BYLAWS ASSOCIATION OF PEDIATRIC HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY NURSES, INC.
ARTICLE I NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1.
The name of this organization shall be Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses, Inc. (APHON, Inc.). The purpose of this organization shall be educational and scientific. These educational and scientific endeavors shall concern the specialty of pediatric hematology nursing, and pediatric oncology nursing, with one goal being the improvement of the care of children with cancer and blood disorders. This purpose shall be carried out by means of public discussion groups, forums, conferences, panels, lectures, publications, online resources, and/or other similar programs. There shall be both instruction and training of the individual for improving or developing individual capabilities, and instruction of the public on subjects useful to the individual and beneficial to the community, as they relate to the practice of pediatric hematology/oncology.
Section 2.
ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.
Classification There shall be six (6) classifications of membership: Active, Associate, Corporate, Student, Emeritus, and Honorary .
Section 2.
Qualifications and Privileges A.
Active members shall be registered nurses engaged or interested in pediatrics or pediatric hematology/oncology and shall be eligible to vote, hold elected office, and serve on committees. B. Associate members shall be individuals who are non-registered nurse healthcare professionals who care for children with cancer and blood disorders and their families and are interested in APHON’s mission. Associate members shall not be eligible to vote or hold elected office, but may serve on volunteer task forces and committees, and receive all other member benefits.
1
C. Corporate or facility members shall be organizations, corporations, institutions or individuals interested in financially supporting APHON. Corporate members shall not be eligible to vote, hold elected office, or serve on committees.
D. Student members shall be full-time nursing students, either at the undergraduate or graduate level. Student members shall not be eligible to vote or hold elected office, but may serve on volunteer task forces and committees. E. Emeritus members shall be individuals who have retired from nursing practice or have reached the age of sixty-five (65) or older. Individuals eligible for Emeritus status must have ten (10) years of continuous APHON membership and must request a change in their membership status with APHON’s Headquarters at the time of membership renewal. Emeritus members may not hold office; however, they retain voting rights and may continue to participate on committees and task forces. Emeritus members will receive an electronic-only copy of the Journal and will continue to receive all other regular membership benefits. F. Honorary members shall be individuals who have received unanimous approval by the board of directors in recognition of their outstanding contribution to pediatric hematology/oncology nursing. Honorary members shall be excluded from voting, holding elected office, and serving as committee members. Any individual eligible for membership may become a member upon completion of application and payment of first annual dues. Honorary members shall be exempt from paying dues. B. All members shall pay annual dues on the anniversary date of membership in the organization. Payment of Dues and Termination A.
Section 3.
ARTICLE III OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1.
Election and Duties The officers of this organization shall consist of president, president-elect or immediate past-president, secretary, and treasurer. The president-elect shall automatically succeed to the office of president at the close of the annual meeting in the odd numbered years. The out-going president becomes the immediate past-president. The president-elect and immediate past-president shall serve for a period of one (1) year. The immediate past president shall bear the title of immediate past president for two (2) years, however, shall serve as an officer on the board for a period of one (1) year. The president shall serve for a term of two (2) years or until their successor is duly elected and qualified.
Deleted: his or her
2
The secretary and treasurer shall serve for staggered (i.e., not elected in the same year) three (3) year terms or until their successors are duly elected. The board of directors shall consist of the officers and five (5) members of the organization elected by the membership large through a slate election process that is prepared by the Leadership Development Committee. The five (5) at large members of the board of directors shall serve for a term of three (3) years or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The five (5) at-large directors shall be elected to staggered terms, in consecutive three-year rotations. There shall be an Executive Committee composed of the officers, which shall have all the powers of the board of directors to transact business between board meetings in accordance with rules established by the board. Actions required between board meetings shall be ratified at the next meeting of the board of directors. Nominations for president-elect, secretary, treasurer, and at-large directors shall be made by the Leadership Development Committee. Candidates for president-elect shall have completed at least five (5) continuous years of membership, candidates for secretary and treasurer shall have completed at least four (4) continuous years of membership, and candidates for director at large and Leadership Development Committee shall have completed at least two (2) continuous years of membership. Membership status of each candidate must be current and continuous for the required number of years measured retrospectively from the nomination application deadline. The Leadership Development Committee shall report their selections for presentation to and approval by the Board of Directors prior to the annual meeting. The president shall be the Chief Elected Officer of the organization. The president shall preside at all meetings of the organization and of the board. The president shall appoint the vice chairperson (who will automatically succeed to the chairperson position) of all committees, except the Leadership Development Committee, subject to approval of the board. The president shall designate members of the board to act as board liaison for all committees. The president-elect or immediate past-president (depending on the term) shall preside at the meetings of the organization and of the board in the absence of the president. In the event of the disability of the president, the president-elect shall become acting president with all the powers of the president. If there is no president-elect in office in the event of the disability of the president, succession shall proceed as defined in Section 11. The secretary shall keep the records and papers of the organization and shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the organization and of the board. The secretary shall perform such other duties as the board may assign. The treasurer shall supervise the financial affairs of the organization and shall be required to submit an annual accounting and proposed budget, both of which shall be subject to approval by the board of directors.
Deleted:
Section 2.
Deleted: three Deleted: 3 Deleted: is Deleted: at Deleted: Deleted: three Deleted: 3 Deleted: Deleted: three Deleted: 3
Section 3.
Section 4.
Deleted: Nominations Deleted: Deleted: nominating Deleted: c
Deleted: Nominations Deleted: to the president of directors no later than sixty (60) days prior to the election. Names of all slated candidates nominees shall be published and disseminated to each member no later than thirty (30) days prior to the election. The names of all properly nominated candidates shall appear on the Official Ballot. Write in votes shall be permitted. Deleted: The candidate receiving the highest number of votes for each elected position shall be declared to be elected. All elections shall be held Deleted: except those elections held to fill vacancies which occur between annual meetings. Elections may be held by any means permitted by law. Tie votes shall be broken by the drawing of lots. Deleted: Executive Deleted: Nominations Deleted: Deleted: Deleted: The treasurer shall collect the annual dues of all members and shall keep account for the organization. The treasurer shall have custody of the funds of the organization, and shall be authorized to open a bank account in the name of the organization. Deleted: The treasurer Deleted: approved Deleted: before the start of the new fiscal year.
Section 5.
Section 6.
Section 7.
Section 8.
3
Section 9.
The immediate past-president shall assume the responsibilities of archivist, and shall assist the president in the orderly conduct of all meetings of the organization. The immediate past-president shall collect and maintain all records, publications, and papers of historical significance to the organization, and shall act as a consultant to the President until the President’s term expires. The immediate past-president shall serve as the chair of the Leadership Development Committee for a term of 2-years upon their completion of their term as president. The board of directors shall have a general management of the affairs of the organization, shall set the dues for the organization, and shall make all contracts, or shall authorize all contracts made in the name of the organization or by all officers or any committees of the organization. In the case of absence of any officer, the board may delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or any director, except where otherwise provided by the Bylaws. Vacancies In the event that a vacancy occurs in the office of president, the president-elect shall automatically succeed to the presidency and the office of president-elect shall remain vacant until the next scheduled balloting for president-elect. The president-elect shall subsequently serve their two-year term of office as president. In the event that the president becomes unable to serve in a year when there is no president-elect in office, the board of directors shall appoint an interim president, selected from the current board of directors, to serve the remainder of the term. In the event that a vacancy occurs for any other board position, the board of directors shall appoint a qualified member of the organization to fill the vacancy, and the appointee to the vacated office will serve for the remainder of the term. The board shall approve all committee leadership appointments made by the president, approve the budget of the organization, and approve all civic, educational and social programs of the organization. Meetings of the board may be called by the president on five (5) days notice in writing to each officer and director. The meeting shall be called by the president or the secretary in like manner and on like notice, on the written request of five (5) directors. At all meetings of the board, a majority shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the board.
Section 10.
Section 11.
Deleted: Deleted: his or her Deleted:
Deleted: office
Section 12.
Section 13.
Deleted: Deleted: six Deleted: 6 Deleted: D
Section 14.
Section 15.
The fiscal year of the organization shall be January 1 through December 31.
Section 16.
The Association shall indemnify all officers, employees, and agents of the Association to the full extent permitted by the General Laws of Tennessee and shall be entitled to purchase insurance for such indemnification to the full extent as determined from time to time by the executive committee of the Association.
Deleted: Tennessee, and
4
ARTICLE IV ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETINGS
Section 1.
The organization shall hold an annual meeting to be held at the time and place designated by the board, to be designated no later than twelve (12) months prior to the date of the meeting. Written notice specifying the time, date, and place of the annual meeting shall be given to each member by the secretary no earlier than 60 days prior to the opening of said annual meeting. Special meetings of the organization shall be called at such time and place as the board may select and shall be called upon a petition of twenty-five (25) members in good standing within thirty (30) days after receipt by the president of such petition. The secretary shall give thirty (30) days written notice of any special meeting to each member. One hundred (100) members in good standing shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the annual meeting or any special meeting.
Deleted:
Section 3.
Section 4.
ARTICLE V COMMITTEES
Section 1.
Committees may be established from time to time as appropriate and approved by the board of directors. A chairperson of the committee shall be appointed by the president and shall be responsible to the board of directors. The president shall appoint, with approval by the board, a vice-chairperson (who will automatically succeed to the chairperson position) of each committee except the Leadership Development Committee, as soon as practical following the annual meeting of the organization. The chairperson of each committee shall preside at all committee meetings . The vice- chairperson appointed by the president shall serve as secretary at each committee meeting. The board shall define the function of each committee. Vacancies occurring in the membership of the committees shall be filled by appointment by the chairperson of said committee for the unexpired term, except vacancies which occur on the Leadership Development Committee, which vacancies shall be filled by the board. The president shall be empowered to appoint administrative project teams, with approval by the board, to supplement the activities of any committee. The Leadership Development Committee shall consist of the immediate past-president serving as chairperson and six (6) members who shall be appointed by the Board of Directors after considering recommendations from the Leadership Development Committee Chair and following vetting. The term of office for members of the
Deleted:
Section 2.
Deleted: Nominations
Section 3.
Deleted: and shall render a report to the membership at each annual meeting of the organization Deleted: Deleted: chairperson Deleted: Deleted: Nominations
Section 4.
Section 5.
Deleted: Nominations Deleted: five Deleted: 5
Section 6.
Deleted: nominated by the Nominations Committee and elected by the membership prior to the annual meeting. … Deleted:
5
Leadership Development Committee shall be three (3) years. The term of service will commence at the beginning of the annual meeting in the year of the election and conclude just prior to the annual meeting three (3) years later. Two (2) members shall be appointed in the first year of the three-year rotation, two (2) in the second year, and one (1) in the third year. A Leadership Development Committee member shall serve no more than one (1) term. Vacancies on the Leadership Development Committee shall be filled by appointment by the board of directors with appointees to serve the remainder of the vacated term. If the office of chairperson becomes vacant, the previous chairperson will resume the office until their successor assumes the role of immediate past-president.
Deleted: Nominations Deleted: Deleted: Deleted: elected by ballot Deleted: Nominations Deleted: two Deleted: 2 Deleted: consecutive Deleted: s
Deleted: The chairperson of the Nominations Leadership Development Committee shall elect a chairman-elect from among its members in the second year of their term each year during the annual meetingbe the immediate past-president of the association. Deleted: The chairman-elect from the previous year shall become chairman at the beginning of the annual meeting each year. Deleted: Nominations Deleted:
Section 7.
Administrative project teams shall dissolve at the completion of their project.
ARTICLE VI LOCAL CHAPTERS
Section 1.
Organization of a New Chapter A.
Deleted: chairman Deleted: his or her
A chapter may be established when there are six (6) Registered Nurses who are APHON members within a defined geographical area who desire to form a chapter. B. The group desiring to form a chapter shall petition the APHON Board of Directors and comply with the established policies and procedures. C. The APHON Board of Directors shall approve the admission of each new chapter by a three-fourths (3/4) vote for a one year (1) organizational period. During the organizational year, the Local Chapter shall elect officers, adopt By-laws which are not in conflict with the By-laws, policies, and regulations of the National Organization. During this organizational year, the Local Chapter shall establish programs, solicit members, and demonstrate dedication to the purposes of APHON. D. At the end of the organizational year or at the first annual meeting following this time, a representative from the Local Chapter shall present an annual report to the general membership. If the Local Chapter requires more time to meet its objectives, an extension of up to one year may be granted by the board. E. A chapter may become a permanent chapter in good standing by a majority vote of those members present and voting at the annual meeting. Powers, Duties, Responsibilities A. Each chapter shall determine the amount of its dues and assessments and the method of collecting these dues.
Deleted: chairman-elect shall automatically succeed to the office of chairman, and a new chairman-elect shall be elected by the committee from among those members serving the second year of their three-year term.…
Deleted:
Section 2.
6
B. Each chapter may determine the composition of its membership. At least fifty- one (51) percent of the membership of the Local Chapter shall be registered nurses. After the chapter is chartered, all registered nurse members of the local chapter must become dues paying members of the national organization. Only those members who qualify for membership in the national organization shall have voting rights for the national organization. C. Each Local Chapter shall have at least four (4) meetings of an educational nature during each fiscal year. D. No chapter shall be or hold itself out to be an agent of APHON, Inc. Chapter Standing For a chapter to be in good standing it must support the purposes of APHON, meet requirements set out by these Bylaws and the Policies and Procedures of the organization, meet all financial obligations, file reports promptly, and participate in the annual meeting. Probation, Suspension, Revocation, or Dissolution A. The Local Chapter may be placed on probation by the board of directors for failure to comply with these Bylaws and established policies and procedures of the national organization. The board will notify the Local Chapter membership in writing that the Chapter is on probation. The Local Chapter will have two months to meet the necessary requirements and be removed from probationary status. Failure to comply will result in suspension. B. The activities of a Local Chapter may be suspended by the board of directors for failure to comply with these Bylaws and established Policies and Procedures of the national organization. C. Upon recommendation of the board of directors, the Local Chapter status may be withdrawn by a majority vote of those members of the general membership present and voting at the annual meeting. D. A Local Chapter may dissolve itself. E. Upon dissolution of a Local Chapter all cash and other assets remaining after the payment of all debts shall be paid to APHON or any other appropriate private nonprofit organization approved by the National Board of Directors. Reactivation and Reinstatement of a Chapter A. A chapter may be reactivated following suspension by three-fourths (3/4) vote of the board of directors.
Deleted:
Section 3.
Section 4.
Deleted: Deleted:
Section 5.
7
B. A chapter which loses its status as a Local Chapter or dissolves itself may be reinstated by meeting the requirements for a newly organizing chapter after a two-year period from the dissolution date.
Deleted: .
ARTICLE VII AMENDMENTS
Section 1.
These Bylaws may be amended at any annual or special meeting, provided that at least thirty (30) days notice is mailed to each member of any proposed amendment. Any amendment to the Bylaws must be approved by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at the annual meeting or any special meeting properly called and constituted. These Bylaws may be further amended at any annual meeting, properly constituted, upon the unanimous vote of all members duly registered to vote without the necessity for prior notice of the proposed amendment.
Section 2.
Section 3.
ARTICLE VIII PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY The rules contained in Roberts' Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern membership meetings in all cases in which they are not inconsistent or in conflict with these Bylaws.
Deleted: all
ARTICLE IX DISSOLUTION
Upon the dissolution of the Association, the board of directors, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the Association, shall dispose of all of the remaining assets of the Association exclusively for the purposes of the Association in such manner, or to such organization or organizations as shall at the time qualify as a tax-exempt organization or organizations recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the corresponding provision of any future United States internal revenue statute, as the board shall determine.
December 1984 Reviewed/Revised:
October 1985, October 1986, October 1987, October 1989, October 1990, October 1991, October 1992, October 1993, October 1994, October 1995, October 1996, July 1998, October 2001, October 2002, July 2006, October 2010, January 2021, March 2023
8
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8Powered by FlippingBook