ARTICLE V

Committees & Representatives

Section 1:        This Association shall have the following permanent standing committees: Grievance Committee, Fund-raising Committee, Training Committee, and Maintenance Committee.

Section 2:        The Grievance Committee shall be composed of the Vice-President as Chair, with two regular members selected bi-annually each odd calendar year by the membership.

Section 3:        The Fund-raising committee shall be composed of three or more members. The Association president shall be an ex-officio member.  The committee members shall be volunteers appointed annually at the business meeting following the annual dance.

Section 4:        The Training Committee shall consist of the Assistant Chief and the Captain. The Chief shall supervise as an ex-officio member.

Section 5:        The Maintenance Committee shall consist of the Lieutenant as Supervising Officer. Members will be selected annually at random, by the Chief, for each vehicle, mounted equipment, and the SCBAs and refilling system. Usually two or more members will work on any given responsibility.

Section 6:        The EMS Association Representatives shall consist of two member, and two alternates, one pair to act as the fire department voting representative to the Winneshiek County EMS Association; the second pair representing the EMS Responders. These representative members, and the alternates, shall be selected annually at the January business meeting. The representatives, or the alternates, shall represent the Frankville Fire Fighters Associations and EMS Responders interests at the EMS meetings, and shall report monthly on the actions of the EMS Association.

Section 7:        Dry Hydrant Maintenance & Dry Hydrant Planning & Construction Committees shall consist of three or more members each. The Chief shall be an ex-officio member of the Planning and Construction Committee. The Committees shall function as their title implies, assuring a well located and well-functioning water supply is available to all Frankville properties.

Section 8:        All regular company firefighters will be assigned to at least one or more committees.

Section 9:        Duties and Responsibilities of each committee may be further delineated or delegated under particular sections of the Association By-Laws or under recommended operating guidelines (ROP).

ARTICLE VI

Voting Rights & Voting

Section 1:        Each active regular member of the Association has the right to cast a vote in any matter presented to the Association at a stated or special business meeting.

Section 2:        Reserve members, members of the Cadet Company, and probationary members are not permitted to vote on Association matters. Any one, who was a regular member at the ratification time of this constitution, September 1, 2004, and moved later into the reserve company, shall retain the right to vote on business matters. Any one who joins the department after September 1, 2004, as a regular member and later moves to the reserve company shall forfeit their voting privilege. If that member returns to the regular company, the voting right shall be restored.

Section 3:         EMS personnel that are members of the Reserve Company shall have the right to speak

                           and be heard and to vote on all matters related to EMS or medical response, or that may

                          affect their response and service to this Association.

Section 4:        The president of the Association will not normally vote on any matter except to break a tie. However, if the president desires to vote on approval of a membership application, that officer may do so. If the resulting vote ends in a tie, then the application vote shall be presumed to have failed, as it did not receive more than fifty percent of the quorum present.

Section 5:        All votes shall normally be by a vote of aye or nay. If a query is called, then a show of hands shall be required to determine the tally.

Voting for membership application, promotion from probationary to regular membership, and the bi-annual vote for selection of officers shall be by secret ballot.

ARTICLE VIII

Amendments to the Constitution & By-Laws

Section 1:        Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws shall be presented in writing at any business meeting. The amendment may be discussed but no vote shall be taken at that meeting. A copy of the proposed amendment, or change, shall be posted on the station bulletin board following that business meeting. The president shall post a special announcement that this matter will be presented for a vote at the next stated business meeting.

                        At the next stated business meeting, the proposed amendment or change shall be presented for a vote. The amendment shall pass by a simple majority of those present of the constituted required quorum.

Section 2:        Amendments shall be noted as changed- Any Part, Article, or Section of this Constitution and By-Laws Document that shall hereafter be changed, shall be documented, by footnote, with the date of change. The title page shall be changed to note the amended document is the current Constitution & By-Laws.

                        Each member of the Association shall receive a written copy of the page(s) with the changes so noted by the footnote. The Secretary shall maintain a file-folder copy of the original document along with the amendments as passed and date of such action. Said file-folder shall remain with the Secretary's drawer in the station's files.

Section 3:        New documents to be printed- When ever the Secretary determines that it is in the best interest of the Association to re-print the Constitution and By-Laws, as changed by amendments, that action shall be taken. Following such re-printing, copies of the document will be circulated to all members with the direction to destroy the old document.

Section 4:        Constitution, By-Laws, and Amendments thereto- shall remain a part of the permanent Secretary's document on file at the station. They shall be open to any member at any time for review.

BY-LAWS OF THE ASSOCIATION

PART I

MEETINGS, QUORUMS, & AGENDA

Article 1

Constitution of a Quorum

Section 1:        For the purpose of all business matters, a quorum shall require the presence of the President, or in his absence, the Vice-President; the Secretary and/or/ Treasurer, or a duly-designated Secretary Pro-Tem; and four other regular members, in person or by phone, to pay bills and conduct normal business.

Section 2:        For the purpose of approving an application for regular membership, electing probationary member to regular membership, or for the election of officers, a quorum of thirty-three percent of the regular membership shall be required. (For an active membership of twenty-five members, this would mean eight active voting members.)

Section 3:        For the purpose of approving an amendment or change to the Constitution and/or By-Laws, a quorum of forty percent of regular membership shall be required. (For an active membership of twenty-five members, this would mean ten active voting members.)

Article 2

Meeting Times

Section 1:        The meeting times of all meetings shall be set by vote of a simple majority of members present at any business meeting. It may be varied at future business meetings according to the will and pleasure of the members.

Section 2:        The Chief has the authority to change time of any Training meeting consistent with the particular needs of that meeting.

Section 3:        The Chief has the authority to schedule special training meetings or sessions as needed. However, the Chief shall endeavor to accommodate the majority of members wishing to attend the particular training program.

Article 3

­Meeting Agendas

Section 1:        The agenda of the regular monthly Business meeting shall be as follows:

1-       Call to Order & Roll Call

2-       Reading and Approving the minutes of meeting

3-       Treasurer's Report

4-       Donations & Bills against the Association

5-       Report of Sick or Distressed members

6-       Reports of Committees

a.       Training

b.       Maintenance

                                                                                                                           i.      Vehicles in order of their unit number

                                                                                                                         ii.      Mounted equipment

                                                                                                                        iii.      SCBAs & system

                                                                                                                        iv.      Dry hydrant maintenance

c.       Dry hydrant planning & construction

d.       EMS Association

e.       Grievance

f.         Fund Raising

7-       Township Trustee Report

8-       Report of monthly calls & Chief's comments

9-       Old, unfinished, or tabled business

10-   New business

11-   Application for membership or vote on probationary member

12-   Adjournment

Section 2:        The agenda of any Special Business meeting shall be as follows:

1-       Call to order & Roll Call

2-       Reading of notice of special meeting

3-       Discussion of business at hand

4-       Action on business at hand

5-       Adjournment

PART II

CONDUCT OF OFFICERS & MEMBERS

Article I

Conduct of Officers

Section 1:        Each officer is expected to maintain a professional attitude when on the scene or at any emergency incident. As such, the officers should give commands, direct the actions of other members, and work to resolve the emergency as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Section 2:        Each officer is expected to consider the safety of all fire fighters, other emergency responders, and the public in their commands. It is expected by the Association that each officer is directly responsible for the safety and welfare of all members; and as such, shall order any individual member to "cease and desist" if their actions appear to be dangerous to their person or to others in the area.

Section 3:        Each officer is expected to project a positive image of the Frankville Volunteer Fire Fighters Association in their daily lives. As officers they are expected to set positive examples in living their daily lives as well as in their position as Officers of the Association.

Article II

Conduct of All Members

Section 1:        Sensitive Information- No member shall disclose to any person, not of member of the Association, any business or other discussions of a sensitive nature that take place at any official assembly or meeting of the Association and/or its officers. Such sensitive information may include, but not be limited to, such matters as arson investigation or documents, EMS patient information and/or condition, financial information of the Association, reprimands of members by officers, actions of the grievance committee. Such sensitive information should be handled and communicated by all members on a "need-to-know" basis.

Section 2:        Alcohol Consumption- No member shall appear at a fire or other emergency incident, any meeting, or at any time operate fire department equipment while intoxicated, appearing intoxicated, or otherwise incapacitated. Any person so appearing intoxicated or otherwise incapacitated shall be temporarily relieved of duty by the Chief or other "Officer-in-Charge". Consumption of alcohol on the premises of the Frankville Fire Department is a privilege rather than a right. Excessive consumption shall not be tolerated.

Section 3:        Training Attendance Requirement- The function of the fire department is to serve and protect the community; therefore all active and probationary members of the Association should be willing to attend training as provided for by the Association, the Officers and the Training Committee. Members are also encouraged to attend such additional training that may be provided by neighboring fire departments, community college classes, area fire schools, and the State Fire Marshall's training program. Alternate training that may be acceptable, but is not limited to, any CPR class, EMS First Responder, EMT level, auto rescue/extrication, or farm rescue.

Participation, or attendance, at a fire or other emergency, is not considered training, but rather the demonstration of skills and tactics learned in the "classroom".

As such, for the safety and health of the individual fire fighter and all fire fighters collectively, it shall be a requirement of all active members to attend at least one two-hour training session or alternate class during each three-month period of the calendar yearor to comply with satae and federal law.

Failure of an active member to attend training during a quarter shall result in notification of the member by the Chief of such conduct. Failure of an active member to attend a training session, or alternate training activity, for a six-month period of time shall result in the presentation of the member to the association at the next business meeting for consideration to transfer the member to the Reserve Company. Such consideration shall be by vote of the quorum present with a simple majority required for such transfer.

An active member that has been placed in the Reserve Company by such action, may seek redress of the action by: 1- first attending two training sessions; and 2- applying to the Association membership at a subsequent business meeting for consideration. Action on such consideration shall be by a simple majority.

Section 4:        Responsibility for Personal Issued Equipment- Each member may be issued such items as pager, bunker gear (pants, boots, coat, hat, plus hood & gloves), badge, patches, etc. These items shall remain the property of the Association or Frankville Fire Department. The member shall endeavor to protect and care for these items while a member. The member shall return such items to the Chief in serviceable condition upon severance of membership with the Association.

Section 5:        Membership health statements- In order to comply with such health requirements for fire fighter as may be promulgated by the Iowa State Fire Marshall's Office, The Iowa Department of Public Health, and any federal standards, the Association shall maintain a minimum health history on each member.

                        Such health history shall consist of a signed statement of health condition which lists any preexisting conditions which may preclude participation in certain fire ground activities, doctor preference, treatment locations, etc. If the member desires, he may supply a doctor's statement of health certifying fitness for all activities.

Section 6:        Death Benefit documentation- Association members are entitled to insurance benefits in the case of a "line-of-duty" death. In order to comply with the wishes of each member, a witnessed document shall be placed in each member's file that lists the primary beneficiary, and/or any contingent beneficiary desired by the member. Upon a death of a member that is listed as "line-of-duty", a copy of said document shall be forwarded to the particular state office for action.

                        Said document shall remain on file as long as the individual is a member of the Association. Upon resigning, the document shall be returned to the member.

PART III

PROCEDURES & ACTIVITIES

Article 1

Standing Orders and

Recommended Operating Procedures (ROP)

Section 1:        Standing Orders- Each Chief Officer, with support of the other fire tactical officers, shall develop a series of Standing Orders which shall be in effect for all operations so specified. The Standing Orders are, in effect, those orders which should be carried out at any emergency incident in the absence of the Chief, or other tactical officers, or at times when said officers are unavailable for direction.

                        Said Standing Orders may be modified, retracted, or added to by the Chief at any time during the tenure of said officer.

                        It shall be the responsibility of the Chief to distribute to each member or probationary member and post on the Association's bulletin board such orders.

 Following the election of a new Chief, it shall be the new Chief's responsibility to review, retract, change, or add to existing orders and thereafter notify the membership of such action and any subsequent change.

Section 2:        Recommended Operating Procedures (ROP)- The Chief, along with the other tactical officers and other selected individuals, shall develop such ROPs as may be desired for the operation of particular pieces of equipment or systems. These ROPs shall be consistent with current f