BCLEOA Association ByLaws

BEAUFORT COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
 

CONSTITUTION AND BY LAWS
BEAUFORT COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, INC.
BEAUFORT COUNTY, NC

ARTICLE I
 

NAME
 

Section 1.

This organization shall be known as the  BEAUFORT COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, INC., Beaufort County North Carolina. 

ARTICLE II
 

PURPOSE
 

Section 1.

Promoting closer cooperation among the various branches of the  Law Enforcement Officers of Beaufort County, North Carolina.
Section 2.Promoting better understanding of the law and its means of  enforcement through sharing and exchange of new methods and ideas, in order to further  the administration of justice.
Section 3.Promoting personal standards and social fellowship among members  that result in professional integrity and favorable public recognition for those dedicated  to service in the lae enforcement field.
Section 4.Operating, maintaining and controlling an education and training  center for the use of agency and associate members as well as other Association-approved groups  that promote instruction and training in lawful firearms use.
 

ARTICLE III
 

MEMBERSHIP
 

Section 1.

Sworn Membership shall consist of any law enforcement officer with  the powers of arrest, residing or assigned regular duties in Beaufort County, North Carolina.
Section 2.Associate Membership shall consist of United States citizens not eligible for active/sworn membership, or anyone employed as a special law enforcement officer, or in  any law enforcement related position who resides in North Carolina.  Associate Members must be residents of Beaufort County North Carolina and shall have the right to attend meetings, speak, vote and serve on committees but shall not serve in  an elected office except Secretary or Treasurer.
Section 3.  Life Membership may be awarded to any current Sworn or Associate  Members who have rendered an unusual service to the Association.  Nominations for Life Membership  shall be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors by the November meeting.  Those nominations  endorsed by the Board shall be voted on by the membership at the December meeting.  Life members  shall not be assessed annual dues and shall not serve in an elected office.
Section 4.Honorary Membership shall consist of those persons who are ineligible  for Sworn or Associate Membership who have contributed an unusual service to the Association but  who are nominated and voted on by the members.  This membership shall be for a one (1) year period.   Members shall have the right to attend meetings, speak, and serve on committees but shall not  propose motions, vote, or serve in an elected office.  Honorary Members shall not be assessed dues.
Section 5.Agency membership shall consist of:

(1) law enforcement agencies with more than five (5) sworn positions, or
(2) an educational institution for the exclusive purpose of Basic Law Enforcement Training.

Seperate agency membership is also available to other groups such as non-sworn Criminal Justice  Agencies, Corrections Facilities, or an educational institution for other training which requires  use of the Association's training facilities.

Agency membership shall be solely for the purpose of agency training and not as a substitute for  individual memberships.
Section 6.Application for membership shall be on the prescribed application  form and submitted to the Secretary, together with the proper dues payment.  Applicants must be  at least 18 years old.  The applicant shall be considered and voted on at a regular meeting  following submission of the application; but only if the applicant is in attendance at said meeting.   A majority vote of the membership present shall constitute approval of the application.
Section 7.Membership in the Association may be terminated by the Association for  reasons and in manner as follows:

A.  For nonpayment of dues. (No vote of membership is necessary)
B.  For conduct unbecoming of a member. (Vote of membership is required)
C.  By sworn officer severance from official duties and notification of expulsion. (Vote of membership is required)
D.  Violation of Association Rules. (Vote of membership is required)
E.  Flagrant violation of State or local laws. (Vote of membership is required)
 

ARTICLE IV
 

OFFICERS AND DUTIES
 

Section 1.

The term of office for the President, Vice-President, Secretary and  Treasurer shall be for one (1) year.
Section 2.The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association.  In  conducting meetings his/her decisions shall be final, unless otherwise provided by the Constitution  or By-Laws.  He /She shall exercise general supervision over Association affairs, and represent  the Association in its official relations with others.
Section 3.The Vice-President shall be prepared to assume temporarily the office  and duties of the President in case of the absence or incapacity of that officer.  When acting in  the place of the President, the Vice-President has all the powers, duties, privileges and responsibilities  of the office.
Section 4.In the absence of the President and Vice-President, the Secretary should  be prepared to preside.  The secretary shall keep a careful and authentic record of the proceedings of  the Association and shall authenticate all records by his/her signature.  He/She shall maintain  all records, reports and documents of the Association, and prior to each meeting furnish the President  with a detailed memorandum of matters to come up under each section of the order of business.  He/She  shall draft all official letters for the Association and keep a file of all correspondence.
Section 5.The Treasurer is responsible for maintaining the financial records and reports  of the Association.  This includes all receipts, authorized disbursements, banking and safekeeping  of monies.  He/She shall furnish reports of financial conditions as directed.  The fiscal year shall be  from April 1st to March 31st.  In order to allow member review, the Treasurer shall present a proposed  budget for the next fiscal year at the February meeting.  Approval and adoption of the budget shall  take place by the vote of the members present at the March membership meeting.
Section 6.A vacancy in the office of the President will be filled by the Vice-President  who will serve for the remainder of his predecessor's term.  A vacancy in the office of the  Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer will be filled for the remainder of the term by a special election.
Section 7.The President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be the Executive Committee  of the Association.
 

ARTICLE V
 

ELECTIONS
 

Section 1.

At the November meeting, a nominating committee shall be elected by the  members of the Association.  The nominating committee will consist of three (3) members.  The President  shall not be an ex-officio member of the committee or attend committee meetings.
Section 2.The duties of the Nominating Committee are to select those best qualified  to fill the positions of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Association; to  interview prospective nominees and to make sure that they will accept the nomination and serve if elected.   A member of the nominating committee can be selected as a nominee for office.  The final report of a  nominating committee must be formally voted upon at a meeting of the committee and be signed by all  members of the committee who agree with it.  The report of the committee shall be made at the December  meeting at which time any nominations from the floor shall be accepted.  Elections shall be held and  the results announced.
Section 3.Officers of the Association will be elected by the majority vote of those  members present at the December meeting.
Section 4.The Association's installation of Officers will be held at the January  meeting.
 

ARTICLE VI
 

CONTRACTS AND OBLIGATIONS
 

Section 1.

All contracts, obligations, or special funds shall be authorized at a  regular or special meeting vote of the majority of Association members present.
 

ARTICLE VII
 

PROPERTY
 

Section 1.

Members of the Association in good standing shall receive cards of membership  which shall entitle them to all privileges of the Association.  Members will receive their membership  card after all dues are paid and the member has received instruction at a Range Safety class administered  by a Range Safety Officer.
Section 2.When a member shall resign, or be suspended or expelled in accordance with  any of the By-Laws or rules of the Association, he/she shall have no right nor interest in the  property of the Association, or privileges therein:  and in such case the card of membership shall be  forthwith surrendered and canceled.
 

ARTICLE VIII
 

MEETINGS
 

Section 1.

A quorum of the Association shall consist of not less than ten (10)  members personally present, of which one must be a duly elected officer of the Association.
Section 2.A majority vote of the membership present at a regular or special meeting  is required for the Association to take action.
Section 3.Regular meetings will be held at the Training Facility on the second  Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm, except the quarterly meeting will be held at 7:00 pm, unless a  different time and date are set by the Executive Committee.  If any change occurs, all members will  be notified where the regular meeting will be held in sufficient time to insure attendance.
Section 4.The Executive Committee has the authority to call a special meeting if  the occasion or circumstances warrants it.  An attempt to notify all members shall be made to notify  them of the date, time, place and purpose of the special meeting, and no business other than that  for which it has been called shall be transacted thereat.
 

ARTICLE IX
 

ORDER OF BUSINESS
 

Section 1.

The order of business shall be as follows:

1.  Call to Order
2.  Reading or disposition of the minutes of previous meeting
3.  Reading and approval of Treasurer's Report
4.  Reports of Committees
5.  Unfinished Business
6.  New Business
7.  Announcements
8.  Adjournment
 

ARTICLE X
 

COMMITTEES
 

Section 1.

The President at the January meeting of the Association shall appoint  the following standing committees:

1.  Kitchen
2.  Maintenance
3.  Range Safety Officer
4.  Fundraising
5.  Range Maintenance
6.  By-Laws
Section 2.Each of the said committees shall consist of the chairman and at least  two (2) members in order to facilitate the proposed or needed project or operation.  The committee  chairman may appoint this committee with the approval of the President.
Section 3.The President shall be an ex-officio member of each of the committees.
Section 4.The President shall have the power from time to time to create additional  committees and to delegate to such committees such duties and powers as may be found necessary, and  the president may appoint to such committees any member or members of the Association.
Section 5.The President shall have the power to remove any member of any committee  for neglect of duty.
 

ARTICLE XI
 

DUES
 

Section 1.

Annual dues for the following fiscal year shall be fixed for all classes  of membership at the regular November meeting of the Association by majority vote of the members present.
Section 2.Annual dues shall be due and payable on January 1st of each year.  If  membership dues are not paid by the following March 1st, he/she will stand terminated for nonpayment  of dues and his/her name withdrawn from the mailing and membership list.  No vote of the membership  is necessary.  Agency payment deadlines may be changed by vote of the membership.
Section 3.A member terminated for nonpayment of dues can be reinstated by following  the new member application procedure in Article III, Section 6.
 

ARTICLE XII
 

AMENDMENTS
 

Section 1.

All amendments to these By-Laws shall be determined at a business meeting  by vote of the majority of members present.
Section 2.A proposed amendment may be submitted by members of the Association  who are entitled to vote.  Proposed amendments to the By-Laws shall be presented in writing to the  Secretary of the Association and signed by the proposer(s).
Section 3.Proppsed amendments shall be read at two (2) preceding meetings before  the vote is taken.
Section 4.Approved amendments to these By-Laws shall be permanently noted opposite  the sections deleted or changed with the date of adoption.  This is required to facilitate reference  back to the Association minutes.
 

ARTICLE XIII
 

DUTIES OF MEMBERS
 

Section 1.

It shall be the duty of all members to render proper and faithful  adherence to the United States, State of North Carolina, county and local laws.  All members of  the Association shall abide by the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of this Association, and  shall aid, assist, and sustain their officers in the proper discharge of their duties.
Section 2.It shall be the duty of the memmbers to pay promptly all dues,  assessments, etc., which may be levied or charged against them, as determined by majority vote  of the members present at a business meeting.
 

ARTICLE XIV
 

SPECIAL RULES
 

Section 1.

Members may bring a guest(s) to the regular meetings or facility,  providing the sponsor member defrays any expenses and is responsible for the conduct of guests.
Section 2.Range rules are to be prominently displayed on Association property  and readily available to members and guests.