Article I
Name
The Organization shall be known as the New Hampshire Organization
of Nurse Leaders (hereafter referred to as the “Organization.”) This organization
is affiliated with the American Organization of Nurse Executives of the American
Hospital Association as a local chapter.
Article II
Purpose and Objectives
Section 1:
Vision:
Develop a network of nursing leaders who will speak with
a single voice and be catalysts for partnerships that impact and change health care
delivery systems.
Mission:
New Hampshire Organization of Nurse Leaders is a group
of leadership professionals whose mission is to shape health care delivery systems
and create positive work environments through innovative leadership, public advocacy,
and leadership development.
Section 2
The Organization is established with the endorsement of
the New Hampshire Hospital Association (hereafter referred to as the “Association”)
and is organized for scientific and educational purposes and not for profit. It shall be conducted so that no part
of its income or earnings will inure to the benefit of any member, officer, or other
individual, or in any way endanger the exempt status of the Association, under Sec
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or a successor statutory authority, as determined
by the Executive committee of the Organization.
Article III
Powers
Section 1:
The Organization membership shall have all powers granted
to it by these Bylaws and shall establish its own program.
Section 2:
The power to administer the business of the Organization
shall be vested in the Executive Committee to be elected by the membership of the
Organization as herein provided.
Section 3:
The President or designee of the Organization shall represent
the Organization to the Association Board.
Article IV
Membership
Section 1:
Eligibility
Full Members:
Registered nurses holding a formal or informal leadership role in their organization
who are accountable for strategic, operational, and/or management outcomes in sites
where health care is delivered; faculty in nursing programs, including deans and
directors; consultants in nursing administration/management practice; editors of
professional nursing journals; and retired NHONL members.
Associate members*:
Registered nurses who are students enrolled in a relevant program with a career
path or interest in nursing leadership; nursing students with an interest
in nursing leadership. Annual dues
may be decreased for student members.
*Associate members may attend NHONL business and
educational meetings, but will not be permitted to vote in the meetings of, hold
office in, or vote for elected offices of the NHONL.
Institutional associate members*: Each institution may
hold institutional associate membership.
This allows the institution to send any two staff members to attend each
meeting on a rotational basis. To accomplish
this, the institution must have at least one full member current.
The cost will be double the annual dues.
Liaison Members:
The Executive Committee may extend a liaison membership to a representative
of any health care organization whose participation would further the mission and
vision of NHONL. Recommendations for
liaison memberships may be submitted by NHONL members as part of the annual membership
renewal process. Annual dues will be
waived for liaison members. Liaison
members may include: NHBON, NHHA, NHNA, NHFMA staff.
Section 2:
Establishment of Membership
An individual who 1) meets membership criteria , 2) has
submitted a formal application, and 3) has paid membership dues will become a member.
Any person who, because of change in position, is no longer
eligible for the membership he/she holds, can continue to hold that level of membership
to the end of the period for which dues have been paid.
Section 3:
Termination of membership
Resignation:
A member may, at any time, submit a resignation from the organization in writing
to the Executive Committee. It shall
become effective immediately unless otherwise indicated.
Loss of eligibility:
Membership of any person who, because of change in position, does not meet
the criteria for membership in the NHONL, shall be automatically
terminated at the end of the year for which dues have been paid.
Dues not current:
Any member who is not current within 90 days of the dues deadline (April 1st
for renewing members) is considered resigned and will incur immediate loss of membership.
Article V
Dues and Other Monies
Section 1:
The annual dues for membership in the Organization shall
be established by the membership.
Section 2:
All dues paid to the Organization shall become the property
of the Organization to be spent with approval by the general membership and/or the
Executive Committee. No portion of
the dues paid by any member shall be refundable.
Section 3:
The Organization may accept, retain, or expend any funds
or property that may be donated to further the work of programs of the Organization.
Section 4:
Membership dues run from January to December.
Article VI
Meetings
Section 1:
There shall be ten scheduled meetings per year with a
minimum of eight meetings held for the transaction of the business and affairs of
the Organization. The time and place
of these meetings shall be designated by the Executive Committee.
The process for the purpose of electing officers, shall be determined by
the Executive Committee.
Section 2:
Special Meetings:
Additional meetings may be called by the Executive Committee of the Organization.
Section 3:
Notice of Meetings:
The Secretary shall notify the membership of meetings no less than fifteen (15)
days prior to the day designated.
Section 4:
Order of Business:
The business agenda for meetings shall be provided by the President of President-Elect
and/or as requested and directed by the membership.
Section 5:
Voting: Voting
shall be limited to full members in good standing.
Section 6:
Quorum: Thirty
percent (30%) of voting members of the Organization shall constitute a quorum at
any meeting duly convened. Matters
submitted to vote shall be determined by a majority of eligible voting members.
Article VII
Officers
Section 1:
Eligibility:
Each elected officer of the Organization must be a full member of the Organization
and a member of AONE.
Section 2:
Officers:
The Officers of the Organization shall be a President, President-Elect, Treasurer,
and Secretary who shall be elected by the members of the Organization.
Section 3:
Election and Term:
A. President-Elect shall be elected on a biennial basis. Each President-Elect will
serve a term of six years; first and second year as President-Elect; third and fourth
year as President; fifth and sixth year as Past President.
B. Secretary shall be elected every
two years on the even years.
C. Treasurer shall be elected every
two years on the odd years.
Section 5:
Duties:
A. President:
The President is the Chief Officer of the organization. The President supervises and directs the
activities of the Organization. The
President leads the Organization toward the development of the strategic plan. It is the responsibility of the President
to lead the Executive Committee and members toward constructive goals.
Responsibilities
of the President:
1. Possesses a working knowledge of the Organization’s
structure and communicates the Organization’s progress to the general membership.
2. Presides
at all meetings of the general membership.
Facilitates communication regarding state, regional and national nursing and healthcare
issues.
3. Presides at
all meetings of the Executive Committee.
4. Schedules meetings
as necessary.
5. Formulates
the agenda for all meetings.
6. Appoints all
committee chairpersons.
7. Serves as an
ex-officio member of all standing committees.
8. Assures records
of the Organization are maintained as necessary.
9. Facilitates
communication of nursing issues and AONE information through general meetings and
publications.
10. Acts as a
spokesperson for NHONL.
11. Performs other responsibilities as designated by the Organization.
12. Serves as
the liaison to the New Hampshire Hospital Association.
B. President
Elect:
The President-Elect is the member of the Executive Committee
who provides continuity
in leadership of the Organization.
The President-Elect should be prepared to perform the duties of the President
in the absence of the President or the President’s inability to act.
Responsibilities
of the President-Elect:
1. Works
collaboratively with the President throughout his/her term of office to prove for
continuity of leadership.
2. Serves as a
Legislative Liaison and, as such, serves on the Legislative Committee.
3. Performs such
other duties as the President may assign.
C. Secretary:
The secretary facilitates open communication between the
Executive Committee, committees, the membership and the community.
The secretary will provide continuity of proceedings through
record keeping of all official activities.
Responsibilities
of the Secretary:
1. Prepares
a secretary’s report for presentation at each business meeting.
2. Publishes
the yearly calendar of regular meetings.
3. Assures
that the Organization’s communication tools are current and, as such, serves on
the Communication and Membership Committee.
4. Maintains
all official records of the Organization, including Bylaws, financial reports, and
minutes of meetings.
5. Maintains,
in conjunction with the treasurer, a current committee and membership roster, and
distributes same to all members as necessary.
D. Treasurer:
The treasurer supervises all the financial transactions
and maintains all financial records of the Organization.
Responsibilities
of the Treasurer:
1. Reviews
finances for the past year with the outgoing treasurer to prepare for the coming
year.
2.
Prepares a treasurer’s report for presentation at each business meeting.
3. Collects
annual dues from members and maintains accurate financial records.
4. Formulates
an annual budget for the fiscal year, in consultation with the Executive Committee.
5.
Maintains an up-to-date membership list and distributes as needed.
6.
Maintains systematic and accurate accounting records.
E. Past
President:
The Past President is a member of the Executive Committee
and serves in a resource role to the President and Executive Committee.
Responsibilities
of the Past President:
1. Prepares the
annual slate of officers.
2. Oversees the
annual Nursing Leadership Award process.
3. Oversees the
annual Nursing Scholarship Award process.
4. Performs such
other duties as the President may assign.
Article VIII
Executive Committee
Section 1:
Eligibility:
Each member of the Executive committee shall be a full member in good standing
of the Organization and must be a member of AONE.
Section 2:
Composition:
The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Immediate
Past President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 3:
Duties: The
Executive Committee shall have the duty and authority to:
1.
Conduct the business of the Organization.
2.
Make policy decisions for the Organization, subject to any revision
by the membership
at any membership meetings.
3.
To approve or disapprove reports, resolutions or actions of the officers
and
committees.
The Executive Committee shall review the Bylaws annually
and recommend changes as necessary to meet the objectives of the Organization.
The Executive Committee is charged with ensuring strategic
plan development for the Organization and the translation of this plan into goals
for appropriate committees. All committees
are accountable to the Executive Committee in accomplishing this strategic plan. Committee chairs may be invited to meetings
with the Executive Committee to facilitate collaboration and communication.
Section 4:
Meetings: The Executive Committee of the Organization
may be called to meet by the President.
Section 5:
Vacancies:
If the Office of President becomes vacant, the President-Elect shall succeed to
the Office of President. He/she shall
continue to serve as President for the remainder of the term.
If the Office of President Elect, Secretary, or Treasurer
shall become vacant, the Executive committee shall appoint a pro tempore officer
who will serve until an election is held at the next general meeting of the membership.
Section 6:
Quorum: A
quorum shall consist of no less than three members of the Executive Committee.
Article IX
Committees
The Organization accomplishes it’s strategic plan through
a committee structure charged by the Executive Committee.
Annually, the President and the President-Elect appoints
a chair for the committees.
The chairperson and/or the President will then appoint committee members.
Additional and specific changes may come from the Executive Committee.
The standing committees of the Organization include: Education,
Legislative and Communications & Membership.
Other committees may be appointed as needed for specific situations.
Responsibilities of the Committee Chairperson(s):
1.
Prepares agendas for committee meetings.
2.
Presides at committee meetings.
3. Assures
that activities and progress of the committee meetings are recorded and distributed
to committee members, Executive Committee and general membership quarterly.
4. Attends Executive
Committee meetings to review committee plans as required.
5. Provides the
Treasurer with a proposed committee budget for the upcoming year.
Maintains record of purchases and expenditures for the fiscal year and submits
these to the Treasurer/Executive Committee.
Responsibilities of each Committee:
Plan, implement and evaluate projects related to the Organization’s
strategic plan.
Article X
Amendments
Section 1:
These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the
defined quorum. Notice of amendments
proposed by Members of the Organization shall be sent to the Secretary not less
than thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting.
Such amendments to the bylaws may be proposed by petition of at least five
(5) members of the Organization in good standing.
The Executive Committee may present proposed amendments
to the membership without prior notice.
Amendments to the Bylaws that are approved by the membership shall become effective
as designated therein.
Article XI
Dissolution
Should a quorum of members elect that dissolution of the
chapter is necessary, the remaining monies will be donated to the American Organization
of Nurse Executives (AONE).
NHONL Bylaws
(Revised 9/92, 12/95, 3/99, 2/2002, 8/2003, 11/2006, 3/2009)
NHONLbylaws.rtf