Bylaws

Article I: Name of Organization

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the District of Columbia Student Nurses Association.

Article II: Purpose of Function

Section 1. Purpose

To assume responsibility for contributing to nursing education in order to provide for the highest quality of health care.
To provide programs representative of fundamental interests and concerns to nursing students.
To aid in the development of the whole person, his/her professional role, his/her responsibility for health care of people in all walks of life.

Section 2. Function

To have direct input into standards of nursing education and influence the education process.
To influence health care, nursing education and practice through legislative activities as appropriate.
To promote and encourage participation in community affairs and activities towards health care and the resolution of related social issues.
To represent nursing students to the consumer, to institutions, and other organizations.
To promote and encourage students’ participation in interdisciplinary activities.
To promote and encourage recruitment efforts, participation in student activities, and educational opportunities regardless of a person’s race, color, creed, sex, lifestyle, national origin, age, or economic status.
To promote and encourage collaborative relationships with nursing and health related organizations.

Article III: Members

Section 1. School Constituent

School constituent membership is composed of active or associate members who are of the NSNA and the state association when one exists.
Each school association within the District of Columbia shall be composed of at least 10 members in each school from Catholic University, Georgetown University, Howard University, and the University of the District of Columbia or the total school enrollment if less than 10. There shall be only one chapter on each school campus.
For yearly recognition as a constituent, an officer of each school listed above within the District shall submit the Official Application for NSNA Constituency Status which shall include the following areas of conformity: purpose and function, membership, dues and representation.
A constituent association which fails to comply with the bylaws and policies of NSNA shall have its status as a constituent revoked by a 2/3 vote of the Board of Directors, provided that written notice of the proposed revocation has been given at least two months prior to the vote and the constituent association is given an opportunity to be heard.
Each school association within the District of Columbia is an entity separate and apart from NSNA and its administration of activities, with NSNA and the District of Columbia Student Nurses Association exercising no supervision or control over their immediate daily and regular activities. NSNA and the District of Columbia Student Nurses Association have no liability for any loss, damages, or injuries sustained by third parties as a result of the negligence or acts of the school within the District of Columbia or the members thereof. In the event any legal proceedings are brought against NSNA and the District of Columbia Student Nurses Association, any schools within the District of Columbia will indemnify and hold harmless the NSNA and District of Columbia Student Nurses Association from any liability.

Section 2. Categories of Constituent Membership

Members of the constituent association shall be:

A. Active members
1. Students enrolled in stated approved programs leading to licensure as a registered nurse.
2. Registered nurses enrolled in programs leading to a baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing.
3. Active members shall have all the privileges of membership.
B. Associate members:
1. Pre-nursing students, including registered nurses, enrolled in college or university programs designed as preparation for entrance into a program leading to an associate degree, diploma or baccalaureate degree is nursing.
2. Associate members shall have all the privileges of membership except the right to hold office as president or vice president at state and national levels.
C. Individual Members:
1. Individual membership shall be open at the national level to any eligible student when membership in a constituent association is not available. Individual members shall have the privileges of membership as prescribed in the NSNA bylaws.
D. Active and associate membership shall be renewed annually.

Section 3.

Active and associate NSNA membership may be extended six months beyond graduation from a student’s program in nursing, providing membership was renewed while the student was enrolled in a nursing program.
Article IV: Dues

Section 1.

The annual NSNA dues for active and associate members joining for two years shall be $50 per member payable for the appropriate due years. The due years for these members shall be a period of twenty-four consecutive months.
The DCSNA has $0 payable for dues, but the board of directors shall have the authority to adjust the dues amount, providing such dues do not exceed the NSNA dues.
National and state dues shall be payable directly to NSNA. NSNA shall remit to each state constituent the dues received on behalf of the constituents. NSNA shall not collect or remit school chapter dues.
Any member who fails to pay current dues shall forfeit all privileges of membership.

Article V: Board of Directors

Section 1. Composition

The Board of Directors will consist of: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Chairperson.

SECTION 1. Composition

Elected Board Members shall be:
Officers

President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer

Directors

Newsletter Editor
Membership/Nominations Chair
Public Relations Chair
Break Through to Nursing Chair
Legislative Chair

Appointed Positions

President’s Consult

Section 2. Responsibilities

A. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for:
1. Transacting business of the association between membership meetings and shall report such transactions at the next regularly scheduled membership meeting.
2. Filling vacancies in any office by two-thirds majority vote of Board of Directors except the office of the President.
3. Reviewing monetary disbursements, acquisition and fundraising activities and shall be responsible for procuring persons for audit of all accounts on an annual basis.

Section 3. Specific Duties of Board Members:

The President shall:
preside at all meetings of the Association and the Executive Board
appoint special committees with the approval of the Executive Board
represent DCSNA in the matters relating to the Association and perform all other duties pertaining to the office
be authorized to co-sign checks with the Secretary/Treasurer
be authorized to sign contracts. These contracts will be kept on file and made available to all members of the DCSNA state board and constituents

The Vice President shall:
assume the duties of the President in the absence, or disability of the President
accede to the office of President in case of vacancy in the office
be responsible for the planning of the annual convention
be responsible for review and recommendations for changes in Bylaws and Policies
be responsible for the legislative Chair
perform all duties assigned by the President

The Secretary shall:
prepare the minutes of all business meetings of the Association and the Executive Board meetings;
keep a record of attendance of each Board Member. Notify the Board of those individuals who exceed the absentee quota
establish a quorum at all business meetings of the Association
forward copies of meeting minutes to NSNA after approval of minutes
perform all duties as assigned by the President

The Treasurer shall:
act as custodian of organization’s funds and see that an annual fiscal report is prepared
Co-sign checks with the President
present a monthly Treasurer’s report at the business meetings
be responsible for having the year end statement reviewed and presented to the Executive Board
perform all duties assigned by the President

The Newsletter Editor shall:
be responsible for planning and setting the focus of publications
approve new articles for publication
prepare an editorial for each publication
seek advertisers for each publication
be responsible for the layout and proof reading of the publication
secure a printer with Executive board approval
mail the quarterly publication to members
perform all duties assigned by President

The Membership Director shall:
chair the Nominations Committee
prepare a convention nominations slate and have all biographical information available to the membership at the annual meeting
be responsible for screening the selection of nominees for office
send biographical information and officer description to all schools
work to fill positions on the Board in the even t of resignation
work in conjunction with the Secretary to compile an accurate mailing list of each school
communicate monthly with all Board Members to maintain communication with schools
prepare membership incentive programs with the approval of the Executive Board
perform all duties assigned by President

The Break through to Nursing Director shall:
Maintain communication with local school BTN directors
organize and monitor state-wide health projects as deemed appropriate by the Executive Board
perform all duties assigned by President

The Public Relations Chair shall:
work closely with the Executive Board and monitor school activities statewide;
make contacts with the medical and news media to promote all workshops, conventions, health projects, and the Annual Convention to assure good attendance;
promote to the public, activities of DCSNA which enhance the image of nursing; and
maintain an active DCSNA webpage
perform all duties assigned by President

The Legislative Director shall:
be responsible for attending legislative meetings, i.e. District of Columbia Nursing Association legislative committee meetings; keep the board of directors informed of current legislation pertinent to the health care field
keep all Board Members and the statewide membership informed of all important legislation;
send letters to legislators when needed to inform them of Association’s view on a bill;
write legislative alerts when needed; and
chair the DCSNA legislative committee
perform all duties assigned by President

Section 4.
The officers shall submit to the Treasurer a report of their expenses with receipts.

Section 5.
Officers shall submit to their successors all records, records, papers, and other property belonging to the Association by the end of the transition period.

Section 6.
The officers of this Association are required to fulfill their duties as specified in these Bylaws.

Section 7. Quorum

A quorum for the board meetings shall be the president and two other members of the Board of Directors.

Members of the Board of Directors who have missed more than two regularly scheduled meetings of any current term year without prior notification to the Board of Directors and who offer no valid reason for such absences may be removed from the office by a plurality vote.
An officer can be removed from office is negligent of these bylaws.
In the event the officer is terminated, a letter will be sent by the Secretary of the Executive Board to the Dean/Director of the nursing program they represent.

Article IV: Elections

Section 1. Election of Board of Directors

Elections hall be held prior the National Convention. One month notice must be given to any who will attend the election to vote and run for office. All voters must be national member. The election site will alternate each year throughout the schools in the District of Columbia, starting with Howard University, then University of the District of Columbia, then Catholic University and lastly at Georgetown University. Each school will host the election.
All elections will be secret ballot.
In the event of a tie, a revote will be held.
All nominations shall be made from the floor.
At the time of the Board of Directors are elected, the first meeting with the newly elected board, the board members will appoint a faculty advisor from the school that the President is from.

Article VII: Committees

Section 1. Appointments

A. the Board of Directors has the authority to appoint a person(s) to handle an area that appears to be of need; these areas would include. Fundraising, newsletter, projects, BTN, etc.

Article VIII: Delegates

Section 1. Delegate Representation

Constituents

DCSNA, when recognized as an official NSNA constituent, shall be entitled to one voting delegate and alternate at the NSNA House of Delegates, and in addition, shall be entitles to one voting delegate and alternate for every 50 members.
The DCSNA delegate(s) and alternate shall be a member(s) in good standing in the chapter and shall be selected and/or elected by members of the school, chapter at the proper meeting according to chapter bylaws. The association may designate and alternate delegate for each delegate by or for the following two mechanisms:

Selection and/or election by members of the school chapter according to chapter bylaws; or
Written authorization to the State Board of Directors requesting them to appoint a member of the State Board to act as a state-appointed alternate for their school chapter.

School chapters shall approve the appointment.
The State Board of Directors shall verify that any state appointed alternate is an member in good standing of the NSNA and the state association.
A school chapter must have a selected and/or elected delegate present at the NSNA convention in order to have a state-appointed alternate seated in the House of Delegates.
All alternates, whether school selected or state-appointed, shall have the same privileges as an elected delegate when seated in the House.

3. The school association shall be entitled to delegates according the number of members in good standing in NSNA. Delegates shall be computed on the basis of the number of members in each constituent as evidenced by the annual dues received by NSNA on a date eight weeks prior to the annual meeting.

Article IX: Amendments

Amendments to the Bylaws will be accepted if only in writing and signed by the person requesting an addition or change to the amendments. The Board of Directors will vote on whether the new addition or change is accepted.

Section 1.
An Amendment to these Bylaws shall become effective immediately upon its approval.

Section 2.
Revised Bylaws containing the approved amendments shall be submitted to NSNA, the DCSNA board, consultants, and constituents within one month of approval.

Article X: Parliamentary Authority

All meetings of this association shall be conduced according to the parliamentary law as set forth in Robert’s rules of Order Newly Revised where the rules apply and are not in conflict with these bylaws.

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