ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of this organization shall be the NORTHEAST REGION (NER) of the Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses (WOCN) Society.
ARTICLE II - MISSION, PHILOSOPHY, PURPOSE, GOALS, CODE OF ETHICS
Section 1 - Mission:
The NER of the WOCN Society is a professional nursing society that supports it's members by promoting educational, clinical and research opportunities to advance the practice and guide the delivery of expert health care to individuals with wounds, ostomies and incontinence.
Section 2 - Philosophy:
The NER of the WOCN Society believes that nursing,as a profession, enhances health care services to a multifaceted society and includes prevention,health maintenance,therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation. Wound,ostomy and continence care are areas of specialty practice within the framework of nursing that strive to advance the health care and quality of life of all effected individuals.
The NER of the WOCN Society believes that continuing education and research provides the basis for current,comprehensive nursing practice for individuals with wounds,ostomies and incontinence. Learning may occur on a basic,advanced or continuing educational level and combines the acquisition of theoretical knowledge and clinical expertise. The WOCN Society provides and approves quality continuing education for its members and for other health care professionals in order to enhance and improve wound,ostomy and continence nursing practice.
Section 3 - Purpose:
As a division of the WOCN Society,the NER shall foster high standards of practice related to the care, teaching and rehabilitation of persons requiring the management of wounds, ostomies and incontinence,and promote the professional and educational advancement of the nurses involved in the care of persons with wounds, ostomies or incontinence. Therefore, persons in need of these services shall have the opportunity for optimal care and rehabilitation. WOC nursing is a specialty area of practice within the framework of nursing and, as such, participates and collaborates with multi-disciplinary organizations.
Section 4 - Goals:
A. Provide the structure for members involvement in the activities
and decisions of the WOCN Society for the growth and
vitality of the organization.
B. Provide a geographic region that allows for regular
communications,meetings and contact among members.
C. Allow for personal exchange of information and expertise among members.
D. Provide a vehicle for peer review.
E. Facilitate open and direct communication among the members.
F. Provide structure and a vehicle for leadership development and
training within the region.
G. Provide an accessible source for continuing education of members.
H. Uphold the national standards of care for persons with wounds,
ostomies and incontinence.
I. Promote a viable organization making a strong impact on the
health care system.
Section 5 - Code of Ethics:
A. The NER members provide needed services to persons regardless
of age, nationality, race, creed, disability, sex and sexual
orientation.
B. The NER members respect individual's rights to privacy by
maintaining confidentiality.
C. The NER members have the responsibility to remain current in
knowledge and techniques.
ARTICLE III - NORTHEAST REGION EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1 - Composition and Election:
The Executive Board shall consist of the President,
President - Elect, Secretary and Treasurer. The immediate past
President shall serve one year as a non-voting member of the
Executive Board upon completion of the term of office as President.
Section 2 - Purpose:
The Executive Board shall act in place of the Northeast Region
Board of Directors between Board of Director meetings on all
matters except those specifically reserved to the Board of
Directors by these Bylaws, pursuant to delegation of authority to
such committee by the Board of Directors. Minutes of all Executive
shall be distributed to the members of the Board of Directors.
Section 3 - Voting:
Each member listed shall have one vote: President, President Elect,
Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 4 - Quorum: Call of Meeting:
The majority of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum at any
duly called meeting of the Executive Board. The President shall call
such meetings of the Executive Board as the business of the
Northeast Region may require.
Section 5 - Vacancy:
Any vacancy occurring on the Executive Board shall be filled by
nomination from the President and election by the Board of
Directors.
Section 6 - Mail or Electronic Vote:
If, in the opinion of a majority of the officers, a matter should
be acted upon by the Executive Board before a meeting of the
Executive Board is to be held, such a matter, in the form of a
resolution proposed for adoption, shall be submitted to each
member of the Board by mail or by email. It shall be adopted or
rejected by a majority of the Executive Board members who mail
or email their vote to the Secretary within thirty days after the
date upon which the resolution was sent via mail or email to each
Board member. Votes will be conducted, recorded and reported at the
next Board meeting by the Secretary.
ARTICLE IV - NORTHEAST REGION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1 - Composition:
The Northeast Region Board of Directors shall consist of the
Affiliate Representatives and the Executive Board. The Government
Affair Reps and Committee Chair Persons shall be members without
voting privileges. A Task Force Chair Person may also be designated
a member without voting privileges by the President.
Section 2 - Qualifications:
No person shall be elected to the Board of Directors who has not
been an active member in good standing for at least one year
immediately prior to election and who has not consented to serve.
Section 3 - Removal:
A Board member may be removed from office by appropriate resolution
approved by two-thirds of the Northeast Region Board of Directors.
Such removal may be voted only upon written charges against said
member filed with the Secretary, and the Secretary shall forthwith
mail, by certified mail, a copy of such charges to such officer.
Such officer has twenty days to respond to such charges before any
actions shall be taken thereon.
ARTICLE V - MEMBERSHIP
Regional membership is contingent upon belonging to the WOCN
Society.
Section 1 - Classification:
A. Active members. Active membership may be granted to any wound,
ostomy, or continence nurse who is a graduate of an educational
program accredited by the WOCN Society; or Registered Nurse (RN).
B. Associate Members. Associate membership may be granted to any
individual who supports the purposes, mission and goals of the
WOCN Society.
C. Retired Active Members. Retired Active Membership may be granted
to any individual is eligible to be an active member and who is
permanently retired from employment.
D. Retired Associate Members. Retired Associate Membership may be
granted to any individual who is eligible to be an Associate
Member and who is permanently retired from employment.
E. Honorary Members. Honorary Membership may be granted to any
individual who meets the criteria established by the WOCN
Society Board of Directors.
F. Honorary Life Members. Honorary Life Membership shall be granted
solely to the twelve Founders of the WOCN Society and to the past
Presidents of the WOCN Society.
G. Student Nurse Members. Student Nurse Membership may be granted
to any individual who is a full time student studying to become
a Registered Nurse (this shall include those individuals
pursuing an Associate Degree or Bachelor of Science Degree in a
Diploma Program).
H. Corporate Members. Corporate Membership may be granted to any
health related corporation or organization.
Section 2 - Application for Membership:
All applicants shall complete the application provided by the
WOCN Society and submit the application with the designated fee
to the administrative office of the organization. The applicant
should designate the region/affiliate to which she or he wishes
to be a member. Membership is contingent with the Bylaws of the
WOCN Society.
ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS
Section 1 - Time and Place:
A meeting of the membership shall be held two times each year at
such time and place as shall be determined by the Board of
Directors. The first meeting is held in conjunction with the
WOCN Society Annual Conference. The second meeting is held at the
NER Annual Fall Conference. Members are notified through
brochures, the WOCN Journal, the WOCN Society Newsletters and
websites of the WOCN and NER.
Section 2 - Membership Vote:
Matters before a membership meeting other than election of
officers or Bylaws shall require a vote of the majority (51%)
of the members present. Each active member attending the
membership meeting shall have one vote, and no vote shall be
cast by proxy.
Section 3 - Special Membership Meetings:
Special meetings of the membership may be called upon the
written request of two-thirds of the members of the Board of
Directors or upon the written request of twenty five percent of
the membership. Said request must state the exact purpose of
such meeting. The time and place of such special meetings of the
membership shall be determined by the President. Each member
shall be given a written notice ninety (90) days before the time,
place and purpose of such meeting.
Section 4 - Board of Directors:
The Board of Directors shall meet two (2) times during a fiscal
year. Additional meetings shall be called at the discretion of
the Executive Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VII - OFFICERS
Section 1 - Elected Officers:
The elected officers shall be the President, President - Elect,
Secretary and Treasurer. Each elected office shall be held by one
person. Elected officers shall hold office for two (2) years,
until removed by resignation, death or action of the Northeast
Region Board of Directors. The word "year" as used in defining
length of elected term of office refers to the time period
between consecutive annual meetings of the Northeast Region.
Section 2 - Qualifications:
To be nominated as an elected officer a person must be an active
member in good standing for at least one (1) year immediately
prior to election.
Section 3 - Term:
Each officer shall be elected for a term of two (2) years and no
officer shall be elected to the same office for more than two (2)
consecutive terms.
Section 4 - Order of Election:
The President and the President-Elect will be elected in odd
numbered years for the year 2011. Thereafter, the President-Elect
will be elected in odd numbered years with the current President-
Elect assuming the Presidency. Next election will be Treasurer only.
In 2012, the President-Elect assumes the Presidency and voting will
be on Secretary and President-Elect.
Section 5 - Vacancy:
If any office becomes vacant, the Executive Board shall appoint
a person who meets the requirement of Article V, Section 2, to
fill such a vacany until the elections at the next annual
meeting. For the purposes of eligibility for elections, a person
appointed to fill a vacancy of more than 0ne (1) year pursuant to
this section shall be deemed to have served a full term.
Section 6 - President's Duties:
The President shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the
region. The President shall also serve as a member ex-official
with the right to vote on all committees except the nominating
committee. The President shall make all appointments of standing
and special committees with the approval of the Northeast Region
Board of Directors and shall notify National of election results.
The President shall perform such other duties as are necessary to
the office of President or as may be described by the Northeast
Region Board of Directors. Duties will include preparing agendas
and presiding over the Board and membership meetings. The
President shall serve one (1) year as a non-voting member of the
Board upon completion of term of office.
Section 7 - President-Elect's Duties:
President-Elect's Duties: All wording of Vice-Presidents shall
be changed to President-Elect. The President-Elect shall perform
the duties of the President in the absence or incapacity of the
President. The President-Elect shall succeed to the Office of
President in the event is shall become vacant. The President-
Elect shall perform such duties as may be delegated by the
President or the Northeast Region Board of Directors. The
President-Elect shall call the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence
Nursing Education Program (WOCNEP) Representatives for their
reports prior to the Spring and Fall Board meetings.
Section 8 - Secretary's Duties:
The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings, record
decisions of the Northeast Region Board of Directors or Executive
Board, and review minutes. The minutes of these meetings shall
be sent to the Board of Directors within thirty (30) days of the
meeting. The Secretary shall perform other duties as assigned by
the President or the Northeast Region Board of Directors.
Section 9 - Treasurer's Duties:
The Treasurer shall be in charge of the Northeast Region's funds
and records. The Treasurer shall oversee accounting procedures
for the handling of the funds and be responsible for monitoring
or disbursement and investment of the Northeast Region's funds
as approved by the Northeast Region Board of Directors or
Executive Board. The Treasurer shall report on the financial
condition of the NER at all meetings of the Board of Directors
and at other times when called upon by the President. The
Treasurer is to compile the Regional year end financial report
and submit it for the Northeast Region's report to the WOCN
Society. The NER Annual Financial Record shall be audited by
two (2) members at the Spring Board Meeting.
ARTICLE VIII - AFFILIATE
Section 1 - Goals:
A. To encourage the exchange of information and expertise among
wound, ostomy and continence nurses.
B. To encourage and support new wound, ostomy and continence
nurses.
C. To act as a liaison between individual wound, ostomy, and
continence nurses and the Northeast Region.
D. To promote the interest of the WOCN Society among allied
health professionals.
E. To participate in the business of the Northeast Region
through committee assignments.
Section 2 - Membership:
A. Active members of the Affiliate shall be active members of the
WOCN Society. This shall entitle the individual to make
motions, to vote and to hold office.
B. Retired, Honorary and Associate members of the WOCN Society,
as well as students and allied health professionals, will be
welcome to attend the meetings of the Affiliate. They may
speak but may not make motions, vote nor hold office. They
may serve on committees in any capacity except Chair-Person.
C. Membership shall consist of at least five (5) active members
of the WOCN Society.
Section 3 - Officers:
A. Each Affiliate shall have a convening officer elected by a
majority of the active members.
B. An elected representative or designer should represent the
Affiliate at the Regional Board Meetings, reporting back to
the Affiliate the activities of the Northeast Region.
C. A typed, summarized report of the activities of the Affiliate
is to be submitted to the Regional President at the:
(a) Spring Board Meeting; (b) The Northeast Regional Meeting
at the WOCN Society National Conference.
ARTICLE IX - COMMITTEES AND TASK FORCES
Section 1 - Appointment:
All committees and task forces shall be appointed by the President
and shall consist of a Chair Person and at least two (2) other
members. All government affair representative shall also be
appointed by the President.
Section 2 - Membership Qualification:
All committee, task force and government affair representatives
shall be active and in good standing of this organization. All
committee Chair Persons shall have served on the respective
committee for at least one (1) year.
Section 3 - Term:
The term of service of each committee member, chairperson and
government affairs representative will be two (2) years. This
term may be renewed by the President. The term of service for
each member and chairperson of a task force will depend upon the
function of that task force.
Section 4 - Committees:
The standing committees are as follows: Website, Marketing,
Membership, Conference Planning, Fund raising, Nominations and WOC
Nurse of Distinction.
Section 5 - Task Forces:
A task force shall be created by the Board based on the needs
or issues of the NER.
Section 6 - Government Affair Representatives:
There shall be a government affairs representative from each
state of the NER. The President shall appoint the representative
who will serve for a term of two (2) years or at the discretion
of the President.
Section 7 - Reporting:
All committee and task force chairpersons and government affairs
representatives report to the Board of Directors. All financial
matters must be reported to the Treasurer.
ARTICLE X - NOMINATIONS
Section 1 - Nominations:
Nominations for officers shall be made by the nominating
committee or via mail by any active member in good standing.
Section 2 - Qualifications:
Persons nominated shall first consent and acknowledge the
responsibility for their nominated position.
Section 3 - Presentation of Slate:
The slate of nominations is to be presented to the membership
by mail at least sixty (60) days in advance of the election.
ARTICLE XI - ELECTIONS
Section 1 - Time and Place:
Election of officers and bylaw changes shall take place by mail
or electronic vote. The ballot shall be mailed or posted on the
NER website, sixty (60) days prior to the Annual NER Fall
Conference Membership Meeting.
Section 2 - Voting Qualifications:
Only eligible members in good standing shall be entitled to vote,
and no vote may be cast by proxy.
Section 3 - Secret Ballot:
Voting for officers shall be a secret ballot, and after
declaration of election, all ballots shall be destroyed.
Section 4 - Mail or Electronic Vote:
Each eligible member has one (1) vote. The ballots are the
responsibility of the Nominations Committee.
Section 5 - Election Results:
The person receiving a majority of the votes for each office
shall be declared elected. Tie votes shall be decided by drawing
of lots. A simple majority is necessary for a person to be
elected and/or bylaws to be accepted.
ARTICLE XII - FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the NER shall be from January 1st to
December 31st.
ARTICLE XIII - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The latest edition of Roberts' Rules of Order shall govern in
all cases not covered by these bylaws.
ARTICLE XIV - AMENDMENTS
Section 1 - Amendments:
These bylaws may be amended by mail or electronic vote. The
proposed amendments shall be submitted to the membership in
writing no less than sixty (60) days prior to the mail vote.
Section 2 - Amending Procedures:
Such action shall be taken upon compliance with either of the
following conditions:
A. Prior consideration of such proposed change by the
Board of Directors and action by such proposed
change to the membership to vote.
OR
B. A written request signed by ten (10) percent of the
membership requesting that proposed change be
submitted to the membership per the bylaws for vote.
ARTICLE XV - SUSPENSION OF BYLAWS
These bylaws may be suspended by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the
members. Vote is a mail or electronic vote.
