Constitution and Bylaws of

New York State

Association of Auxiliary Police

Adopted October 20, 2001

ARTICLE I NAME

The name of this organization shall be the New York State Association of Auxiliary Police, Inc; hereinafter referred to as the "Association". This Association is a non-profit corporation, organized and existing pursuant to the Not-For-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York, and its Certificate of Incorporation has been filed with the Secretary of State, with the due consent of the appropriate authorities.

ARTICLE II PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE

The primary purpose and objective of the Association is to promote and improve the benefits of its members, promote the understanding and cooperation between members of the Association and the professional law enforcement agencies with whom they interact, and promote the value of auxiliary police programs to the communities they serve.

The secondary purpose and objective of the Association shall be to set a standard to allow Auxiliary Units to be organized in municipalities, many of which may not have such organizations as of yet, and to assist in legislation that may need to be set or amended.

The Association shall have the general powers set forth in Section 202 of the Not-for-Profit Corporation Law of the State of New York, and the powers set forth in this Constitution and Bylaws.

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP

Membership in this Association shall consist of three (3) types. First, Active Membership must be a member of an officially recognized auxiliary police organization in the State of New York or a uniformed volunteer member of a law enforcement agency in the State of New York serving without compensation. Second, Associate Membership is open to any person or organization who shares or supports the Association and its goals. Third, Honorary Membership is open to those individuals who are nominated by the Association's regional committee and approved by the Association's Executive Board.

To become a member an individual must execute and provide to the Association dues in a form prescribed by the Association upon application approval. Individuals granted membership in the Association shall maintain their status as members in good standing by maintaining their dues obligation and by upholding this Constitution and Bylaws.

ARTICLE IV ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE BOARD OFFICERS

The officers of the Association shall constitute the Executive Board. The existing Executive Board Officers shall remain in office until the first election. The first election for Executive Board Officers shall take place not more than one (2) years after a Certification of Incorporation has been filed with the State of New York. The term of office thereafter shall be four (4) years for all Executive Board Officers. Not less than sixty (60) days prior to the date established for the election of Executive Board Officers, the Association shall call upon the membership to submit nominations for Executive Board Officers to the Election Committee.

The Election Committee shall review all nominations submitted and verify that said nominee(s) are eligible to run for and hold an Executive Board office. The Election Committee shall notify all prospective candidates of their eligibility status not more than twenty (20) days after the nomination(s) were received by the Election Committee. Elections shall be by mail ballot, members shall have thirty (30) days to return ballots, and ballots shall be counted immediately following said thirty (30) day period.

In order for an Executive Board candidate to be victorious at an election, he/she must receive a majority of all votes cast ( 50% +1 vote ) . If none of the candidate(s) receive a majority of all votes cast, a second ( runoff ) election will be conducted within two (2) weeks after the first election between the two candidates receiving the most votes in that election.

Eligibility to be nominated for and elected to hold office as an Executive Board officer in the Association shall be extended to any active member at least twenty-one (21) years of age who, at the time of nomination:

1. 1. Has been an active member of the Association in continuous good standing for a period of one (1) consecutive year as of the date of the election;
   2. Has not been otherwise disqualified under any provisions as set forth in this Constitution.

3. 1. All the above does not apply at the creation of the Association until January 1, 2003.

ARTICLE V ELECTION OF REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES

Elections for Region Representatives shall be held for each region of New York State (there are 6 regions encompassing multiple counties), as soon as practicable and in any event not more than sixty (60) days following certification of the Association, and the term of office for Region Representatives shall be four (4) years. Except for the initial election, to be eligible to run for and hold office as a Regional Rep, one must be an active member in continuous good standing for no less than six (6) consecutive months. The Regional Representative may appoint 1 or more assistants per county to assist with certain duties.

In the event that a vacancy occurs during a Regional Representative’s regular term of office, the next in command of that Regional Board shall take over office for the remainder of the regular term.

Elections for officers and officials of the Association shall be conducted in accordance with the following procedures:

ARTICLE VI DUES

The dues for Active Members shall be Twenty ($20.00) Dollars per year. Dues for Associate Members shall be Fifteen ($15.00) Dollars per year. There shall be no dues for Honorary Members.

ARTICLE VII THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

The Executive Board shall be the managing body of the Association and shall consist

of a President, a Vice-President, a Treasurer, Secretary, Sergeant at Arms, and 6 Regional Representatives.

The Executive Board shall have general supervision and control over the day to day affairs of the Association, and for the implementation of policies adopted by the Executive Board. Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution and Bylaws, all decisions of the Executive Board shall require a vote of the majority of the Executive Board. Each Executive Board member shall have one (1) vote. A quorum of the Executive Board shall be six (6) members.

The Executive Board shall meet at least once bi-yearly at the call of the President or by a majority of the Executive Board, provided however, that all members of the Executive Board are provided sufficient notice of said meeting and the opportunity to attend. The President shall chair Executive Board meetings. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall be the chairperson. In the absence of the President and the Vice-President, the President's designee shall be the chairperson. The Executive Board shall designate a meeting during the month of May each year as the annual meeting of the Executive Board of the Association.

D. Attendance at Meetings.

Any one or more members of the Executive Board or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Executive Board or the committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

E. Action Without Meeting.

Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Executive Board or by any committee of the Executive Board may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Executive Board or of the committee consent in writing (or e-mail) to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Executive Board or of the Committee.

In the event that a vacancy occurs during the regular term of office of an Executive Board member, the Executive Board shall call for a special election to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the regular term.

The Association constitutes members of volunteer organizations, and therefore do not receive a salary or any other benefits.

The Treasurer shall reimburse a member of the Executive Board for expenses incurred during regular Association dealings.

Prior to a meeting, The President of the Association shall issue an agenda for said meeting.

ARTICLE VIII COMMITTEES

The Association shall have the following standing committees:

1. 1. Election Committee.
   2. Budget Committee.

6. 1. Constitution and Bylaws Committee.
   2. Political Action Committee.
   3. Membership Committee.

The purpose of each committee shall be to research, review, recommend, propose and advise the Executive Board on matters falling within the purview of their respective committee. The committee(s) shall have the right to bring its recommendations and/or proposals before the Executive Board for consideration.

The duties and responsibilities of each committee shall be determined by the Executive Board except as specified in this Constitution and Bylaws.

Committee members shall serve a two (2) year term. There is no limitation on the number of terms a committee member may serve, except as specifically provided in this Constitution and Bylaws.

All committees shall consist of at least seven (7) members. At least one member of each committee shall be an Executive Board member. The Executive Board member selected for each committee shall allow for volunteers to become part of said committee.

Each committee shall designate a chairperson and recording secretary from among the committee members except the Finance Committee which shall be chaired by the Treasurer.

If a committee member appointed by the Executive Board is unable to complete his/her term, the Executive Board shall appoint a new delegate to fill the vacancy. Should no candidate accept the position, the committee shall select a member of the Executive Board to complete the unexpired term of the vacated position. If the vacated committee position was appointed by an Executive Board member, the vacated position shall be filled by that Executive Board member appointing a candidate.

The Finance Committee shall have the responsibility, among other things, to make recommendations to the Executive Board concerning the dues of Association personnel, reimbursement of expenses, and policies and procedures for distribution of funds to the regions for their operating expenses.

The Executive Board may establish additional special committees as it deems necessary, provided that special committee(s) shall conform to the guidelines set forth in this Constitution and Bylaws.

ARTICLE IX MEETINGS

Statewide general membership meetings may be called by the Executive Board or by a petition filed with the Executive Board and signed by a minimum of ten (10) percent of the active membership in good standing. The President or his/her designee shall chair such meetings.

The Executive Board shall determine the date, time and place for such a meeting in accordance with stipulations contained herein (if any). The Secretary shall cause to be made a posting at each region that notifies the membership of the date, time, purpose and location of the statewide general membership meeting. This posting shall be made no less than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the general membership meeting taking place. A statewide general membership meeting shall not occur within twelve (12) months of the last statewide general membership meeting.

The primary purpose of regional meetings is to disseminate information to the membership, solicit input on issues affecting the members in that region, and to resolve disputes that arise at the region level. The Regional Representative or his/her designee shall chair all such meetings.

It shall be the responsibility of the individual Regional Representative (s) to hold regular Association meetings for their membership. Such meetings are to be held no less than one (1) time per calendar year at times which will provide full opportunity for members to attend and provide input concerning region and Association business.

Votes taken and decisions made at the region meetings must be such that their impact does not affect other Association members in other regions, and are not contrary to this Constitution and Bylaws, or rules, regulations, policies, and shall be deemed null and void if the decisions do not comply with these requirements.

At all region meetings ten (10) percent of the region membership will be required to constitute a quorum and shall be qualified to transact business brought before it.

In the event that a quorum does not exist at a regional meeting, the membership in attendance may conduct business, provided however, that all such business is non-binding upon the region membership until the following occurs:

If said minutes are adopted by a majority vote of those members in attendance, those matters so decided at the previous meeting shall be binding upon the body, provided however, that they comply with Association policies, procedures, this Constitution and Bylaws and applicable law.