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The
name of this Association shall be the VERMONT POLICE CANINE ASSOCIATION
INC. (VPCA).
OBJECTIVES
1.
The purpose of the VT Police Canine Association is to assist with the
development of the certified
Police Canine Teams.
2.
To accomplish this we will support certified Police Canine teams with
additional training, training aids, and special needs assistance.
3.
This will enhance the high quality of service currently provided by
certified Canine Teams to the citizens and visitors of the State of
Vermont.
Membership
in the Association shall be of three types:
Active,
Associate and Honorary, as defined in Section 2, this Article.
SECTION
1 - Eligibility
Anyone
engaged in a public service profession in the United States shall be
eligible, if they are engaged in a public service agency, as follows:
1.
Law Enforcement in general
2.
The Chief of Police, Sheriff, or any peace officer of a city, county, or
state.
3.
Corrections Chief or supervisor, or corrections officer of a
correctional facility.
4.
Federal, Military, and other officers actively engaged in law
enforcement activities to include, but not limited to:
a)
Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigations
b)
Officers of the U.S. Customs Service
c)
Members of the United States Department of Immigration
d)
Agents of the Alcohol, Tobacco, and firearms Division
e)
Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration
f)
US Postal Inspectors
g)
Department of Defense Police
5.
Fire Safety officers of any City, County, or State Agency
6.
Any Emergency Responder, Search and Rescue Member for hire or volunteer
of any City, County, or State Agency.
SECTION
2 - Active Members Definition and Qualification
Active
member is one who is past or present member of the Vermont Police Canine
Program, and who satisfies the eligibility requirement as defined by
Section 1. Who agrees to uphold the purposes set forth in Article
II, has paid his/her dues for the ensuing year, and has one vote at
announced meetings (monthly and or yearly).
SECTION
3 - Associate Member definition and Qualifications
An
Associate member is one who is NOT a member of the Vermont Police Canine
Program, and who satisfies the eligibility requirements as defined by
Section 1. Who agrees to uphold the purposes and objectives set
forth in Article II and has paid his/her dues for the ensuing year.
Associate members have welcomed input during monthly and or annual
meetings, however have no voting right.
SECTION
4 - Honorary Member Definitions and Qualifications
An
Honorary member is any group, business, company, corporation, or
individual, who is NOT a member of the Vermont Police Canine Program, as
defined in Section 1, who agrees to uphold the purposes and objectives
set forth in Article II, is recommended for honorary membership by the
Executive Board. Honorary members have no vote. Honorary
membership last for one year, and may be re-voted on at the
recommendation of the Executive Committee.
SECTION
5 - Membership Termination
Membership
for Honorary members shall terminate at the end of each year, unless
voted to be continued by the Board for the ensuing year. Membership for
Active and Associate members shall be terminated for the following
reasons:
1.
Failure to pay annual dues within thirty days of the membership
expiration.
2.
conviction of a Federal, State, r Local statute or ordinance that is
deemed to be of such consequences that it be deemed detrimental to the
integrity of the association.
SECTION
6 - Membership Reinstatement
Active
and Associate members may be reinstated under the following conditions:
1.
Active and Associate members dropped under the provisions of Section 5.1
shall have the opportunity to regain their membership under the
provisions of Article III, Section 2, on payment of dues.
2.
Active and Associate members dropped under the provisions of Section 5.2
shall have the opportunity to appear before the Executive Board, in
person, or as sponsored by an Active member prior to final determination
by the Board on their discharge from the Association. A member
discharged under this section shall not be allowed to reapply for
membership.
ARTICLE
IV - Organization
SECTION
1 - The Board - A Governing Body
The
affairs of the Association shall be in the hands of the Executive Board
of Directors, who shall act as the governing body of Association.
The Executive Board of Directors shall act as the management arm of the
Association and shall involve itself with the running of the
Association. Appeal of any Board action may be taken directly to
the membership on written appeal and recommendation of 25% of the
membership. Such action will be taken up at the ensuing annual
meeting. It shall take a 60% vote of those present to imprecate
the actions of the board. Requirements for Board Member shall be
as follows: (1) must be a state certified Police Officer, (2) Must
be an active or past K-9 handler and setting a good example united with
purpose of this organization.
SECTION
2 - Executive Board Membership
The
Board shall consist of not less then 4 and not more than 7 members.
Board members shall be elected or appointed, as provided for in the
by-laws of the Association. The Board of Directors shall therefore
consist of elected and appointed members. Each Board member shall
have one vote on matters coming before the Board. The directors
and officers of the Association shall serve without pay.
SECTION
3 - Executive Board Meetings (Executive Session)
The
Executive Board shall reserve the right to call executive session
without general membership participation, when matters before the Board
are considered not appropriate for public discussion.
SECTION
4 - General Board and Membership Meetings
The
Board shall act at regular or called meetings, as called for in the
By-laws of the Association.
SECTION
5 - Executive Board Member Voting
Each
Executive Board member shall have one vote on matters coming before the Executive
Board.
SECTION
5A - General Membership Voting
Each
member as defined by Article III, shall have one vote regarding any
general matters of business.
SECTION
6 - Majority Vote
A
majority vote shall be determined to be that of 50% of the members
present or in writing, plus one. A majority vote shall be required
to affirm any resolution, motion, or action.
SECTION
7 - Term(s) of Office
Term(s)
of office shall be as prescribed in the by-laws of the Association.
SECTION
8 - Election of Officers
The
election of officers for the ensuing two years shall be held at the
general meeting of the Association held in the fall of the year.
SECTION
9 - Officers--Elected and Appointed
Elected
officers shall be a President and a Vice-President. Appointed Officers
shall be a Treasurer, Secretary, Special Advisory, and such other
appointed officers as may be approved in the by-laws of the Association.
All officers shall be Active members of the Association. Duties of
the officers shall be as outlined by the by-laws.
SECTION
10 - Board Election
Board
elections shall be held at he annual meeting. Terms of the office
shall be for two years. A minimum of two persons will be
considered for each position, each election. Should the elected
member have t resign, die, or move away, the replacement officer will be
the second candidate, who shall hold office until the next annual
election.
SECTION
11 - President
It
shall be the duty of the President to call and preside at all regular
and special meetings. He shall see that the By-laws and all Rules
and Regulations are respected and obeyed. he shall cast the deciding
vote in case of a tie. He shall appoint committees and may
designate their Chairperson.
SECTION
12 - Vice President
The
Vice President shall actively assist and support the President in his
duties, and shall be the President in the absence of the President,
during which time the vice President shall assume all the duties and
responsibilities of that office.
SECTION
13 - Secretary
It
shall be the duty of the Secretary to accurately record the proceedings
at meetings and read the minutes of previous meetings and all
communications. He/She shall call the roll of Officers and note
absentees. He/She shall communicate and correspond with all
persons and organizations both within and outside the association.
He/She shall receive all monies in the absence of the Treasurer.
SECTION
14 - Treasurer
It
shall be the duty of the Treasurer to collect all monies due to this
association, giving receipt thereof. He shall keep a suitable set
of books of record of it. He shall deposit all monies of this
Association in a bank designated by the Board of Directors. He
shall render statements in detail at each meeting of the Association,
showing receipts and disbursements in full to date, and the monies in
the treasury. he shall draw all checks or other obligations
authorized by the President.
SECTION
15 - Special Advisory
It
shall be the duty of the Special Advisory to review all special needs or
requests of financial assistance, special equipment, and all other needs
relative to field deployment and implementation. Advisory shall make
his/her recommendations before the executive Board. He/she shall
be an Active member of the Association and be directly or indirectly
involved in the training and supervision of active members as it relates
to law enforcement and field deployment of Canine Teams.
SECTION
15A - General Advisory
It
shall be the duty of the General Advisory (s), titled and appointed by
the Governing Executive Board, to perform special duties or assignments
as they relate to the Association. The terms of the office shall
be prescribed depending on the assignment. general Advisory shall be any
general member of the Association.
SECTION
1 - Fundraising and Use
The
funds of the Association shall be raised from collection of dues, fees, assessments, as
prescribed in the by-laws, and acceptance of grants and gifts from
interested private or government parties. Funds shall be used
exclusively in the furtherance of the purposes states in Article II.
SECTION
2 - Fund Control
The
Treasurer shall be accountable for all funds held and spent by the
Association. The Treasurer shall receive all money. The President
and Treasurer shall sign all drafts on the Association's bank account(s). The Treasurer shall keep an accurate account of all
records, receipts, and money of the Association and shall furnish a
written report to the Board of Directors at each meeting. These reports
shall be available for scrutiny of any member in good standing. A
copy of the report shall be attached tot he minutes of the Board
meeting.
Dues
shall be as stated in the by-laws of the Association. The yearly
dues of the Association will be $40.00. All applications and dues shall
be sent to the Secretary. The yearly dues will be due during the
month of June.
By-laws
of the Association shall be published. By-laws shall be consistent
with this constitution and shall be designed to aid in efficient
operation and management of the Association.
ARTICLE
VIII - Dissolution of the Association
Subject
only to any approvals required by law, upon the dissolution or other
termination of the Association. All property of the Association
and all of the net proceeds of sale thereof shall be distributed as the
Executive Board Members of the Association shall select, to and among
one or more business, government, or private entity with similar
purposes. If such can be found, if not found, net proceeds may be
donated to a government entity as chosen by the Board so long as no part
of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any officer or
member of the Association.
ARTICLE
IX - Changes of Constitution
This
Constitution may be altered or amended in whole or in part at any meeting
of the Board of Directors by the affirmative vote of not less than three
fourths of the general membership of the Association. Provided
that notice of such amendment shall have been mailed to all members at
least twenty days prior to such meeting.
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