AN
ARTICLE I: Name, Affiliation. Mission Statement,
Philosophy. Objectives, Activities
SECTION
1: Name
The Organization was founded in 1985 as
Tri-County Holistic Nurses' Association.
The name of the organization was changed in 1992 to the Michigan
Holistic Nurses' Association, hereafter, referred to as "MHNA".
SECTION
2: Affiliation
The MHNA
has a collegial affiliation with the American Holistic Nurses' Association.
SECTION
3: Mission Statement
To educate
and support nurses in order to promote the development of an integrated,
holistic health care system.
SECTION
4: Philosophy
The
MHNA is committed to the concepts of self responsibility and wellness-oriented
nursing practices. All facets of an individual - emotional, physical,
intellectual, spiritual, cultural, social, and environmental - must be
understood singly, and jointly, to appreciate each individual's unique needs
and contributions. Wellness-oriented practice emphasizes the positive potential
of the individual. Nursing practitioners help facilitate the attainment and
maintenance of harmony and balance in an individual's life utilizing holistic
principles based on nursing knowledge and theory.
SECTION
5: Objectives
The
objectives of the MHNA are:
1. To
increase the awareness of nurses, other health professionals and the public, in
the concepts and practices of health for the whole person.
2. To
serve as an advocate of wellness in the harmonious inter-relationship of body,
mind, and spirit in an ever-changing environment.
3. To
encourage cooperation and communication among all health professionals by
providing a support group, a networking system, and information related to
complementary health care modalities.
4. To provide opportunities
for nurses to obtain educational credits (contact hours required for nursing
licensure) about complementary therapies and holistic nursing.
SECTION 6: Activities
The MHNA meets regularly,
(see web site or brochure for details), providing opportunities for networking
among members, and education about holistic health care modalities.
ARTICLE II: Membership and Fees
SECTION 1: Classification of
Membership
Voting Members:
1. Founding Members:
Currently/previously licensed RNs and LPNs who joined Tri-County Holistic
Nurses' Association before 1987.
2. Nurse Members:
Currently/previously licensed RNs and LPNs who joined Tri-County Holistic
Nurses’ Association after 1986 or Michigan Holistic Nurses' Association after
September 8, 1992.
3. Senior Nurse Members: Currently/previously
licensed RNs and LPNs 62 years of age or over.
Non-Voting Members:
4. Student Nurse Members:
Currently enrolled full-time nursing students.
5. Associate Members: Open to any person not meeting the above
criteria.
SECTION 2: Membership fees
The Board of Directors shall
determine the annual membership fees. Membership dues are billed annually.
SECTION 3: Membership
Benefits
1. Educational presentations
(usually with contact hours offered).
2. Opportunity for holistic
nurses' support through networking, meetings, and
outreach.
3.
MHNA directory available on line.
4. Advertising space on MHNA Holistic
Practitioner Directory
5. Discount on admission to MHNA
events.
6. Membership card.
7. Newsletter containing meeting, speaker,
conference, and other holistic information.
8. Educational Holistic
Retreats/Conferences, often with contact hours.
9. Official net worker of the American
Holistic Nurses Association.
SECTION 4: Fees
1.
The Board of Directors shall establish fees for member and non-member
regular meeting attendance.
2.
The Board of Directors shall establish other fees as is deemed necessary
i.e. holistic weekend retreat/conference and speaker transportation
reimbursement.
SECTION 5: Verification of Licensure
The Board of Directors, or an appointed
representative, may request reasonable proof of nursing licensure in order to
grant voting membership in the MHNA.
ARTICLE III: Board of Directors of MHNA
SECTION 1: Role of the Board of
Directors
The role of the Board of Directors of
the MHNA is to determine and manage presentations and programs, conserve
property, and provide judicious management of financial affairs, determine and
implement annual goals and objectives. Committees shall be formed and have
authority delegated to them by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2: Composition of the Board of
Directors
The Board of Directors of the MHNA is
elected from the nurse members. All members of the Board of Directors have
equal rights to vote on all matters before the Board. Each Board Member shall
have one vote.
The Board shall consist of the
following offices.
1. President
2. Vice-President
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer
5. Membership
6. Publicity
7. Education
8. AHNA Net worker
9. Immediate Past President (optional)
A single individual may not hold more
than two (2) Directorships in the MHNA. An additional Board position may be
added by a 2/3 vote of the Board. The nurse member filling this position
(whether temporary or permanent) will be appointed by the Board if need occurs
between elections and if still required at the time of the next election added
to the regular election roster.
SECTION 3: Procedure for the Nomination
and Election of the Board of Directors
1. Nominations or names of nurse
members willing to serve on the Board of Directors shall be collected by the
Vice-President by October of each odd numbered year.
2. The Vice-President shall recommend
at least one candidate per office for election to the Board of Directors and
submit them to the Board by January of the election year.
3. Following confirmation of the
candidates’ willingness to serve if elected, the Vice-President will prepare
the ballots.
4. All elections shall be by mailed
ballot. Members may vote for persons other than those names appearing on the
ballot by writing in the names of qualified candidates who have consented to
serve if elected.
5. At least thirty (30) days before the
March meeting, ballots shall be sent by the Vice President to each voting
member. The ballots shall be marked, and returned to MHNA in the stamped,
addressed, "ballot" envelope provided.
6. The unopened ballots shall be opened
and tallied by the Vice-President before the April meeting.
7. The final tabulation of votes by
those entitled to vote, shall constitute an election. A simple majority will
determine the winner. In case of a tie, the choice will be decided by lot.
8. All Board Members shall serve but
are not limited to serving two (2) year terms.
9. Installation of the Board of
Directors shall occur at the April meeting.
SECTION 4: Vacancies
If vacancies occur between elections,
the Board of Directors, by majority vote, shall appoint a replacement to serve
the balance of the term.
SECTION 5: Termination of Membership on
the Board of Directors
A member of the Board of Directors may
be considered for removal upon a motion by a Board Member from a board position
if:
1. She/he has failed to attend, without
just cause, two (2) consecutive meetings of the Board.
2. She/he has consistently frustrated
the activities and business of the Board by failure to answer correspondence,
or by failure to act in a responsible manner failure in fulfilling the duties
and obligations of her/his position.
The President or Vice-President will
notify the Board Member in question of the complaint. The member will then have
the option to appear before the Board to resolve the matter or resign.
If the Board is satisfied that the
matter is resolved, no further action will be taken unless a second motion for
removal is subsequently made.
If the Board is not satisfied that the
matter is resolved, either initially or following a second motion for removal,
a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Board will carry out removal from office.
SECTION 6: Reimbursement of Expenses
Expenses incurred by or at the
direction of Board Members on behalf of MHNA shall be properly documented. As a
normal practice, expenses should be contained in an approved budget. The
Treasurer of the MHNA shall reimburse the expenses from the official accounts.
The Treasurer shall bring any question
about such requests for reimbursement to the Board prior to the dispensing of
funds. In an emergency, the Treasurer shall contact the President for
authorization to dispense the funds.
ARTICLE IV: Duties of Board Members
SECTION 1: President
The President Chair of the MHNA shall
have responsibilities including but not limited to the following:
1. Chairperson of the Board of
Directors
2. Presides at all meetings of the MHNA
and the Board of Director meetings.
3. Acts as the official spokesperson of
the organization.
4. Carries out the day-to-day
operations of the MHNA subject to the discretion of the Board
5. Directs the formulation of annual
goals and objectives for the organization.
6. Appoints committees as required and
provides them with goals and directions.
7. Acts as resource person for
brochures, letterheads, signs, banners, etc.
SECTION 2: Vice-President
The Vice-President Chair of the MHNA
shall have responsibilities including but not be limited to the following:
1. Presides at meetings in the absence
of the President.
2. Obtains nominations for Board
positions bi-annually at end of odd numbered years and presents them to the
Board.
3. Formulates and presents proposed
modifications to the Bylaws. (See Article VI).
4. Plans and chairs the budget planning
meeting. (See Article V).
5. Prepares the bi-annual ballot after
approval by the Board and conducts elections announcing results at the April
meeting.
6. Carries out such duties as may be
mutually agreed upon by the President and Vice-President.
7. Contacts and thanks nominees for
their willingness to stand for election to a Board position.
8. Contacts and congratulates the
winners of the election.
9. Appoints committees as required and
provides them with goals and directions.
SECTION 3: Secretary
The Secretary Chair of the MHNA shall
have responsibilities including but not be limited to the following:
1. Takes minutes at Board meetings
briefly summarizing discussions, recording motions and decisions.
2. Documents attendance at Board
meetings
3. Sends letters of appreciation to
guest speakers.
4. Composes and/or sends correspondence
as directed by the President, or the Board.
5. Appoints committees as required and
provides them with goals and directions.
SECTION 4: Treasurer
The Treasurer Chair of the MHNA shall
have responsibilities including but not be limited to the following:
1. Holds responsibility for the funds
of the MHNA.
2. Prepares and presents a financial
report semi-annually indicating income, expenses, and current balance.
3. Deposits all MHNA funds into an
account in the name of MHNA in such bank, credit union, trust company, or other
depository as the Board may select.
4. Appoints committees as required and
provides them with goals and directions.
SECTION 5: Membership
The Membership Chair of the MHNA shall
have responsibilities including but not limited to the following:
1. Receives membership fees and keeps
records of dates and amounts.
2. Establishes and maintains an
accurate Membership Directory including credentials, e-mail addresses etc. on
the website.
3. Sends letters of welcome to new
members and potential new members. Sends copy of directory with bylaws and
membership card to all new members.
4. Sends renewal letters to members and
lapsed members one month before the end of the membership year, in order to
facilitate prompt and orderly renewal of members.
5. Registers attendees at meetings and
collects meeting fees. If the meeting offers contact hours also handles
sign-in, passes out evaluations, and certificates
6. Appoints committees as required and
provides them with goals and directions.
SECTION 6: Publicity
The Publicity Chair of the MHNA shall
have responsibilities including but not limited to the following:
1. Prepares newsletter.
2. Sends timely
announcements/newsletters to all persons on the appropriate mailing list.
3. Welcomes new members in the
newsletter.
4. Maintains website.
5. Appoints committees as required and
provides them with goals and directions.
SECTION 7: Education
The Education Chair of the MHNA shall
have responsibilities including but not limited to the following:
1. Coordinate retreat/conference
2. Arrange for meeting speakers and CNE’s when indicated.
3. Maintains Resource Library
4. Coordinates educational outreach.
5. Appoints committees as required and
provides them with goals and directions.
SECTION 8: AHNA Net worker
The AHNA Net worker Chair of the MHNA
shall have responsibilities including but not limited to the following:
1.
Contributes articles to newsletter
2.
File required reports to AHNA
3.
Attends yearly AHNA conference or sends
designee.
4.
Appoints committees as required and
provides them with goals and directions.
SECTION 9: Immediate Past President
The Immediate Past President may elect
to remain on the Board for an additional two (2) year term in an advisory and
teaching/resource capacity.
ARTICLE V: Preparation of the Annual Budget:
A budget planning meeting will be held
prior to the June Board meeting attended by, but not limited to the Vice-President,
Treasurer, and one other Board Member.
The proposed budget will be presented
at the June Board meeting.
ARTICLE VI: By-Law Changes:
Additions, deletions, or changes to the
By-Laws shall be submitted to the Vice-President in writing. The proposed
item(s) shall be disseminated to the Board.
The items shall be adopted following approval by two-thirds (2/3) of the
Board Members. The Vice-President shall have a period of one month to revise
the By-Laws and distribute revised copies to the members of the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE VIII: Dissolution:
Upon the dissolution of the MHNA, the
Board of Directors shall pay or make provision to pay any liabilities from the
assets of the MHNA. The remaining assets (if any) shall be paid to an
organization operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or
scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or
organizations under Section 501 (c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
The undersigned, being the duly elected
Co-President of the MHNA does hereby certify the above to be the By-Laws of the
MHNA.
Dated this 16th day of July,
2011
Kathleen Oakford, RNC
Co-President of the
MHNA
