CONSTTUTION AND BYLAWS
NORTHEAST REGION FEDERAL PROBATION OFFICERS ASSOCIATION
PREAMBLE
We, the members of the Federal Probation Officers' Association, Incorporated, Northeast Region, recognizing the crucial need to reduce the incidence of crime and delinquency in a democratic society, and with the belief that it is in the "public interest to improve public service through association in a professionally organized group in pursuit of a common interest, and subscribing to the belief that it is necessary to provide:
1. An opportunity to maintain high professional personnel standards,
2. An avenue for advocating appropriate economic status for its members,
3. A medium through which members may function together in matters of mutual professional concern, and
4. Means to provide a program of public relations and public information in order to build and maintain an enlightened public interest in the proper administration of probation. parole, and other correctional services,
Do hereby resolve to unite. In common efforts as herein set forth.
ARTICLE I
Name
Section 1. Name
The name of this organization shall be The Federal. Probation Officers' Association, Northeast Region.
ARTICLE II
Organization
Section 1. Organization
The association shall consist of the Federal Judicial Districts in the following: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island and Vermont.
ARTICLE III
Purpose and Powers
Section 1. Purposes
The purposes of this organization are:
1. To engage in the primary activity of maintaining a Northeast Regional organization consisting of individual members and chapters of Federal Probation Officers, Pretrial Service Officers and Probation Officer Assistants, operating pursuant to the Constitution and Bylaws of the parent organization, Federal Probation Officers' Association, Inc.
2. To clarify, strengthen and support the goals and objectives of the Federal Probation Officers' Association, Inc.
3. To strive for and encourage uniformly high standards of personal and professional conduct and performance.
4. To collect and disseminate to al1members and chapters pertinent information relating to federal probation and parole and publicize to the chapters and members, legislation, administrative order and other procedures that may affect chapter or member performance.
5. To promote regional and chapter conferences, seminars and workshops for the exchange of probation and parole knowledge, experience and philosophy attendant thereto, supplying other federal crimina1 justice agencies with information and assistance in matters relating to federa1 probation, paro1e and corrections.
6. To establish and maintain appropriate activities and ancillary services for the common benefit of chapters and individual members.
Section 2. Powers
1. To establish a dues schedule, if needed, and provide means of collecting such money as may be necessary and essential to meet the requirements of this organization.
2. To establish, maintain and operate such offices in the Northeast Region of the United States as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out any of the foregoing objectives and goals.
3. To do all other acts necessary or expedient for the administration of the affairs of the organization and/or the attainment of any of the objects or purposes therein after specified.
ARTICLE IV
Membership
Section 1. Members
Members of this Region shall be classified and defined as follows:
1. Regular active membership is limited to those United States Probation Officers, Pretrial Services Officers and Probation Officer Assistants with headquarters within the Judicial Districts of the Northeast Region who are in good standing in the parent organization, Federal Probation Officers' Association, Inc.
2. Honorary Members include any person or recognized group contributing in some distinctive manner to the Federal Probation Officers' Association and have been so designated by resolution of the Officers of the Region or the Members of the Region acting in regular meeting.
Section 2. Application for Membership
Any Federal Probation Officer, Pretrial Service Officer or Probation Officer Assistant with official headquarters in the Judicial Districts enumerated above shall be eligible for active membership in this association without filing application for membership. All applications for Honorary Membership shall be filed with the Secretary of the Region on a form provided by said Region. The Secretary shall forthwith acknowledge receipt thereof and shall at the next meeting of the Officers of the Region present said app1ications disposition.
Section 3. Admission to Membership - Honorary Members
Honorary Membership is accomplished by resolution of the Officers of the Region or the Members of the Region acting in regular meeting.
Section 4. Representation at Region Meetings
All classes of members shall have the right to attend Region meetings and to participate in discussions, but only Regular Members shall have the right to vote on matters affecting the Association.
ARTICLE V
Meeting of Members
Section 1. Purpose
The annual Meeting may carryon and transact any business for the common good of the membership and such other business enjoined upon the membership of the Region by these Bylaws.
Section 2. Annual Meeting, Date of
When possible the Annual Meeting of this Region shall be held in conjunction with advanced Regional training seminars, or on such day or days as shall be fixed by Officers of the Region.
Section 3. Annual Meeting, Place of
The place of each Annual Meeting shall be determined by the Officers of the Region reasonably prior to the date said Annual Meeting is to be held, in keeping, when possible, within the constraints specified in Section 2.
Section 4. Annual Meeting, Notice of
When possible, and at least 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting of this Region, the President of the Region shall give written notice of such Annual Meeting to all members, which shall set forth the agenda, day, hour and place of said Meeting.
Section 5. Voting Rights
At all meetings of this Region, each Regular Member in good standing shall be entitled to one vote.
Section 6. Proxies
No Proxy to any person shall be valid at any meeting of this Region.
Section 7. Quorum
A Quorum shall consist of representatives in attendance at a meeting of the Region from a majority of the Judicia1 Districts comprising this Region.
Section 8. Elections
Any election held at any meeting of the members of this Region shall be by secret ballot, except where there is only one nominee for the office or offices to be filled. Whenever practical, election of officers shall be conducted by mail ballot.
Section 9. Special Meetings
Special Meetings of the members of this Region shall be called upon the written request of Regular Members numbering one-tenth of the number of Regular Active Members from a majority of the Judicial Districts comprising this Region, as fixed on the date the written request is filed with the Secretary of the Region, or as called by the President with the approval of the Regional Board.
Section 10. Notice of Special Meetings of Members
Each Regular Member shall be entitled to 15 days notice of any and all Special Meetings of the Members. Notice of a Special Meeting of the members shall contain a statement of the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called and only the business specified in such call shall be acted upon at said meeting.
Section ll. Rules of Order at Meetings
At all meetings of this Region, its officers or committees, except as otherwise provided in the Bylaws, ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER shall govern any question of the Parliamentary procedure.
Section 12. Order of Business
The Order of Business of the Annual Meeting of this Region shall be:
1. Registration and determination of a quorum.
2. Agenda.
3. Reading and approval of the minutes of the last meeting.
4. Report of the President.
5. Report of the Secretary.
6. Report of the Treasurer.
7. Report of the Standing and Special Committees.
8. Unfinished business.
9. New business.
10. Adjournment.
ARTICLE VI
Fiscal Year
Section 1. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Region shall be the calendar year.
ARTICLE VII
Income and Capital
The income and capital of this Region shall be in part derived from donations, gifts, profit from any business activity of said Region, or income derived from any organization with which the Region is or becomes affiliated. Additionally, the Region shall receive annually from the Treasurer of the parent organization, Federal Probation Officers' Association, Inc., a budgetary allowance as authorized by the National Executive Board.
All such funds will be held in trust by the National Treasurer to be appropriated upon demand to meet Regional operating expenses as authorized by the Regional President and Treasurer.
ARTICLE VIII
Dues
Section 1. Dues, Members subject to
All Regular Members of the Northeast Region, other than Honorary Members, shall support Region incurred expenses through payment of National Association dues.
Section 2. Supplemental Dues, amount of
Supplemental annual dues of Regular Members of this Region, if any, shall be fixed by said members at the Annual Meeting of the Region.
Section 3. Dues, Collection of
Upon the adoption of the supp1emental dues by and at the Annual Meeting of the members of this Region, the Treasurer of the Region shall render a statement of dues to' each member.
Section 4. Dues, When Due and Payable
The National dues of Regular Members, and supplemental dues if authorized, in this Region shall become payable at the first of each calendar year and shall become delinquent the following October 31.
Section 5. Penalty for Nonpayment of Dues
Members delinquent in the payment of National or Region dues shall automatically be suspended forthwith from membership; said Members will not be entitled to vote in National or Regional elections or receive the attendant benefits of regular membership until such time as their membership is activated by payment of current dues only. (Any person who is not a member of the National Organization cannot be a member of the Regional Organization).
ARTICLE IX
Officers
Section 1. Officers Enumerated
The Officers of this Region shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, and they shall be known as the Regional Board. Further, the President shall be known as National Regional Vice-President and Regional Representative to the National Executive Board.
Section 2. Officers, Qualification and Election of
The Officers described in Section 1 hereof shall be elected by the membership of the Region by mail ballot.
Section 3. President - Elect
In addition to the title Region Vice-President, the person so elected shall be known as President - Elect. If, for any reason the President is unable to complete the term of office, said Vice-President shall be deemed elected a President for the balance of the term.
Section 4. Term of Office
Unless their offices have been declared vacant, all Officers of this Region shall serve a term of three years or until their successors are elected by the membership by mail ballot. Installation of officers shall occur at the Annual Meeting of the membership or upon written notification from the ballot committee chairperson so designated by the President.
Section 5. Compensation of Officers
No compensation shall be paid to any Officer of this Region. Expenses actual1y incurred on Region business will be reimbursed to officers pursuant to ru1es established by the National Executive Board.
Section 6. Removal from Office
Any elected Officer of the Northeast Region may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the regu1ar membership from a majority of the Judicial Districts comprising this Region. Said vote to be conducted by mail ballot or at a special meeting of said Region called for that specific purpose.
Section 7. Vacancies
All Officer vacancies of this Region described in Section 1 hereof may be filled by a mail ballot of the membership for the unexpired term of such office or by temporary appointment by the President or President-Elect.
Section 8. Duties of Officers
1. The President shall act as chairperson at all meetings of the Region and of the Regional Board. The President shall likewise coordinate all activities of the Region. The President shall be a member ex officio of all committees.
2. The Vice-President, in the absence of the President, shall act in the President's stead.
3. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings and carryon the necessary correspondence, as well as all non-fiscal records of the Region, and keep the membership advised of the actions of the Regional Board.
4. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Region, shall be responsible for the custody and disbursement of the Regions funds and other assets; shall be custodian of the financial records of the Region, and shall have charge of the investment of the Regions funds, subject to direction and approval of the Regional Board. The Treasurer shall give such bond for the faithful discharge of duties as the Regional Board may require, at the expense of the Region, and shall perform such duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Regional Board. The Treasurer shall also be responsible for the maintaining of the membership list.
ARTICLE X
Amendments
Section 1. Amendments
An Amendment to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Region may be proposed by the Regional Board or by a petition in writing signed by at least ten-percent of the members of the Region from a majority of the Judicial Districts comprising this Region. The President shall provide for a mail ballot to be completed within sixty day. Two-thirds majority of the members eligible to vote shall be necessary for approval. Any amendment so approved shall take effect thirty days after the completion of balloting unless a later date is specified in the amendment.
ARTICLE XI
Adoption
Section 1. Adoption
The Constitution and Bylaws shall become effective upon ratification by two-thirds majority vote of Regular Members in good standing of this Region, as enumerated in Article IV of this Constitution.
ARTICLE XII
Chapter Organization
Section 1. It is the intent of this Article to encourage the independent development and growth of local Chapters within the Region consistent with the provisions of the Constitution and purposes of the National Association; to permit them the maximum opportunities for the fullest expression of their membership.
Section 2. A local Chapter may be formed by any number of members in good standing whose residence or job location is in any Judicial District within the Northeast Regional boundaries. No Judicial District shall have more than one Chapter. No member shall belong to more than one Chapter.
Section 3. Chapter officers shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the members of the Chapter, and shall hold office for the period of two fiscal years. Elections shall be conducted according to the Bylaws of the Chapter.
Section 4. Each Chapter shall establish Bylaws to conduct the business of the Chapter.
Section 5. The Bylaws shall be consistent with the purposes of the National Association and intent of the Constitution, and shall be first approved by the Regional Board and the National Executive Board.
Section 6. Chapters may establish such committees as are necessary for the furthering of the business or programming of the Chapter.
Section 7. Programs, projects or statements made in the name of the Region or National Association shall receive prior approval from the Regional or National President or their designate.
Section 8. Chapters may levy assessments or raise money for purposes which are consistent with the purposes of the National Association as stated in Article III of the Constitution. Such monies remain in the Chapter treasury and are to be accounted for as set forth in the Bylaws of the Chapter.
Section 9. Chapters are formed by petition through the Regional Board to the National Executive Board. Such petition shall contain a statement requesting a Charter, the District Location, the recommended Bylaws, the names of the Officers-Elect, and the names of the petitioning members. The National Executive Board shall grant the Charter unless the petition is not consistent with the requirements as set forth in the Regional and National Constitution and bylaws. The Chapter shall be activated and the Officers-Elect take office at the beginning of the following fiscal year.
Section 10. Annual dues of Regular Members of this Chapter shall be fixed by said members at the Annual Meeting of the Chapter: Payable in addition to National Association Dues, which is a prerequisite for Chapter membership.
Section 11. If in the determination of the National Executive Board, a Chapter consistently fails to meet the requirements of this Article or other Constitution or Bylaws provision, the Executive Board may disestablish said Chapter in the best interest of the Federal Probation Officers' Association, Inc.
Section 12. Upon disestablishment of a Chapter, all official authority and function of officers of said Chapter terminate forthwith and any and all monies of the Chapter shall revert to the Regional treasury.
(Created at some time after 1978 and before 1993).
