American Association of Diabetes Educators Chapter Bylaws
1. Provide an atmosphere for the sharing of ideas, techniques and materials associated with diabetes education.
2. Promote and foster the growth and development of quality diabetes education in the Western Pennsylvania area.
3. Function as a network toward achieving common goals as determined by the general membership.
4. Assume an active role in providing continuing education programs for the health professionals involved in diabetes education.
5. strive for continuing excellence in the quality of diabetes education.
6. Serve as a resource to related organizations.
7. Support the goals of the parent organization, AADE, which are:
- Provide educational opportunities for the professional growth and development of diabetes educators;
- Promote and aide the growth and development of quality diabetes education for the person with diabetes;
- Foster communication and cooperation among individuals and organizations involved in diabetes education.
Section 2. Qualification. The qualifications for the various categories of membership shall be as follows:
- Active Member – any person who has worked full-time or part-time in diabetes education.
- Associate Member – any person with an interest in diabetes education.
- Corporate Member – any individual member of industry engaged in the production and/or sales of products and/or services useful for diabetes educators.
Section 3. Privileges. The privileges of membership shall be as follows:
a. Active Member:
- Shall have the right to vote, to make nominations, to hold office and actively serve on committees.
- Shall receive the newsletter.
- Shall receive priority in attending WPADE functions when space is limited.
b. Associate Member:
- Shall have all privileges of an active member except the right to vote, to make nominations and to hold office.
c. Corporate Member:
- Shall have all privileges of membership except the right to vote, to make nominations, and to hold elective office. Designated representative may be invited to participate in programs and to provide appropriate exhibits.
- May serve on a committee but shall not serve as chair.
- Shall receive a copy of the newsletter.
- May submit announcements for publication in the newsletter, subject to the editorial policies of WPADE.
- May not use the fact of membership in WPADE in advertising, letterheads or similar publicity.
- Shall be given priority over non-members in the assignment of exhibit space at WPADE functions.
Section 4. Application for Membership. Application for membership shall be made on forms provided by the membership committee. Applications shall be reviewed and endorsed by the membership committee upon receipt of:
- Application form
- First year’s dues. Names of new members shall be added to membership roster.
Section 5. Good Standing. A member whose dues are paid for the current fiscal year shall be considered a member in good standing.
Section 6. Termination of Membership. Membership may be voluntarily terminated by written request to the President. Membership may be terminated involuntarily by the Executive Board if dues are not paid within 60 days after the start of the fiscal year. No dues or fees shall be refunded to any person whose membership terminated for any reason after the passage of the first 60 days of the fiscal year.
- All WPADE members shall pay such annual dues as recommended by the Executive Board and voted upon by the general membership. The dues shall include a subscription to the WPADE newsletter. Dues shall be for the fiscal year and shall not by prorate for partial year membership.
- Each active group member shall be considered an individual member for the purposes of WPADE, and must pay dues as for an individual member of WPADE.
Section 2. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year shall coincide with the fiscal year of AADE and will change with the policies of AADE. The fiscal year 1998 shall be from July 1 1997 to June 30, 1998.
Section 3. Maintenance of Funds. The treasurer shall be the keeper of the funds. All dues shall be deposited in a FDIC bank with two signatures required for all checks written against the account. The second signature shall be designated by Executive Board. An annual financial report shall be submitted to the Executive Board for approval. The Executive Board is empowered to make agreements for the investment of the funds and the employment of investments, advisors, banks, and auditors.
Section 2. Powers. The Active membership shall have the following powers:
- It shall be the supreme legislative body of WPADE.
- It shall have the power to enact, amend, and repeal the Bylaws of WPADE on recommendation of the Executive Board.
- It shall elect the officers of the Executive Board following submission of slate by the Nominating Committee.
- It shall adopt budgets.
Section 3. Meetings. The membership shall meet at least bi-annually at the time and place determined by the Executive Board. In case of extreme emergency, which shall be declared by three-fourth (3/4) vote of the Executive Board, the meeting may be postponed provided that a notice of such postponement is delivered to all Active members immediately following the action of the Executive Board. The locations of WPADE meetings shall rotate throughout the Western Pennsylvania area.
Section 4. Voting. A vote by mail may be authorized by the Executive Board or as specified in these Bylaws.
Section 5. Quorum. One-fourth (1/4) of the voting members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 2. Eligibility. Only an Active member shall serve as an elected officer.
Section 3. Term. Annually there shall be an election. In 1989 a President and President-Elect, thereafter President –Elect each year. Treasurer shall be elected for a two year term in the even years.
Section 4. Nominations and Elections.
- Nomination for office is made as specified in Article VIII, Section 2.
- Election shall be by written ballot. Refer to Article VIII. Section 3.
Section 5. Vacancy. In the event the office of President becomes vacant, the President-Elect shall serve as President for the unexpired term. In the event the office of the President-Elect, Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer becomes vacant, the President shall appoint a member of the Executive Board as interim officer for the unexpired term.
Section 6. Duties.
- President. The President shall serve as presiding officer of all regular and special meetings of the general membership and Executive Board; shall cast the deciding vote in case of a tie; shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee; shall present a written report to the general membership on subjects pertaining to the goals of WPADE; shall perform other duties as are assigned by the these Bylaws or the Executive Board.
- President-Elect. The President-Elect shall assume the duties of the president in the absence of the president; shall succeed to the office of president one year following election; shall succeed to the office of president in the event of a vacancy; shall assist the Vice-President with committees as needed; shall be first choice to attend the leadership conference.
- Vice-President. The Vice-President shall perform the role of Parliamentarian; shall be responsible for the functioning of the committee network, ensuring that each committee has a chairperson; shall perform other duties as assigned by the Bylaws or the Executive Board.
- Secretary. The Secretary shall oversee the proper recording of the proceedings of all meetings and shall perform such other duties as assigned by these Bylaws or the Executive Board.
- Treasurer. The Treasurer shall supervise the financial affairs of the association and take appropriate action regarding the finances of WPADE at the direction of the Executive Board; shall serve as chairperson of the Finance Committee; shall perform such other duties as assigned by these Bylaws or the Executive Board.
- Immediate Past-President. The Immediate Past-President shall serve on the Executive Board by reason of office; shall serve as chairperson of the Nominating Committee; and shall serve as member of the Regional Board.
Seciton 2. Term. Shall be as specified in Article VI, Section 3.
Section 3. Powers and Duties. The Executive Board shall have all administrative powers and duties except those specifically reserved to the general membership by these Bylaws. When the general membership is not in session, the Executive Board shall have the power to establish interim policies provided that such policies are reported to the next session of the general membership for ratification.
Section 4. Meetings.
- The Board shall meet four (4) times a year.
- Special meetings may be called upon notification by the President.
- A vote by mail is authorized when necessary.
Section 5. Quorum. A simple majority of the members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 2. Nominations.
- The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of at least one (1) candidate for each office.
- Recommendation for elective position may be made to the Nominating Committee by written petition requiring signatures of the nominee and two additional Active members. The petition must by received by the Nomination Committee no later than two months prior to the election.
- The Nominating Committee shall consist of three (3) persons. The chairperson is the immediate Past-President and two (20 persons elected by general membership to the committee preferable form different geographical areas. Term of office for elected committee members shall be two (2) years. For transition year of 1991, one person shall serve a one year term and the other a two year term.
Section 3. Election Procedure.
- The slate of nominees presented by the Nominating Committee shall be placed on a ballot which shall be distributed to all voting members by mail, and voted on at least sixty (60) days prior to start of AADE fiscal year.
- Election shall be by a majority of votes cast.
- Results of the election shall be announced at the September general meeting. The new officers and board members shall assume their responsibilities October 1st.
Section 2. General Procedures.
- All committees shall have at least three (3) members including the chairperson.
- All committees are self-selected from the general membership except the Nominating Committee.
- The chairperson of each committee (except the Nominating and Finance Committees) shall be selected by its members with the approval of the President, as an ex-officio member, and Vice-President, as officer responsible for the functioning of the committee network.
- The committees shall report to the Executive Board.
- The chairperson of the Nominating Committee shall be the Immediate Past-President.
- The chairperson of the Finance Committee shall be the Treasure.
- Matters requiring immediate committee action may be voted upon by mail, all members being notified.
Section 3. Duties.
- Membership Committee – shall administer membership recruitment campaigns; shall review and endorse membership applications and shall notify applicants of membership action; shall issue cancellation of the membership nonpayment of dues or voluntary cancellation; shall be responsible for compilation of the WPADE membership roster for distribution.
- Program Committee – shall arrange for education programs for WPADE members; shall handle local arrangements (site/registration/exhibits/facilities and equipment/entertainment) for the WPADE general meetings. Different geographic areas of Western Pennsylvania shall be represented on this committee.
- Newsletter Committee – shall be responsible for the layout/design, publication of the organization’s newsletter; shall draft the statement of editorial policy for approval by the Executive board; shall carry out this policy, and function as the official publication of WPADE. Organization news and articles from the general membership shall be included in the newsletter.
- Bylaws/Policies Committee – shall review the chapter Bylaws and recommend amendments as necessary.
- Finance Committee- shall assist in developing the annual budget
- Nominating Committee – shall be composed of the Immediate Past-President as chair and two Active members appointed by the President. The committee shall function as specified in Article VIII.
- Publicity Committee – shall promote activities and purpose of WPADE in its geographic area.
- Certification Committee – shall encourage all members to participate in the certification exam for diabetes educators and provide information about the certification process.
- Community Education – shall promote the ongoing process of acquiring current information in the area of diabetes mellitus for the person with diabetes.
- Legislative Committee – shall inform members of important diabetes legislative issues and promote legislative activities.
- Outstanding Educator – shall choose outstanding educator according to policies and guidelines set by Executive Board.
Section 4. Special Committee. Additional committees (ad hoc) may be established by the President upon a majority vote of the Executive Board.
Adopted 1985
Revised 1997
