NORTH TEXAS NURSE PRACTITIONERS/DALLAS AREA
PROPOSED CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

ARTICLE I:   Name

The name of this organization shall be North Texas Nurse Practitioners/Dallas Area, hereinafter referred to as NTNP/DA.

ARTICLE II:  Purpose

The purpose of NTNP/DA shall be to provide a forum in the local area for networking and support of nurses in advanced roles or preparing themselves for practice in advanced roles. The focus of the organization shall be legislative, education, community involvement and student support.

ARTICLE III:  Membership

The regular members of NTNP shall be composed of nurse practitioners that pay dues, who may vote and who may hold office.

Associate members are those individuals or groups who are interested in promoting the role of advanced practice nurses. Associate members shall pay dues and may have a voice through their service on committees and in appointed positions. They will not have voting privileges.

Student members are those individuals who are preparing themselves for advanced roles. Student members shall pay dues and may have a voice through their service on committees and in appointed positions. They will have voting privileges, but may not serve on the board.

ARTICLE IV:  Annual Dues

The Executive Committee, with the approval of the membership, shall establish annual dues. The membership year is from January 1 to December 31. Membership dues shall be paid annually; if paid within a calendar year, membership will expire on December 31.

ARTICLE V: Officers

The elected officers shall be voting members of NTNP shall take office January 1, and shall consist of president, president-elect, secretary, and treasurer.

The president shall lead the executive committee, preside at membership meetings and serve for one year.

The president-elect shall succeed the president, be elected yearly, function as president in the president’s absence and serve for one year.

The secretary shall take office in even years, keep minutes of business, membership, and executive board meetings and serve for two years. All such minutes shall be made available for executive committee review and approval. The secretary shall serve as correspondent for the organization and maintain official documents and files of NTNP.

The treasurer shall take office in odd years, receive funds of the NTNP, deposit such funds in the NTNP bank account, disperse funds for payment of expenses and serve for two years. Approval of expenses shall be determined by a quorum of the executive committee. Periodic audits shall be required for which the executive committee shall give the treasurer a minimum of one (1) month’s notice.

Newly elected officers shall receive an orientation from the outgoing officers.

Succession to the presidency shall be (in order) president-elect, then secretary, and then treasurer.

ARTICLE VI: Elections

Elections shall be held annually during the last quarter of the year and shall be accomplished by ballots. Results of the election will be announced at the last general membership meeting of the year.

The president, subject to the approval of the executive board, shall appoint vacancies within a term of office with the exception of the office of president-elect.

ARTICLE VII: Membership Meetings

The executive board shall establish meetings of the membership.

All business, except that specifically designated in the bylaws, shall be decided by a majority vote of all voting members present at general, executive, membership or business meetings.

Roberts’ Rules of Order shall govern business at meetings.

ARTICLE VIII: Committees 

The executive committee (executive board) shall consist of the elected officers and chairpersons of the standing committees, current special committees, and the Texas Nurse Practitioner area representative.

Appointed committee chairpersons shall serve for one year. All chairpersons of standing committees and special committees shall maintain liaison with the executive board.

The president shall appoint special committees, will define the committee’s responsibilities at the time of appointment and will dissolve the committee upon completion of the defined tasks.

Program Chair (Committee) shall coordinate and plan programs for membership meetings.

Legislative Chair (Committee) shall coordinate activities relating to legislative interests of membership and prepare a report for each general membership meeting.

Scholarship Chair (Committee) shall coordinate activities relating to the support and encouragement of students enrolled in advanced practice nursing programs.

Community Relations Chair (Committee) shall coordinate and report on community activities of interest to advanced practice nurses.

Membership Chair (Committee) shall update and maintain the official membership list and provide current membership list to the secretary and program chair quarterly.

Nominations Chair (Committee) shall prepare a slate of nominees for elected offices annually, supervise the distribution of ballots to regular members for vote, and affirm the results of the election.

ARTICLE IX: Dissolution

Upon dissolution of this organization, all financial holdings will be donated to the Texas Nurse Practitioner Foundation.

ARTICLE X: Amendments

The executive board shall review the bylaws annually. Proposed amendments to the bylaws shall be submitted to the executive board for review.

Proposed amendments shall be submitted for review of all regular members by mail 30 days before consideration for acceptance.

Approval of proposed amendments shall be by majority vote of regular members present at either a general membership or business meeting.


Amended 07/10/07