FAMILY COALITION FOR MEDICALLY INVOLVED CHILDREN, INC.

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I.

NAME

The name of this organization shall be Family Coalition for Medically Involved Children Incorporated and is referred to herein as the Coalition.

ARTICLE II.

PURPOSE

SECTION I. The purposes of this Coalition are:

1. We create and maintain a local network of families and
friends of children with severe cognitive, physical and/or
complex health care needs.
2. We provide mutual support.
3. We share information and resources.
4. We provide educational trainings.
5. We empower ourselves as parents to promote positive
systems change to improve the quality of life for our children.

ARTICLE III.

MEMBERSHIP

SECTION I. Any parent, guardian, or caregiver of a medically involved child shall be eligible for membership in the Family Coalition for Medically Involved Children and shall be entitled to vote.

 

SECTION II. Any interested party who is not a parent, guardian, or caregiver of a medically involved child, but who is committed to the purpose and goals of the Coalition can be a non-voting member in the general membership meetings.

ARTICLE IV.

OFFICERS

SECTION I. The officers shall be President, Treasurer and Clerk.

 

SECTION II. Any voting member of the Family Coalition for Medically Involved
Children is eligible to be an elected officer.

ARTICLE V.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION I. Board of Directors
The group of individuals that are committed to the purpose and goals of the Coalition, who are appointed by vote of the general membership shall be known as the Board of Directors (Board) of the Family Coalition for Medically Involved Children. Those individuals on the Board of Directors that are not parents, guardians, or caregivers of a medically involved child shall be non-voting members in the general membership meetings.

SECTION II. Meetings
The Board shall meet on the 4th Tuesday of January, May, and September. The meeting shall commence at 6:30PM at the Chamber of Commerce. Members of the Board shall be notified of any changes, no later than two weeks prior to the meeting by a mailed letter.

January's meeting shall be designated as the annual meeting.

The quorum at a Board meeting shall consist of seven members.

Special meetings can be called at any time by the Chairperson, a written request by the President of the Coalition to the Chairperson, or a written request by two board members. Members of the Board and general membership shall be notified, no later than one week prior to the designated date, time, and place by a mailed letter.

All Board members are to attend all meetings unless notifying the Chairperson. Members who are absent for three consecutive scheduled meetings without notifying the chairperson may be evaluated and discharged of their duties by a vote of three quarters (3/4) of the board members present at the following scheduled meeting.

SECTION III. Appointment
Any individual showing interest in the goals of the Coalition can be recommended by the President of the Coalition or the Chairperson of the Board at a regular scheduled Board meeting for approval. If approved, the request will be forwarded to the general membership for a majority vote.

Each Board member is appointed for a three-year term and may be re-appointed by the members of the Coalition.

The Coalition President, Treasurer, and Clerk shall be members of the board.

SECTION IV. Chairperson
At the annual meeting the Board members shall vote for a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson from the membership of the board. No Chairperson shall serve more than two consecutive terms.

The Chairperson shall conduct all board meetings. Vice-Chairperson shall accept all duties in the absence of the Chairperson.

SECTION V. Voting
Each Board member shall have a vote on all matters brought before the Board. If approved, it will be presented to the Coalition's general membership for their approval.

Board members that are non-members of the Coalition will not be able to vote at a Family Coalition general membership meeting.

With the approval of the Coalition's President, any subject that is voted down by the Board may be brought forward to the Coalition for vote.

SECTION VI. Duties
Duties of the Board of Directors are to set policies, raise funds, facilitate networking, advocate and affirm medically involved children and their families and form necessary committees.

ARTICLE VI.

DISMISSAL

Any officer whose actions are prejudicial to the interests of the Coalition or of medically involved children or their families may be removed from the Coalition as follows:

(1) In writing, a member may bring complaint against another member. This complaint must be submitted to the President. If the President is unavailable or is the subject of the complaint, the Clerk must be the recipient of the complaint and act in lieu of the President on the complaint. The complaint must set forth all accusations. Further, the complaint must cite any evidence which would support the accusation(s).
(2) The President must notify the accused by registered mail. Notice must be mailed within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of the complaint. The notice must clearly set forth all accusations, and any cited evidence which will be used to substantiate the accusations.
(3) Within thirty (30) calendar days from the mailing of said notice, the President must set a hearing date. If no date is set, all accusations must be resubmitted in a new complaint.
(4) Notice of the hearing date must be sent to the accused by registered mail, and no later than fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the hearing date.
(5) At the hearing, the accused must be allowed the opportunity to answer any and all accusations, and be allowed to present evidence to refute the accusations.
(6) Upon a three-fourths (3/4) vote by Coalition members present at the hearing, the accused may be removed from the Coalition. Consequently, upon removal from the Coalition all obligations and responsibilities enjoyed as being a member of the Coalition shall immediately cease.

ARTICLE VII.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

SECTION I. Meetings of the Coalition shall be held monthly on the first Tuesday at the Chamber of Commerce and will commence at 9:30 AM, unless scheduled otherwise. Notices will be sent to coalition members at least one week prior.

SECTION II. The January meeting shall be designated as the Annual Meeting.

SECTION III. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of coalition members present will be considered a majority vote.

SECTION IV. Sub-Committee meetings shall be held as needed to perform their specific function.

SECTION V. With the exception of Sub-Committee meetings, minutes of all Coalition meetings shall be recorded by the Clerk and kept confidential to the Coalition.

ARTICLE VIII.

TERMS OF OFFICE

SECTION I. Officers of President, Treasurer, and Clerk of the Coalition shall serve a one year renewable term.

SECTION II. All vacancies in the elective position shall be filled for unexpired term by the membership.

ARTICLE IX.

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

SECTION I. The President shall preside at all general membership meetings of the Coalition. He or She shall present an annual report to the Coalition at the annual meeting.

SECTION II. The Treasurer shall maintain all financial records of the Coalition. The Treasurer shall prepare monthly financial reports showing all monies received and spent. The Treasurer shall present an annual financial report to the Coalition at the annual meeting.

SECTION III. With the absence of the President, the Clerk shall preside in the general membership meetings. With the absence of both the President and Clerk, the Treasurer shall preside in the general membership meetings.

SECTION IV. With the exception of Sub-Committee meetings, the Clerk shall maintain a record of the proceedings of all meetings of the Coalition. A temporary Clerk shall be appointed by the President, to record the proceedings of any meeting in the absence of the Clerk or when the Clerk is presiding as President.

ARTICLE X.

DUTIES OF THE MEMBERS

All members, both voting and non-voting, of the Coalition will participate in carrying out the mission of the Family Coalition for Medically Involved Children as described in the Constitution.

ARTICLE XI.

ELECTIONS

SECTION I. Elections of the President, Treasurer, and Clerk of the Coalition will take place at the annual meeting.

SECTION II. A Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the membership prior to the annual meeting.

SECTION III. Nominations can be made from the floor at the annual meeting.

ARTICLE XII.

AMENDMENTS

Any proposed amendment, along with the date it is to be voted upon, shall be presented in writing to the entire membership at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting at which it is to be voted upon and a two-thirds vote of those present at the meeting is required for ratification.

ARTICLE XIII.

DISSOLUTION OF THE CORPORATION

Upon dissolution of the corporation, the Coalition shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all of the assets of the corporation exclusively for the purposes of the corporation in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, education, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.