting.
The term of office for the Executive Board shall be two years. This Executive Board may provide for such committees and appoint officers as the business of WCPAAA may require. In order to achieve staggered terms of office for the Directors, the July 30, 2003 election only shall have two of its Directors elected for two years and three Directors elected for one year. The two highest vote-getters for a Directors position shall serve a two year term until the 2005 election and, thereafter, every two years. The remaining three highest vote-getters shall serve a one year term until the 2004 election and, thereafter, every two years. Should the Executive Board increase or decrease the number of Director positions in the future, the Executive Board will take the appropriate steps to make certain the terms of any additional Director positions are staggered appropriately.
Section 4. Nominations
A Nominating Committee consisting of three members of the Association at large shall be appointed by the Executive Board each year. Any member seeking office shall be verified by the Nominating Committee as a member in good standing. Qualified candidates shall have their names submitted to the membership to be voted upon.
The Nominating Committee shall create and collect the ballots before the annual meeting, supervise and count the votes at the annual meeting, and present the results to the Executive Board afterward. Any member of the Nominating Committee who accepts nomination for office is deemed to have resigned from the Nominating Committee.
Section 5. Election of Executive Board
The Executive Board shall be elected according to their term of office (see Section 3). All elections shall be by secret ballot, and the candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to the respective office. Elections will be held annually after notifying the general membership, in writing, thirty days in advance.
Section 6. Compensation
The Executive Board shall receive no compensation for their services as Executive Officers and/or Directors of WCPAAA other than reimbursement of funds expended on behalf of WCPAAA.
Section 7. Vacancies
All vacancies existing on the Executive Board may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Executive Board, and any person so appointed shall hold office for the unexpired term. A vacancy shall exist when a Board member resigns or has three consecutive unexcused absences from Board meetings.
Section 8. Removal
Any member of the Executive Board who falsely represents him/herself as having authority to act on behalf of the not-for-profit corporation on any matters related to collection of money, contracts, loans, checks, drafts, or other order for the payment of money other than as stipulated in Article III, Section 2 shall be individually liable for such actions.
Any member of the Executive Board, who no longer qualifies for his elected position may, for good cause, be removed from his position by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
Section 1. Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the Members shall be held in July of each year.
Section 2. Executive Board Meetings
The meeting of the Executive Board shall be called by the President or a majority of the Executive Board.
The Executive Board may designate any place, either within or without the State of Illinois, as the place of meeting for any annual meeting, executive board meeting, or for any special meeting called by the Executive Board.
Any meeting may be adjourned to reconvene at any place designated by a vote of a majority of the Executive Board present.
All Executive Board Meetings are open to all members.
A majority of the members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum. Each member of the Executive Board shall have one vote, and there shall be no voting by proxy.
Section 3. Special Meetings
Special meetings may be called by the President or members of the Executive Board if at least seven days advance notice is given to all concerned.
Article VI: Committees
Section 1. Committees
Committees shall be designated by the Executive Board as necessary to carry on the work of the organization. Committee chairpersons shall be appointed by that committee.
Section 2. Committee Chairperson
The committee chairperson shall be responsible for the actions of his/her committee and will report any committee meeting or action to the Executive Board.
Section 3. Membership of Committees
The membership of committees shall be composed of interested Members of WCPAAA.
Section 4. Limit of Committee Members
A limit on the number of Members of a committee shall be decided by the Executive Board.
Article VII: Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of WCPAAA shall begin on July 1 and end on June 30th.
Article VIII: Parliamentary Authority
All proceedings of WCPAAA shall be conducted under Robert’s Rules of Order, newly revised, except as herein otherwise provided.
Article IX: Amendment of the Bylaws
The bylaws may be amended at any membership meeting of WCPAAA by a two-thirds vote of the members present. The membership shall be notified seven days in advance of any such meeting. No amendments shall be valid that either intentionally or unintentionally change the status of WCPAAA as a not-for-profit corporation.
Article X: Dissolution
Upon dissolution of WCPAAA, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or corresponding section of any future Federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the Federal, state or local government for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a court of competent jurisdiction, in the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes.