BYLAWS

 

IOWA CHAPTER

 

 OF THE

 

ASSOCIATION OF PUBLIC-SAFETY

COMMUNICATIONS OFFICIALS - INTERNATIONAL

 

 

 

AS AMENDED BY THE QUORUM
OCTOBER 4, 2005

 

 

WITH CHANGES APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

DECEMBER 8, 2005

 

 

 


Charter:                         #11

Chartered:                     April 24, 1945

Chartered Area:             State of Iowa

Amended:                     October 4, 2005


IOWA CHAPTER OF APCO BYLAWS

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

                                                                                                                                       Page

 

 

ARTICLE I                    MEMBERSHIP                                                                               4     

 

Section 1                      Categories                                                                                     4

Section 2                      Description                                                                                    4

                                    Active Member                                                                               4

                                    Commercial Member                                                                      5

                                    Member                                                                                         5

                                    Chapter Life Member                                                                      5

                                    Life Member                                                                                   5

Section 3                      Other Memberships                                                                        6

Section 4                      Changes in Membership Qualifications                                             6

 

 

ARTICLE II                   MEMBERSHIP PROCEDURE                                                          6                 

Section 1                      Application                                                                                    6

Section 2                      Classification                                                                                 6

Section 3                      Effective Date of Membership                                                          7

                                                                                                                                         

 

ARTICLE III                  DUES                                                                                            7

 

Section 1                      Chapter Membership Dues                                                              7

Section 2                      APCO-INT Membership Dues                                                          7

 

 

ARTICLE IV                  CHAPTER ELECTIONS                                                                  7

 

Section 1                      Eligibility                                                                                       7

Section 2                      Positions to be Filled                                                                      7

Section 3                      Term Limits                                                                                   7

Section 4                      How Filled                                                                                     8

Section 5                      Voting for Elected Positions                                                            8

Section 6                      Local Agency Support                                                                    8

Section 7                      Date of Taking Office                                                                      8

Section 8                      Vacancy                                                                                        8

 

 

ARTICLE V                   OFFICERS – AUTHORITY AND DUTIES                                          

 

Section 1                      Authority                                                                                       8

Section 2                      President                                                                                       8

Section 3                      Vice President                                                                               9

Section 4                      Secretary                                                                                      9

Section 5                      Treasurer                                                                                       9

 

 

ARTICLE VI                  COMMITTEES                                                                                

 

Section 1                      Designation                                                                                  10

Section 2                      Standing Committees                                                                   10

                                    Executive Committee                                                                    10

                                    Activities and Membership Committee                                            11

                                    Resolutions and Bylaws Committee                                               11

                                    Nominating Committee                                                                  11

                                    Training Committee                                                                       11     

                                    Historical Committee                                                                    11

                                    Telecommunicator of the Year Committee                                       11      Frequency Advisory Committee                    12

Section 3                      Special Committees                                                                     12

                                    Iowa Telecommunicator Training Board                                           12

                                    Iowa E911 Council                                                                        12

Section 4                      Duties of Committees                                                                   12

 

 

ARTICLE VII                 AMENDMENTS                                                                            13

 

Section 1                      Authority for Amendments                                                             13

Section 2                      Normal Procedure for Amendment                                                  13

Section 3                      Waiver of Requirements of Section 2                                              13

Section 4                      Effective Date of Amendments and Resolutions                               14

 

 

ARTICLE VIII                RESOLUTIONS                                                                           14

 

Section 1                      Procedure                                                                                    14

Section 2                      Rules of Order                                                                              14

 

 

ARTICLE IX                  EXPENSES                                                                                 14

 

Section 1                      Specified Expenses                                                                      14

Section 2                      Unspecified Expenses                                                                  14

 

 

ARTICLE X                   DISSOLUTION                                                                            15

 

Section 1                      Distribution of Assets                                                                    15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BYLAWS

 

 

ARTICLE I

 

MEMBERSHIP

 

Section 1          CATEGORIES

 

1.1        With the exception of the governmental and corporate member

classifications, APCO’s members are individuals.  The membership of this chapter shall be divided into the following categories: active member, commercial

member, and member.

 

1.2        A designation of life or chapter life, as defined herein and in the APCO-INT

constitution, may be added to a category.

 

1.3        Group memberships shall be divided into the following: corporate group

membership and governmental group membership.

 

 

Section 2          DESCRIPTION

 

2.1               By meeting the requirements established here, and in accordance with
Article I of the bylaws, and in keeping with the requirements of APCO-INT, the

                        following are descriptions of the various categories and classifications of

membership in this chapter.

 

            2.2        ACTIVE MEMBER

 

            2.2.1     The following citizens of the United States of America and affiliated chartered

groups shall be eligible for active membership:

 

2.2.2     Personnel responsible for planning, organizing, staffing, directing, and controlling

functions required in the design, construction, installation, maintenance,

command, and operation of public-safety systems.  Such persons must be

employed by, retired from, or a volunteer of a governmental entity or a contractor

of a governmental entity providing the described services.  Members must be

actively engaged in or retired from the performance of the described services for

the specific entity on a regular basis and may not have a conflicting commercial

interest which provides a significant portion of their income.  Examples of

qualifying positions include but are not limited to engineers, technicians,

managers, supervisors, and telecommunicators.

 

2.2.3     Active members may vote in the annual quorum, may enjoy all benefits and

privileges and, except where otherwise limited, may serve in any capacity in the

APCO-INT and its chartered members.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

               2.3     COMMERCIAL MEMBER

 

2.3.1     Those persons who receive compensation in any form for services rendered in

business and industry and are eligible to be commercial members. Except for the 

corporate advisory committee member on the executive committee, voting

privileges are as provided for in Article III, Section 5, of the APCO-INT constitution.  They may otherwise enjoy all benefits and privileges of APCO-INT.

 

Corporate group membership classification

Bronze:              5   to  9    members                 

Silver:                10 to 19   members                   

Gold:                 20 to 49   members                  

Platinum:          minimum of fifty members          

 

2.4        MEMBER

 

            2.4.1     Those non-administrative and non-supervisory personnel otherwise meeting the

requirements of 2.1,  at the applicant’s discretion may select this category, and

those persons not meeting the requirements of any other category of

             membership are eligible for this category.

2.4.2      Members may vote in the biannual quorum at the spring and fall meetings and       special meetings of APCO-IA only.

 

            2.5        CHAPTER LIFE MEMBER

 

            2.5.1     This honor shall be bestowed upon qualified members of the active class by the

                        chapter upon recommendation by the chapter executive committee and majority

approval of the chapter quorum.  In order to be nominated, a member must have

made a major contribution to the advancement of the chapter and/or association, as well as qualify for at least three of the following:

 

                                    - Member of the Iowa chapter for at least five years

                                    - Served as chapter president for two years, secretary or treasurer for

                                        four years, or frequency advisor for four years

                                    - Member of chapter executive board for at least two years

                                    - Member of chapter executive committee for at least four years

 

            2.5.2     The privileges of a chapter life member shall be determined by the class of

                        membership for which the member would otherwise qualify.

 

            2.5.3     The chapter shall notify APCO–INT of an appointment to chapter life and shall

                        pay membership dues.

 

            2.6        LIFE MEMBER

 

            2.6.1     Any member of APCO-IA who has made significant contributions beyond the

                        normal call of duty toward the successful attainment of the objectives of APCO-

                        INT at the national or international level shall be eligible for life membership.

 

 

 

 

 

 

            2.6.2      This honor may only be bestowed upon nomination by the APCO-INT executive

council, following recommendation by this chapter in accordance with the

requirements for this class as outlined in the APCO-INT constitution, and the

subsequent confirmation by a majority vote of the quorum of an annual APCO-

INT conference.

2.6.3     The title of life member, when bestowed, shall be in addition to the regular

                        membership title of the member, and this person shall enjoy all the privileges of

                        the regular membership classification and shall be exempt from the payment of

any dues at the state chapter or APCO-INT level.

 

            2.6.4     This chapter shall recognize any member(s) within its chartered area so

                        designated by APCO-INT and shall welcome such member(s) into full

                        membership privileges in keeping with regular membership classification

                        of the member(s).

 

 

Section 3          OTHER MEMBERSHIPS

 

            3.1        In addition to the classes of membership outlined in this article, this chapter shall

                        recognize any other membership classification(s) as may be provided by APCO-

INT in a manner keeping with the intent of APCO-INT for such classifications.

 

 

Section 4          CHANGES IN MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS

 

            4.1        Should the status of any member change so as to affect membership

                        qualifications, this person shall automatically have the membership classification

                        changed to conform to the new qualifications.

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

MEMBERSHIP PROCEDURE

 

Section 1          APPLICATION

 

            1.1        Application for membership shall be made in writing and signed by the applicant

                        upon forms as provided by APCO-INT.  Completed applications shall be

submitted to the chapter secretary for processing.

 

            1.2        Notwithstanding the above normal procedure, the Iowa chapter may request

                        the APCO-INT office to adopt other procedures.

 

 

Section 2          CLASSIFICATION

 

            2.1        Upon receipt of an application for membership, the secretary shall determine

                        the qualifications and eligibility of the applicant for membership.  When eligibility

has been determined, the secretary shall notify the applicant of the appropriate

membership category and dues structure for that class.

 

 

 

Section 3          EFFECTIVE DATE OF MEMBERSHIP

 

            3.1        Upon receipt of dues for membership, the applicant becomes a full member,

                        according to the category selected.

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

DUES

 

Section 1          CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP DUES

 

1.1               Dues for chapter membership for all categories, except chapter honorary, shall

be in accord with the APCO-INT dues structure.

 

            1.2        Chapter honorary members shall not pay any chapter or APCO-INT

                        dues.  The secretary shall forward to the membership manager a check

                        in the amount of the membership fee designated by the APCO-INT .

 

Section 2          APCO-INT MEMBERSHIP DUES

 

            2.1        Membership dues shall be designated by APCO-INT for each particular

                        category of membership.

 

2.2        An application and a check in the amount of dues for each member’s

                        particular classification shall be forwarded to the accounting department

                        at the time the membership is reported.

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

CHAPTER ELECTIONS

 

Section 1          ELIGIBILITY

 

            1.1        Any members who hold active membership status in this chapter may

                        be considered for any elective position in this chapter.

 

 

Section 2          POSITIONS TO BE FILLED

 

            2.1        The offices of president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer shall be

elected for two-year terms.

 


Section 3          TERM LIMITS

 

3.1              The president shall serve no more than two (2) two-year terms consecutively.

 

3.2              The vice president, secretary, and treasurer may serve an unlimited number of terms.

 

 

Section 4          HOW FILLED

 

            4.1        Nominations for elected positions may be submitted to the nominating

                        committee prior to the fall meeting in even-numbered years for presentation

                        at the election of officers.  Nominations from the floor will also be accepted.

 

 

Section 5          VOTING FOR ELECTED POSITIONS

 

            5.1        All elected positions in this chapter shall be elected by ballot.  This

                        requirement can be waived and a voice vote is sufficient if a given

                        candidate for office is unopposed.

 

 

Section 6          LOCAL AGENCY SUPPORT

 

            6.1        Those nominated for office must furnish a letter from their agency administrators,

supporting their nomination, or appointment, to the chairman of the nominations

committee, prior to the election.  Nominees from the floor must be able to provide

verification of support within 30 days of their election. 

 

 

Section 7          DATE OF TAKING OFFICE

 

            7.1        Candidates elected at the fall meeting in even-numbered years shall take office

January 2 of the year following the election.

 

 

Section 8          VACANCY

 

8.1        Vacancies in offices of vice-president, secretary, treasurer shall be filled by 

presidential appointment until the next scheduled election.  Vacancies in the

office of the president shall be filled by the vice president until the next scheduled

election.

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

OFFICERS -- AUTHORITY AND DUTIES

 

Section 1          AUTHORITY

 

            1.1        The necessary authority for the performance of duties by all officers

                        of this chapter is herewith established.

 

 

Section 2          PRESIDENT

 

            2.1        As soon as practical after taking office, the president shall announce the

                        appointments to standing and special committees, outline objectives for the

                        year, and chair a discussion on any proposed resolutions to be presented to

                        the annual APCO conference quorum in accordance with Article IV,

Section 2.2 of the constitution.

 

            2.2        The president shall be the chairperson of the chapter executive committee,

                        shall be the ex-officio member of all committees of this chapter, and shall

                        preside at all chapter meetings.

 

            2.3        The president shall serve as the chapter delegate to the APCO-INT executive

                        council or shall appoint an active member to serve as alternate.

 

            2.4        It shall be the president’s duty to see that the conduct of all meetings is in

                        keeping with the purpose of this chapter as outlined in the Article I, Section 3

of the constitution.

 

 

Section 3          VICE-PRESIDENT

 

            3.1        The vice-president shall perform all duties of the president in the

                        president’s absence.

 

3.2        The vice-president shall serve as chairman of the activities and membership

committee.

 

 

Section 4          SECRETARY

 

            4.1        This person shall serve as secretary to the board of officers, the executive

                        committee, and the chapter meetings business sessions.  The secretary will

                        take the minutes for all meetings held.

 

4.2        The secretary shall forward all meeting notices, articles regarding previously

held meetings, and silent key articles on any deceased members to the APCO

Bulletin. 

 

            4.3        The secretary shall keep a complete roll of membership of this chapter.

 

 

Section 5          TREASURER

 

            5.1        The treasurer shall receive all general funds belonging to the chapter

                        and shall maintain a bank account for the orderly processing of all funds.

                        All chapter obligations shall be paid from this account as prescribed by

                        the chapter quorum, or upon orders from the board of officers and/or

                        executive committee during the intervals between chapter meetings.

           

            5.2        The treasurer shall prepare a financial report and present it at each

                        meeting, and shall make financial records available to the executive

                        committee for auditing purposes.

 

            5.3        The treasurer shall promptly deliver all money and records to the

                        successor in office or to whomsoever the chapter executive committee

                        may designate to receive them.

 

 

 




ARTICLE VI


COMMITTEES


Section 1          ELIGIBILITY

 

                        1.1        Any committee appointee must be a member of Iowa APCO.


Section 2          DESIGNATION

 

                        Committees formed in this chapter shall be classified as:

 

            2.1        STANDING COMMITTEES - Perennial or annual-type committees which

                        are assigned prescribed duties and responsibilities of a permanent nature.

           

            2.2        SPECIAL COMMITTEES - Ad-hoc type committees which are assigned

                        specific duties and responsibilities in matters of a temporary but significant

                        nature.

 

 

Section 3          STANDING COMMITTEES

 

            3.1        Committee chairpersons, upon appointment, are required to furnish a

                        letter from their agency administrator supporting said appointment.  This

                        letter must be submitted to the chapter president before January 2.

 

            3.2        EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

            3.2.1     The chapter president shall be the chairman of this committee, and its

                                members shall consist of all elected officers, the immediate past president,

two members-at-large who have been appointed by the president, and a 

commercial member who shall not be a voting member of this board.  The

elected membership may succeed themselves on the executive committee.

 

3.2.2     The executive committee shall have full power and authority during intervals

                        between scheduled chapter meetings to perform all the functions which the

                        chapter might perform, except that it shall not have the power to amend the

                        constitution or bylaws.

 

            3.2.3     The president shall call this committee into session whenever the need arises,

                        and shall call it into session at the spring meeting prior to the general business

                        session for the purpose of examining the treasurer’s financial report and to

                        decide on recommendations to make to the business session quorum that would

                        advance and effect the objectives of the chapter and APCO-INT.

 

            3.2.4     The president may poll this committee on special matters by written or oral

                        communications in lieu of calling special sessions.

 

            3.2.5     This committee may be called into special session on the written request bearing

                        the signature of four (4) of its members.

 

3.2.6     A simple majority of this committee shall constitute a quorum, and a simple
majority vote of those present at a session or polled in writing shall determine all issues.

            3.3        ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

 

            3.3.1     The vice-president shall be chairman of this committee and shall appoint at

                        least two chapter members to assist.

 

            3.3.2     This committee shall actively explore ways to reach new members for APCO

                        and, just as importantly, to keep the members already enrolled.

 

            3.3.3     This committee shall offer its assistance to the spring meeting in planning a well-

                        rounded program agenda and shall assist with social arrangements.

 

            3.4        RESOLUTIONS AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE

 

            3.4.1     This committee should actively keep a finger on the pulse of the needs of the

                        chapter as pertains to the constitution and bylaws, and shall draw, or assist in

                        drawing, resolutions to effect provisions for those needs.

 

             3.5       NOMINATING COMMITTEE

 

            3.5.1     This committee shall have as its chairperson the immediate past president and,

                        if possible, shall include two additional past presidents as members.

 

            3.5.2     This committee shall actively study the chapter membership observing

                        individuals in an effort to evaluate interest in, and willingness to work at,

                        promoting the goals of APCO, both at the chapter and APCO-INT levels.

 

            3.5.3     This committee shall accept nominations from the membership and bring

                        its recommendations to the fall meeting quorum, in the form of candidates

                        for the offices of president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer to the

                        chapter executive committee in accordance with Article IV of the bylaws.

                       

            3.6        HISTORICAL COMMITTEE

 

3.6.1     The appointed chairperson of this committee shall be the chapter’s
representative to the APCO-INT historical committee.

 

            3.6.2     This committee shall actively research, compile, and maintain a file on the

                        records and history of the chapter.


3.7        TRAINING COMMITTEE

 

3.7.1     This committee shall consist of the liaison to the Iowa Law Enforcement

Academy, and two members who shall provide advice and make
recommendations on training issues affecting the membership, their agencies and the citizens of this state.

 

3.8        TELECOMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR COMMITTEE

3.8.1    
This committee shall consist of a chairman, appointed by the chapter president,

and two members who shall actively solicit for the nomination of the

telecommunicator of the year. Nominees and recommendations for awards shall
be presented to the executive committee prior to the spring conference.

 

 

 

            3.9        FREQUENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

            3.9.1     This committee shall have its chairperson the chapter frequency advisor.

 

            3.9.2     The chairperson shall have powers broad enough to make decisions due to

                        normal time limitations.  This person shall also have the power to appoint ad-hoc

                        sub-committees to study any special or individual situations deemed necessary. 

This committee shall consist of the chairman appointed by the president, and four

members, also appointed by the president.


Section 4          SPECIAL COMMITTEES

 

            4.1        The president shall appoint committees as the need arises.  These special

                        committees shall continue to serve and operate as such until the tasks for which

they have been appointed have been completed to the satisfaction of the

president, or until changes are made by the president for the good and welfare of the chapter.


4.2        Iowa telecommunicator training board

 

4.2.1     The president shall appoint one member and an alternate to represent the

chapter on the above committee.  The appointee shall be empowered to vote on

all issues required by the telecommunicator training board except those that

may commit financial or other chapter resources, or issues not commensurate

with the purposes, goals, and objectives of APCO-INT or the Iowa chapter.  The

appointee shall report annually to the membership the activities of the board.

 

4.3         IOWA E911 COUNCIL 

4.3.1     
The president shall appoint one member and an alternate to represent the

chapter on the above committee.  The appointee shall be empowered to vote on

all issues required by the Iowa  E911 COUNCIL except those that may commit

financial or other chapter resources, or issues not commensurate with the

purposes, goals, and objectives of APCO-INT or the Iowa chapter.  The appointee shall report annually to the membership the activities of the board.

 

 

Section 5          DUTIES OF COMMITTEES

 

            5.1        The duties of all committees shall be defined by the president where otherwise

                        not stated.

 

 












ARTICLE VII

 

AMENDMENTS

 

 

Section 1          AUTHORITY FOR AMENDMENT

 

            1.1        The constitution and/or bylaws of this chapter may normally be amended

by a simple majority vote at the spring meeting during a regular business session in accordance with Section 2 of this article, or in the event of waiver of the requirements of said Section 2, amending procedure will be in accordance with Section 3 of this article.

 

1.2               The constitution and bylaws committee may make non-substantive changes to the bylaws in order to correct errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling,
cross-references when the correct cross-reference is obvious, and the use of incorrect words when the correct word is obvious.  The constitution and bylaws

committee also may adjust the numbering of the individual sections to maintain

proper numerical sequence and to maintain the consistent style and format of

section numbering but not to change the relative order of individual sections. 

Such non-substantive changes shall require ratification by the executive     committee. 

 

 

Section 2          NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR AMENDMENT

 

            2.1        The constitution and/or bylaws of this chapter may normally be amended by

                        presenting a resolution in writing to the chapter president, who shall have the

                        secretary notify, in writing, each chapter member qualified to vote, of the

proposed change at least thirty (30) days prior to the spring meeting.  The actual

amending vote shall take place at the spring meeting, and a simple majority vote of active members and members in attendance shall determine the issue.

 

 

Section 3          WAIVER OF REQUIREMENTS OF SECTION 2

 

            3.1        Should it become desirable to waive normal procedure to amend the constitution

                        and/or bylaws of this chapter, during the fall meeting only, the following

procedure shall be followed:

 

            3.2        An announcement shall be made by the president of the request for waiver and

                        an outline of issues involved in such amending requests.

 

            3.3        A motion and a second to waive normal amending procedures with sufficient time

for discussion to determine the need for waiver.

 

3.4        A three-fourths majority vote to waive the requirements of Section 2 of this article.

 

            3.5        A simple majority vote to determine each amending issue voted on

                        separately.

 

 

 

Section 4          EFFECTIVE DATE OF AMENDMENTS AND RESOLUTIONS

 

            4.1        All resolutions passed and adopted by this chapter in accordance with the

                        rules set forth in this constitution and bylaws shall be in force and effect upon

                        the adjournment of the meeting wherein considered and adopted, provided an

exception to this effect is not otherwise contained in the language of the

resolution itself.

 

 

4.2        Non-substantive changes, as defined in Section 1.3 of this article, that are submitted by the constitution and bylaws committee shall become effective upon ratification by the executive committee.

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

RESOLUTIONS

 

 

Section 1          PROCEDURE

 

1.1        Every resolution, unless of formal character or involving amendments

                        to the constitution and bylaws requiring handling in accordance with

                        Article VII of the bylaws, shall be in writing and presented to the executive

                        committee for consideration and report prior to the last day of the fall

                        meeting.  Any resolution considered by the executive committee shall

                        be presented to the quorum, along with the recommendation of the

                        executive committee, in sufficient time for consideration prior to voting

                        on the resolution.

 

 

Section 2          RULES OF ORDER

 

            2.1        Upon any question coming before any meeting of this chapter which is

                        not specifically provided for by the constitution and/or bylaws, the

                        presiding officer shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order, Revised.

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

 

EXPENSES

 

 

Section 1          SPECIFIED EXPENSES

 

            1.1        The treasurer shall be authorized the necessary funds to fulfill the requirements

                        of this office as outlined in the constitution and/or bylaws of this chapter.

 

 

Section 2          UNSPECIFIED EXPENSES

 

            2.1        The executive committee shall be authorized to approve all other expenses not

                        specifically outlined in the constitution and/or bylaws of this chapter.

ARTICLE X

 

DISSOLUTION

 

 

Section 1          DISTRIBUTION OF ASSETS

 

1.1        Should this chapter be dissolved, all of its interests shall be distributed to an

organization or organizations of similar purposes as selected by a simple majority vote of a chapter meeting or similarly by the executive committee if done between meetings.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                END OF BYLAWS