Bylaws
MidEastern Pennsylvania Chapter of AORN

Article I

Name

Article II

Purposes

1. To unite registered professional operating room nurses for the purpose of maintaining an Association dedicated to the constant endeavor of promoting the highest professional standards of perioperative nursing practice for the optimum care of the patient before, during and after surgery;
2. To provide opportunity for continuous learning through diversified educational activities;
3. To study, discuss, research and exchange information in the field of perioperative nursing;
4. To hold meetings at intervals for the purposes of this Association;
5. To cooperate lawfully with other professional associations, health care facilities, universities, industries, technical societies, research organizations and governmental agencies in matters affecting the foregoing purposes of the Association;
6. To otherwise lawfully adopt policies and conduct programs for the improvement of perioperative nursing practice provided that the policies and programs are consistent with the requirements that the Association is not organized for profit and no part of its earnings inure to individuals.

Article III

Membership and Dues

1. CHAPTER MEMBER: A registered, professional nurse who supports the mission of AORN living in an area where a chapter exists.
   
   
2. MEMBER AT LARGE: A registered professional nurse who supports the mission of AORN living in an area where a chapter does not exist.
   
   
3. RETIRED: A retired, registered, professional nurse who supports the mission of AORN.
   1. Qualifies to be a member at large.
   2. If a chapter membership is selected, applicable chapter dues may be assessed.
   
   
4. STUDENT: An individual pursuing education leading to eligibility to sit for the registered nurse licensing examination.
   1. Qualifies to be a member at large.
   2. If a chapter membership is selected, applicable chapter dues may be assessed.
   3. May not hold elective office.
   4. May not serve as a delegate to the AORN House of Delegates.
   
   
5. ASSOCIATE: An individual who supports the mission of AORN and who is primarily engaged in one of the following professions: health care industry representative, central service professional, physician, health care administrator, perioperative and facility material management, informatics personnel or pharmacist.
   1. Qualifies to be a member at large.
   2. If a chapter membership is selected, applicable chapter dues may be assessed.
   3. May not hold elective office.
   4. May not serve as a delegate to the AORN House of Delegates.
   5. This is a non-voting category.
   
   

1. The Board of Directors may terminate a membership for failure to meet membership requirements, provided the member was offered an opportunity to have an unprejudiced hearing if requested at which the member was permitted to defend against termination.
2. If terminated, a member may be allowed to rejoin by the Board of Directors after demonstrating eligibility for membership.

1. Annual membership dues in this Association are determined by the Board of Directors, and are subject to ratification by the membership.
2. Dues shall be paid according to established policy.
3. Delinquency: Any member whose dues are not received by the last working day of the member's renewal month, is automatically terminated as a member, and all privileges of the Association are withdrawn.

Article IV

Delegates

Article V

Meetings

Article VI

Official Publication

Article VII

Parliamentary Authority

Article VIII

Fiscal Year

Article IX

Officers

1. President: Serves as the official representative of the Association and presides at all meetings of the Association and the Board of Directors.
   
2. President-elect: Observes and assists the President in preparation for assuming the duties and responsibilities of that office.
   
3. Vice President: Performs the duties of the President in the absence or inability of the President to act.
   
4. Secretary: Maintains records of the proceedings of all business meetings of the Association and Board of Directors.
   
5. Treasurer: Monitors the fiscal affairs of the Association and provides reports and interpretation to the membership and the Board of Directors.
   

Article X

Board of Directors

1. The Board of Directors shall meet during a time and at a place determined by mutual agreement of the Board of Directors.
2. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President or upon written request of five members of the Board of Directors.
3. Three members of the Board, two of whom are officers, constitute a quorum.

Article XI

Nominating Committee, Nominations, Eligibility, Elections, Terms of Office, Vacancies, Removal

1. The Nominating Committee consists of at least three members. One member is elected in the even numbered years and two in the odd numbered years, each serving a term of two (2) years.
2. The immediate past President will automatically become a non-voting member of the committee for a term of one (1) year, following the term of office as President.

1. The Nominating Committee prepares and presents a slate of candidates to serve in elected capacity.
2. The Nominating Committee prepares and presents a list of eligible nominees for election as delegates to the National AORN Congress.
3. Nominations for elected officers may be made from the floor at the time the slate is presented, provided that eligibility has been verified and nominee completes a "Willingness to Serve" form.

1. To be eligible for elected office as a member of the Board of Directors or a member of the Nominating Committee, a nominee must currently provide or have previously provided perioperative nursing care that addresses(ed) the needs of the patient preoperatively, intraoperatively or postoperatively.
2. To be eligible for the office of President, President-elect, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Board of Directors, a nominee must have current membership in the Association and be active for at least one (1) year immediately prior to nomination.
3. To be eligible for the office of President-elect or Vice President, a nominee must have served one (1) year as a member of the Board of Directors.
4. The members of the Nominating Committee may not be listed as candidates for election on a slate that they have prepared.

1. The Officers, Board of Directors, and Nominating Committee shall be elected by written ballot at the annual meeting, and plurality elects. In case of a tie, an additional ballot will be completed to break the tie.
2. Any member holding an elective office may not be a candidate for another office unless the current term of the member expires at the impending annual election.

1. The President-elect is elected every year, serves in the capacity for one (1) year and then automatically becomes President for a term of one (1) year.
2. The Treasurer and two (2) members of the Board of Directors shall be elected in the odd numbered years for a term of two (2) years and shall serve until their successors have assumed office.
3. The Vice President, Secretary and two (2) members of the Board of Directors shall be elected in the even numbered years for a term of two (2) years and shall serve until their successors have assumed office.
4. The term of office begins at the adjournment of the June meeting at which they have been installed.
5. No officer or member of the Board of Directors shall serve more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office.

1. President: The Vice President immediately assumes office.
2. President-elect and Vice President: A vacancy is filled by a vote of the Board of Directors from a slate submitted by the Nominating Committee. Eligibility requires nominee to have served at least one (1) year as a member of the Board of Directors.
3. The Board of Directors fills all other vacancies.
4. Any member filling a vacancy for an unexpired term of one (1) year or more is deemed to have served one (1) term.

1. Any elected official, regardless of the manner of election or appointment, may be removed by the membership by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote; whenever, in its judgement, the best interests of the Association would be served thereby, provided the elected official, upon request, was offered an opportunity to have an unprejudiced hearing at which elected official was permitted to defend against the termination.

Article XII

Meetings - Quorum

1. The number of meetings per year, the months in which they are to be held, and the time and place, is determined by mutual agreement of the Board of Directors and the membership. At this revision, monthly except July and August.
2. Notices of the monthly meetings will be sent to the membership and will be available on the chapter web site.
3. Ten percent (10%) of the membership, including three members of the Board of Directors, constitutes a quorum for a business meeting.

1. A special general membership meeting may be called by the President or by request of a majority of the Board of Directors, or by request of a quorum of the membership
2. The membership shall be notified at least five (5) days prior to the called special meeting.
3. The call shall state the purpose of the meeting, the time and place and no business other than stated in the call may be transacted.
4. Ten (10) percent of the membership, including three (3) members of the Board of Directors, constitutes a quorum.

Article XIII

Committees

1. The standing committees of the Association are: Bylaws and Policies; Education/Scholarship; Historian; Legislative; Membership; Newsletter/Website; Program; and Ways and Means.
2. The purpose and duties of these committees are listed in Policies.

1. Special committees may be appointed by the President and cease to exist when the purpose for which they were created is completed.

Article XIV

Amendments

1. Amendments to these Bylaws may be made at any regular meeting, provided that the proposed amendments have been submitted to all members at least thirty (30) days prior to the vote.
2. Amendments to the Bylaws requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting.

Article XV

Dissolution