NOTICE:
This on-line copy of the bylaws, although correct to the best of our ability, shall remain an unofficial copy.
For current official copy, contact the BCFFA secretary.



BEXAR COUNTY FIRE FIGHTERS ASSOCIATION

ASSOCIATION BYLAWS

Whereas certain laws and regulations are necessary for the good order and well being of all associations, in order to define duty, establish discipline and for the maintenance of harmony in the promotion of the objective for which we are associated together, we do order and adopt the following constitution and bylaws for our regulation and government.

Article I: Name and Object

Section 1: The name of this association shall be the Bexar County Fire Fighters Association.

Section 2: The object of this association shall be our cooperation and coordination in Bexar County and with the Commissioners thereof in fire control and prevention, the saving of lives, the protection of property, and other disaster services as needed.

Article II: Board of Directors

Section 1: The Board of Directors shall be composed of the five officers of the association as defined in Section 2 of this article. These five officers shall be elected by the delegates of the Association with said delegates being the representatives of the voting member fire departments. Any member of a voting member fire department shall be eligible to be elected to the Board of Directors. No department shall have more than one member on the Board of Directors. In case of a vacancy, the membership present at the next regular meeting will select a delegate from a voting department to fill the unexpired term.

Section 2: The officers of this association shall be President, 1^st Vice President, 2^nd Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 3: Terms of the office for the President, 1^st Vice President, and 2^nd Vice President will be one year, 1^st Vice President assumes the Presidency, 2^nd Vice President assumes the 1^st Vice Presidency, each year a 2^nd Vice President is elected. Secretary and Treasurer will be two-year terms, except the first year the Secretary will serve one year. Secretary will be elected on even years and the Treasure will be elected on odd years.

Article III: Duties

Section 1:  The President shall preside over all meetings of the members of the Association and of the Board of Directors, call special meetings of the Association, and perform all acts and duties usually performed by an executive and presiding officer.

Section 2:  The 1^st Vice-President shall in the absence of the President, perform the duties of the President and in addition shall serve as the Chairman of the Budget Committee.

Section 3:  The 2^nd Vice President shall serve as Sergeant at Arms and Parliamentarian.

Section 4:  The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the Board of Directors meetings and the meetings of the membership. He/she shall serve all general notices required and shall make a full report of all matters of business pertaining to the office to the members at each meeting, and perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary. Original copies of the minutes shall be signed and filed with the Secretary.

Section 5:  The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds. The Treasurer shall deposit all such funds in the name of the Association in such banks as shall be selected by the membership. He/she shall make a full report of all matters of business pertaining to the office to the members at each meeting. All checks will have two signatures. The President, 1^st Vice President and Treasurer can sign checks.

Article IV: Membership

Section 1:  Membership shall consist of two types, Voting Membership and Associated Membership.

a. Voting Membership shall consist of fire departments providing service in Bexar County desiring membership in this Association. Membership shall be requested by written application from applying department and accompanied by remittance of One year's dues. Application must be approved by a majority vote of the Association.

b. Associated Membership shall consist of any agency wanting to join.

Associate Membership is non-voting. Associate members have all rights and privileges except voting and emergency fund.

Section 2:  A voting department shall be one which has been approved by an Association Membership committee.

Section 3:  Dues shall be $10.00 per year for the General Fund and $10.00 for the Emergency Fund per year for each voting member fire department.

Section 4:  Each fire department shall pay its dues on or before the first day of August each year. The Treasurer shall send notices of dues to all member fire departments on June 15th of each year.

Section 5:  To retain voting rights, the member fire departments must pay their dues before the start of the monthly meeting. A delegate roster, consisting of a primary and three alternates must be submitted at such time.

Article V: Meetings

Section 1:  Meetings shall be held one night per month, that night to be voted on by the membership.

Section 2:  Special meetings may be called by the President or upon a written request of 1/3 of the active member departments, and notification to all member departments.

Section 3:  Majority vote of all departments present shall count in all meetings except suspension from the Association and amending of the bylaws, as noted in Articles IX and M.

Section 4:  Items not covered by the By-laws refer to Roberts Rules of Order.

Article VI: Nominations and Elections

Section 1:  Nominations shall be made by a nominating committee and from the floor. At the close of nominations, voting will be by secret ballot. Each member fire department shall cast one vote for each officer to be elected. Said votes to be cast by authorized delegates.

Section 2:  Election of officers shall be at the regular meeting night in September of each year. All departments shall be notified of this general meeting 30 days prior to the date of the meeting. The officers shall assume their duties immediately following the meeting.

Article VII: Committees

Section 1:  The President shall appoint any and all necessary committees, except for the Training Committee which is a standing committee, consisting of four directors, one from each quadrant, as defined in the Standard Operating Guidelines. Each quadrant shall select it's own director annually and submitted at the September Association Monthly Meeting. The Training Committee is subject to Article IX and approval of expenditures. Income generated by the Training Committee to be deposited in a separate account. The President will be an Ex Officio member of all committees.

Section 2:  The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee 60 days prior to the election of officers. The Nominating Committee will present their nominations at the August meeting and nominations will be sent to all member departments prior to the September meeting and election.

Section 3:  Each committee may determine its own method of procedure.

Section 4:  All Standing Committees will have Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs). The Association will approve all Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs).

Article VIII: Funds

The Association shall pay the reasonable expenses incurred by the officers in the performance of their duties upon approval of the same by the members.

Article IX: Suspension from the Association

Suspension from the Association due to improper conduct or other justifiable reasons may be made after notification 30 days prior to a fair and just hearing before the members of the Association. A majority vote of the Association will be necessary for suspension Any suspended member may apply for re-admission after 30 days following said suspension,

Article X: Quorum

All voting member fire departments present will constitute a quorum at all scheduled and duly notified special meetings, and may act on all business of the Association except that which pertains to bylaw changes or suspension from the Association.

Article XI: Bylaw Changes

Bylaws can be amended or changed by written notification to all voting member fire departments a minimum of 60 days prior to voting upon, and having an open discussion at a regular meeting 30 days minimum prior to the voting meeting. At the regular meeting 30 days prior to voting, changes or corrections may be made and republished. Bylaw changes must be made by 2/3 of all voting member fire departments in good standing

These Bylaws were revised on January 27, 1998. All revisions made became effective immediately.