VHCT2 Bylaws

Veterinary Health Care Team of Connecticut
BYLAWS
(as amended, 5/13/08 and 3/4/08)
 
Article 1.
This association shall be known as the Veterinary Health Care Team of Connecticut.

Article 2.
The Veterinary Health Care Team of Connecticut is an organization of veterinary health care team members in all positions related to the veterinary profession, excluding veterinarians.  The organization's purpose is to initiate programs and/or disseminate information on improving the quality of animal health, public education, professional ethics, continuing education, government affairs, inter and intra-professional communication, membership involvement and professional growth and development.

Article 3.
The Board of Directors of this organization shall consist of 9 members including officers and Board members. The officers shall be the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Immediate Past President, elected by the Board of Directors which shall consist of 4 additional board members.  The officers and Board shall be made up of 1 front office staff, 1 managerial staff, 1 technical staff and 6 members at large. 

Article 4.
The articles of these bylaws may be changed with the approval of the majority of the Board of Directors.

Chapter 1.  Membership

Article 1.  Active Members
  Active members shall fit at least one of the following criteria:
  1. Employed in the veterinary field in a full or part-time position.
  2. Previously employed in the field within the past 18 months, with the intent to return.
  3. Person having worked in the field for a minimum of 10 years, who is now retired from the field, but plans to remain active for the purpose of this organization's goals.

Active members in good standing shall enjoy all rights and privileges of the organization including participation in meetings, voting and holding office as provided for in the bylaws.  Applicants for membership shall submit their names to the association duly vouched for by an active member, veterinarian or supervisor if requested.  The membership year shall begin March 1.

Article 2.  Students
Students currently enrolled in or who have completed any veterinary support or animal science related program within the last 18 months with the intention to join the field.  Students in good standing shall enjoy all the rights of active members and the privileges of the organization including participation in meetings, voting and holding office as provided for in the bylaws.

Article 3.  Associate Members
Allied industry representatives are eligible for associate membership.  Associate members in good standing shall enjoy all rights and privileges of the association including participation in meetings.  They may not vote or hold office.

Article 4.  Dues
The membership fee shall be as determined by the Board of Directors.  A recommended change must be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors and be publicized to the membership.  Dues are payable annually by March 1.  The association may assess all members equally such amounts as are necessary to meet current expenses as suggested by the Board of Directors. Any members in arrears shall be notified.  If dues are not paid within 60 days, membership will be suspended.
 
Chapter II.  Officers

Article 1.  General
Each officer shall meet the criteria for active membership.  The elected officers shall include a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Immediate Past President.  The terms of office shall be one year starting February 1.  Each officer shall have one vote, except for the President, who shall have no vote except in the case of a tie vote. The President can appoint a member of the Board to fill an officer vacancy until the next election is held.

Article 2. Elections
A solicitation of candidates for election to the Board of Directors will be sent to all active members in December.  Nominations are to be written and received at the association office by the requested date.  Candidates for the offices of Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary shall be nominated from the current Board of Directors by the Board of Directors.  Vacancies in the Board of Directors may be filled by the President with the approval of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors.  Appointed individuals will serve until the next election.  The Board shall be elected at a general meeting. The terms of office for members of the Board of Directors shall be for two years.  Directors may serve more than one term.

Article 3.  President
It shall be the function of the President to preside and work with the Board of Directors in formulating policy and administration.  It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meeting of the Board and to preserve order and decorum.  The President shall have no vote, except in the case of a tie vote.  The President, with the advice of the officers is responsible for appointment of committees and committee chairmen.  The President may call a meeting of any committee whenever he/she shall deem it necessary.  The President will perform other duties that properly fall upon his/her office.  The office of President succeeds automatically that of the Vice President.  The President is an ex officio member of all committees.

Article 4. Vice President
The Vice President shall be available to perform special assignments requiring the talents of a ranking officer and may assist the President and the Board of Directors as they require.  In the absence of the President, the Vice President may temporarily assume the duties and prerogatives of the office of President.  The Vice President shall assume the office of President at the appropriate time.

Article 5. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be responsible for monitoring the financial situation of the organization.  The Treasurer will report to the Board of Directors regarding the financial situation of the organization.  The Treasurer will make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding matters that affect the financial health of the organization.  The signature of the Treasurer or the Principal Staff Person to the organization shall appear on all checks.

Article 6. Secretary
The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping the minutes for meetings of the organization and shall distribute copies to all Board members.

Article 7. Immediate Past President
The Immediate Past President shall serve as a consultant to the President and a resource for information.

Article 8.  Principal Staff
The Principal Staff person of the association, employed by the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association, will serve as manager of the association.  The duties of the Principal Staff Person include but are not limited to editorship of the organization's publications, administration of the organization, management of the organization's programs and activities, and development and oversight of the organization budget.

Chapter III Board of Directors

Article 1.  Meetings of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall be the governing body of the organization.  The Board shall meet at least four times a year or at the call of the President or on written request of three members of the Board for matters pertinent to organization functions.  Any majority vote of the members present at any Board meeting shall constitute a legal vote for official business.

Article 2.  Composition of the Board
The Board of Directors shall consist of members according to Article 3.

Article 3. Duties of the Board of Directors
It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to decide upon all matters of business referred to it by the organization when in regular session or upon call of the President.  The Board of Directors may convene at any time to act upon matters that may arise which are of importance to the organization.   The Board of Directors will fill vacancies in the office of President occurring between elections by appointment. Board members must attend scheduled Board meetings or notify the President or Principal Staff of their absences.  Absent members have the right to request a conference call in to the meeting or to be contacted for voting purposes on requested topics during the meeting.  They must be reachable at the requested number or forfeit their vote.  If the matter requires no discussion on their part, a proxy may be submitted by fax or email to the President or Principal Staff.

Chapter IV.  The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall consist of President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Immediate Past President. The Principal Staff shall assist the Executive Committee in an advisory capacity but shall have no vote.  The Executive Committee will carry out and enforce the actions of the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee will assist the President in selecting the committee members and chairmen.  The Executive Committee shall be subject to all at the discretion of the President and shall be empowered to act for and exercise the duties of the Board of Directors in all matters of business occurring between scheduled Board meetings or in the event of an emergency.

Chapter V.  Committees
Standing committees shall be appointed by the Board.  Other committees may be appointed or dissolved by the Board as deemed necessary for conducting specific association projects and activities.  The committees shall function throughout the year and each chairman will give a report of the activities of their respective committee at each Board meeting.   The duties, functions and projects of each committee shall be defined, assigned and communicated to each committee chairman by the Board.

Chapter VI.  Meeting of the Organization
A regular meeting for the general membership of the organization shall be held each year.  Special meetings may be called by the President.  Every member shall observe order and decorum during meetings and give the President the respect that is due. All questions of order not provided for, whether in debate or otherwise, shall be decided by Robert's Rules of Order.  The order of business shall be prepared by the Principal Staff in consultation with the President.

Chapter VII.  Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the association shall run from March 1.

Chapter VIII.  Ethics
The Board of Directors shall conduct themselves in an ethical manner consistent with applicable Connecticut statutory law.