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Iowa Nurse Practitioner Society 

Constitution and By Laws

ARTICLE I

Name 

Section 1- The name of this organization shall be Iowa Nurse Practitioner Society, hereinafter referred to as INPS.

 ARTICLE II

 Purpose and Goals

 Section 1- The purpose of INPS shall be:

  1. to advance, support and promote the role of the advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) in Iowa.

  2. to promote accessible quality health care provided by ARNPs.

 Section 2-  The goals of this group shall be:

  1. to promote excellence in practice, education and research

  2. to serve as a resource for ARNPs

  3. to provide legislative leadership

  4. to advocate for access to quality, cost effective health care

  5. to advance health care policy

  6. to heighten awareness and promote public understanding of the role of the ARNP in Iowa

  

ARTICLE III

 Membership

Section 1-  The membership of INPS shall be composed of Regular, Student, Joint,

Associate, and Honorary members.

Section 2-  Regular membership shall be open to those registered as ARNPs by the state licensing body.  Regular members shall pay dues, may vote, hold elected or appointed office and serve on committees.

Section 3-  Student membership shall be open to any registered nurse enrolled in a program for ARNPs.  Student members may serve on committees but may not vote nor serve as officers of INPS.  Dues shall be ¼ that of regular members.

Section 4-  Joint members are those ARNPs who are Full members of IANP.  Joint members may serve on committees, but may not vote nor serve as officers of INPS.  Dues shall be ½ that of regular members.

Section 5-  Associate members are other health care providers who may wish to promote the mission of the organization.  Associate members may serve on committees, but may not vote nor serve as officers of INPS.  Dues are ½ that of regular membership.

Section 6-  Honorary members shall be persons who have made outstanding contributions which foster the purpose of INPS.  They shall be elected by the regular members.  They may not vote, nor hold elected office, nor pay dues.

 

ARTICLE  IV

Annual Dues

Section 1-  Annual dues shall be established by the Executive Committee with approval of the membership.

Section 2-  Membership dues must be paid annually.  Dues will validate membership one year from the date of payment to the Membership chair.  Members in current standing will be allowed to vote at the annual business meeting.

ARTICLE  V

Officers and Executive Committee

Section 1-  Officers:  The elected officers of INPS shall be:  President, President Elect, Past President, Secretary, Treasurer and four Members-At-Large, one from each designated district.  To be eligible for election as an officer, the candidate must be a regular member.  Terms of office shall be two years, commencing January 1st  following the Fall business meeting, with no more than two successive terms in the same office.

Section 2-  The President shall lead the Executive Committee, provide leadership for INPS, and preside at meetings.  The President shall plan the meetings of the Executive Committee.  The President serves as Past-President for 1 year after their elected office terminates.

Section 3-  The President Elect shall perform the duties of the office of President in the absence of the President and other duties as assigned by the President.  The President Elect shall be elected in even numbered years and assume the role of President in 1 year.

Section 4-  The Secretary shall keep minutes for all meetings of the Executive Committee and business meetings.  All such minutes shall be distributed to the Executive  Committee.  A summary of such minutes will be published in the Newsletter.  The Secretary shall function as secretary to the Executive Committee and maintain official documents and files of INPS, including correspondence and by-laws.  The Secretary shall be elected in even numbered years.

Section 5-  The Treasurer shall receive dues and other funds of INPS, deposit such funds in a bank designated by the Executive Committee and disburse funds for approved expenses, keep an itemized account of all receipts and disbursements, give a written report at business and annual meetings, submit books, accounts and vouchers for audit to be completed by February 28th of the year following the completion of the Treasurer’s term.  Approval of expenses shall be determined by a quorum of the Executive Committee excluding the Treasurer.  The Treasurer serves on the membership committee.  The Treasurer shall be elected in odd numbered years.

Section 6-  The four Members-At-Large or, in their absence, the Designated Alternate, will be present at each business and Executive Committee meeting during their tenure.  The four Members-At-Large will be elected from each of the designated districts.  The Members-At-Large from district 1(NW) and 2(SW) will be elected on even numbered years, and the Members-At-Large from district 3(NE) and 4(SE) will be elected on odd numbered years.

Section 7-  The Executive Committee:  The Executive Committee shall be composed of the elected officers of INPS.  The Executive Committee shall meet at least biannually.  For all actions a quorum shall be the President or President Elect and four other members.  The Executive Committee shall conduct the business of the organization.

Section 8-  Transition to Office:  Transition of materials and a brief orientation to office shall be the responsibility of the outgoing officer.

Section 9-  Succession to Office:  In the event of resignation or incapacitation of the President, the President Elect shall succeed.  In the unlikely event that both the President and President Elect are incapacitated, the order of succession shall be Secretary and then Treasurer.

Section 10-  Removal from Office:  Any officer may be removed from office for due cause by 2/3 vote of the regular members present and voting at a special meeting called for that purpose.  No proxy allowed.

 ARTICLE VI

Election of Officers

Section 1-  Nominations for Office:  The chair of the Nominations Committee will seek nominations for office and have a ballot prepared thirty days before the annual meeting.  Nominations may also be submitted to this committee by a member with written consent to serve by the person nominated by forty-five days before the annual meeting.  Ballots will be returned in accordance with instructions on the ballot.

Section 2-  Ballots:  Returned ballots shall be in envelopes marked “Ballot” inside an outer envelope, bearing the name and address of the member.  The inner ballot envelopes shall be removed from the outer envelopes after verification of membership status and placed in a ballot box without opening them.  The ballot box with its contents unopened shall be hand delivered to the Executive Committee for counting.

Section 3-  Counting of Ballots:  Election results shall be counted by the Executive Committee.  In the case of a tie, the winner shall be determined by lot.

Section 4-  Notification of Election:  Election results shall be announced in the Newsletter.  All candidates shall be notified of the results by the Secretary after the Executive Committee meeting.  New officers shall assume office beginning Jan 1st of the following year.

 ARTICLE VII

 Meetings of the Membership

Section 1-  Membership shall be notified by mail 30 days in advance of all business meetings.

Section 2-  There shall be at least one combined business and continuing education meeting each year, which shall be called the annual meeting.

Section 3-  All business except that specifically designated by the by-laws shall be decided by majority vote of all voting members present.

Section 4-  Robert’s Rule of Order shall govern the conduct of business at all meetings, except where superseded by these by-laws.

Section 5-  Special Meetings:  Special meetings may be called by the Executive Committee or three regular members.  General membership must by notified 10 days in advance of a special meeting.

 ARTICLE VIII

Standing Committees

Section 1-  Standing Committees shall be the Public Relations Committee, Legislative Committee, Education Committee, Membership Committee, Bylaws Oversight committee, Nominations Committee, and INPS Foundation.  Committee Chairs are appointed by the President, with the approval of the Executive Committee.  The term of office shall be two years.  A member may be re-appointed.

Section 2-  All committee chairs will serve as advisors to the executive board re:  issues of their committee.  They attend executive committee phone conferences and the annual meeting but do not vote on the executive committee.  They will be responsible for recruiting individuals from the Membership to serve on the committee.

Section 3-  The Legislative committee:  This committee is responsible to work with the membership and the INPS lobbyist to monitor bills, legislation, and administrative rulings of importance to ARNPs and to coordinate any required INPS response.

Section 4-  Education Committee:  The purpose of this committee is to promote continuing education offerings for ARNPs.  This committee is principally responsible for organizing the continuing education of the annual meeting.

Section 5-  Membership Committee:  The purpose of this committee is to recruit new members, promote retention, and to maintain a list of current members.

Section 6-  By-Laws Oversight Committee:  The purpose of this committee is to originate or consider suggested changes to the By-Laws which further the goals of the Organization.  This committee shall submit proposed changes to the By-Laws in accordance with Article X Amendment of By-Laws.

Section 7-  Nomination Committee:  This committee will serve to obtain nominations from the membership for the elected offices of INPS or other positions as designated by the Executive Committee.

Section 8-  Public Relations Committee:  The purpose of this committee is to communicate with other groups and state organizations plan to increase public and professional awareness of ARNPs.  This committee is also responsible for INPS newsletters, Web Site, and E-Mail Forums.

Section 9-  INPS Foundation:  This committee will serve to administer INPS scholarships and professional grants to the membership.

 ARTICLE IX

Ad Hoc Committees

Section 1-  The formation of Ad Hoc Committees may be authorized by the Executive Committee or by vote of the membership.

Section 2-  All Ad Hoc Committees shall make reports to the Executive Committee and to the membership.

Section 3-  Ad Hoc Committees shall remain functional until their work is completed or until they are disbanded by the authorizing body.

Section 4-  Any member of INPS may serve on an Ad Hoc Committee.

 ARTICLE X

 Amendment of By-Laws

Section 1-  Amendments with Notice.  These By –laws may be amended at any scheduled meeting by a 2/3 vote of the members present and voting.  All suggestions for proposed amendments shall be referred to the By-laws Oversight Committee.  The amendments proposed by the By-laws Oversight committee for action shall be in the possession of the Secretary of the Executive Committee at least 45 days before the date of the meeting and shall be appended to the call to the meeting sent 30 days prior to the meeting.

Section 2-  Amendments without Notice:  These By-laws may be amended without previous notice at any meeting by 90 percent of those present and voting.

Section 3- Publication of Change. By-laws changes approved at the Annual Meeting shall by published in the Newsletter.

 INPS By-Laws    5-22-99

Amended      10-21-04

 

 

  
   
   

 

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