Name

The name of this Association shall be the NEBRASKA ASSOCIATION OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSES, INC. (NAOHN), a constituent association of the AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH NURSES, INC. (AAOHN).

 ARTICLE II.

Purpose

The purposes of NAOHN are to:

1.      constitute the state professional association of registered nurses engaged in the practice of occupational and environmental health nursing;

2.      promote and/or provide continuing education in occupational and environmental health nursing;

3.      maintain the integrity and character of the nursing profession;

4.      promote scope of practice and standards for occupational and environmental health nurses;

5.      provide a forum for networking and discussion of issues in the field of occupational and environmental health nursing;

6.      promote health and safety of workers and communities, and support occupational and environmental health nursing practice through monitoring and influencing state legislation and regulations;

7.      promote occupational and environmental health nursing through public relations activities;

8.      provide opportunities to develop chapter leadership skills; and

9.      do within the limits of the law, all things necessary, proper, incidental, suitable, useful and conducive to complete accomplishments of the foregoing purposes.

 ARTICLE III.

Membership

SECTION 1. – Classes of Membership

A.      Active

1. A registered professional nurse currently employed in occupational and environmental health.
2. An active member whose employment status changes may maintain active membership for the remainder of that membership year and one additional consecutive year.
3. An active member may apply for inactive status if the member has temporarily left the field of occupational and environmental health nursing due to hardship.
4. Inactive status must be renewed annually and maybe maintained for a maximum of three years.

B.     Retired

A member retired from occupational and environmental health nursing.

C.     Affiliate

1. A registered professional nurse not eligible for active status, but interested in the field of occupational and environmental health and the purposes of AAOHN.
2. Others, not eligible for active status but practicing in the field of occupational and environmental health and interested in the purposes of AAOHN.

D.     Student

1. A registered professional nurse enrolled as a student in a program of study related to occupational and environmental health;
2. A student in a professional nursing program with interest in occupational and environmental health;
3. This category of membership must be renewed annually.

SECTION 2. – Rights and Privileges

A.      Active members shall have full rights and privileges of membership.

B.     Members in all other classes may attend membership meetings and participate in debates but shall not vote.

C.     Members in all classes, except Affiliate, may serve on committees.

SECTION 3. – Application for Membership

Membership shall be granted by AAOHN.  A written application submitted to the national office is required for all classes of membership, except honorary and life.

A.      The state chapter shall have thirty (30) days to challenge a member.

B.     If a member’s application is challenged, there shall be automatic review by the AAOHN Membership Committee.

C.     Final approval of applications for membership shall be within the sole and absolute discretion of the AAOHN Board of Directors.

SECTION 4. – Dues

A.      Annual dues are payable January 1^st.

B.     Each member shall send annual dues of AAOHN and NAOHN to the national office.

C.     New members joining after June 30, shall pay half a year’s national and full state dues for the balance of the first calendar year of membership.

D.     A change in the state structure for any class of membership shall, upon recommendation of the Board of Directors, be submitted to the members at a regular or special meeting.  Notice of such recommendation shall be sent to each member with the call to the meeting.  Approval shall be by a two-thirds (2/3) vote.

SECTION 5. – Forfeiture of Membership

Membership shall be automatically terminated:

A.      for not meeting membership criteria; or

B.     for non-payment of dues.

SECTION 6. – Reinstatement

A.      A former member who forfeited membership for non-payment of dues may be reinstated:

1. during the year of forfeiture by payment of current dues.
2. after the year of forfeiture, by application as a new member and payment of current dues.

B.     A former member who forfeited membership for any other reason may apply as a new member, pay the current dues and meet the requirements then in force.

SECTION 7. – Access to Records

Consistent with legal requirements, a member may inspect the books and records of NAOHN for any proper purpose upon reasonable notice.

ARTICLE IV.

Board of Directors

SECTION 1. – Composition

The Board of Directors shall be comprised of the elected Officers and elected Directors.

SECTION 2. – Duties

The duties of the Board of Directors shall be:

A.      establish mission and goals

B.     transact the general business and affairs of NAOHN

C.     adopt an annual budget;

D.     designate the place of deposit for money;

E.     provide bond for any person handling funds;

F.      provide for an independent review by an external party of the books and records of this organization every two years;

G.     recommend to membership any proposed changes in state dues structure;

H.     fill any vacancy, except that of the president, by ballot vote;

I.         fill any vacancy on the Nominating Committee;

J.       approve presidential appointments;

K.     appoint Election Tellers and Chairman of Tellers;

L.      process all complaints or requests;

M.     initiate proceedings for the removal of an officer for misconduct or neglect of duty in office, using due process procedures as outlined in the Robert’s Rule of Order (Newly Revised) or the corporate code of an incorporated chapter;

N.     establish advisory councils if and when deemed necessary;

O.    determine time and place for annual meeting;

P.     adopt the necessary standing rules and policies to implement these bylaws.

SECTION 3. – Meetings

A.      Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at least four (4) times yearly.

B.     Special meetings of the Board of Directors:

1. may be called by the President.
2. shall be called by the President upon written request of twelve (12) of the members of the Board of Directors.
3. may be held with at least 24 hours prior notice.

C.     Notices of all regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be mailed at least thirty (30) days before the date of the Board meeting.

D.     Meetings may be conducted through the use of any means of communication by which any or all Directors participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting.  A Director participating in a meeting by this means is deemed to be present in person at the meetings.

E.     Quorum: majority of members of the Board of Directors, including the President or the Vice President, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4. – Officers

A.      Officers shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer

B.     Qualifications:  To be eligible for election, candidates must be active members.  In addition, candidates for President shall have served a minimum of one (1) term as a Director.

C.     Duties:  The duties shall be such as are implied by the respective titles except as otherwise stated in these bylaws and more specifically include the following:

1. The President shall

a.      be the chief elected officer and official representative of NAOHN;

b.      perform duties as set down in the bylaws or standing rules adopted by the Board of Directors;

c.      appoint, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, standing and ad hoc committees;

d.      approve bills for payment, subject to limits prescribed by the Board of Directors;

e.      establish policies to ensure proper accounting procedures are followed;

f.        submit a written report at the annual meeting;

g.      submit to the AAOHN office written reports as requested by AAOHN;

h.      notify AAOHN in writing of the election or change of officers within 30 days.

2. The Vice President shall

a.      in the absence of the President, assume the duties of the President;

b.      succeed to the office of president for the unexpired term in the event of a vacancy in that office;

c.      assume other duties assigned by the bylaws, standing rules or Board of Directors.

3. The Secretary shall

a.      prepare the minutes of all meetings of NAOHN and the Board of Directors;

b.      conduct the general correspondence;

      4.   The Treasurer shall

a.      chair the Finance Committee

b.      deposit all monies belonging to the chapter in a bank approved by the Board of Directors

c.      keep itemized records of receipts and disbursements and book of accounts;

d.      pay all bills approved by the President;

e.      submit the books and records for an annual independent review by an external party appointed by the Board of Directors

f.        submit an annual financial report at the annual meeting;

g.      at least sixty (60) days before the annual meeting, mail to the Chairman of the Committee on Nominations and the Chairman of Tellers upon appointment, an accurate list of the voting members;

h.      submit a written report at each meeting of the Board of Directors and NAOHN Membership.

D.     The directors shall perform such duties as shall be assigned by the President or the Board of Directors.  

E.     All officers shall deliver to their successors all books, papers, and other property belonging to the chapter, within (30) days after completion of term of office.

SECTION 5. – Directors

There shall be four (4) Directors.

SECTION 6. – Term of Office

A.      The term of office for Officers shall be two (2) years or until a successor has been elected and assumes office.

B.     The term of office for Directors shall be two (2) year or until their successors have been elected and assume office.

C.     The Board of Directors shall assume office on July 1.

D.     No member of the Board of Directors may serve more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office or as a Director.

E.     Any part of a term in excess of twelve (12) months for Officers or Director shall be considered a term in deciding eligibility for election or re-election.

SECTION 7. – Vacancy in Office

A.      A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the Vice President.

B.     Any other vacancy shall be filled by ballot vote of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V.

Nominations and Elections