Proposed 2005 Bylaws Changes

Arizona Nurse,  Sep 2005  

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Members of the Bylaws Committee

Susan Bonefas, RN, BSN, Med, Chair

Jerry Metzler, RN, MS(N), MAEd

Brenda Morris, RN, MS, EdD, AzNA Board Liaison

LoAnn Bell, RN, MS

Carol Smith, RN.C, MSN

Becki Lorimor, RN, MSN

Over the past biennium the bylaws committee reviewed and approved the new bylaws for Chapter 6, Nurse Educator Chapter, updated the sample bylaws for chapters, and prepared the following proposed changes for the membership. The current AzNA Bylaws are available at www.aznurse.org. Go to About AzNA and and click on Bylaws.

Proposed Bylaws Revisions

Members in attendance at AzNA's Convention will have the opportunity to vote on the proposed revisions to the AzNA Bylaws. The proposed revisions are suggested or required to be in compliance with ANA Bylaws and AzNA's new relationship with the Center for American Nurses (Center):

1. Defines requirement that AzNA membership (and not just the board) votes on disaffiliation from ANA.

2. Clarifying AzNA's relationship with ANA and Center (Center for American Nurses). The Center was established in a 2003 ANA Bylaws change as an associate organization member of ANA. The Center is the workplace advocacy associate organizational member of ANA and offers an array of services, products, and programs that support individual nurses to help them address their workplace challenges through policy, research, advocacy, education, and communications. The proposed AzNA Bylaws changes related to Center are found in Articles I, III, IV, and V and codify the relationship between AzNA and the Center.

Arizona Nurses Association Bylaws 2005

Article I

Title and Functions

secTIONl. NAME

The name of this Association shall be the Arizona Nurses Association (AzNA).

secTION 2. PURPOSE

The purpose of AzNA shall be to foster high standards of nursing practice, promote the professional and educational advancement of nurses, and promote the welfare of nurses to the end that all people may have better nursing care. These purposes and the membership of AzNA shall be unrestricted in accordance with ANA bylaws.

secTIONS. FUNCTIONS

The functions of AzNA shall include the following:

a. to promote through appropriate means standards of nursing practice, nursing education, and nursing services as defined by the American Nurses Association (ANA),

b. to promote legislation and speak for nurses in regard to legislative action,

c. to promote and protect the economic and general welfare of nurses,

d. to provide for the continuing professional development of registered nurses,

e. to approve and provide continuing education for nurses,

f. to represent nurses and serve as their state spokesman with allied professional, community and governmental groups and with the public,

g. to provide for representation in the ANA House of Delegates and the Center for American Nurses (Center) Membership Council,

h. to promote relationships with the Student Nurses' Association of Arizona (SNAAZ),

i. to promote nursing as a career,

j. to assume an active role as consumer advocate,

k. to maintain communication with members through official publications,

l. to provide due process policies for grievances and appeals related to these bylaws, pursuant to common parliamentary and statutory law.

Article II

Chapters

SECTION 1. DEFINITION

Groups of nurses who are members of the Arizona Nurses Association which have been or hereafter may be organized, whose bylaws are in harmony with the bylaws of this association and have been approved by the majority vote of the board of directors (board) of this association shall be recognized as chapters.

SECTION 2. PURPOSE

The purpose and function of each chapter shall be clearly defined and recorded by the board of this association. These purposes and functions may be changed by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the board provided such change has been previously approved by each chapter concerned and are congruent with the purposes and functions of AzNA.

secTIONS. DUTIES

a. It shall be the duty of each chapter of AzNA:

1. to require that all its members have the qualifications specified in Article III, section 2 of bylaws,

2. to send to the secretary of AzNA, the names and addresses of all officers and other members of the board of directors of the chapter immediately following their election or appoint ment,

1. to confer with the Committee on Bylaws of AzNA before adopting any proposed amendments to its bylaws,

2. to adopt and maintain bylaws consistent with the bylaws of this association and keep this association supplied with complete and up-to-date copies of the same,

3. to suggest names of candidates for AzNA ballot and to send the names of these members with addresses to the Committee on Appointments/Nominations,

4. if unincorporated chapter, to submit a full financial report to AzNA Treasurer annually by January 31, and to obtain co-signature from AzNA Executive Director for any contract.

b. A chapter which fails to comply with the requirements of these bylaws, or for other cause deemed sufficient, may be disqualified as a chapter of AzNA by a unanimous vote of the board provided due notice has been given the chapter at least three months before the vote is taken.