LACKAWANNA COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCE

INTERAGENCY COUNCIL

BY-LAWS

Revised September 2005

ARTICLE I – NAME

Section I – The Name of this organization shall be Lackawanna County Interagency Council

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

Section 1 – The purposes of this organization are to:

1.      Develop a better knowledge of existing agencies and services.

2.      Provide support and education for member agencies and individuals.

3.      Provide a forum for discussion of community needs.

4.      Increase and promote the quality of human services in the community.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 – Membership

Membership includes the current Interagency Council members as of the adoption of these By-Laws.  The criteria for eligibility in the Interagency Council shall be delivery and/or coordination of human services by an organization; profit or non-profit; or federal, state or local government agency for the population of Lackawanna County. All applications for membership of service providers shall be submitted to the Steering Committee and presented by the Committee to the general membership at the next regular meeting.  New applicants shall be admitted by a two-thirds vote of the eligible voting members present.

Section 2 – Voting Membership

            All agency members in good standing shall be entitled to vote and their representatives shall be eligible to hold office in the association.  A member in good standing is one who is not delinquent in payment of dues and has not missed three consecutive meetings.  Voting privileges may be reinstated by the Steering Committee.

Section 3 – Voting

            Only members in good standing may vote.  Each service provider shall have one vote only, although more than one representative from each organization may attend meetings.

Section 4 – Dues

            Membership shall be established annually upon payment of yearly dues.  Initial dues shall be payable in advance and submitted in full with the application for membership, as well as the time and method of payment, shall be determined by the Executive Committee.  In the event that membership is cancelled, dues shall not be refunded.  Dues are payable between January 1 and March 31 each year.

Section 5 – Termination of Membership

            An Agency or individual may voluntarily terminate membership at any time.  If for any reason a member finds it necessary or advisable to discontinue membership in the Association, a letter of resignation shall be submitted to the Secretary.

Section 6 – Quorum

            A quorum shall consist of one-third of the eligible voting organizations present.  Once a quorum has been established, a majority vote shall be sufficient for the transaction of all business.

Section 7 – Meetings

            Meetings of the Interagency Council shall be held monthly on the third Wednesday of the month.  Special meetings may be held at any time by the chair-persons of the designated Committees.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS AND DUTIES

Section 1

            Officers of the Interagency Council shall be a President, a Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, all to be elected by and from the Council.  Each officer shall hold office for one year or until a successor shall be elected and qualified.  The term of office shall be January 1 to December 31.  Each officer may serve for not more than two consecutive terms and may be re-elected after vacating that office for one term.  The Council may create such other offices at it deems appropriate.

Section 2 - The President’s duties shall be:

1.      To preside at all meetings of the Council, the Executive Committee and the membership;

2.      To appoint all committee chairpersons unless otherwise directed;

3.      To call special meetings whenever deemed necessary or upon written request of five members of the Council;

4.      To be an Ex-Officio member without voting privileges of all standing Committees.

Section 3 – The Vice-President’s duties shall be:

1.      To perform the duties of the President in the event of absence, resignation or inability to perform the duties of the office;

2.      To perform other duties as assigned by the President;

3.      To act as liaison person between the Council and local media organizations.

Section 4 – The Secretary’s duties shall be:

1.      To keep Minutes of meetings of the Interagency Council;

2.      To distribute same to the membership;

3.      To maintain a record of the members present at all meetings and thereby determining eligible voting membership;

4.      To compose all communications as directed and approved.

Section 5 – The Treasurer’s duties shall be:

1.      To collect the dues;

2.       Maintain the bank account;

3.      Notify Secretary of those members who are current in their dues;

4.      Submit a Treasurer’s Report to the membership at the monthly meetings.

ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES AND DUTIES

Section 1

            The Executive committee shall be composed of the officers of the Council.  The Executive Committee shall meet upon the call of the President.  The Executive Committee shall supervise the transaction of all routine and special business that may be brought before it and shall act for the membership in the interim between its meetings.  Appointment of any vacant office shall be made by the Executive Committee for the unexpired term from nominees submitted by the Nominating committee.  All action of the Executive Committee is subject to the approval of the Council at the next regular meeting.

Section 2

            The Nominating Committee shall consist of not more than five (5) members appointed by the President by October, whose duties it shall be to nominate candidates for the officers of the Interagency Council on a yearly basis and as vacancies occur.

ARTICLE VI – NOMINATION AND ELECTION PROCESS

Section 1

1.      A President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected every year.

2.      The Nominating Committee will present the slate of officers at the November meeting.  Additional nominations may be made from the floor.

3.      The election of officers shall immediately follow the completion of nominations and shall be elected by ballot by a majority of those members in good standing present and voting.  The new officers shall be installed at the December meeting and assume their office at the January meeting of each year.

4.      In the event the office of President becomes vacant before the end of term, the Vice-President shall succeed to this office and complete the term.

ARTICLE VII – FISCAL YEAR

Section 1 – The fiscal year shall be January 1 through December 31.

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

Section 1 – The By-Laws of the Interagency Council may be added to, amended or repealed by a two-thirds majority vote of the established quorum of the Council at any regular meeting.  Written notice of intention to add, amend or repeal the By-Laws shall be made available to each member at least five (5) days prior to the meeting at which the vote will be taken.

ARTICLE IX – NON-DISCRIMINATION

Section 1 – The Interagency Council shall not discriminate against any person regardless of sex, age, race, creed, handicap, religion, national origin or sexual orientation.

Revised, September 2005