BYLaws

AUSTIN AREA AORN                    CHAPTER 4417                                2007

 ARTICLE I
NAME 

The name of this professional organization is the ASSOCIATION of Peri-OPERATIVE NURSES OF AUSTIN AREA. 

ARTICLE II
PURPOSE 

The purposes of this Association are:

1. To unite registered professional perioperative nurses for the purpose of maintaining an Association dedicated to the constant endeavor of promoting the highest professional standards of perioperative nursing practice for the optimum care of the patient before, during and after surgery;

2. To provide opportunity for continuous learning through diversified educational activities;

3. To study, discuss, research, and exchange information in the field of peri-operative nursing;

4. To hold meetings at intervals for the purposes of this Association;
5. To cooperate lawfully with other professional associations, health care facilities, universities, industries, technical societies, research organizations and universities, industries, technical societies, research organizations and governmental agencies in matters affecting the foregoing purposes of the organizations and governmental agencies in matters affecting the foregoing purposes of the Association;
6. To otherwise lawfully adopt policies and conduct programs for the improvement of perioperative nursing practice provided that the policies and programs are consistent with the requirements that the Association is not organized for profit and no part of its earnings inure to individuals.

ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section 1.  Membership in the Association is contingent on compliance with requirements as specified in these bylaws.
Section 2.  Membership is unrestricted by consideration of nationality, race, creed, life-style, color, sex, or age.
Section 3.  Categories of membership in this Association are chapter member, member at large, retired, student, affiliate, and e-chapter.
    A.     CHAPTER MEMBER:  A registered professional nurse who supports the mission of AORN  living in an area where a chapter exists.
    B.     RETIRED:  A retired registered professional nurse who supports the mission of AORN
            1.      Qualifies to be a member at large.
            2.      If a chapter membership is selected, applicable chapter dues may be assessed.
    C.     STUDENT:  An individual pursuing education leading to eligibility to sit for the registered nurse licensing examination.
            1.      Qualifies to be a member at large.
            2.      If a chapter membership is selected, applicable dues may be assessed.
            3.      May not hold elective office.
            4.      May not serve as a delegate to the AORN House of Delegates.
    D.     ASSOCIATE:  An individual who supports the mission of AORN and who is primarily engaged in one of the following professions: health care industry     representative, central service professional, physician, health care administrator, or pharmacist.
             1.      Qualifies to be an affiliate member at large. 
             2.      If a chapter membership is selected, applicable chapter dues may be assessed. 
             3.      May not hold elective office.
             4.      May not serve as a delegate to the AORN House of Delegates.
             5.      This is a nonvoting category.

 

ARTICLE IV
OFFICIAL PUBLICATION

 The official publication of the Association is the AORN Journal.

 ARTICLE V
PARLIMENTARY AUTHORITY

            Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised is the parliamentary authority of this Association in all cases not covered in these bylaws.

 The following articles can be tailored to meet chapter preferences.

 ARTICLE  VIII
FISCAL YEAR

            The fiscal year of the Association is July 1 through June 30.  

ARTICLE VIII
OFFICERS

 The officers of this Association are: President, President-elect, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer with responsibilities outlined in the Policy Manual.

 A.     President:
             Serves as the official representative of the Association and presides at all meetings of the Association and the Board of Directors.
 B.     President-elect:
            1.  Observes and assists the President in preparation for assuming the duties and responsibilities of that office.
            2.  Serves as chair of the Scholarship Committee.
 C.     Vice President:
            Performs the duties of the President in the absence or inability of the President to act.
 D.     Secretary:
            Maintains records of the proceedings of all business meetings and affairs of the Association and the Board of Directors.
E.      Treasurer:
             Monitors the fiscal affairs of the Association and provides reports and interpretation to the  membership and the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IX
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 The Board of Directors consists of the officers and three (3) elected members.  It has power, authority, and responsibility to manage the affairs of the Association, except to modify action of the members.

ARTICLE X
NOMINATING COMMITTEE – NOMINATION

Section 1.  Nominating Committee

            A.     The Nominating Committee consists of at least three (3) members.  One (1) member is elected in the even numbered years and two (2) in the off 
                    numbered years, each serving for a term of two (2) years
            B.     The  immediate past President will automatically become a non-voting member of the committee following the term of office as President.

 Section 2.  Nominations

            A.     The Nominating Committee prepares and presents a slate of eligible candidates to serve in elected capacity.
            B.     Nominations for elected office may be made from the floor at the time the slate is presented at the annual meeting , provided that eligibility has been verified and written consent to serve if elected was obtained from  the   nominee and is submitted at the time of nomination.

ARTICLE XI               
ELIGIBILITY – ELECTIONS               
TERM – VACANCIES – REMOVAL              

Section 1. Eligibility

            A.     To be eligible for elective office as a member of the Board of Directors or as a member of the Nominating Committee, a nominee must be an active
or retired member and must currently provide or have previously provided perioperative nursing care that addresses (ed) the needs of patients, pre-operatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively.
            B.     To be eligible for the office of President-Elect or Vice President, a nominee must have served at least one (1) year as a member of the Board
of Directors in this chapter or another chapter if service is confirmed.
            C.   The members of the Nominating Committee may not be listed as candidates for election  on a slate that they have prepared unless there are insufficient
candidates for t he slate.

Section 2.   Elections
            A.     The Officers, Board of Directors, and Nominating Committee shall be elected by written ballot at the annual meeting, or electronically prior to
the annual meeting.
            B.     Any member holding an elective office must complete the full term of that office before becoming eligible as a candidate for another office unless the current term of the member expires at the impending annual election, e.g., an individual may not resign from one position (office) to run for another position. 
            C.  Election of delegates/alternates, nurse of the year, surgeon/anesthesiologist of the year, may be elected electronically.
            D. Plurality elects.
            E.  In case of a tie, choice is by lot.

 Section 3:  Terms of Office
            A.  The President-elect is elected every year, serves in that capacity for one (1) year and then automatically becomes President for a term of one (1) year.
            B. The treasurer and two (2) members of the Board of Directors shall be elected in the odd numbered years for a term of two (2) years and shall serve until their successors have assumed office.
            C. The Vice President, Secretary, and one (1) member of the Board of Directors shall be elected in the even numbered years for a term of two (2) years
and shall serve until their successors have assumed office.
            D.  The term of office begins at the adjournment of the meeting at which they have been elected.
            E.   No officers, member of the Board of Directors, or member of the Nominating Committee shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office.

Section 4:  Vacancies
            A.  President:  The Vice President immediately assumes office.
            B.  President-elect and Vice President:    A vacancy in either position is filled by a vote of the Board of Directors from a slate submitted by the Nominating
Committee. Eligibility requires the nominee to have served at least one (1) year as a member of the Board of Directors.
            C.  The Board of Directors fills all other vacancies.
            D.  Any member filling a vacancy for an unexpired term of one (1) year or more is deemed to have served one (1) term.

Section 5:  Removal
            A.  Any elected official, regardless of the manner of election or appointment, may be removed by the membership upon two-thirds (2/3) affirmative
vote; whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Association would be served, provided the elected official, upon request, was offered an opportunity to
 have an unprejudiced hearing at which the elected official is permitted to defend against the termination.

ARTICLE XII
DELEGATES

Section 1.  Eligibility
             Delegates and alternate delegates to the annual Congress must have current membership status in the chapter they are to represent.

Section 2.    Representation
            A.         The delegate count shall be allocated annually to chapters based upon the ratio of total chapter membership to total Association membership as of
 June 30, with each chapter having a minimum of one (1) delegate and one (1) alternate delegate.
            B.         This chapter will accept members of another chapter to serve as an Austin Area delegate, in the event there is an insufficient number of local chapter
Members to serve as delegate.

 ARTICLE XIII                                 
MEETINGS - QUORUMS                           

     Section 1.      The annual meeting is designated as the June meeting.

      Section 2.  Association Meetings
             A. The number of meetings per year, the months in which they are held, and the time and place is determined by mutual agreement of the Board of            Directors and the membership.
             B.  Notice of the monthly meetings will be sent to the membership.
            C. Ten (10) members of the membership, including two (2) Officers/Board of Directors, constitutes a quorum for a business meeting

    Section 3:  Special Meetings
            A.     A special meeting may be called by the President, or by request of a  majority of the Board of Directors, or by request of a quorum of the        membership.
            B. The membership shall be notified at least five (5) days prior to the called special meeting.
            C.  The call shall state the purpose, the time, and the place of the meeting. No business other than stated in the call may be transacted.
            D.  Ten (10) members of the membership, including two (2) Officers/Board of Directors, constitutes a quorum.

Section 4:  Board of Directors Meetings
            A.     The Board of Directors  shall meet at a time and place determined by mutual agreement of the Board of Directors.
            B.     Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President or upon written request of three (3) members of the Board of Directors.
            C.     Five (5) members of the Board, three  (3) of whom are officers, constitutes a quorum.

ARTICLE XIV
COMMITTEES

Section 1:  Standing Committees
            A.     The standing committees of the Association are appointed annually by the President with the approval of the Board.
            B.     Each committee consists of a chair and at least two (2) members.  A majority of the members constitutes a quorum.
            C. The standing committees of the Association are;
                        1.      Budget/Finance
                        2.      Bylaw/Policy
                        3.      Education/Program
                        4.      Scholarship
            D.  The purpose and duties of these committees are listed in the Policy Manual.

               Section 2:  Special Committees
                                A.  Special committees may be appointed by the President and cease to exist when the purpose for which they were created is completed.

 ARTICLE XVI
AMENDMENTS

          A.  Amendments to these bylaws may be made at any regular meeting provided that the proposed amendments have been submitted to all members at least
                thirty (30) days prior to the vote.       
          B. Amendments to the bylaws requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting.

 ARTICLE XV
DISSOLUTION

 If the Association should dissolve, all funds in the treasury will be given to the AORN Foundation or another specified educational endeavor, as determined by a Majority vote of the members present and voting.

 Adopted by Austin Area AORN                                  June  2007
Committee:
        Loyce McCullough - President
        Dody volcik – President elect
        Debra Shobe – incoming President-elect

  Revised:4-03 due to AORN Inc. changed fiscal year dates and membership categories
  Revised 2004 due to AORN adding e-chapter