L-OADN Bylaws

ARTICLE I

Title

Section 1.  This organization shall be known as the Louisiana Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (L-OADN).

 ARTICLE II

Vision, Mission and Purpose

Section 1.  Vision

L-OADN is a state leader and advocate for Associate Degree Nursing.

 Section 2.  Mission

L-OADN is the leading state advocate for Associate Degree Nursing education/practice and promotes collaboration in charting the future of health care education and delivery.

 Section 3.  Purpose

a.      Maintain eligibility for Registered Nurse title and licensure for graduates of Associate Degree Nursing Programs.     

b.     Promote and maintain open channels of communication among individuals and organizations interested in health care. 

c.      Promote public understanding of the role of the Associate Degree Nurse.

d.     Facilitate legislative action supportive of the goals of this organization.

e.      Maintain currency with the contemporary scope of practice for the Associate Degree Nurse.

f.      Participate at the national and state level in formation of health care policy.   

g.     Participate in the development of an articulation model(s) supporting all types of nursing education, with education for Associate Degree Nursing in institutions of higher learning.

h.     Solicit the active support of other agencies and/or associations to assist in promoting the goals of this organization.

i.       Disseminate information relevant to the status of Associate Degree Nursing.

 ARTICLE III

Membership

Section 1.  Membership Classification- The membership of L-OADN shall be: individual; associate; and agency.  Membership shall be open to individuals and agencies interested in the goals and objectives of this organization.

 Section 2.  Individual Membership shall be composed of individual members.  Each individual member shall have one vote.

 Section 3.  Associate Membership shall be composed of retired individuals.  Each associate member shall have one vote and pay reduced membership dues.

 Section 4.  Agency Membership shall be composed of Colleges or Institutions.  Each agency member shall have two (2) votes.

ARTICLE IV

Annual Dues

Section 1.  Revision of annual dues shall be voted by the membership upon recommendation of the finance committee at the annual meeting.

 Section 2.  Individuals and/or agencies will join the national organization directly and the state organization indirectly.  The national dues shall be included in the state dues structure.

 Section 3.  The annual dues shall extend for one calendar year.  Memberships are renewed on the individual’s anniversary date. 

  ARTICLE V

Meetings of the Organization

Section 1. 

a.      The organization shall meet at least annually.

b.     Business meetings shall be open

c.      All members shall have an opportunity to address the membership.

 Section 2.  Special meetings shall be called by the Board of Directors as appropriate.

 Section 3.  Notice:  The members will be notified of a state meeting at least 30 days prior to meeting.

 Section 4.  Quorum:  A quorum shall consist of a majority of officers and a majority of the membership present at the meeting.

 Section 5. 

a.      Each individual, associate and member shall be entitled to cast one vote at all meetings of the organization.

b.     Each agency member shall be entitled to cast two (2) votes at all meeting of the organization.

 Section 6.

Boards of Directors:  Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be no less than twice a year.

 ARTICLE VI

Officers

Section 1.  Elected officers shall be a: President, President-elect, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Director/Public Relations, Director/By-laws, Director/Legislation.

 Section 2.  Eligibility:  The President, President-elect, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Director and three Directors shall be elected from membership of this organization. 

 Section 3.  Terms of Office:  The President shall serve one (1) year as President-elect and one year as President.  The Treasurer, Director/Public Relations and Director/By-laws will be elected during the even years.  The Recording Secretary, Director/Legislation will be elected during the odd years.  The officers shall serve for two years and be eligible for three consecutive elected terms.

 Section 4.  Election:

a.      Election shall be held by ballot at the Annual State Meeting.  Candidates for office shall declare intent to seek office no later than the first business meeting of the annual meeting.

b.     The Board of Directors shall appoint tellers to receive ballots and prepare the report of the election for announcements at the close of the annual meeting.

c.      A plurality vote shall elect.

d.     In case of a tie vote, the decision shall be made by casting a lot. 

 Section 5.  Vacancies:

a.      In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the President-elect shall succeed such office for the unexpired term.  Such vacancy in the office of President-elect shall not be filled for the remainder of that term unless determined necessary by the Board of Directors.

b.     Other vacancies shall be filled by appointment of the Board of Directors for the unexpired term.

Section 6.  Board of Directors:  The Board of Directors shall be composed of the officers and the immediate past President who shall serve as an ex-officio member for one year.

a.      Board of Directors shall conduct business of the Organization between annual meetings.

b.     The Board of Directors shall arrange for a review of financial records every two years.

c.      The Board of Directors shall maintain legal counsel and accounting services.

d.     Board of Directors with a 2/3 vote shall have the authority to remove from membership in the organization officers, committee members and other members whose actions are not supportive of the goals of the organization or who do not fulfill the duties of their office.  Provisions shall be made for a fair hearing and an appeal process.

 ARTICLE VII

Duties of Officers

 Section 1.  President:

a.      The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and general membership of this Organization and shall be responsible for carrying out actions of the membership.

b.     The President shall perform such other duties as ordinarily pertain to this office.

 Section 2.  President-elect:

a.      The President-elect shall preside in the absence of the President.

b.     The President-elect shall serve as the chairman of the membership committee.

c.      The President-elect shall organize the poster presentations

d.     The President-elect shall serve in such other capacity as the President may direct.

e.      The President-elect shall perform such other duties as ordinarily pertain to this office.

 Section 3.  Treasurer:

a.      The Treasurer shall maintain bank accounts, collect fees, disburse funds and prepare accounting statements.

b.     The Treasurer shall serve as chairman of the finance committee.

c.      The Treasurer shall be responsible for the preparation of a proposed budget prior to the annual meeting for approval by the Board of Directors and the members.

d.     The Treasurer shall serve in such other capacities as the President may direct.

e.      The Treasurer shall perform such other duties as ordinarily pertain to this office.

f.    The Treasurer shall file appropriate tax forms annually.

 Section 4.  Recording Secretary:

a.      The Recording Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all business proceedings of the Organization and the Board of Directors.

b.     The Recording Secretary shall serve as chairman of the Awards committee.

c.      The Recording Secretary shall also serve in such other capacity as the President may direct.

d.     The Recording Secretary shall perform such other duties as normally pertain to this office.

e.      The Recording Secretary shall read the minutes at the next general meeting.

f.      A copy of the minutes of the meeting of the general body and the Board of Directors meeting will be written and distributed to the officers within 8 weeks of each meeting.

 Section 5.  Public Relations:

a.      The Public Relations Director shall work with the national office and the L-OADN Board of Directors to be responsible for public relations activities for the organization.

b.     The Public Relations Director shall serve as the chairman of the Public Relations committee. 

c.      The Public Relations Director insures that membership is notified of organizational meetings.

d.     The Public Relations Director shall maintain the L-OADN website.

e.      The Public Relations Director shall solicit and organize items to be included in the organization newsletter at least two times per year.

f.      The Public Relations Director shall perform such other duties as ordinarily pertain to this office.

 Section 6.  Director:

a.      One Director elected on the even year shall be responsible for bylaws.

b.     One Director elected on the odd year shall be responsible for the legislation.

 Section 7.  Past President:

The immediate Past President will serve in an ex-officio capacity as an advisor to the Board.

 ARTICLE VIII

Committees

Section 1.  Committees:  The standing committees are nominations; public relations; membership; bylaws; finance; legislative; convention and awards.  Ad hoc committees may be appointed by the Board of Directors as necessary to carry out the goals of the organization.

 Section 2.  Nominations and Elections Committee:

a.      The chairman and two committee members shall be elected by ballot for a two year term.  The chairman shall be the individual receiving the greatest number of votes.

b.     Purpose of the committee shall be to prepare a slate of officers for election.

c.      Nominations committee chairman and members shall not hold a position on the L-OADN Board.

 Section 3.  Public Relations Committee:

a.      The Public Relations Director elected on the even year shall serve as chairman.

b.     The purpose of the committee is to publicize and disseminate information regarding L-OADN.

c.      The Public Relations Committee shall work with the national office to be responsible for public relations activities of the organization at a state and national level.

 Section 4.  Membership Committee:

a.      The committee will be chaired by the President-elect.

b.     The purpose of the committee is to recruit and retain membership in L-OADN.

c.      The committee shall direct and coordinate the recruitment of new members and the retention of the current members.

d.     Membership shall consist of two members appointed by the President.

 Section 5.  Bylaws Committee:

a.      The Director/By-laws elected on the even year shall serve as the chairman.

b.     Purpose of the committee shall be to review and update the bylaws as required to meet the needs of the organization.

c.      The committee shall direct and coordinate the printing and distribution of the proposed by-laws amendments to the membership.

d.     The committee shall also call for resolutions for presentation at the annual meeting; screen, select and prepare resolutions for presentation along with distributing resolution statements to the annual meeting.

e.      The committee shall serve as a resource for constituent organizations.

f.      Membership shall consist of two members appointed by the President.

 Section 6.  Finance Committee:

a.      The Treasurer shall serve as chairman.

b.     The purpose of the committee shall be to:  1) Prepare the proposed budget with rationale, to be approved by the Board of Directors  2) Establish protocol for handling finances  3) Propose to membership financial issues requiring a vote.

c.      The committee shall serve as a resource for constituent organizations.

d.     Membership shall consist of two members appointed by the President.

 Section 7.  Legislative Committee:

a.      The Director/Legislate is elected on the odd year and shall serve as chairman.

b.     The purpose of the committee shall be to:  1) Serve as a clearing house for state legislative activities.  2) Serve as a resource to constituent organizations.  3) Advise constituent organizations as to legislative activities.

c.      Serve to provide effective testimony and serve as liaison to legislators.

d.     The committee shall consist of two members appointed by the President.

 Section 8.  Convention Committee:

a.      The President assumes leadership responsibility for convention planning.  L-OADN Board members assist in convention planning as directed in the L-OADN Bylaws or as deemed necessary by the President. 

b.     The purpose of the committee shall be to plan, coordinate, and implement all actions necessary for a successful annual convention.  The host school assists the President as deemed necessary.

 Section 9:  Award Committee:

a.      The Recording Secretary is elected on the odd years and shall serve as chairman of the committee.

b.     The purpose of the Awards committee shall be to select recipients of L-OADN sponsored awards.

c.      The committee shall consist of at least two persons appointed by the President.

 ARTICLE IX

Amendments

 Section 1.  Revision/Amendment:

a.      These bylaws, with previous written notice, may be amended at any regular meeting of this organization by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting.

b.     These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting, without previous written notice, by a 90% vote of members present and voting.

c.      After adoption by the members, the amended bylaws with date of adoption, shall be attached to the minutes of this organization.

d.     The Board of Directors shall instruct the recording secretary to make editorial corrections from time to time as necessary and shall so advise the officers, directors, and members and provide each with copies of said correction.

 ARTICLE X

Parliamentary Authority

Section 1.  The rules contained in the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern meetings of this organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws.

 ARTICLE XI

Dissolution

Section 1.  Procedure:

a.      This organization may be dissolved by resolution of the membership passed by not less than two-thirds vote of the members present or by operation of law.

b.     Such actions may be presented to the membership prior to the annual meeting and voted at the annual meeting.

 Section 2.  Dispersal of Assets:  In the event of dissolution, all assets, real or personal, shall be distributed to charities or groups approved by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present at the last annual meeting.

 Revised:

4/11/03: Annual Convention, New Orleans, LA

4/1/05:  Annual Convention, Baton Rouge, LA

3/21/09:  Annual Convention, Baton Rouge, LA.

4/10: Annual Convention, Baton Rouge, LA