Constitution

Article I - Name

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the North Dakota Public Health Association, hereinafter referred to as the Association.

Article II - Purpose and Objectives

Section 1. The objectives of this Association are to protect and promote personal, public, and environmental health; to bring together persons interested in public health for the purpose of fostering a better understanding of public health problems and practices and to facilitate the interchange of ideas relating to methods for the solution of these problems and for assaying the value of public health practices in the state; to provide for scientific advancement of members; and to aid in the promotion of state and local legislation in the interest of public health with particular focus on the interrelationship between health and the quality of life.

Article III - Membership

There are four classes of membership in the Association

Section 1. Active Member - Any person who is interested in the advancement of public health is eligible for active membership in the Association upon payment of annual dues.

Section 2. Honorary Member - Any person may be elected by the Governing Council as an honorary member for their distinguished service in public health.

Section 3. Student Member - Any person engaged in full time study will be eligible for student membership in the Association upon payment of annual dues.

Section 4. Life Member - Any person who has been a paid-up member for ten continuous years immediately preceding retirement from full-time gainful employment will automatically be eligible for life membership.

Article IV - Officers

Section 1. The officers of the Association shall be a President, President-elect, Vice-president, and Secretary/Treasurer.

Section 2. All officers, except the Secretary/Treasurer, shall be elected for one year terms or until their successors are elected. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be elected for a two-year term. Officers shall begin their duties at the end of the annual general membership meeting at which they are elected.

Section 3. The President, President-elect, Vice-president and Secretary/Treasurer shall perform those duties commonly understood to be connected with these positions.

Section 4. The Governing Council shall fill any vacancy, other than that in the office of President or President-elect by appointment for the remaining unexpired term. When a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the President-elect shall at once succeed to the office of President, filling the unexpired term, at the end of which time he/she shall succeed to the office of President by virtue of his/her election as President-elect.

Article V - Governing Council

Section 1. The Governing Council shall consist of the officers of the Association, the past president, the ARGC, one representative from each section of the Association, and the Historian, and the Chair of the Conference Planning Committee.

Section 2. The Governing Council shall have full power in all matters demanding action between meetings of the Association and shall submit a report of all such actions taken. The Governing Council shall appoint the program chairman for the annual meeting of the Association.

Section 3. The Governing Council shall study proposed amendments to the Constitution and By-laws before submission to the Association membership and shall present its recommendations.

Section 4. The Governing Council shall hold at least four regular meetings each year, one immediately preceding the annual meeting and one immediately following the annual meeting. Special meetings may be called by the President, or by a petition of twenty-five percent of the Governing Council.

Section 5. A majority of the members of the Governing Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Article VI - Affiliate Representation

Section 1. The Association's Affiliate Representative to the Governing Council (ARCG) representative to of the American Public Health Association (APHA) shall be appointed by the President to a three year term the President-elect. The representative must be a member of the American Public Health Association.

Article VII - Historian

Section 1. The Historian shall be elected by the membership for a term of two years. The term of office shall begin following the annual general membership meeting at which elected.

Article VIII - Amendments

Section 1. This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at the annual meeting provided that written notice of proposed amendments shall have been submitted to the membership at least thirty days prior to the said annual meeting.

Article IX - Effective Date

Section 1. The present Constitution as revised becomes effective after the close of the annual meeting by adoption of the recommended revisions.

By-Laws

Article I – Powers and Restrictions

Section 1.  The North Dakota Public Health Association may exercise all the rights powers, and privileges now or hereafter conferred upon nonprofit corporations organized under and pursuant to the laws of the state of North Dakota.  The Association may not carry on any activities or perform functions not permitted to be carried on or performed by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code (or the corresponding provision of any future federal Internal Revenue law).

Article II – General Membership Meeting

Section 1.  There shall be an annual meeting to be held at a time and place selected by the Governing Council.  Special meetings may be called at the discretion of the Governing Council or a petition of twenty-five percent of the membership.

Section 2.  Twenty members present and voting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, at either an annual meeting or a special meeting.

Section 3.  All business sessions of the Association shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised.  A parliamentarian may be appointed by the President. 

Article III – Officers

Section 1.  The President of the Association shall:

1. Serve as the official representative of the Association to the public or private agencies or individuals with which the Association interacts;
2. Advance the purposes, objectives and policies of this Association through every appropriate means possible;
3. Preside at the Annual Meeting of the Association and at all meetings of the Governing Council;
4. Make such appointments and fill such vacancies as are provided for by the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association;
5. Succeed to the office of Immediate Past-President as provided in these By-Laws;
6. Perform such duties as may be provided for in the Constitution and By-Laws or by the actions or resolutions of the general membership at an Annual Meeting or the Governing Council of the Association.

Section 2.  The President-Elect of the Association shall:

1. Preside at meetings in the absence of the President;
2. Represent the Association in the absence of the President;
3. Serve as a member of the Governing Council of the Association;
4. Succeed to the office of President, and Immediate Past-President as provided in these By-Laws;
5. Perform such duties as may be requested by the President of the Association.

Section 3.  The Vice President of the Association shall:

1. Serve as a member of the Governing Council of the Association;
2. Succeed to the offices of President-Elect, President, and Immediate Past-President as provided in these By-Laws;
3. Perform such duties as requested by the President of the Association.

Section 4.  The Immediate Past President of the Association shall:

1. Serve as a member of the Governing Council of the Association;
2. Serve as a consultant to the President of the Association;
3. Perform such duties as may be requested by the President of the Association.

Section 5.  The Secretary/Treasurer of the Association shall:

1. Maintain records of meetings of the Association and Governing Council;
2. Monitor the fiscal affairs of the Association, under the direction of the Governing Council;
3. Provide reports and interpretations of the Association’s financial condition as may be required to the Governing Council and the membership;
4. Perform such duties as may be prescribed by these By-Laws, the Governing Council, or may be requested by the President;
5. Send dues notice to the membership.

Article IV – Committees

Section 1.  The President shall appoint a chairperson for each standing committee, and any special committee, subject to the approval of the Governing Council.

Section 2.  Standing committees shall include:  resolutions, awards, membership, audit, nominating, conference planning, and legislative.  A chairperson shall be appointed to these committees within sixty days following the end of the annual meeting.

Section 3.  The President may establish such special committees as are deemed necessary to consider subjects of interest and to report to the Governing Council.

Section 4.  Committees shall consist of a chairperson and at least two members.

Article V – Dues

Section 1.  Dues shall be recommended by the Governing Council and set by a majority vote of the members at the annual business meeting.

Section 2.  Honorary members and life members shall not be required to pay dues.

Article VI – Sections

Section 1.  The Association may be organized into sections pertaining to specific interests of Association members.  Each section shall biennially elect a chairperson.

Section 2.  A section may be created by at least ten members petitioning the Governing Council for such action.  The Governing Council shall approve or disapprove the formation of each section.

Section 3.  Each section shall be required to submit a report at the annual business meeting of the past year’s activities.  Written minutes of all meetings of sections shall be submitted to the Secretary/Treasurer.

Section 4.  A section may be dissolved by the Governing Council upon written notice of the members of the section when the need for a section no longer exits.

Section 5.  Each section shall elect a representative to serve a two-year term on the Governing Council.  These terms will be staggered, with half of the representatives elected at each annual meeting.

Article VII – Elections

Section 1.  The nominating committee shall submit a slate of candidates consisting of one nominee for each office to be filled by election at the annual meeting.  Individual nominations for each office may be received from the floor.  No name shall be presented as a candidate unless the nominee has consented to serve if elected.

Section 2.  The election shall be by voice vote, unless the office is contested.  If additional nominations are received from the floor, the election for those offices shall be conducted by written ballot with the candidate receiving the highest number of votes declared elected.

Section 3.  Each paid-up member present at the annual meeting is entitled to cast one vote for each office to be filled by election.

Article VIII – Newsletter

Section 1.  The official publication for the Association shall be the North Dakota Public Health News.  The editor shall be appointed by the Governing Council.

Article IX – Amendment of By-Laws

Section 1.  These By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any annual business meeting provided that written notice of proposed amendments shall have been submitted to the membership at least thirty days prior to the said meeting.

Article X – Executive Director

Section 1.  The Governing Council may employ an Executive Director to serve for an indefinite term.  The Executive Director may attend Governing Council meetings and report to the Council, but shall not be a member of the Council.

Section 2.  The Executive Director shall be charged with carrying out the directives, programs, and policies approved by the Governing Council, assisting the officers and committees with their duties and functions, and representing the Association as appropriate.