Constitution & By-Laws
Our chapter's Constitution and By-laws are available here.
FIRE PREVENTION ASSOCIATION OF NORTH TEXAS
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
SECTION 1. The name of this organization shall be the FIRE PREVENTION ASSOCIATION OF NORTH TEXAS, (FPANT), hereafter referred to as the Association.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
To put forth a more unified statement from the group of North Texas fire prevention personnel represented in coordinating, adopting and passing laws, codes, ordinances, local policies, and amendments regarding fire and life safety for the public welfare in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex and the state of Texas.
To identify, develop and promote the many governmental or equivalent fire prevention bureaus of North Texas.
To further educate the membership by hosting and conducting seminars and workshops, using professionals in their appropriate field of fire and life safety.
To promote a more uniform application and enforcement of codes, local amendments and standards.
To support the Uniform Fire Code and other related codes.
To undertake other endeavors incidental or desirable for the attainment of the purposes and objectives of the Association.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. The membership of the FPANT association shall consist of the following:
a. ACTIVE - Any employee of a governmental fire prevention bureau or equivalent.
b. ASSOCIATE - Any person interested in life and fire safety and the principles of enforcement, engineering, and education in fire prevention.
c. HONORARY LIFETIME - Any person who has been nominated in writing by an active member to the chairperson of the Board of Directors for acceptance and with approval by the membership by majority vote.
d. RETIRED ACTIVE - Any person, previously an active member, upon retirement from their department or organization.
SECTION 2. The membership shall be entitled to participate in committees, meetings, and discussions.
SECTION 3. Each governmental agency shall be entitled to one vote on all matters. Active members must make and second all motions.
ARTICLE IV
DUES
SECTION 1. Each member shall be assessed annual dues. No person shall be assessed dues in more than one category.
SECTION 2. Dues will be due on the first day of January of each year, and if not paid before February 28, will become delinquent. Any active member whose dues are delinquent shall forfeit their voting rights. Those rights may be re-established upon payment of dues. Non-voting members who are delinquent shall be removed from the membership roles.
SECTION 3. Dues for each membership classification shall be as follows:
a. $20.00 for active members, $200 maximum per agency.
b. $50.00 for associate members,
c. $10.00 for retired active members,
d. No dues for honorary lifetime members.
SECTION 4. Dues shall not be pro-rated.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
SECTION 1. There shall be three officers and three directors selected from the active membership.
a. Officers shall consist of President, Vice-president, and Secretary/Treasurer, to be elected annually by majority vote of active members present at each November meeting, to take office in January of the following year. Nominees should have previously served on an FPANT committee for at least one year. Officers shall not serve more than two consecutive terms for each office, but are not limited to repeat offices.
b. The Board of Directors shall consist of three active members, retired active members, or honorary lifetime members to be elected by a majority vote of active members present at each November meeting, to take office in January of the following year.
SECTION 2. The elected officers and directors shall make up the Board of Governors.
SECTION 3. Vacancies in elected offices shall be filled by a majority vote of the active members. The Secretary/Treasurer office shall be filled by a majority vote of the Board of Governors.
SECTION 4. An officer shall be removed at any time he no longer qualifies as an active member or by a majority vote of the membership at any regular meeting. A Director shall be removed at any time he or she no longer qualifies for the position or by majority vote of the membership at any regular meeting.
ARTICLE VI
DUTIES OF ASSOCIATION OFFICERS
SECTION 1. The President shall preside over all meetings and perform other duties as prescribed by the Board of Governors and the membership.
SECTION 2. The Vice-President shall preside over all meetings and perform other duties as prescribed by the Board of Governors and the membership in the absence of the President.
SECTION 3. The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep complete records of all proceedings and actions that transpire at all meetings, collect funds due and pay all bills of the Association, and perform other duties as prescribed by the Board of Governors and the membership.
SECTION 4. Directors shall act as advisors to the officers in executive committee meetings and vote on matters that are brought before the Board of Governors for a vote. The Directors shall act as the finance committee for the Association and shall review the financial records of the Secretary/Treasurer and verify the annual report to the membership.
ARTICLE VII
MEETINGS
SECTION 1. Regular meetings shall be held at a time and place designated by the membership. The business of the Association shall be transacted at regular scheduled meetings. Parliamentary procedures defined in “Robert’s Rules of Order” shall govern the Association.
SECTION 2. Emergency meetings may be called by the President/Vice-President when proper notification of 50% of the membership has been made by mail or telephone. The declaration of the emergency must be stated in the minutes of the meeting and the emergency items shall be the only items officially discussed and voted on at the emergency meeting.
SECTION 3. Association training meetings should be held at least quarterly.
SECTION 4. A quorum for any regular scheduled meeting shall consist of at least two attending officers and twelve active members.
SECTION 5. Committees shall be appointed by the President and shall meet as required to conduct the business of the Association.
ARTICLE VIII
EXPENDITURES
SECTION 1. The Secretary/Treasurer shall have the authority to commit funds and approve individual expenditures up to $250, but not to exceed a cumulative total of 30% of the treasury in any one quarter.
SECTION 2. The President shall have the authority to commit funds and approve expenditures up to $500, but not to exceed a cumulative total of 50% of the treasury in any one quarter.
SECTION 3. The Board of Governors shall have the authority to commit funds and approve expenditures up to $1,000, but not to exceed a cumulative total of 50% of the treasury in any one quarter.
SECTION 4. The membership, by a majority vote of the members present and voting, shall have the authority to commit funds and approve expenditures for any amount, not to exceed 100% of the treasury at the time of the commitment provided, however, that the treasury shall in no event be depleted below a balance of $50.
ARTICLE X
POLICY
SECTION 1. UNETHICAL CONDUCT - Any member using this Association for personal or monetary gain may be removed by a majority vote of the members present and voting at any regular meeting. The Vice-President shall investigate any written allegations of unethical conduct and report the findings to the membership. The person charged shall be furnished a copy of the written allegations and have the right to appear before the Association and address the allegations, prior to any vote.
SECTION 2. POLITICAL - The Association shall remain non-political in nature and will not endorse any candidate or party for office. However, the Association may support any action or legislation that the Association deems necessary and serves in the public interest for the enhancement of fire and life safety.
SECTION 3. The Association will continue to operate as a cooperative organization with members from fire service resource organizations and the public at large. The Association will work with other professional associations and organizations regarding the improvement of fire and life safety codes, laws, ordinances and local policy.
SECTION 4. ENDORSEMENT - The Association shall not endorse any products, materials, machines or companies.
ARTICLE X
AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION
SECTION 1. All proposed changes to the Constitution and By-Laws of this Association must be presented to the Board of Governors in written form.
SECTION 2. The proposed change will be read to the membership and voted on at the next regular meeting. Changes to the Constitution and By-Laws cannot be presented at an emergency meeting.
SECTION 3. All proposed changes to the Constitution and By-Laws require a two-thirds majority vote of the members present and voting at the regular meeting.
ARTICLE XI
TAX-EXEMPT STATUS
SECTION 1. In accordance with the provision of the Internal Revenue Service, the following articles are hereby added as required for the purpose of tax-exempt status:
(a) The Fire Prevention Association of North Texas is organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
(b) No part of the net earnings of the Association shall insure the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, trustees, officers, or to other private persons, except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II. No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation. The Association shall not participate in or intervene in, any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding and other provision of these articles, the Association shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
(c) Upon dissolution of the Association, remaining assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or, to a state or local government for public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of, shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the Association is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
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