Revised 3-19-2008

 

BYLAWS

 

ARTICLE I

 

Section 1:        Description

 

The name of this organization will be known as the West Michigan Society for Healthcare Engineering.  This non‑profit organization shall hereinafter be referred to as the Society or WMSHE.

 

Section 2:        Purpose and Scope

 

WMSHE is a professional society devoted to promoting better patient care service through quality education for its membership in the area of facilities management and by expanding the skills, standards and knowledge of its healthcare plant operations and/or maintenance staff.

 

The Society promotes the professional development and recognition of the WMSHE Organization and its membership.

 

WMSHE provides mutual assistance and a liaison connection among WMSHE members, MiSHE and ASHE with emphasis on educational activities directed toward the general improvement of hospital services in the field of facilities management.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Membership

 

Section l:         Active Members

 

An active member of the Society shall include any person responsible for the plant operations and/or maintenance function in a healthcare facility or related medical institution. These individuals have completed membership applications and have paid their annual dues to WMSHE. Active members may make, support and vote on all motions.

 

Section 2:        Associate Members

 

An associate member is a person not directly employed by a healthcare facility, but is involved by reason of health care related interests. Associate members will be listed in the membership roster and are encouraged to attend all meetings or events. These individuals have completed membership applications and have paid their annual dues to WMSHE.

 

Associate members will have voting privileges on motions made by Active Members. They may also hold the office of Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President or President provided that the board representation consists of at least fifty percent Active Members.

 

Associate membership will be selected by the Active Membership through nomination and vote at a WMSHE business meeting.

 

Section 3:        Life Members

 

A member that retires, can be designated as a Life Member upon giving notice of interest and receiving the approval from a simple majority vote of the members present at any meeting of the Society. A Life Member will pay no dues, will be listed on the membership roster, is encouraged to attend meetings or events, can hold office and vote.

 

Section 4:         New Members ‑ Election

 

Applications for all grades of New Membership shall be made in writing to the secretary using the Application for Membership Form. The applicant shall become a member upon receiving the approval of a simple majority of the members present at any meeting of the Society with a quorum of Active Members present. Associate Members can not vote on the selection of new Associate Member.

 

Section 5:         Dues ‑ Active / Associate Members

 

All Active Members shall assessed the sum of $15.00 per year. $5.00 of each Active Member's dues will be forwarded to MiSHE for state society membership.

 

All Associate Members shall be assessed the sum of $55.00.  $15.00 of each Associate Member's dues will be forwarded to MiSHE for state society membership. The annual membership dues form will be mailed with the October meeting minutes. Dues received from applicants paying in November / December will apply toward membership for the next calendar year.

 

WMSHE will pay the annual membership dues to ASHE for membership of the Executive Committee which includes President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Immediate Past President.

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

Officers

 

Section 1:        Officers

 

Eligibility to be an officer requires a person must be a member for at least one year prior to an election.

 

The officer position in WMSHE shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Immediate Past President.

 

Term of office ‑ The officers of the Society shall be elected for a term of three years by simple majority vote of the membership present (requires a quorum of active members) at the November meeting, according to parliamentary procedure and will assume office at the January meeting. The office of President, Vice President and Secretary will be progressive over the three year period. Secretary will assume duties of Vice President, Vice President will assume duties of President. The office of Secretary and Treasurer will be elected yearly.


 

Section 2:        Executive Committee

 

The Executive committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and the immediate Past President. They will be responsible for considering and developing the policies of WMSHE and present them to the membership for discussion and approval. The Executive Committee has the authority to override any and all decisions of the President with a simple majority vote of the executive committee.

 

Section 3:        Officers Duties

 

President ‑ shall act as chairman of all business meetings. He will be responsible for coordinating all of the activities of the Society, and shall appoint all committees. The President may serve as ex officio member of all committees except the committee for nomination of officers. The President may call special meetings. The President will have overriding authority for any and all actions of the Society, which the President demonstrates are contrary to the bylaws or principles of the Society.

 

Vice President (VP) ‑ is President Elect, and will become President the following year. The VP shall perform the duties of the office of President whenever the President is absent. The VP shall succeed the President in case of vacancy of the office of President. The main responsibility of the VP is programming meetings (developing the educational programs and meeting locations) during the term of office.

 

Secretary ‑ shall record official minutes of regular and special meetings. The Secretary shall conduct official correspondence and communications of WMSHE, maintain files of incoming and outgoing mail. Copies of all correspondence shall be made available to the President and Vice President.

 

Treasurer ‑ shall be responsible for all funds or moneys of WMSHE. Appropriate fiscal records and financial reports will be provided at all regular meetings. The Treasurer will keep an official record of the names and addresses of paid members. All funds are to be deposited into a bank or savings and loan association approved by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer will file the annual form to retain WMSHE's Tax Exempt status.

 

Two WMSHE members will be listed on the account.  One signature to be current Treasurer, and the second will be either the President or President-Elect.

 

In the event of a vacancy of office of the Treasurer, books shall be audited immediately, the Treasurer's name removed from the account and a replacement elected through the nomination process as defined in the By‑laws under Vacancies, Article III, Section 4.

 

Immediate Past President ‑ will be part of the Executive Committee to provide continuity as other members assume roles as officers of WMSHE. Fiscal and other records of WMSHE will be audited each year by the Immediate Past President. Such an audit is to be performed at a time and place agreeable to the Treasurer and reported at the regular meetings.

 

Section 4:       Vacancies

 

Vacancies which occur between elections shall be filled by special elections conducted by the Nominating Committee activated by the President. Candidates will be announced at a regular meeting and the election will be conducted at the following WMSHE meeting.


 

Section 5:        Termination

 

Any level of membership may be terminated upon recommendation of the officers followed by a majority vote of membership present. Termination may be initiated for conduct considered contrary to the objectives of the Society.

 

Section 6:        Resignation

 

Any person who wishes to resign should extend the courtesy of notifying the Secretary in writing.

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Affiliations

 

Section l:        State Affiliations

 

The West Michigan Society for Healthcare Engineering is affiliated with the Michigan Society for Healthcare Engineering.

 

All paid members of the West Michigan Society for Healthcare Engineering will automatically have their membership paid to the state society (MiSHE).

 

MiSHE Board of Directors ‑ Two WMSHE members shall serve on the MiSHE Board of Directors. The Director's term of office is two years beginning in January. Representation shall be staggered with one new member being presented by the Nominating Committee and elected at the regular meeting in November.

 

Section 2:        National Affiliations

 

The West Michigan Society for Healthcare Engineering is an affiliated chapter of the American Society of Healthcare Engineering. All members of the Society are encouraged to become active members of ASHE.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Committees

 

Section 1:       Standing Committees

 

The President will appoint Active and Associate Members to serve on the following committees:

 

Nominating Committee

Codes & Standards/NFPA

 

Section 2:        AD HOC Committees

 

Ad Hoc committees may be appointed by the president as the need may demand. Both Active and Associate Members may be appointed.


ARTICLE VI

 

Meetings

 

Section 1        Meeting of Membership

 

Regular monthly meetings of the Society shall be held on the third Wednesday of each month at a membership facility or such place as the Vice President may designate. Meeting date, time, and place may change by a majority vote of the members in attendance at a regular meeting providing all the members have been notified in a previous meeting of the proposed change. The annual election of officers will take place at the November meeting, with officers assuming their role on January. The nominees will be announced at the September meeting for balloting in November.

 

Special meetings may be called by the President or by a petition of at least five (5) members at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the neat business meeting.

 

A quorum at any meeting shall consist of twenty‑five percent (25%) of the Active Membership.

 

“Robert's Rules of Order" will be invoked when dealing with motions.

 

By vote of majority of the members present, any items of business may be omitted and postponed until the following meeting. Any officer not attending four successive regular meetings may be removed from office. By a majority vote of members present, the office may be declared vacant. Article 111, Section 4 will be enforced to fill the vacancy.

 

One representative from a company or service organization will be designated as the Associate Member of WMSHE. Associate Members on occasion may bring a guest to a WMSHE meeting with the approval of a WMSHE officer. When the Associate Member company or organization hosts the meeting, they may invite additional staff to attend. An Associate Member company or organization may provide one generic educational presentation per year.

 

Section 2:       Agenda of Monthly WMSHE Meetings

 

Opening (invocation)

Lunch

Guest Speaker ( Educational Presentation)

Introduction of new members and guests

Motion to approve minutes of the previous meeting

Treasurer's report on the financial status of the Society

Reports of standing committees

Correspondence report

Old Business

New Business

Announcement of the next meeting

Adjournment

 

This is a suggested agenda for each monthly meeting. Changes in the agenda can be made to accommodate the business activities of WMSHE.

 

Meetings will not be held during the months of June, July and August.

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Amendments

 

Section 1:        Amending Method

 

These bylaws may be revised by submitting a proposed amendment at any regular meeting. Then at the subsequent regular meeting, the amendment may be adopted by a two‑thirds vote of those members attending. A quorum of Active Members must be in attendance.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

Dissolution

 

Section 1:        Distribution of Assets

 

Upon the dissolution of WMSHE, assets shall be distributed to an exempt organization, MiSHE (Michigan Society for Healthcare Engineering), within the meaning of IRS 501 code, or the corresponding section of any future Federal Tax Code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government for a public purpose. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the association is located.