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ARTICLE
I. NAME
This
Association shall be known as the New Mexico Fire Chiefs Association
ARTICLE
II. PURPOSE
Section
1. To
cooperate with other organizations to promote programs that further the goals
and objectives of the Fire Services and emergency services within the State of
New Mexico.
Section
2. To encourage and
develop public education in fire prevention and fire safety for the preservation
of life and property from destruction by fire within the State of New Mexico.
Section
3. To develop an
active training program dedicated to the continual well being of the Fire
Service and Emergency Medical Services within the State of New Mexico.
ARTICLE
III. GENERAL MEMBERSHIP
Section
1. Entity
Membership
a.
Eligibility: Each municipality, county, or other governmental subdivision of the
State of New Mexico or tribal government which owns or operates a fire
department is eligible for representation by the Association.
b.
Individual Membership. Any municipal, county, tribal, volunteer or contract
employee, whose duties include the responsibility of management of a career,
volunteer, or combination fire department, shall be eligible for individual
membership in this Association (Fire Chief, Fire Marshal, and other Chief
Officers with 2 to 5 Crossed Trumpets). Only
one member in good standing from each governmental subdivision shall have the
right to vote on issues brought before the Association, hold office, or serve on
the Board of Directors.
c.
Associate Membership. Any current or former municipal, county, tribal, volunteer
or contract employee, or interested individual who has business or professional
interests in fire and emergency services shall be eligible for associate or
associate business membership in this association (Company Grade Officers and
those involved in the fire service from related fields).
d.
Honorary Membership. The Board of Directors may, at its discretion, invite any
person not eligible for full or associate membership to become an honorary
member of this Association.
Section
2. Voting Membership
a.
Municipal
Entities – Municipal
fire departments in good standing and in attendance at a meeting shall be
entitled to cast a single vote in the name of the municipality.
b.
Non-municipal Entities – County, tribal and other governmental
subdivisions of the State of New Mexico within each county, may combine into one
“county entity”.
1.
The “county entity” must designate a Fire Chief, Fire Marshal or
other Chief Officer (with 2 to 5 crossed trumpets) and submit that name to the
New Mexico Municipal League liaison as its designated “voting
representative” at least 90 (ninety) days prior to the annual meeting.
2.
Each county entity in good standing and in attendance at a meeting shall
be entitled to cast a single vote in the name of the county entity.
ARTICLE
IV. OFFICERS & TERMS
Section
1. Officers: This
Association shall elect an Executive Board, which shall consist of the following
officers who shall be selected from the Individual membership:
a.
President
b.
Vice-President
c.
The Secretary-Treasurer shall be the Executive Director of the New Mexico
Municipal League or his/her designee
d.
Three (3) Directors
At
any given time one (1) non-municipal individual member may serve as an officer
or director of the Association.
Section
2. Elections: The
Executive Board shall be elected by the voting membership at the Annual Meeting
and shall serve staggered terms so as to insure continuity of the officers.
At any given time one (1) non-municipal individual member may serve as an
officer or director of the Association.
Section
3. Terms: The terms
of office shall be for two (2) years and shall be filled as follows: President
and one (1) Board Member each odd numbered year, Vice-President and two Board
Members each even numbered year. Officers shall begin their term of office at
the conclusion of the Annual Meeting at which they were elected, and shall serve
until the conclusion of the Annual Meeting occurring in the second calendar year
of that term.
Section
4. Vacancies:
Vacancies in the Executive Board shall be filled by appointment made by the
president. Should the Office of
President become vacant, the Vice President shall assume the Office of President
for the unexpired term. The
President shall appoint an individual member in good standing to serve the
unexpired term of office in the event of a vacancy in the Office of Vice
President. Appointments to fill vacancies shall be to serve an unexpired term.
ARTICLE
V. OFFICERS DUTIES
Section
1. The President:
a.
Shall
preside at all meetings of the association
b.
Shall
be ex-officio member of all committees
c.
Shall
be ex-officio member of the New Mexico Municipal League Board.
d.
Shall
perform all other duties incidental to the office.
e.
Should
the president not be a municipal member, the vice-president shall serve as the
ex-officio member of the New Mexico Municipal League Board.
Section
2. The Vice President:
a.
Shall
perform all the duties of the president in the absence of the President.
Section
3. Board of Directors:
a.
Shall
consist of the President, Vice President, and three (3) Board Members.
b.
The
President and/or the Vice President shall be a representative of a municipal
fire department.
c.
Shall
have general charge of the affairs of the Association.
d.
Shall
review work of the Association at the Board of Directors meetings and develop
policy for the operation of the Association.
e.
Three
(3) consecutive unexcused absences from meetings shall result in removal from
the board.
ARTICLE
VI. DUES
Section
1. Entity
Members - $75.00 per entity.
Section
2. Individual
Members - $10.00 per member.
Section
3. Associate
Members - $100.00 per business or corporation plus $25.00 per
representative.
Section
4. Dues are to be
paid by August 31st each year by invoice.
Section
5. Others - As
determined by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE
VII. SUSPENSION
Suspension
or removal from the Association shall be only by a 2/3 vote of voting members
attending the annual meeting or by direct non-payment of dues after sixty (60)
days notice is given by the Municipal League.
ARTICLE
VIII. AMENDMENTS
The
Association shall have the power to alter, amend or revise the Constitution
& By-Laws by a 2/3 vote of voting members present at the Annual Meeting.
Written notice of proposed changes to the Constitution & By-Laws shall be
given to the board forty-five (45) days prior to the Annual Meeting.
Notice
of proposed changes to the Constitution & By-Laws shall be mailed to all
member departments in good standing thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting
and copies shall be given to all individual members at the Annual Meeting.
An
amendment adopted by the Association shall become effective upon approval by the
Board of Directors of the New Mexico Municipal League.
ARTICLE
IX. MEETINGS
Section
1. Meetings
shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.
Section
2. The Annual
New Mexico Fire Chiefs Association Meeting shall be held at least once
each year at a time and place to be determined by the board of directors.
Section
3. Special meetings
may be called on request of the President or any three (3) members of the Board
of Directors.
Section
4. Quorum - A
majority of board members must be present to conduct official business for the
association.
Section
5. Notice of all
meetings with the exception of board meetings shall be sent to all members at
least two weeks prior to the meeting date.
ARTICLE
X. ADDRESS
The
permanent address is the office of the New Mexico Municipal League, P.O. Box
846, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504.
ARTICLE
XI. EFFECTIVE DATE
These
Constitution & By-Laws shall become effective after adoption by 2/3 of the
full members present at the meeting during which they are considered, and upon
approval of the Board of Directors of the New Mexico Municipal League.
ADOPTED BY THE NEW MEXICO FIRE CHIEFS
ASSOCIATION THIS 27th
DAY OF AUGUST, 2003, IN THE CITY OF FARMINGTON, NEW MEXICO.
David
Pasquale, President
New
Mexico Fire Chiefs Association
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