MWFIA
Mid-Willamette Fire Instructors Association
MWFIA Constitution and By-Laws
MID-WILLAMETTE FIRE INSTRUCTORS ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
NAME
Setion 1. The name of the association shall be the Mid-Willamette Fire Instructors Association, hereinafter (MWFIA).
Section 2. MWFIA is organized as a regional organization of the Oregon Fire Instructors Association (OFIA)
Serving Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties; and shall be a member of OFIA a statewide organization.
Section 3. MWFIA is organized exclusively for educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501 C (3)
of the Internal Revenue code.
Section 4. MWFIA is not organized for profit, and no part of the net earnings shall insure to the benifit of any member,
director, officer, or other private individual.
ARTICLE II
GOALS
Section 1. The membership wil dtermine the goals and policies of MWFIA.
Section 2. The goals of MWFIA shall be:
a) to encourage and support fire service training and education in the region through an organization governed by
representatives from each participation fire district/department within the region.
b) to provide interation and communications between participating district/department training officers, assisting in
organizing new regional training, providing and instructor and training program pool, provide financial support f
training when needed and approved, and approved, receive and disburse training grants.
c)to encourage and support local, state, and national issues pertaining to fire service training and education.
d) to encourage and support the mission of OFIA.
e) to encourage and support fire service training that is oriented toward, and designed to, reduce the
number of firefighter disvling injuries and line of duty deaths in Oregon.
Section 3. Not with standing any other provision of these articles, MWFIA shall not carry on any other activities permitted to be carried on by an
organization exempt from Frederal income tax under Section 501 C (3) of the internal Revenue code.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. MWFIA is open to all fire service districts/departments within the region who meet on a rejular basis.
Section 2. Membership in MWFIA is nondiscriminatory as to sex, race, color, religion, creed and/or age.
Section 3. Any person, who coordinates, supervises or instructs fire related training, may pay the designated dues
and become active (voting) members. {Any person who supervises, coordinates, or instructs fire related
training and who has attended a minimum of three regular MWFIA meetings with in the last year of who is representing some
one who has met the above criteria, will be considered an active voting member.}
Section 4. Any person interested in fire service traiing and education, but not active in fire service training,
may pay the designated dues and become an associate members of OFIA.
Section 5. Members of MWFIA automatically become either active or associate member of OFIA.
Section 6. Questions on whether an individual should be considered an active or associate memver shall be
resolved by the Executive Board, who will use guidelines set by OFIA.
Section 7. The secretary will compile a list identifying the person in charge of training for each MWFIA
agency for the purpose of collecting as agency vote or reply.
Section 8. To be considered an active member, individuals must maintain three (3) monthly meetings in twelve (12)
month period. The Vice-President will maintain an active member roster.
Section 9. Life members are persons so voted by the association memvvers, by virtue of their many years of
service to the association. Life members are exempt from dues and shall have voting privileges.
(a) Candidates for life members should have been active in the organization for at least 10 years
and should have demonstrated exceptional direction toward promoting MWFIA, fire
service training, and education as a whole.
(b) All candidates for life membership shall be submitted to the president of MWFIA, by
January 31. This recommendation must be in writing and explain the individual's
qualifications and justification for the award.
(c) The President will appoint a screening committee composed of three current members and
two members of the Executive Board to review the application and background.
ArticleIV
Meetings
Section 1. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order and shall govern in all
cases wherein they do not conflict with Constitution and ByLaws of MWFIA.
Section 2. There shall be a monthly meeting of the association on the second Tuesday of each month.
The time and location of the next monthly meeting shall be noted in the minutes and
posted at least five (5) days prior to the meeting.
Section 3. The Executive Board shall formulate and maintian a proper order of business feasible for the conduct
of business, and shall readjust that order as necessary.
Section 4. The President of the association will call Executive Board meetings or special meetings as
required to take care of necessary business.
Section 5. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall preside. In the absence of the President
and Vice President the secretary shall preside over the meeting.
ARTICLE V
DUES
Section 1. The MWFIA Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of all dues
Section 2. Upon dissolution of the Association, the Executive Board shall, after paying or making provisions
for the payment of all of the liabilities of the Association, dispose of all the assets of the
Association exclusively for charitavle or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization
under Section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding
provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law, as the Executive Board shall determine.
Section 3. This organization is organized exclusively for the charitable or educational purpose within the
meaning of Section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Section 4. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other
activities permittedto be carried on by an organization exempt from Federal income
tax under Section 501 (C) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Section 5. This organization is not organized for profit, and no part of the net earnings shall inure to the
benefit of any private shareholder or individual.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the association shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and
shall be nominate and elected by the general voting membership.
Section 2. All officers of the association shall take office at the beginning of each year and serve until
their successors are elected and installed.
ARTICLE VII
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section1. Nomination of Officers shall be open to the general voting membership at the November
Meeting.
Section 2. Any member nominated for office in the association, must be an active voting member of MWFIA.
Section 3. The officers shall be elected for a term of one year and shall be eligible for re-election.
Section 4. In case of a vacated office, a successor shall be appointed by the Executive Board to
serve the remainder of the term.
ARTICLE VIII
THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. (a) There shall be an Executive Board consisting of the President , Vice President, and
Secretary/Treasurer. The officers of MWFIA shall be voting
members. The President shall only vote to break a tie.
Section 2. (a) President - The president shall preside at all meetings of MWFIA and the
Executive Board. The President shall appoint all committees
serving MWFIA, these committee, DPSST committees, and
visual aid/library committee.
(b) Vice President - In the absence of the President, the Vice
President shall function as the President. The Vice - President
shall perform other duties as assigned by the President and/or Executive Board .
(c) The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep a true and accurate
record of all MWFIA and Executive Board meetings;
attend to organizational correspondence; be responsible
for the collection of dues; be responsible for all deposits
into a bank designated by the Executive Board; keep an itemized
account of all receipts and expenditures; file vouchers of all
payments; present a financial report at each monthly meeting; and
attend to other responsibilities belonging to the office of
Secretary/Treasurer.
Section 3. In the event of a vacant seat on the Executive Board, a successor shall be appointed
by the remaining members of the Executive Board to serve out the balance of the vacated term.
Section 4. The Executive Board may initiate the development and implementation of goals, objectives and polices,
subject to membership approval.
Section 5. Delegates to the Annual OFIA Conference shall be selected by the Executive Board.
ARTICLE IX
COMMITTEES
Section 1. All regularly standing committees shall be appointed by the President with the
approval of the Executive Board. Special committees may be appointed by the President.
ARTICLE X
FINANCES
Section 1. A dues structure shall be recommended by the Executive Board, and approved
by the voting members.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall designate a bank for the conduct of financial affairs.
Section 3. All funds shall be dispersed by the signature of an officer, or other member
authorized by the Executive Board.
Section 4. The out going Executive Board shall prepare a draft budget to be presented to the
incoming Executive Board upone their election to office. The draft budget shall be
approved, with or without change, by the new Executive Board for presentation to the
membership at the January monthly meeting. The membership shall adopt the
approved budget, with or without changes, by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote
at the January monthly meeting.
Section 5. All expenditures must be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members
present at the regularly scheduled meeting; emergency expenditures by
the Executive Board are authorized under Article 7, Section 7.
Section 6. Continuing expenditures, such as regional schools, may be authorized by policy set by the membership.
Section 7. Expenditures for special schools and/or emergency situations may be handled by the
Excutive Board when necessary between the meetings of the membership.
Section 8. As the need arises, the Secretary/Treasurer may expend funds, not to exceed
fifty (50) dollars, for use in purchasing stamps, office supplies and other miscellaneous
item, between monthly meetings.
Section 9. Members may be reimbursed for all or part of their expenses incurred while on official
business, as approved by the membership.
Section 10. An audit committee shall be appointed to review all financial records during the month of December.
Section 11. Upon dissolution of MWFIA, the Executive Board shall, after paying or making
provisions for the payment of all liabilities of MWFIA, dispose of all the
assets of MWFIA exclusively for educational purposes as shall at the
time qualify as an exempt organization under Section 501 (C) (3)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provision
of any future United States Internal Revenue Law, as the Excutive Board
shall determe. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of
by the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for Marion County, exclusively
for such purpose or to such an organization or organizations, as said
court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusivly for such purpose.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws of this Association shall be
made only by a two-thirds vote of the voting members in attendance at
that meeting.
Section 2. Proposed amendments shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary/Treasurer
at least thirty (30) days prior to action.
Section 3. Proposed amendments shall be presented in writing at a monthly meeting, which
may serve as notice to the members.
Date adopted:_____________________________
Attested by:___________________________
President:_________________________
Secretary/Treasurer:________________________________
