ARTICLE I - Membership

 

Section I. Members of the Society may be elected, without limit as to numbers on the approval of membership application by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. Each member shall be classified by the Board of Directors according to one of the following:

A. Active Member -- A person who supports the Iowa Society of Fire Service Instructors and its goals and:

1. Submits an application for active membership. Upon approval of the application, the members voting privilege becomes effective immediately.

2. All charter members.

3. All life members

B. Honorary Member -- A person of outstanding prominence who has made a singular contribution to the field of fire training.

 

Section II. Life Membership

Any Past President, and Past Secretary or Treasurer who has served two (2) or more terms, or any active member who has been an active member for ten (10) or more years and has made outstanding contribution to the Iowa Society of Fire Service Instructors, may be granted Life Membership by the Board of Directors.

Any member of the Board of Directors may bring the name of any such candidate (active member) to an executive session of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall vote to accept or deny such candidate. Acceptance or denial shall be by simple majority vote.

 

Section III Industrial Membership

Any firm may become a member under this section. An Industrial Membership will allow no more than three (3) persons from the member company to represent said company. Industrial membership carries one (1) vote.

Annual dues for Industrial Membership shall be acted upon the same as for other membership. (Article II, Section I)

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Section IV Complimentary Membership

Any person who successfully certifies to the NFPA 1041 instructor I will receive a complimentary 1 year membership to the Iowa Society of Fire Service Instructors.

 

ARTICLE II - Dues

 

Section I. The membership year shall be the calendar year. Annual dues for Active and Industrial memberships shall be determined by the Board of Directors and submitted to the active members for approval. Simple majority shall give approval.Annual dues shall not be collected from Life Members or Honorary Members.

 

Section II. Termination for non-payment of dues. Membership shall be terminated when the dues of any member are unpaid at the close of the fiscal year. Terminated members may be reinstated by payment of dues for the current year.

 

ARTICLE III - Membership Privileges

 

Section I. All members shall receive a membership card appropriate to their classification.

 

Section II. All members shall be on the mailing list to receive materials as the officers of the Society shall from time to time see fit to distribute.

 

Section III. Any member shall have the right to attend meetings of the Society but only active members may vote and hold office. (Article II – Constitution and Article of Incorporation)

 

ARTICLE IV - Meetings

 

Section I. The annual meeting, as prescribed in Article IV of the Constitution and Article of Incorporation shall be held for the election of officers and the transaction of other business of the Society.

 

Section II. The President may, with the approval of the majority of the Board of Directors, call a special meeting upon thirty (30) days notice to all the active membership. The majority of the Board may also call a special meeting under the same conditions as above.

Section III. There shall be no voting by proxy. Balloting by mail will only be permitted as specifically provided for in Article V of the Constitution and Article of Incorporation

 

Section IV. Quorum

A. A simple majority of those present at the annual meeting of the Society shall govern for the election of officers and the conduct of Society Business.

B. A simple majority of those active members present, all Active Members having been notified in compliance with Article IV, Section II above, shall govern for the conduct of Society Business at a special meeting.

C. A simple majority shall constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors.

 

Section V. Meetings of Board of Directors The President may, with the approval of the majority of the Board of Directors, call a Board of Directors meeting to discuss Society business. The majority of the Board may also call a Board of Directors meeting under the same conditions. These meetings may be conducted in person, or through an electronic means, such as telephone conference call. Decisions of the Board must be based on majority vote.

 

ARTICLE V - Officers and Board of Directors

 

Section I. Elections shall be held at the annual meeting of the Society. The President shall appoint a nominating committee composed of one member of the Board of Directors, who shall be the Chairman of the committee, and two active members of the Society present at the meeting. Nominations may also be presented from the floor at the time of election but such nominations shall be in writing for the presentation to the Secretary and must carry the signatures of at lease four (4) active members of the Society present at the meeting.

 

Section II. The officers of the Society -- President, Vice-president, Secretary and Treasurer, shall be elected for two year terms.

 

Section III. Beginning in 1981, Directors shall be elected for two (2) year terms with the terms staggered. The Board of Directors may change the length of specific terms to accomplish this rotation. Directors shall be limited to two (2) terms.

 

Section IV. In the event that the officer of President should become vacant, by death, resignation, or extenuating circumstances, the Vice-president shall automatically become the President of the Society within ten (10) days. Vacancy of both the President and Vice-president shall be filled by the results of an election by the Board of Directors. In the event of a vacancy occurring among the offices of the Board of Directors of the Society, the President shall, within thirty (30) days, appoint an active member to fill that vacancy until the next regular meeting.

 

Section V. The administrative year shall begin and end with the election at the annual meeting and all officers shall remain in office until their successors are elected or appointed.

 

Section VI. No officer or director, except the Secretary and the Treasurer, shall be elected to serve more than two (2) terms consecutively for any specific office.

 

Section VII. All monies of the Iowa Society of Fire Service Instructors shall be subject to the authority of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall disperse monies only on direction of the President, after approval of a simple majority of the Board of Directors. Upon approval of the Board of Directors, the President, Vice-president and the Treasurer shall be authorized to sign checks.

 

Section VIII. All members of the Board of Directors shall be bonded at a level established by the Board.

 

ARTICLE VI - Committees

 

Section I. The President or the Board of Directors may establish committees. The term“committee” shall include standing committees, limited term committees, ad hoc groups, and so forth. Each committee shall have a clearly defined function or specific charge. Any ad hoc committee shall disband at the completion of its charge. Terms for members of standing committees shall be two years, with re-appointments at the option of the President or Board. Terms for members of other committees are based on the term of the committee.

 

Section II. The President shall, at a minimum, appoint the following standing committees:

A. Nominations and Elections Committee

B. Membership Committee

C. Rules Committee

D. Annual Conference Committee

E. Awards Committee

F. Finance and Audit Committee

G. History and Archives Committee

H. Curriculum Review Committee

I.  Fire School Display Committee

J.  Fire School Advisory Committee

K. Long Range Planning Committee

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Committee responsibilities

Annual Conference- Committee is to coordinate with the Fire Service Training Bureau regarding the program content for the Annual Iowa Fire Service Instructors Conference. Committee serve one year. 4 members.

Awards- Committee is to actively solicit, screen and investigate all nominations for the Bill Nelson “Instructor of the year” award. It is the duty of this committee to select the name of the recipient of this award and report it to the board of directors by September 1. It is the responsibility of the chairman to call a meeting for the purpose of reviewing applications to make the selection. It is further the responsibility of this committee to review the guidelines for this award and suggest appropriate changes to the border directors. Committee service for one year. 5 voting numbers and 1 ex-officio member.

Curriculum Review- Committee is to coordinate with the Fire Service Training Bureau regarding curriculum development and curriculum review. The committee will assist the Fire Service Training Bureau with review of existing or new curriculum, revising of existing curriculum, and development of new curriculum. The committee will also work with the Fire Service Training Bureau concerning review of nationally recognized training standards. 4 members

Finance and Audit- appointed annually by the president audit the butts of the treasurer during the annual conference, and as needed. The committee is to make a report at the Annual Meeting and recommend to the Board of Directors any suggested changes in procedures. Committee service for one year. 3 members.

Fire School Display- this committee is responsible for setting up the display at the state fire school and for regional fire schools as needed. The committee also ensures that the displays properly staffed during the schools. The board of directors were off the rise spending limits for this committee annually. Committee service one year. 2 members.

Fire School Advisory- Committee shall represent the Iowa society of fire service instructors at meetings called by the conference manager, Fire Service Training Bureau. Committee will suggest courses and offer the Society’s assistance as needed at the State Fire School. Committee serves from appointment until replaced by the President. 1 member and 1 alternate. 

History and Archives- Committee is to collect data memorabilia etc. pertaining to the Iowa society a fire service instructors. the committee is to compile a history of the organization and maintain the archives. Committee serves from time of appointment until replaced by the president. 3 members

Long range planning- Committee Shall establish a set of long-range goals and Objectives which will be reviewed by the board of directors. Said objectives will assist in the guidance of the society. Committee serves from time of appointment until replaced by the president. 5 members.

Membership- Committee is to develop strategies for increasing the membership of the society. Committee to Market benefits of membership to all eligible members. 5 members

Nomination and Elections- This committee is to place a slate of Officers and Directors before the body as a recommendation for election at the Annual Meeting. Chairman of the committee must be a member of the Board of Directors. Committee serves for one year. 3 members.

Rules (Constitution and By-Laws)- Committee is to periodically review the Constitution and By-Laws. The committee is to recommend suggested changes in the constitution and /or bylaws to the board of directors and the membership in accordance with the established procedure. Committee serves from appointment until replaced by the president. 2 members ( to include Parliamentarian and 1 of the Board of Directors).
 

ARTICLE VII - Amendments

 

Section I. The By-laws may be amended in the same manner as provided for Amendment of the Constitution and Articles of Incorporation in Article IX, or amendments may be proposed in writing at the annual or special meeting and may be adopted by a majority vote at that meeting if a quorum is present, as set forth in Article IV, Section IV, Subsection B, of the By-laws.

 

Section II. Notice of adopted changes in the Articles of Incorporation or the By-laws shall be sent to all active members of the Society within ninety (90) days.

 

ARTICLE VIII - International Affiliation

The Secretary, on initiative of the President shall correspond with the Secretary of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors with regard to the business of the Society. The Secretary shall annually submit to the International Secretary, the names of the current President and Vice President. The Secretary shall submit payment of the current year's active dues to the International Society in the names of the President and Vice President. Said dues shall be drawn from the Treasury.

 

ARTICLE IX - Order of Business

 

Section 1. The order of business at the Annual Meeting of the Society shall be as follows:

Call to Order

Reading of Minutes

Treasurer's Report

President's Report

Secretary's Report

Committee Reports

Unfinished Business

New Business

Election

Announcements

Adjournment

The President of the Society shall determine the order of business at special meetings of the Society.

 

Section II. Robert's Rules of Order (revised) shall govern all meetings of the Society on all points not governed by the Constitution and Article of Incorporation and By-laws.

 

These By-laws amended by a majority vote of a letter ballot, November 6, 1980.

These By-laws amended by a majority vote at the Annual Meeting, May 2, 1984.

These By-laws amended by a majority vote at the Annual Meeting, March 20, 1992.

These By-laws amended by a majority vote of a letter ballot, September 4, 1997.

These By-laws amended by a majority vote at the Annual Meeting, March 31, 2000.

These By-laws amended by a majority vote at the Annual Meeting, November 21, 2009.

These By-Laws amended by a majority vote at the Annual Meeting December 2, 2017