ELECTROLYSIS SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC.
(Organized 1950, Not For Profit)
ARTICLE I
The name of this organization shall be as prescribed in the vehicle of Constitution and certificate of Incorporation.
ARTICLE II
Seal, Colors and Logo
The Seal, Colors and Logo of the ELECTROLYSIS SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC. are as described in Articles I, II and III of the Constitution.
ARTICLE III
Objectives
The Objectives of the ELECTROLYSIS SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC. are:
To encourage improvement of services rendered by electrologists in the State of Florida by creating guidelines and standards for members of the profession seeking to join this organization.
Promote and maintain the standards of ethics as prescribed in the Code of Ethics contained in this vehicle.
Foster knowledge and understanding of electrolysis to the Allied Professionals and general public.
Endeavor to give new knowledge and skills to members through continued education.
To aid in legislation to protect the general public and to recognize practicing electrologists in the State of Florida.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 1. Elections The nomination and election of officers shall take place biannually at the Annual Meeting held in each even year. All officers shall be elected by the General Membership from a slate presented by the Nominating Committee or from nominations from the floor. Voting shall be by separate and written ballot, cast by active members of the ELECTROLYSIS SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC. in good standing at the time of election.
Each office will be voted on separately and a majority of votes will be necessary of election of each candidate.
The officers of the ELECTROLYSIS SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC. are: President; First Vice President; Second Vice President; Corresponding Secretary; Recording Secretary; and Treasurer. All newly elected officers will assume their duties after the close of the annual meeting when elected and installed.
Section 2. Qualifications All nominees in the ELECTROLYSIS SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC. shall be active members and shall have given their consent to be nominated and shall have been an active member of the ELECTROLYSIS SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC. for at least one year, and with no affiliation with a supplier or manufacturer of electrology or hair removal equipment.
Section 3. Term of Office Terms of office for all officers shall be two (2) years and shall not exceed two (2) consecutive terms in the same office or until their successors have been elected.
Section 4. Reimbursements No officer shall for any reason of their office be entitled to receive any salary or compensation, but nothing herein can be construed to prevent an officer, director, or committee chairman from receiving reimbursement from the organization for expenditures made in behalf of stated duties provided the receipts are presented and the reimbursements are approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Expiration of Term Each officer shall immediately turn over to the incoming officers all books, papers and property of the ELECTROLYSIS SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC. which were accumulated during their term of office in connection with the performance of their duties and render such advice and assistance to the incoming officer as may be warranted to insure proper transition of leadership of the organization.
Section 6. Vacancies
In case of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President shall succeed in office according to their rank and the resulting vacancy in the office of Second Vice President shall be appointed by the Board until the next election.
In the event of other vacancies of the Executive Officers prior to the end of their respective terms, the Board of Directors shall approve and appoint a pre-tempore officer to fill this vacancy until the next election.
Removal of any officer or board member shall be for any just and good cause at any time provided such charge is put in writing and presented to the Board of Directors by an active member of the organization. The accuse officer or board member shall have sixty (60) days written notice of the charge and hearing date. The removal of the officer or board member will depend on the outcome of the hearing and require a two-third’s majority vote of board members present.
Should any member of the Board of Directors absent themselves unreasonably from two consecutive meetings without stating a just reason in writing to the Board, the seat may be declared vacant and the Board of Directors may proceed to fill the vacancy according to procedure.
Any officer or member of the Board vacating any seat shall return all properties belonging to the ELECTROLYSIS SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC. within thirty (30) days in order to conduct the governing of the Society without interruption.
ARTICLE V
Duties of Officers
Section 1. President The President shall preside at all meetings of the general membership and executive board, and shall exercise a general supervision over the interests and welfare of the organization.
By virtue of the office, countersign all payment orders and checks drawn by the Treasurer, and see that all books, records, reports certificates as required by law are properly filed and kept.
Appoint all committees not otherwise provided for and shall see that all officers perform their duties.
Enforce the observance of all bylaws and vote to break a tie.
Be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nomination and Grievance Committees and present at each annual meeting an annual report of work and goals of the organization.
Has the authority to call a special meeting, if in the opinion of the President, the special meeting is necessary, provided all members are given fourteen days advance written notice.
Have such powers as may be reasonably construed as belonging to the chief executive of any organization.
After the term of office expires, becomes an advisor on the Board of Directors for the next two years.
Section 2. Vice President The Vice President shall, in order of rank, in the event of the absence or the inability of the President to exercise his office, become acting President of the organization with all the rights, privileges and powers as if they had been the duly elected President.
Section 3. Recording Secretary The Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes and records of the organization in appropriate books.
Prepare the minutes of the General Membership and Executive Board meetings and submit copies of the same to all Board members.
Prepare and present all recommendations of the Executive Board to the General Membership.
Be the official custodian of the records, reports, logo, bylaws and standing rules of this organization.
Exercise all duties incident to the office of Recording Secretary.
Section 4. Corresponding Secretary The Corresponding Secretary shall be the custodian of the Corporate Seal of this organization and properly seal all the certificates and official papers necessary to have the seal imprint on them.
Serve all notices to members and officers of the organization.
Present all communications and attend to all correspondence of the organization and exercise all duties incident to the office of Corresponding Secretary.
Section 5. Treasurer The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all monies belonging to the organization and shall be solely responsible for such monies or securities of the organization.
Record and deposit all organization monies in a designated bank draft by the Treasurer if countersigned by the President.
Allow no special fund to be set aside that shall make it unnecessary for the Treasurer to sign the check issued upon it.
File all certificates required by any statue, Federal or State.
Make all disbursements as directed by the General Membership and Executive Board.
Issue all current membership stickers, identification, as are properly entitled to them.
Exercise all duties incident to the office of Treasurer.
ARTICLE VI
Board of Directors
Section 1. The membership of the Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officers of this organization together with three Directors elected by the Executive Officers.
Section 2. The Director shall be elected for the term of two years. A majority of the Officers shall elect the Directors for the term of office.
Section 3. The Board of Directors shall have the control and management of the affairs and business and shall officially execute the will of this organization as expressed at each meeting by its members.
Section 4. Each Director shall have one vote and such voting may not be done by proxy. The Board of Directors may make such rules and regulations covering its meetings as it may deem necessary according to its discretion. A director may be removed as set forth in Article IV, Section 6, Part C of these Bylaws.
ARTICLE VII
Audit
Section 1. The Board of Directors may call for an audit for the financial records at any time. An audit will be conducted by the Auditing Committee at the end of each term of the Board of Directors, before newly elected officers take office, or whenever the Auditing Committee deems it necessary.
ARTICLE VIII
Committees
Section 1. Designation It shall be the duty and the privilege of the Presidency to select and submit names of standing committee chairmen to the Board of Directors for approval and acceptance.
The President shall be an ex-officio chairman of all committees with the exception of the Nomination Committee, Grievance Committee, and Auditing Committee. The directors shall be directive chairmen of the standing committees.
Section 2. Committee Duties Duties of committees shall be delegated by the Board of Directors. The chairman of each committee may select such additional members as the chairman deems necessary for the function of said committee.
The Nomination Committee shall be comprised of three members, none of whom shall be members of the Board of Directors, elected by the eligible voting members present at the first meeting held in the even year.
The Grievance Committee shall be comprised of three members of the Board of Directors. The First Vice President shall be the presiding officer. The Corresponding Secretary shall be responsible for all communications and scheduling of hearings and the Recording Secretary shall be responsible for documentation of the hearing.
The Auditing Committee shall be elected by the eligible voting members present at the first meeting in the even year. This committee shall be comprised of three members. The Treasurer may be a committee member, but may not chair this committee.
Special Committees may be appointed by the President at any time there is a need for such ad hoc committee and for which there are no provisions in the bylaws or Constitution of this organization.
ARTICLE IX
Meeting and Meeting Places
Section 1. There will be one meeting known as the Annual Meeting held the third weekend in September. There will be an additional meeting held throughout the state on the second weekend of every February thereafter, unless otherwise voted upon at any prior meeting. The locations of such meetings shall be determined at the Annual Meeting by host invitation for the year. Each member shall be notified by mail at least four weeks prior to each meeting, provided they are in good standing, at the address that appears in the membership roll book of this organization.
Section 2. A Board of Directors meeting shall be held before all regular membership meetings throughout the year or whenever necessary.
Section 3. Special membership meetings may be called by the President whenever the President deems it in the best interest of the organization. Provided all members are given fourteen (14) days advance written notice. Special meetings can also be called at the request of six members of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Parliamentary Procedure All meetings of the organization and the Board of Directors shall be conducted according to the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, in cases where they are not consistent with the bylaws adopted by the General Membership of this organization or with the laws of the State of Florida.
Section 5. Carrying a Measure A majority vote will consist of eligible members present and voting and will be necessary to carry any measure.
Section 6. Docket
Call to Order
Roll Call
Membership Report – Accept New Members
Reading of Minutes of Previous Meeting
Treasurer’s Report
Correspondence
General Report - Board of Directors
Reports of Standing Committees
Reports of Other Committees
Old and Unfinished Business
New Business
Location of Next Meeting, Host and Time
Adjournment
ARTICLE X
Membership
Section 1. The membership of the ELECTROLYSIS SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC. shall consist of electrolysis practitioners and/or those who teach or do research or have an active interest and who use equipment and devices approved by the Board of Medicine which have been cleared by and registered with the Federal Food and Drug Administration and that are used pursuant to protocols approved by the Board of Medicine.
Section 2. Classifications
Active Members. Electrologists who are actively participating in the profession of electrolysis by furnishing such service to the general public for consideration. It shall be incumbent upon all active members to operate in conformity with any or all state, county, and local rules and regulation or ordinance pertaining to the service of electrolysis.
Associate Members. Associate membership shall be open to those who have an interest in the profession of electrolysis and are not actively practicing, but maintain a status of good standing in the ELECTROLYSIS SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC. and whose annual dues have been received by the Treasurer. Associate members may have the privilege of voice, but may not vote, hold office, or serve as Directors.
Honorary Members. Honorary membership shall carry none of the obligations or privileges of an Active or Associate membership. The Honorary members shall be entitled to attend all meetings of the ELECTROLYSIS SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC. and shall have the privilege of the floor but not to make motions, vote, hold office, or pay dues.
Provisional Members. Provisional membership shall be open to students of electrolysis who are currently in school or electrologists who are actively participating in the profession of electrolysis who have not met the requirements under Article XI, Section 1, Part c and d. Provisional members may have the privilege of voice, but may not vote, hold office, or serve as Directors.
Section 3. Voting Only Active members of the ELECTROLYSIS SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC. shall have the right to vote and hold office, but all members may have the privilege of the floor in discussions and may offer suggestions.
Section 4. Resignation or Expulsion Any person who has not paid dues, fees, and assessments, has resigned, or has been expelled from the ELECTROLYSIS SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC. agrees to return the membership certificate and any other property belonging to the organization. Any person that is no longer a member in good standing shall not be permitted to use the name, logo, or refer in any type of advertisement or other promotional material that they are a member of the organization. No members shall refer in any advertisement to any past or present office held in the organization.
ARTICLE XI
Eligibility for Membership
Section 1. Fitness
Applicant must file an application form with appropriate fees and information including signature of applicant.
Applicant must be a licensed Florida Electrologist.
Applicant must either maintain or work in a properly licensed facility that provides the service of electrolysis.
Applicant may apply for provisional membership until “c” and “d” above can be complied with.
Section 2. Applicant Procedure Application forms and procedures shall be determined by the Board of Directors at the recommendation of the Membership Committee and can be changed when deemed necessary.
Section 3. Approval
Application forms shall be reviewed by the members of the Membership Committee and after collection of applicable dues and fees and after complete investigations, according to procedure, all applications will then be presented to the Board of Directors for approval and presentation to the General Membership for acceptance.
The Board of Directors or General Membership reserves the right to reject the membership application of any individual whose actions they consider detrimental to the best interests of the organization or profession.
Section 4. Certificates Acceptance to membership in the ELECTROLYSIS SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC. entitles the new member to a Certificate of Membership, which shall be properly signed and sealed and presented to the member, but shall remain the property of the organization.
Section 5. Suspension, Reprimand, Annulment of Membership A member of this organization may be suspended or reprimanded or their membership annulled by the Board of Directors upon any of the following grounds:
That he is guilty of fraud or deceit in the practice of electrolysis.
That he has been convicted of a felony. The conviction of a felony shall be the conviction of any offense, which if committed within the State of Florida would constitute a felony under the laws of the State of Florida.
That he has not attended at least one meeting of the organization within one year.
That he is addicted to the habitual use of intoxication substances or stimulants to such an extent as to incapacitate him from the performance of his professional duties.
That he is guilty of untrue, fraudulent, misleading or deceptive advertising.
Noncompliance with rules, regulations or ethics of this organization.
Section 6. Proceedings of Suspension, Reprimand, Annulment Charges may be made in writing against any member of the ELECTROLYSIS SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC. by any person, either member or non-member, or the Board of Directors. The Grievance Committee shall have as its duties the responsibility of a fair investigation of the grounds and charges. It shall bring its findings and recommendations before the Board of Directors at its earliest possible date. The Board of Directors shall then render its decision, to be presented for a vote by the General Membership.
Notices of the date of hearing must be sent by Certified Mail to all parties at least twenty (20) days before the date fixed for the hearing.
The accused shall have the right to cross-examine the witness against him and to produce witnesses in his defense. The Board may, upon satisfactory proof that the accused is guilty of any of the charges made, recommend the suspension of membership in the organization for a period of one to three years, recommends the annulment of membership in the organization or recommend the issuance of a reprimand.
ARTICLE XII
Funds, Fees, Dues and Assessment
Section 1. Funding Funding shall be by annual payment of dues, application fees, assessments and by the Ways and Means Committee projects or any other means that the Board of Directors may deem expedient. Assessments shall be made of all members when it becomes necessary for same by a two-thirds majority vote of eligible voting members present, provided a written notice has been given fourteen (14) days in advance of meeting to all members.
Section 2. Care and Keeping All funds for the organization shall be in the care and keeping of the Treasurer who shall bank them in a banking institution as prescribed in these Bylaws. No funds of the organization may be appropriated for any purpose except by budget or a majority vote of the membership through the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Application Fee Application Fees shall be determined by the Board of Directors and should cover only costs of processing applications. This fee is not refundable.
Section 4. Dues The amount of yearly dues shall be determined at the annual meeting by majority vote. Membership renewal/drive dates to be from the September meeting through December 1. (Amended February 2011) After that date, a late charge of fifteen (15) dollars will be assessed. If dues are not paid by the following March 15, it will constitute a resignation and a twenty-five (25) dollar reinstatement fee will be imposed in addition to regular dues.
Section 5. Increase in Dues An increase in yearly dues may not exceed ten (10) percent of the previous year’s annual dues and must be accepted by majority membership vote.
ARTICLE XIII
Dissolution of the Organization
If for any reason the ELECTROLYSIS SOCIETY OF FLORIDA, INC. be dissolved, the disposition of all funds in its possession and all its assets shall be distributed only for the purposes within the scope of the Internal Revenue Code, Section 501-C. No funds shall enure to any member or officer of the organization.
ARTICLE XIV
Amendment to the Bylaws
The Bylaws may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the General Membership by:
A 2/3 majority vote of eligible voting members present, provided a thirty (30) day advance written notification of each amendment has been given, or
A 3/4 majority vote of eligible voting members present, if 60% of the membership is present, when prior written notification has not been given.