By Laws
April 19th, 2006
Article I- Name
The name of this organization shall be "Coalition for Aging Services of Lackawanna County" referred to herein as the Coalition.
Article II- Mission
The coalition is organized exclusively to further promote awareness of services and issues affecting older adults to the community. The coalition will accomplish this through education, advocacy and coalition building.
The coalition shall encourage partnership building and regular communication with local, state and federal organization.
Article III-
Section 1. Candidates for memberships will be considered for participation without discrimination as to age, sex, color, race, creed, national origin, physical or mental handicap or political affiliation.
Section 2. A nominee for membership in the Coalition will be reviewed by the Coalition's Executive committee. The Executive Committee will offer a recommendation on each nomination to the full Coalition membership. Membership in the Coalition will be established through a vote of the Coalition membership at the next regular Coalition general meeting following the Executive Committee's recommendation.
Section 3. Marketing will be granted for one full year and will run from January 1st through December 31st. Once membership has been approved, existing members will not be required to re-apply each year.
Section 4. Membership will be made available to organizations that are willing to embrace the mission of the Coalition and adhere to its by-laws and who maintain that purpose throughout the membership period.
Section 5. Each member organization will name one primary and one alternate member. Only one vote is allowed per member organization.
Section 6. The Coalition has been established to be an inclusive Organization representing many different types of organizations as stated in Section 4 with the intent of fulfilling the Coalition's Mission.
Section 7. Revocation of membership shall be voted upon by the coalition membership. The coalition's Executive Committee will first review any recommendation for membership revocation and offer the the committee's recommendation to the full membership at the next coalition general meeting for a vote. Members facing possible revocation will be notified of their possible expulsion and given the opportunity to present their position to either the Executive Committee of the full Coalition.
Section 8. Members will be encouraged to keep the coalition updated on current or future trends in the aging industry. Members will be required to serve on a coalition committee in order to maintain membership.
Section 9. Members will not sell or market their product or service at meetings, however will be allowed to educate and inform the members about their product or service.
Article IV Dues
Annual dues are 35$ payable to the Coalition Treasurer in January of each year. The executive committee of the Coalition shall review the dues structure and present and recommendations for a vote of full membership. Dues will be accepted until March 1st each year. Membership will automatically be revoked without a vote of the Coalition membership if not paid in full as specified above. Prior members may re-apply in the same calendar year.
Article V- Officers
Section 1. The coalition will annually elect officers by majority vote.
Section 2. The term of each officer shall be two years. The Membership Committee will recommend candidates. The officers will be elected at the last schedule regular Coalition general meeting each year. The officers to be elected and whose term will run from January 1st through December each year. The offices to be elected are: Chairperson, Chairperson- Elect, Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 3. Officer's duties are:
Chairperson- is responsible for presiding at general coalition meeting delegation of duties, coordinating agendas.
Chairperson Elect- Exercise the duties of the Chair when absent or unable to perform. The chairperson Elect will succeed the chairperson at the end of the Chairperson's term.
Secretary- Keep minutes of the meetings, record and distribute minutes and send out announcements.
Treasurer- Assure full and accurate record of coalition funds. Control the flow of receipts and disbursements using generally accepted accounting procedures and methods.
Article VI- Committees
Coalition Committees shall consist of the following: Standing committees will be Executive, Membership, Education, Advocacy, Long Range Planning, and Finance. Committee meetings will be called by the committee chair and are encouraged to meet monthly. Ad hoc committees can be appointed by the Coalition to study important issues that are identified; these will be time-limited and disbanded when their charge is completed.
Standing Committee descriptions
Executive: THIs committee shall consist of the Chair, officers and Standing committee chairs. It shall exercise the authority designated to it as set forth in the by-laws and any other authority designated by the full coalition.
Membership: This committee shall plan and execute educational offerings deemed appropriate by the membership.
Advocacy: This committee promotes the mission of the Coalition through activities planned to promote and support a positive understanding of the coalition.
Long Range Planning- This committee annually review the by-laws. It also examines trends in the field of aging and makes recommendations to the Coalition on possible new direction for the coalition.
Finance- This committee shall consider requests for expenditures. Any expenditures over $500 will need approval from the coalition. It will also make arrangements for annual audit to be presented to the Coalition.
Article VII- Meetings
The Coalition general meetings will be held at least quarterly or more frequently as needed a quorum shall be required in order to vote on Coalition business. A quorum shall consist of a majority of dues paying members.
Article VIII- By-Laws
Bylaws will be reviewed annually members will be made aware of upcoming by-law changed prior to regularly scheduled meeting, Amendments will be made with a majority vote of members.