Iowa Emergency Management Association

Index

• Article I: Name
• Article II: Definitions
• Article III: Purpose
• Article IV: Organizational Structure
• Article V: Membership
• Article VI: Officers
• Article VII: Duties of Officers
• Article VIII: Executive Committees
• Article IX: Committees
• Article X: Meetings
• Article XI: Amendments
• Article XII: Voting Rights
• Article XIII: Liquidation & Dissolution
• Article XIV: Severability

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name of this organization shall be "Iowa Emergency Management Association."

ARTICLE II: DEFINITIONS

Section 1. Unless otherwise specifically set forth herein, words and phrases in this Constitution and Bylaws shall have the following meaning:

a. "Emergency Management means all activities and measures undertaken to implement and maintain a coordinated, effective and efficient emergency management system for mitigation of, preparedness for, response to, and recovery from the effects of manmade, technological or natural emergencies/disasters.

b. "Manmade, Technological or Natural Emergencies/Disasters" means but is not limited to the effects of conventional, nuclear or biological attack; violent weather; earthquake; hazardous materials; floods; transportation accidents; terrorism; fires; riots; public utility interruptions; drought; and other similar events which endanger life and property.

c. "Emergency Management Coordinator" means the duly-appointed person in whom authority is vested for everyday direction, coordination and administration of the total emergency management program for a county, municipality, or joint county/municipal organization which has been established in compliance with Chapter 29C of the Code of Iowa.

d. The masculine gender shall equally include the feminine gender.

ARTICLE III: PURPOSE

The purpose of this Association is to assist Emergency Management Coordinators in the State of Iowa in establishing and maintaining effective emergency management programs and liaison with local, State and Federal emergency management and response agencies, and to assist in improving the public's awareness of such programs and the necessity for them.

ARTICLE IV: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Section 1. This organization is an affiliated association of the Iowa State Association of Counties (ISAC), and as such is subject to laws governing the Iowa State Association of Counties, and therefore this organization shall not adopt or enact any rules or procedures contrary to the rules and procedures of the Iowa State Association of Counties.

Section 2. In order to provide closer liaison and better render mutual assistance between Emergency Management Coordinators, this Association shall be divided into districts whose territorial limits shall conform to the districts of the Iowa State Association of Counties.

Section 3. This Association shall be non-partisan.

Section 4. This Association shall be not-for-profit according to the rules, regulations and guidelines set forth regarding not-for-profit organizations by the State of Iowa and by the United States Internal Revenue Service.

(See corresponding policy statement)

ARTICLE V: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership in this Association shall be by payment of an annual membership fee, and the general membership shall be comprised of three classes of membership, as follows:

a. Active membership in this Association shall be limited to those persons who are Emergency Management Coordinators, as defined in Article II, Sec. 1c.

b. Sustaining Membership in this Association is open to industry, business firms and corporations which support the purpose of this Association or which provide a service or product which has applications and uses in the field of Emergency Management.

c. Associate Membership in this Association is open to any interested individuals.

Section 2. The membership fees of this Association shall be reviewed annually by the Association's Executive Committee. Any recommendations for changes in the membership fees shall be brought to the full membership in attendance at the Spring Meeting of the Association for review and discussion. Final action on any proposed changes in the membership fees shall take place at the Fall Meeting of the association, and any changes approved by a simple majority of the Active Memberships present at the Fall Meeting shall be effective the first day of January of the ensuing calendar year.

(See corresponding policy statement)

ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS

Section 1. The Officers of this Association shall be a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. Term of the President and Vice President shall be for two years and will expire in odd numbered years. The office of Treasurer and the office of the Secretary shall be for two year terms and expire in even numbered years. The Vice President shall serve as President-elect and will become President upon the expiration of the Presidents term in office.

A. Terms of office

i. Officers of this Association, with the exception of the Treasurer and the Secretary shall be limited to one two year term in the same office. This shall not preclude election at a future date.

Section 2. Officers to fill vacant offices shall be nominated and elected by Active Memberships in attendance at each Annual meeting of the Association. Election shall be determined by a simple majority of all votes cast by secret ballot for each vacant office. In the event there are three or more candidates for an office and none receive a simple majority of the votes cast, the candidate receiving the smallest number of votes shall be dropped from the ballot and a new vote taken. This procedure shall be repeated until one candidate shall have received a simple majority of all votes cast.

Section 3. Vacancies in any office of the Association or on the Executive Committee shall be filled by the Executive Committee except a vacancy in the office of President, which shall be filled by the Vice President/President-elect, whereupon the Executive Committee shall elect a new Vice President/President elect to fill the un-expired term.

(See corresponding policy statement)

ARTICLE VII: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and serve as Chairman of the Executive Committee. He shall not vote on any question except to break a tie. He shall appoint all committees not otherwise provided for and shall perform all other duties assigned to him by the Executive Committee or the Active Memberships of the Association.

Section 2. The Vice President shall, in the absence of the President, and in the event of his inability or refusal to act, perform the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to the restrictions upon the President. In addition, the Vice President shall assist the President in conducting meetings and perform all other duties assigned to him by either the President or the Executive Committee.

Section 3. The Treasurer shall, have custody of all financial records of the Association and be responsible therefore; Shall be a member of the Executive Committee. Be responsible for the collection of Association dues or contributions made to the Association. Shall deposit such funds into an IEMA account at a local banking institution. The Treasurer shall make payment for expenditures of the Association and approved by the President or Executive Committee; furnish the President and Executive Committee a list of delinquent or non-paying members at least quarterly and shall prepare in writing a financial report for presentation to the President and Executive Committee at each of their meetings as well as during the Spring and Fall Conferences. The Treasurer shall be bonded in the amount established by the Executive Committee but in no event for less than five thousand dollars.

Section 4. The Secretary, Shall be a member of the Executive Committee, give notice and keep accurate minutes of all Association and Executive Committee meetings, shall attest all necessary instruments and forward all data as directed. The Secretary shall provide necessary information to Association members, assist the Treasurer in preparation of financial reports as needed and shall perform other duties as directed by the President or the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall prepare materials for the IEMA Newsletters and prepare the mailing of the newsletters.

(See corresponding policy statement)

ARTICLE VIII: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. The governing body of this Association shall be the Executive Committee.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past President, the appointed representatives to the Iowa State Association of Counties, and a District Representative from each district, who shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the majority of members from each district.

Section 3. Any powers not specifically designated to other parties or officers shall be vested in-the Executive Committee.

Section 4. The Executive Committee shall, in accordance with the bylaws of the Iowa State Association of Counties, appoint an Active Member of this Association to serve on the Board of Directors of the Iowa State Association of Counties.

(See corresponding policy statement)

ARTICLE IX: COMMITTEES

Section 1. The President or the Executive Committee shall appoint such ad hoc committees as are necessary and appropriate to carry out the business and promote the purpose of this Association.

Section 2. Any member of this Association can propose the appointment of an ad hoc committee at any regular meeting of this Association. The Active Memberships in attendance may, by simple majority vote, approve or reject the formation of such committee.

(See corresponding policy statement)

ARTICLE X: MEETINGS

Section 1. There shall be two regular meetings of the general membership of this Association each year. The Spring Meeting shall be held on the dates and at locations which will coincide with scheduled Spring School of Instruction conducted by the Iowa Association of Counties. The Fall Meeting, which will also serve as the Annual Meeting of the Association, shall be held in conjunction with the Fall School of Instruction conducted by the Iowa State Association of Counties.

a. Special meetings of the Association's general membership may be called by the President when deemed by him advisable or necessary, and shall be called upon the written request of three members of the Executive Committee or ten Active Memberships of the Association.

b. For the purposes of conducting business during meetings of the general membership, a quorum will consist of the Active Memberships present.

Section 2. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held from time to time and in such place as the Executive Committee shall determine, or by direction of the President upon either his own initiative or at the request of two members of the Executive Committee.

a. For the purposes of conducting business during meetings of the Executive Committee, a quorum will consist of a majority of the membership of the Executive Committee.

Section 3. Meetings of ad hoc committees shall take place at such time, place and manner, including by telephonic, postal or any other means of communication, as will best facilitate the work of the committee.

Section 4. Where no conflict exists with this Constitution and Bylaws or the laws of the State of Iowa or of the Federal Government of the United States of America, Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of meetings of this Association and its Executive Committee.

(See corresponding policy statement)

ARTICLE XII: VOTING RIGHTS

Section 1. Every Active Membership, as defined in Article V, Sec. 1a, in attendance at either
a regular or special meeting of the Association, shall be entitled to one vote on any question
called at the meeting.

ARTICLE XIII: LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION

Section 1. In the event of this Association's liquidation or dissolution, all liabilities and obligation of the Association shall be paid and discharged or adequate provision shall be made thereof.

Section 2. Assets held by the Association upon condition requiring return, transfer or conveyance, which condition occurs by reason of dissolution, shall be returned, transferred or conveyed in accordance with such requirements.

Section 3. Any remaining assets shall be transferred or conveyed exclusively for the purpose of the Association in such a manner or to such an organization or organizations organized exclusively for charitable, educational, religious or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Code, as the Executive Committee shall determine.

ARTICLE XIV: SEVERABILITY

If any provisions of this Constitution and Bylaws or the applications thereof to any person or circumstance are held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications, and to this end, the provisions of this Constitution and Bylaws are declared to be severable.

This Constitution and Bylaws, which supersedes and renders null and void any and all previous Constitutions, Bylaws and Amendments thereof, was adopted this 18th day of November, 1999, by two thirds affirmative vote of the Active Memberships in attendance at the Annual Meeting of the Association.

ATTEST: ______________________________
/s/ Gina Hardin
Secretary

You may download a copy of the Association Constitution & Bylaws here:
 IEMA Bylaws (31.62 kB 2009-01-11 21:38:08)