Oregon HOSA Constitution and Bylaws
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BYLAWS

OREGON ASSOCIATION OF HOSA

Adopted April 2006

 

 

ARTICLE 1.  CHARTER

 

Section 1.        Charters shall be issued to local chapters of the Oregon Association of HOSA by the Board of Advisors upon receipt of a written application from National HOSA and a list of the proposed members and their dues.

ARTICLE 2.  MEMBERSHIP

Section 1        A student who is or has been enrolled in a health science class and/or is interested, planning to pursue or is pursuing a career in the health profession and is a member of a local chapter of the Oregon Association of HOSA may be eligible for membership with the exception of Associate, Alumni and Professional Divisions.

Section 2         The Oregon Association of HOSA shall recognize individuals’ membership only through a local student chapter or and affiliation with an Associate, Alumni or Professional Division, as outlined by National HOSA criteria. 

Section 3         Each local student chapter shall govern membership eligibility in accordance with the Oregon HOSA Constitution and Bylaws.

Section 4         Active Membership (Voting)  This category shall be opened to the Oregon Association of HOSA members in good standing, who may be or have been enrolled in health science education programs and/or is interested, planning to pursue or  is pursuing a career in the health profession. 

Section 6         The Alumni Division shall be composed of high school graduates who have been previously enrolled in a health science program and/or are interested, planning to or are pursuing a career in the health profession.  Alumni Division members shall pay affiliation fees but may not vote, make motions, hold office or compete in events.  They may serve as mentors, role models and judges.  They may also observe and tally competitive events.

Section 7         The Professional Division shall be composed of persons who are associated with or participating in health sciences education in professional capacities.  These may include health professionals, alumni or other adult members of the community who with to assist and support the HOSA program and its growth and development.  Professional Division members shall pay affiliation fees, but they

may not vote, make motions, hold office or compete in events.  They may serve

as role models, mentors, speakers, judges and sponsors.

 ARTICLE 3.  DUES

Section 1         State dues shall be determined prior to the fall enrollment period and shall be payable before November 1 each year.  The fiscal year for the Oregon Association of HOSA shall be July 1 to June 30.

Section 2         Full state dues shall be paid by all active members in the organization.

Section 3         No member shall be considered active and in good standing unless he/she pays full state dues.

Section 4         The membership year shall be from the beginning date of school for one full calendar year.

Section 5         State chartering membership dues shall be set by the State Board of Advisors.

Section 6         No memberships shall be accepted after October 31, except:

a.            Those of students who have enrolled in health sciences education classes after October 31.

b.            New chapters.

c.            Students who enroll in health sciences education classes for the first time at mid-term.  Their memberships will not be accepted after February 15.

 ARTICLE 4.  VOTING DELEGATES

Section 1         The membership of the Oregon Association of HOSA will exercise its voting privileges through voting delegates.

Section 2         Each chapter shall be entitled to two voting delegates.  One alternate delegate should be selected for each delegate.

Section 3         Each voting delegate shall be entitled to one individual vote.

ARTICLE 5.  STATE OFFICERS

Section 1         Only active affiliated members in good standing of the Oregon Association of HOSA shall be elected at each annual meeting to serve for a period of one year.

Section 2         The Executive Council, with the Board of Advisors approval, shall fill vacancies as they occur.

Section 3         To be eligible, a candidate must follow these guidelines for officer selection:

a.            Must be an eligible member of HOSA in good standing.

b.            Written application must be submitted to the State Advisor or designee four (4) weeks before the annual conference.

c.            Two (2) letters of reference shall be enclosed with the application. 

One (1) letter of reference must be from the candidates HOSA Advisor.

d.            Any deviation from the approved guidelines automatically disqualifies any candidate unless approved by the Executive Council and Board of Advisors.

Section 4         There shall be NO nominations for state officers from the floor during the annual                           meeting.

ARTICLE 6.  COMMITTEES

Section 1         This organization shall have an Executive Council and Board of Advisors for the purpose of advising and helping to plan the business of the Association. 

Section 2         The audit committee shall consist of three teachers appointed by the State Advisor.  These members shall secure the services of a certified public accountant that will audit the financial records immediately following the close of each fiscal year and shall submit the audit report to the Board of Advisors no later than September 1 of each year.

Section 3         Such other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the Executive Council and/or the State Advisor.

ARTICLE 7.  BOARD OF ADVISORS

Section 1         The Board of Advisors shall be comprised of the following individuals:

a.            State Officers

1.    President and Secretary

2.    President Elect as a non-voting member.

b.            State Advisor/designee

c.            Oregon Association of HOSA Executive Director/designee

d.            At least half of board members consisting of local chapter advisors

e.            Remaining membership consisting of individuals from the community at large

f.             The size of the Board shall be a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 16 individuals.

Section 2         Local advisors shall serve for a term of three years.  Community members shall serve a one-year term, which shall be renewable upon the invitation of the Board, to a maximum of three (3) years.  One-third of the local advisor membership shall rotate off the board each year)

                        Replacement of a local advisor whose term has expired, who has resigned or who is a non-participating member, may be made by the recommendation of a new advisor, followed by Board evaluation and approval of the candidate.

Section 3         The Board will elect a Chairperson, who will serve a one-year term.  The Chairperson shall facilitate all Board meetings and work with Board members to compile a meeting agenda.

ARTICLE 8.  FINANCES

Section 1         All state funds shall be deposited in a bank designed by the State Advisor or designee.

Section 2         All funds shall be disbursed by check, with the signature of the State Advisor or designee and a cosigner as determined by the Student Leadership Development Center.

ARTICLE 9.  AMENDMENT OF THE BYLAWS

Section 1         These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the quorum of the authorized delegates at any annual state conference, provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing to the Executive Council at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual conference

CONSTITUTION

OREGON ASSOCIATION OF HOSA

Adopted April 2006

ARTICLE 1.  NAME

The official name of this organization shall be Oregon Association of Health sciences Students of America (Oregon Association of HOSA).

ARTICLE 2.  PURPOSE

This association is an organization of local, school-based chapters whose members are or have been enrolled in health sciences education programs conducted by schools in Oregon.

Change to:  This association is an organization of local, school-based chapters whose members are or have been enrolled in a health sciences education program conducted by schools in Oregon and/or are interested, planning to pursue or are pursuing a career in the health professions.

The purpose of the association is to serve the needs of the members in the following ways:

A.            To assist local chapters in the growth and development of the Oregon Association of HOSA.

B.            Foster programs and activities which will develop:

1.            Physical, mental and social well being of the individual.

2.            Leadership, character and citizenship.

3.            Ethical practices and respect for the dignity of work.

C.           Provide opportunities for developing personal and occupational competencies and professional workplace skills that lead to realistic choices of careers and successful employment in the health care field.

D.           Develop competent student leadership in health sciences education programs.

E.            Promote inter-organizational relationships with professional groups, businesses, industries and other organizations.

F.            Recognize individual achievement in scholarship, occupational skills or services rendered, by providing recognition and awards.

ARTICLE 3.  ORGANIZATION

Section 1.        Oregon Association of HOSA is an organization of local chartered chapters, each operating in accordance with the charter granted by the National Association of HOSA in the constitution as directed.

Section 2.        Each local chartered student chapter of Oregon Association of HOSA shall be responsible for all operational activities within its local student organization.

Section 3.        The administration of all Oregon Association of HOSA interests shall be vested in the Board of Advisors.

Section 4.        Oregon Association of HOSA is affiliated with and chartered by the Board of Advisors of the national organization HOSA, Inc.

   ARTICLE 4.  MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.        Oregon Association of HOSA shall be composed of students who are or have been enrolled in health sciences education programs and persons associated with, participating in, or supporting health sciences education in a professional capacity.

Change to:  Oregon Association of HOSA shall be composed of students who are or have been enrolled in health sciences education programs, students interested in, planning to pursue or are pursuing a career in the health profession and persons associated with, participating in or supporting health science education in a professional capacity.

Section 2.        The members of Oregon Association of HOSA shall be those members of local chartered student chapters.  Each student chapter will consist of individual members as described in the bylaws.

Section 3.        A local student organization may be chartered as a member of the Oregon Association of HOSA upon approval of the Board of Advisors.

ARTICLE 5.  VOTING

Section 1.        Member chapters shall exercise their voting privilege through voting delegates at an annual meeting.  The number of voting delegates shall be determined as described in the bylaws.  Voting delegates shall be entitled to an individual vote, as described in the bylaws.

ARTICLE 6.  MEETINGS

Section 1.        An Oregon Association of HOSA Conference may be held each year with the place and time to be designated by the Board of Advisors.  Chartered student chapters shall be notified no less than ninety (90)  days prior to such meetings.

Section 2.        Parliamentary procedure for all meetings of Oregon Association of HOSA shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.

Section 3.        The Executive Council shall be empowered to call special meetings.

ARTICLE 7.  ELECTED STATE OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Section 1.        The elected state officers of the Oregon Association of HOSA shall be the President, President-Elect, Regional Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Reporter/Historian, and Collegiate Representative.

Section 2.        Elected state officers shall make themselves available as necessary in promoting the general welfare of the Oregon Association of HOSA.

Section 3.        President.  The President shall preside at all meetings of this organization; make committee appointments including the designation of committee chairpersons; develop with the assistance of the Executive Council and Board of Advisors an annual program of work; represent the state officers at Board of Advisor meetings; serve on the Executive Council.

Section 4.        President-Elect.  The President-Elect will serve Oregon Association of HOSA in any capacity directed by the President and shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence.  The President-Elect will serve on the Executive Council.  The President-Elect shall succeed the President at the end of each term of office. 

The President Elect shall serve on the Board of Advisors as a non-voting member.

Section 5.        Regional Vice-Presidents.  The Regional Vice-President will communicate with the state association on regional and local chapter activities and act as a liaison between state association and chapters within each region.  She/he will aid local chapters in developing their programs of work; actively recruit health sciences students, HOSA members and new chapters; solicit state officer candidates from the region(s); and promote HOSA to the businesses and industries within the region(s).  The Regional Vice-President must live in the region he/she represents.

                        The Executive Council and Board of Advisors may decide how may Regional Vice-Presidents are needed to adequately represent the state, up to a maximum of seven, as determined at the annual State Leadership Conference.

Section 6.        Secretary.  The Secretary will keep a permanent record of all state officer meetings, annual business meetings, and Board of Advisor meetings, and distribute minutes as appropriate.  She/he will assist with communications, help in planning state meetings, and assist the President with the year-end report.  The Secretary will serve on the Executive Council and Board of Advisors.

Section 7.        Reporter/Historian.  The Reporter/Historian will prepare news releases and distribute them to the local media; serve as liaison officer for receiving, editing, and exchanging news items with other HOSA student publications; design and edit the Oregon Association of HOSA newsletter; be responsible for HOSA scrapbooks and videos and have them on display at the annual conference; prepare an annual narrative account of the year’s activity to be presented verbally at the annual conference.  The Reporter/Historian shall serve on the Executive Council.

Section 8.        Collegiate Representative.  The Collegiate Representative will serve as a liaison between the state association and post-secondary/collegiate health sciences education programs and chapters.  She/he will aid in post-secondary/collegiate chapter development, including help in developing their programs of work and active recruitment of health sciences education students.  The Collegiate Representative will serve on the Executive Council.

Section 9.        Executive Council.  The Executive Council shall be composed of the following individuals:

a.    state officers designated in Article 7, Section 1 of this Constitution,

b.    the State Advisor, who is the Oregon Department of Education Health sciences Education Specialist, or his/her designee,

c.    the Oregon Association of HOSA Program Coordinator, or his/her designee.

The Executive Council shall meet at least three (3) times a year.  Other meetings shall be held either in person or by telephone or electronic media conference at the request of the state President or by a majority of the Executive Council. 

The Executive Council shall be responsible for assisting in planning and conducting the annual state conference program and business sessions, as well as developing an Oregon Association of HOSA program of work.

ARTICLE 8.  ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1.        Candidates for state office must be members of the Oregon Association of HOSA as defined in Article 4 (Membership) of the Constitution.

Section 2.       All officers shall be elected at the annual state conference.  Their term of office shall begin following installation at the state conference and conclude when the new slate of officers takes office the following year.

                  Each outgoing officer will assist in the orientation and mentorship of the newly elected officers for the upcoming year.

Section 3.        A list of qualified officer candidates shall be submitted by a screening committee to the Executive Council at least one week prior to the annual state conference.

Section 4         In the event of a vacancy in the State President’s position, it shall be filled by appointment by the state Executive Council, with Board of Advisor approval.  Consideration shall be given to runners-up in each elective office. 

All vacancies are to be filled in a reasonable and timely manner.

ARTICLE 9.  BOARD OF ADVISORS

Section 1.        The Board of Advisors shall be comprised of a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 16 individuals, as described in the bylaws.

Section 2.        The Board will hold a minimum of three (3) meetings per year.  The Program Coordinator or Chairperson of the Board shall be empowered to call additional meetings.  Any Board member may request additional meetings by coordinating the request through the Chairperson and/or Program Coordinator.

Section 3.        The Board of Advisors shall have full power over the affairs of the state Association between business meetings; fix the hour and place of meetings; make recommendations to the organization; and shall perform such other duties as are specified by the Constitution.  The Board of Advisors shall be subject to the orders of the organization, and none of its acts shall conflict with action taken by the organization.

ARTICLE 10.  OREGON ASSOCIATION OF HOSA PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Section 1.        The role and responsibilities of the Program Coordinator shall include the following:

 a.  Serve on the Executive Council and Board of Advisors

b.  Plan and coordinate statewide programs and activities

c.   Develop and manage annual operating budget

d.    Plan and coordinate leadership training activities for State Officers

e.    Assist State Officers in developing and implementing a Program of Work

f.     Provide technical support services and teacher training opportunities to local education agencies

g.    Establish and maintain partnerships with business and professional organizations

h.    Serve as a liaison for local, state and national HOSA organizations

i.      Facilitate participation in the National Leadership Conference

ARTICLE 11.  ADVISORS

Section 1.        A health sciences education instructor shall serve as advisor for each local chapter of HOSA.  The advisor shall be responsible for oversight of chapter activities and programs.

Section 2.        Task forces of advisors to assist the Oregon Association of HOSA may be appointed as deemed necessary by the Board of Advisors.

ARTICLE 12.  FINANCES

Section 1.        Local chartered student chapters shall be responsible for obtaining chartered dues, according to the amount of dues set by the Board of Advisors.

Section 2.        The State Advisor or designee shall manage all finances, and will furnish a financial report at each annual conference, as described in the Constitution.

Section 3.        The State Advisor shall act as business manager of the Oregon Association of HOSA.  Oversight of financial services will be provided by the HOSA Program Coordinator and the State Advisor.  These individuals will obtain information for financial reports, and prepare budgets and financial reports for association and state officer activities.

ARTICLE 13.  AMENDMENTS

Section 1.        This Constitution may be amended by a two thirds majority of all voting delegates, provided the amendment has been proposed by a local chapter, the Executive Council, or the Board of Advisors.  Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the Executive Council at least thirty (30) days prior to a state business meeting.

 Section 2:        All local chapters must be notified at least thirty (30) days prior to the state business meeting, of proposed amendment changes.

ARTICLE 14.  DISCIPLINARY ACTION, INCLUDING STATE OFFICER REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

 Section 1.        Any member of the Oregon Association of HOSA seeking the removal of a state officer shall present a written statement to the Executive Council documenting evidence of failure to carry out the duties of the office.

Section 2.        The officer shall be notified in advance by the Executive Council or State Advisor of the proposal to remove him/her from office, and of the reasons for the proposed action.

Section 3.        The officer in question may present his/her defense, if desired, to the Executive Council before a vote is taken.

 Section 4.        The Executive Council shall notify the officer and the Board of Advisors, in writing, of the action taken.  The Board may approve or deny the decision and redirect the Executive Council.  The officer is then notified of the decision.

Section 5.        The officer may appeal the decision of the Executive Council to the Board of Advisors.  The State Advisor will serve as the final arbiter and the decision of the State Advisor will be final.