Nebraska ENA

NEBRASKA EMERGENCY NURSES ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I
Name: 

The name of this organization shall be the Nebraska State Council of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), hereafter referred to as Nebraska State Council, a not-for-profit organization incorporated in the state of Nebraska.

ARTICLE II
Purpose:

The purposes for which the corporation is organized are educational, within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including but not limited to the advancement of emergency nursing through education and public awareness. 

The Nebraska State Council is affiliated with the Emergency Nurses Association and chartered by the National Emergency Nurses Association to implement its philosophy, objectives, and leadership on the state level and to coordinate the activities within the state, in accord with the ENA Bylaws and Procedures.

ARTICLE III
Objectives:

1. To promote and implement the philosophy and objective of the Emergency Nurses Association.

2. To provide leadership by identifying and addressing issues affecting emergency care and emergency nursing practice.

3. To provide and promote continuing education opportunities.

4. To liaison with other professional organizations and agencies:

   1. American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)

   2. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Emergency Medical Services-Children (EMS-C)

   3. Emergency Nurses CARE/Injury Prevention (ENCARE)

   4. Liaison Group of Nebraska Nurse Organizations

   5. Nebraska Nurses Association

   6. State Board of Nursing

   7. Others

5. To monitor legislative issues affecting emergency care and emergency nursing practice.

6. To maintain a statewide emergency nursing network to address professional issues.

7. To implement ENA Bylaws and Procedures at the state level.

8. To serve as a resource to special interest groups and individual members.

ARTICLE IV
Charter:

1. A formal charter agreement allows the Nebraska State Council to function as an affiliate of the association on the state level.

2. Failure of the Nebraska State Council to adhere to the Bylaws and Procedures established by National ENA shall be cause for suspension or revocation of the charter.

ARTICLE V
Membership:

State Council Membership includes all active members as designated by paid dues to ENA and have voting privileges.

ARTICLE VI
Officers:

1. The officers of the Nebraska State Council shall be the President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer.  These officers shall comprise the executive board.

2. Officer requirements:

   1. Current, active ENA membership assigned to Nebraska

   2. Current professional Nebraska registered nurse licensure

3. Responsibilities:

   1. President:  The president shall be a member of the Executive Board and an ex officio member of all standing committees and the presiding officer of the Executive Board.  Serves as Chief Executive Officer of the State Council.  Coordinates all council administrative activities and delegates to other officers as needed.  Appoints committee chairpersons, with Executive Board approval and approves committee members in conjunction with committee chairs.  Check signature.

   President-Elect:  The President-Elect shall be a member of the Executive Board.  He/she shall succeed to the office of the President at the expiration of the President’s term.  In the event of the death, resignation, or removal from office of the President-Elect, the voting members of the State Council shall elect a President-Elect for the unexpired term.  In the event of the death or resignation of the President or if he/she shall for any reason become unable or unqualified to serve, the President-elect shall complete the unfulfilled term and shall therefore complete his/her elected term.

   3. Secretary:  The Secretary shall be a member of the Executive Board.  He/she shall keep or cause to be kept adequate and proper records of the Chapter.  He/she shall keep or cause to be kept an accurate record of the minutes and transactions of the state council and of the executive board, and shall serve as secretary of these bodies.

   4. Treasurer:  The Treasurer shall deposit or cause to be deposited all monies and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the state council with such depositories as may be designated by the executive board.  He/she shall disburse the funds of the state council as may be ordered by the executive board; shall render to the Executive Board, whenever it may request, an account of all transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the State Council; and shall make available for review all documents related to the treasury.  He/she shall maintain State Council financial records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  He/she shall present a State Council budget annually, in conjunction with the President.

4. Term of Office:

   1. The State Council President and President-elect shall serve for a term of one year, with an optional continuance for a second year.  The Secretary and Treasurer shall serve for terms of two years.

   2. No individual shall serve more than 4 consecutive one-year terms in the same office.

   3. The term of office will be January 1 to December 31.  Officers will be installed at the first business meeting of the calendar year.

5. Election:
   State Council officers must be elected by a majority vote of those present at the Fall Annual Meeting.

6. Office Vacancies:
   Vacant unexpired terms of office may be filled by State Council members.  Vacancies shall be filled through a special election of two-thirds majority of attending members at the next state council meeting.

7. Removal from office for cause:
   Elected officers may be removed from office by cause, upon recommendation by the Executive Board, or by member recommendation.  A proposal for officer removal will be shared with members and a vote held at the next member meeting following.  A simple majority vote by members present shall be necessary to pass a removal recommendation.

ARTICLE VII
Meetings:

A.  The State Council shall meet at least quarterly.  The meeting will be called by the president and published in the newsletter.
B.  The business meeting shall be known as the Annual Meeting and shall be for the purpose of receiving committee reports, strategic planning, budget review, and other association business.
C.  The State Council shall conduct at least one educational program per year.
D.  pecial meetings may be called upon the request of the executive board or a group of members.
E.  Voting on business items at meeting will consist of those members attending at the meetings with majority rule.

ARTICLE VIII
Delegate to the General Assembly:

1. The number and qualifications for Delegates to the national General Assembly shall be determined according to the National ENA Bylaws and Procedures.

2. The method of selection of the delegates will be by application and designated point system.

3. The executive board will approve the selection of delegates.

4. The State Council will partially subsidize costs for delegates according to the amount set in the budget.

ARTICLE IX
Executive Board of Directors:

1. The officers of the Nebraska State Council shall constitute the Executive Board of Directors.

2. The Board shall be responsible for supervising the affairs of the council between its business meetings.

3. Meetings of the Board shall be called by the President.

4. The executive board shall meet at least two times per year.

5. The presence of a majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE X
Committees:

1.  The State Council shall have the following Standing Committees:

• Education

• Government Affairs

• Trauma

• Pediatrics

• Annual State Meeting

2. Other committees and ad hoc committees may be established by the State Council as necessary.

3. The State Council President shall serve as an ex-officio member of each committee.

4. Committee chairpersons must be active ENA members.

ARTICLE XI
Publication:

1.  The State Council shall distribute a newsletter at least quarterly.

2.  Advertising may be utilized at the published rates.

ARTICLE XII
Indemnification:

National ENA shall indemnify all officers for expenses incurred with the defense of any claim against such person by reason of service as an officer unless a judgment or other adjudication shall establish that such a claim arose or resulted from any dishonest, fraudulent, criminal, malicious, or knowingly wrongful act, error, or omission of such person.

ARTICLE XIII
Parliamentary Authority

These Bylaws, the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Standing Rules and any other special rules of order adopted by the State Council shall govern all meeting of the State Council provided they are not in conflict with national ENA’s Bylaws and Procedures.

ARTICLE XIV
Dissolution:

In the event of dissolution of the State Council, the net assets of the organization shall revert to National ENA after all liabilities and obligations have been paid, satisfied, and discharged, or adequate provision made thereof.

ARTICLE XV
Amendment:

1. These Bylaws may be amended only upon approval by a 2/3 majority of State Council’s returned postal mail ballots or by electronic mail ballots, and subsequent approval by National ENA.

2. Procedures may be amended by majority vote of the State Council’s returned mail ballots.

3. Any amendments to ENA’s Bylaws and Procedures having direct application to these bylaws take precedence over any State Council Bylaw, provision, and /or procedure.

2008 Nebraska State Executive Board of Directors

 Anna J. May, RN MSN BA CEN
State ENA President

Diane K. Marsh, RN MSN CEN
2008 President-Elect

Kaycee Kamrath, RN BSN
State Secretary

Michelle Kilgore-Munson, RN BSN CEN
State Treasurer