Last updated: 11/15/96

UNF SNA

University of North Florida

Student Nurses Association

Bylaws 1996 - 1997

District #35

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of this organization shall be the University of North Florida Student Nurses' Association, a constituent of National Student Nurses' Association, here-in-after referred to as the UNF SNA.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE AND FUNCTION

Section 1. The purpose of the UNF SNA is:

(a) To aid in the preparation of nursing students for the assumption of professional responsibilities.

(b) To aid in the development of the whole person, and his/her responsibility for the health care of people in all walks of life.

(c) To provide programs representative of fundamental and current professional interests and concerns.

Section 2. The functions of the UNF SNA include the following:

(a) To provide a professional organization at the local level to nursing students and to encourage participation in meetings and activities of the association.

(b) To promote collaborative relationships with the American Nurses' Association, the National League for Nursing, the International Council of Nurses, and their constituents, as well as with other nursing and student nursing related health organizations.

(c) To stimulate interest on and understanding of the programs of Florida League for Nursing, and Florida Nurses' Association.

(d) To serve as a channel of communication between the nursing students' organization and the various state and national units.

(e) To participate as an active constituent of the National and Florida Student Nurses Associations, through duly elected officers.

(f) To promote and encourage participation in community affairs and activities toward improved health care and the resolution of related social issues.

(g) To speak for nursing students to the public , institutions, and governmental bodies, and to influence health care, nursing education, and practice through appropriate legislative activities.

(h) To promote and encourage student participation in interdisciplinary activities.

(i) To have direct input into standards of nursing education and influence the educational process.

(j) To promote and encourage recruitment efforts, participate in student activities, and educational opportunities regardless of person's race, color, creed, sex, lifestyle, national origin, and/or economic status.

ARTICLE III

CHAPTER

Section 1.

(a) 1. The UNF SNA consists of a minimum of fifteen (15) members.

1. The SNA application must be submitted annually and can

be submitted at the Annual Convention site during the delegate credentialing process for the Annual House of Delegates meeting, the application may be sent to the NSNA on a date postmarked no later than 10 working days after the close of the House of Delegates meeting of the same year.

Section 2. Meetings of the UNF SNA shall be scheduled bi- weekly from September through May, with the exception of December in which one will be scheduled. Times and places of these meetings is to be determined by the executive committee, which shall also meet monthly as deemed necessary.

Section 3. Special meetings of the UNF SNA may be called by the executive committee with five (5) days notice.

Section 4. All meetings of the UNF SNA shall be open to any active member, to special guests, and its consultants.

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERS

Section 1. Associate members shall be pre-nursing students and shall have all the privileges of membership except the right to hold the offices of president or vice-president at the state and/or national levels.

Section 2. Active and associate membership may be extended six (6) months beyond completion of a student's program in nursing. Sustaining membership shall be renewable annually.

Section 3.

(a) 1. The annual dues shall be $40.00 (total dues including NSNA and state) per member, payable for the appropriate dues year. The dues year shall be a period of twelve (12) months.

2. Payment of national, state, and local dues (if any), are prerequisite for membership in the UNF SNA of FSNA.

NSNA dues shall be.....$30.00 per member

State dues shall be....$10.00 per member

School dues shall be...$ 0.00 per member

3. Total (NSNA and state) dues shall be directly payable to NSNA. NSNA shall remit to each state constituent. School dues, if any, shall be collected separately.

4. Any member who fails to pay current dues shall forfeit all privileges of membership.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of the UNF SNA shall be President,

First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary, and

Treasurer.

Section 2.

(a) Only members who shall be nursing students throughout the full term of office and have the privileges of active membership shall be eligible for the office shall be eligible for the offices of President, First Vice-President, and Second Vice-President.

(b) Associate members may hold any office except that of President, First Vice-President, or Second Vice-President.

Section 3. The term of office shall be one (1) year from the meeting in which officers are elected.

Section 4.

(a) Officers shall deliver to their successors all records, papers, or property belonging to the UNF SNA, in proper order, no later than the close of the annual meeting.

(b) In the event that any officer fail to satisfactorily perform the duties of their office, official notification shall be sent to that officer and the academic advisor / consultant.

Section 5. The President shall:

(a) Preside at all meetings of the UNF SNA and of the executive committee.

a. Appoint special committees with the approval of the executive

committee.

b. Serve as ex-officio member of all committees.

c. Represent the UNF SNA in all matters relating to the FSNA,

the NSNA, and other official relationships.

(e) Hold committee meetings deemed appropriate.

(f) Function as the resource person for the committee chairs.

(g) Perform all other duties pertaining to this office.

Section 6. The First Vice-President shall:

(a) In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of President, the First Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President. In the event of a vacancy in the office of First Vice-President, the vacancy would be filled by presidential appointment, for the remainder of the term, by the executive committee and with the advice of the consultants.

(b) Assist the chairperson of the Committee on Bylaws who will make revisions to the UNF SNA bylaws, as necessary after the annual meeting.

(c) Submit a set of revised UNF SNA bylaws to FSNA. Set a deadline date for submitting revised UNF SNA bylaws to be the same as the cut-off date for FSNA constituency.

(d) Assist the President.

(e) Perform all other duties pertaining to this office.

Section 7. The Second Vice-President shall:

(a) In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of Second Vice-President, the vacancy would be filled by presidential appointment, for the remainder of the term, by the executive committee and with the advice of the consultants.

(b) Assist the chairperson of the Committee on Programs.

(c) Assist the president.

(d) Perform all other duties pertaining to this office.

Section 8. The Secretary shall:

(a) Prepare the minutes of all the business meetings of the UNF SNA.

(b) Inform NSNA and the state association of all current programs and activities and provide up-to-date names and addresses of chapter officers to the FSNA regional director.

(c) Type the minutes of each meeting following chapter format including attendance, quorum, committee reports, old business, new business, announcements, and assignments.

(d) At each meeting, read the minutes of the previous meeting.

(e) Refer to duly appointed committees the necessary records for proper performance of their duties.

(f) Keep attendance records.

(g) Generate and maintain as permanent record, all correspondence.

(h) Include in the minutes the date of the next board meeting.

(i) Assist the chairperson of the Committee on Membership.

(j) Cosign-sign with the President, when the need arises, all documents concerning UNF SNA business.

(k) Compile a current list of UNF SNA membership.

(l) Perform all other duties pertaining to this office.

Section 9. The Treasurer shall:

(a) Be responsible and accountable for maintenance of UNF chapter funds.

(b) Be responsible for the assurance of two signatures from the executive committee on all checks.

(c) With the approval of the executive committee, be able to spend the amount of less than $20.00 monthly, for operational costs, without the approval of the UNF membership.

(d) Prepare an annual line item budget.

(e) Have the authority to spend designated amounts on the line items in the budget.

(f) Have an annual report available to the general membership.

(g) Assist the chairperson of the Committee on Fundraising.

(h) Perform all other duties pertaining to this office.

Section 10. All officers shall be required to attend ACSOP meetings on a rotational basis.

Section 1. The officers of the UNF SNA shall be elected in November, after State Convention, with turnover held in December.

Section 2. All elections shall be decided by ballot. A plurality vote shall elect. A tie vote shall be decided by a revote, and then, if necessary, by casting a lot.

Section 3. Graduating seniors are free to nominate, but may cast no ballots, for the election of the officers the following year.

Section 1. The officers of the UNF SNA and committee chairpersons shall constitute the executive committee.

Section 2. The consultants shall serve on this committee as ex- official members without a vote.

Section 3. The executive committee shall transact business of the UNF SNA between meetings of the chapter and shall report such transactions at the next scheduled meeting.

Section 4. The executive committee shall have the power to fill vacancies in any office except the office of president.

Section 5. The executive committee may select the member(s) of the UNF SNA who will serve as official delegate(s) to the annual FSNA convention.

Section 6. The executive committee, along with all other members to the UNF SNA, shall approve expenditures and the budget.

Section 7. The executive committee shall perform all other duties as may be specified in the bylaws.

Section 8. Any member of the executive committee absent for two (2) meetings, as deemed unexcused by the remainder of the executive committee, shall be replaced by appointment according to these bylaws.

Section 1. The consultants shall be two (2) faculty members who are representatives of the Florida Nurses' Association.

Section 2. The consultants shall counsel and advise the officers and members of the UNF SNA as the need arises.

Section 1. Standing committees shall be composed of members of the UNF SNA and shall assume such duties as are assigned by the President and specified by the bylaws.

Section 2. The standing committees shall report to the President on what is being presented prior to each meeting.

Section 3. There shall be the following standing committees, which shall consist of members, each appointed by the chairperson for the respective committee, and subject to approval of the executive committee (with the exception of the Committee on Nominations).

(a) Committee on Bylaws

(b) Committee on Mentoring

(c) Committee on Membership

(d) Committee on Fundraising

(e) Committee on Programs

(f) Committee on Nominations

(g) Committee on Public Relations

(h) Committee on RN to BSN bridge students

Section 4. The chairpersons of the standing committees may attend the executive meetings.

Section 5. The Committee on Bylaws shall:

(a) Consist of a chairperson, who shall be directly responsible to the executive committee, and members.

(b) Receive suggestions for amendments to these bylaws.

(c) Submit all proposed amendments to the executive committee and the UNF SNA for review and approval.

Section 6. The Committee on Mentoring shall:

(a) Consist of a chairperson, who shall be directly responsible to the executive committee, and members.

(b) Assist the chairperson in the planning of a mentoring program, which should consist of a one-on-one relationship between a junior and a senior, to provide information and resources.

(c) Submit all plans for the program to the executive committee for approval and to be voted on by the active membership.

Section 7. The Committee on Membership shall:

(a) Consist of a chairperson, who shall be directly responsible to the executive committee, and members.

(b) Assist the chairperson in the promotion and encouragement of recruiting efforts, participation in student activities, and educational opportunities.

Section 8. The Committee on Fundraising shall:

(a) Consist of a chairperson, who shall be directly responsible to the executive committee, and members.

(b) Assist the chairperson in formulating, organizing, initiating, and implementing fundraising activities.

Section 9. The Committee on Programs shall:

(a) Consist of a chairperson, who shall be directly responsible to the executive committee, and members.

(b) Assist the chairperson in the planning and coordination of programs, including speakers, location determination, agenda, menus, and further assistance as deemed appropriate.

Section 10. The committee on Nominations shall:

(a) Consist of a chairperson, who shall be directly responsible to the executive committee, and members.

(b) Shall receive and record official nomination of proposed candidates.

(c) Shall get consent of all proposed candidates either verbal or written, before placing their names on the official ballot.

(d) Duties at the annual meeting shall include:

1. Overseeing the functions of election by ballot as deemed appropriate.

2. Present the official ballot of candidates.

3. Monitor and investigate complaints of violations.

4. Present new officers.

Section 11. The Committee on Public Relations shall:

(a) Consist of a chairperson, who shall be directly responsible to the executive committee, and members.

(b) Shall take photographs of association events.

(c) Shall use the media to inform the public of association activities, including writing articles for magazines, newspapers, and calling television and radio stations with information.

Section 12. The Committee on RN to BSN bridge students shall:

(a) Consist of a chairperson (licensed RN enrolled in the UNF nursing bridge program), who shall be directly responsible to the executive committee, and members.

(b) Shall provide club information to other bridge students.

(c) Will solicit ideas / suggestions from other bridge students.

Section 13. The executive committee, at its discretion, shall establish any other committees deemed necessary to carry on the work of the UNF SNA, and determine the functions, aims, and membership of such committees.

The fiscal year of the UNF SNA shall be from December to December.

Section 1. Three (3) officers and one (1) consultant of the UNF chapter shall constitute a quorum at executive committee meetings.

Section 2. The chairperson and a majority of the standing committee members shall constitute a quorum at meetings of the standing and special committees.

Section 3. Three (3) officers, one (1) consultant, and a majority of the active membership shall constitute a quorum at UNF SNA meetings.

All meetings of the UNF SNA shall be conducted according to parliamentary law as set forth in Robert's Rules of Order - Newly Revised, where the rules apply and are not in conflict with these bylaws.

Section 1. These bylaws may be amended at the annual meeting of the UNF SNA.

Section 2. All proposed amendments shall be prepared by the Committee on Bylaws and submitted to the executive committee for approval before the annual meeting.

Section 3. Proposed amendments may be submitted to the Committee on Bylaws by any active member.

Section 4. An amendment to the bylaws shall become effective immediately upon its approval at the annual meeting, unless the amendment specified a time for its going into effect.