RAVENA

                   RESCUE
                                              SQUAD

                 INC.

 

Text Box:  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BY-LAWS


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

                                                           Page no.    

ARTICLE 1 - OFFICES                                                              1

ARTICLE 2 – PURPOSES                                                          1

ARTICLE 3 - MEMBERSHIP                                                    1

          Types of Membership                                                        1

          Procedure for Becoming a Member                                   4

          General Membership Requirements                                 5

          Oath of Membership                                                         5

          Leaves of Absence                                                             5

          Orientation                                                                       5

 

ARTICLE 4 – Meetings                                                              6

          Annual Meeting                                                                6

          Monthly Membership Meeting                                         6

          Special Meetings                                                              7

          Fixing Record Date                                                           7

          Action by Members without a Meeting                             7

          Proxies                                                                              7

 

ARTICLE 5 – DIRECTORS                                                        8

          Management of the Corporation                                       8

          Election and Term of Directors                                         8

          Increase or Decrease in Number of Directors                   8

          Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies                     9

          Removal of Directors                                                         9

          Resignation                                                                      9

          Quorum of Directors                                                         9

          Action of the Board                                                           9

          Charge of the Squad                                                       10

          Place and Time of Board Meetings                                  10

          Annual Meeting                                                              10

          Notice of Meetings of the Board, Adjournment               10

          Chairman                                                                       11

          Executive and Other Committees                                   11


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

                                                                                                Page no.

ARTICLE 6 – COMMITTEES                                                 11

          Executive                                                                        11

          Nominating                                                                     11

          Membership                                                                   11

          Financial                                                                       11 

          Quality Assurance                                                          12

          By-Laws                                                                          12

          Publicity                                                                         12

 

ARTICLE 7 – OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION                 12

        Offices, Election, Term                                                            12

          Removal, Resignation, Salary                                                 12

          Deputies of the Officers of the Board of Directors                   13                       

        Chief of Operations                                                                  14

        Sureties and Bonds                                                                  15

 

ARTICLE 8 - SQUAD LINE OFFICERS                                    15

          Elections                                                                         15

          Crew Chiefs                                                                     15

          Qualifications                                                                  15

          Absences                                                                         15

          Vacancy                                                                           15

          Removal from Office                                                        16

          Duties of Line Officers                                                    16   

                                                                                                     

ARTICLE 9 - CONSTRUCTION                                                17

 

ARTICLE 10 - SEAL                                                                 17

 

ARTICLE 11 - AMENDMENTS                                                 18

 

ARTICLE 12 - VIOLATIONS                                                     18

 

ARTICLE 13 - SQUAD MANUALS                                            19

 

ARTICLE 14 - EXCEPTIONS                                                   19

 

ARTICLE 15 - EFFECTIVE DATE                                            19

 

Past attitudes have led to the use in our language of the pronouns he or his when signifying persons of either gender. The use of he/she is incorrect and, at best, awkward. Whenever possible, the sentences in this document have been structured to eliminate the use of either he or his. In cases where such a pronoun is necessary, conventional usage of he or his is employed.


ARTICLE 1 – OFFICES

 

The principal office of the Corporation shall be in the Village of Ravena, Town of Coeymans, County of Albany, State of New York.  The Corporation may also have offices at such other places within or outside this state as the Board may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE 2 - PURPOSES

 

The purposes for which this Corporation has been organized are as follows: to develop, establish, own, equip, operate and maintain volunteer ambulance and rescue services for the people of the Villages, Hamlets and Towns, of Ravena, New Baltimore and Coeymans, together with surrounding areas; to own and acquire land and provide buildings and facilities for housing and maintain ambulances and rescue vehicles, and to solicit funds from the public, government agencies and grants as well as insurance companies for the carrying out of the purposes and objectives hereinbefore enumerated.

 

ARTICLE 3 – MEMBERSHIP

 

Membership in this organization shall be divided into (5) five types, New Member, Voting Member, Junior Member, Associate Member, and Life Member. Membership in the Squad will not be denied based on gender, race, sexual orientation, creed, or religion.

 

1. Types of membership

A.    New Member

All members of this organization start at this level.

a.     New Members have six (6) months from the date of acceptance to meet the following minimum requirements.

                                                                               i.      American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer or the equivalent American Heart Association certification, AND

                                                                             ii.      Attend (10) meetings (membership or Board) or Ride on (10)         patient transport calls or a combination of (10) meeting and calls, AND

                                                                          iii.      American Red Cross Standard First Aid

 

b.      At the end six months if a New Member has completed the requirements listed above, he will become a Junior or Voting Member depending on age.

 

c.      The Board of Directors may grant one extension of time, not to exceed six (6) months to allow a New Member to obtain the requirements listed above. If at the end of this time they do not meet these requirements they will be dropped from the Squads membership rolls. They may apply for membership again in 90 days.


 

d.     New Members may attend all squad functions, meetings, drills,          training, and social events.

 

e.     Once a New Member successfully completes Ambulance Orientation training, he may respond to calls with approval of the Chief and Assistant Chief.

 

f.       Once a New Member successfully completes driver training he may drive the Ambulance on calls with the approval of the Chief and Assistant Chief.

 

g.      New Members may not hold any squad offices and may not vote at any squad meeting or election.

        

h.     The Board of Directors may make an exception to the New Member requirements for members who it deems a benefit to the Squad (ex. Chaplain, medical director, community board member, etc.).

 

B.    Voting Member

a.     Requirement for Voting membership shall be any person 18 years of age or over regardless of sex, creed or race and has completed the requirements in New Member above.

b.      Voting Members must maintain current American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer or the equivalent American Heart Association Certification and attend (10) meetings (membership or Board) or Ride on (10)patient transport calls or a combination of (10) meeting and calls per calendar year, unless the member has a reasonable excuse. The Board of Directors shall determine the merits of an excuse.

c.      Voting Members may attend all squad functions, meetings, drills, training, and social events.

d.     Once a Voting Member successfully completes Ambulance Orientation training, he may respond to calls with approval of the Chief and Assistant Chief.

e.     Once a Voting Member successfully completes driver training he may drive the Ambulance on calls with the approval of the Chief and Assistant Chief.

f.       Voting Members may hold any squad office that they are qualified to hold and attend and vote at any membership meeting or election.

 

C. Junior Member

a.     Requirement for eligibility for Junior membership shall be any person 16 years of age and has completed the requirements in New Member above.


 

b.      Junior Members must maintain current American Red Cross CPR for the Professional Rescuer or the equivalent American Heart Association Certification and attend (10) meetings (membership or Board) or Ride on (10) patient transport calls or a combination of (10) meeting or calls per calendar year, unless the member has a reasonable excuse. The Board of Directors shall determine the merits of an excuse.

c.      Junior Members may attend all squad functions, meetings, drills, training, and social events.

d.     Junior Members may not hold any squad offices and may not vote at any squad meeting or election.

e.     Once a Junior Member successfully completes Ambulance Orientation training, he may respond to calls with approval of the Chief and Assistant Chief.

 

D. Associate Member

a.     Requirement for eligibility for Associate Membership shall be any member who has been a current Voting Member for at least one year.

b.      Any Voting Member that no longer meets the requirements for this level will be moved to Associate Member by the Board of Directors.

c.      A member may remain an Associate Member for a maximum of two years. Any time during this two year period if the member meets the requirements for Voting Member, the member may ask the Board of Directors to be reinstated to Voting Member. After two years if an Associate Member has not met the requirements of a Voting Member he will be dropped from the membership rolls.

d.     Associate Members may attend all squad functions, meetings, drills, training, and social events.

e.     Associate Members may not hold any squad offices and may not vote at any squad meeting or election.

 

          E. Life Member

a.     Life Membership may be awarded to a member for their outstanding service given to the squad.

b.      To qualify a member must have (20) years of service with the Ravena Rescue Squad and be nominated by a current Voting Member of the Squad.

c.       The nomination must be in writing stating qualification and submitted to the Board of Directors.

d.     The Board of Directors may approve the nomination by a majority vote. If approved by the Board the nomination will be brought before the general membership at the next


regular meeting. The membership may approve this nomination by a majority vote of members at this meeting.

e.     Life Members may attend all squad functions, meetings, drills, training, and social events.

f.       If a Life Member has successfully completed Ambulance Orientation training, he may respond to calls with approval of the Chief and Assistant Chief.

g.      If a Life Member has successfully completed driver training he may drive the Ambulance on calls with the approval of the Chief and Assistant Chief.

h.     Life Members may hold any squad office that they are qualified to hold and attend any membership meeting or election.

i.       Life Members may vote at any membership meeting or election if they qualify to be a Voting member.

j.       A Life Member shall be entitled to the following:

                                                                                     i.      May attend any Ravena Rescue Squad sponsored training or social events free of any charges.

                                                                                   ii.      Will be awarded a Rescue Squad all seasons jacket with Life Member embroidered on them.

 

2. Procedure for becoming a member

 

          A. Member – 18 years or older

a.     Must fill out completely an application form(s) supplied by the Squad.

b.      Shall offer application form(s) to The Board of Directors.

c.      The Board may route the application to the Membership Committee.

d.     The Membership committee will make a recommendation to the Board.

e.     The Board at a regular meeting will vote on accepting the application. If a majority of the Board at this meeting vote in the affirmative the application will be forwarded to the next Membership meeting as a seconded motion for acceptance.

f.       If the majority of Members at this membership meeting vote in the affirmative the applicant shall be considered a New member.

g.      If the Board or the membership decline the application the applicant may apply again in 90 days.

h.     The Secretary will notify the applicant and the appropriate Squad officers as to the outcome.

 

B. Member – 16 or 17 years old

a.     Same as 18 year older Member plus the following:

                                                                               i.      Written parental consent

                                                                             ii.      Positive recommendation from School guidance department.


3.     General Member Requirements

 

All members are required to comply with the by-laws, policies, certifications, scheduling, and any other squad related procedure that is or may become a mandatory requirement for members that has been approved by the Board of Directors.

 

4.     Oath of Membership

 

          Every member, on being admitted, shall take the following obligation:

“I, (your name), do promise to support the by-law’s, obey the officers over me and should I resign or be expelled, to return all property belonging to the Squad that is in my possession, and I will conduct myself in a professional manner at all times that I am in the service with or representing the Ravena Rescue Squad.

   

5. Leave of Absence

 

The Board of Directors may grant a Leave of Absence to requesting members of the Squad based on the circumstances surrounding the request. There are two (2) types of leave: Medical Leave and Personal Leave.

A.    Medical Leave

Medical leave will be granted to members of the Squad who are not able to meet the obligations of their membership based on a doctor’s order. Members requesting Medical Leave must submit documentation from his physician that specifically details the member’s level of continued participation, if any, along with the Squad’s approved request for Leave of Absence form.  Medical Leave must continue until the member provides documentation from his physician clearing him for return to full or partial duty, or the member resigns from the Squad.

B.    Personal Leave

Voting and Junior Members of the Squad may request a Personal Leave of Absence from the Squad for a specific period of time, not to exceed six (6) months. This Leave may be extended for six (6) additional months at the discretion of the Board of Directors. All requests for Personal Leave must be made in writing, using the Squads approved Request for Leave of Absence form, and submitted to the Board of Directors. Due to their limited duration of service to the Squad, New Members of the Squad are not eligible for Personal Leave.

 

6.     Orientation

All new members must complete the Orientation program. The Training Officer will inform the Chief and Assistant Chief when orientation is completed.

ARTICLE 4 – MEETINGS

1.     ANNUAL MEETING

A.     The annual membership meeting of the Corporation shall be held during the 1st week of December each year.

B.    The Secretary shall cause to be mailed to every member in good standing two weeks before at the address as it appears on the membership roll book of the Corporation a notice stating the time and place of the annual meeting.

C.    The presence at any membership meeting of not less than twelve members shall constitute a quorum and shall be necessary to conduct the business of the Corporation.

D.    However, a lesser number may adjourn the meeting for a period of not more than four weeks from the date scheduled by the by-law’s and the Secretary shall cause a notice of the re-scheduled date of the meeting to be sent to those members who were not present at the meeting originally called. A quorum as hereinbefore set forth shall be required at any adjourned meeting.

E.     A membership role showing the list of eligible voting members as of the record date, certified by the Secretary of the Corporation, shall be posted in the garage area and the meeting room at least ten days prior to the annual meeting. Persons appearing on such membership roll shall be entitled to vote at the annual meeting as their membership type allows.

 

2.     MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP MEETING

A.     The squad shall conduct a regular membership meeting on the last Tuesday of each month.

B.    The time of the meeting shall be 7:30 pm.

C.    A non-member of the squad shall not attend a meeting unless consent of the chair is received for their presence.

D.    The President shall have the power to call a special meeting of the squad whenever the interest of the same shall demand or at the written request by at least 5 squad members. He shall issue the call via instructing the Secretary to notify the members by mail or pager immediately. At least twenty-four hours shall be allowed between the postmark time and the time of the meeting. No business except that for which the meeting was called shall be transacted.

E.     A membership role showing the list of eligible voting members as of the record date, certified by the Secretary of the Corporation, may be requested by any member who has given written notice to the Corporation at least ten days prior to such meeting. Persons appearing on such membership roll shall be entitled to vote at the meeting as allowed by their membership type.


 

          3. SPECIAL MEETINGS

A.     Special meetings of the Corporation may be called by the Directors. The Secretary shall cause a notice of such meeting to be mailed to all members at their addresses as they appear in the membership roll book at least ten days but not more than fifty days before the scheduled date of such meeting. Such notice shall state the date, time, place and purpose of the meeting and by whom called.

B.    No other business but that specified in the notice may be transacted at such special meeting without the unanimous consent of all present at such meeting.

 

4. FIXING RECORD DATE

A.     For the purposes of determining the members entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of members or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to or dissent from any proposal without a meeting, or for the purpose of determining the members entitled to receive any distribution or any allotment of any rights, or for the purpose of any other action, the Board shall fix, in advance, a date as the record date for any such determination of members.

B.    Such date shall not be more than fifty or less than ten days before any such meeting, or more than fifty days prior to any other action.

 

5. ACTION BY MEMBERS WITHOUT A MEETING

Whenever members are required or permitted to take any action by vote, such may be taken without a meeting by written consent, setting forth the action so signed by all the members entitled to vote thereon.

 

6. PROXIES

A.     Every member entitled to vote at the annual meeting of members or other meeting that the Board of Directors authorizes the use of Proxies may authorize another person to act for him by proxy.

B.    The proxy must be signed by the member or his attorney-infact on a form provided by the Board of Directors. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the member executing it, except as otherwise provided by law.


ARTICLE 5 - DIRECTORS

 

1. MANAGEMENT OF THE CORPORATION

A.     The corporation shall be managed by the Board of Directors which shall consist of not less than three directors. Each director shall be at least nineteen years of age.

B.    The Board of Directors is the legally responsible body for the Ravena Rescue Squad Inc. as specified under New York State laws regarding corporations. The Board of Directors shall be the governing and chief policy-making body for the Squad and shall enforce the By-laws, Policy and Procedures and Standard Operating guidelines.

C.    The maximum number of directors of this corporation shall be nine (9).

 

2. ELECTION AND TERM OF DIRECTORS

A.     At each annual meeting of the members, the membership shall elect such directors. Each director shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which he was elected and until his successor has been elected and shall have qualified, or until his prior resignation or removal.

B.    Directors are elected for a term of 3 years

C.    So that the terms of the directors will be staggered, the following procedure will be followed:

                                     i.            At the first annual meeting two (2) directors will be elected for 3-year terms

                                   ii.            At the second annual meeting two (2) directors will be elected for 3-year terms

                                iii.            At the third annual meeting three (3) directors will be elected for 3-year terms

 

3. INCREASE OR DECREASE IN N