Preamble
For God and country, we, the FBI National Academy Associates of Maryland/Delaware, associates ourselves together for the following purpose:
To uphold and defend the Constitution of our country. To protect our country from any and all enemies, whether foreign or domestic. To promote training programs in the various duly constituted law enforcement agencies within our country, giving to the member thereof the benefit of our training received at the FBI National Academy. To cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in every way possible. To use and encourage the use of the facilities of the Bureau available to all law enforcement agencies, and to encourage attendance at all training sessions. To encourage and assist in the enlightenment and education of the general public. To cooperate with all duly constituted law enforcement agencies and officers, as well as the general public, in all matters of mutual interest, particularly in the exchange and dissemination of ideas and information, the detection and prevention of crime, and the apprehension of criminals. To strive for the highest degree of respect for law and order and maintenance thereof: and,
To those ends, we pledge to always conduct ourselves in the manner that will lend strength, dignity, and credit to the profession of law enforcement.
ARTICLE I. The name of the organization shall be:
The FBI National Academy Associates Maryland/Delaware Chapter
ARTICLE II. TERM OF THE ASSOCIATION:
The term of this association shall be perpetual.
ARTICLE III. PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION:
The purpose of this association shall be to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, and the local laws in our respective jurisdictions. To protect our country and it’s citizens from any and all enemies, whether foreign or domestic: to always be on the alert and ready to take the proper action against any person or persons whose purpose is to overthrow our form of government or who violates a law involving the person or property of any citizen. To promote and encourage training programs in the various duly constituted law enforcement departments in our country. To maintain police training under the direction, control, and sponsorship of law enforcement officials and organizations; to assist in every way possible, individual and as an organization, to the end that all law enforcement officers of our country may receive the benefit of our training received at the FBI National Academy. To cooperate and encourage cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in any way and every way possible. To use and inform all law enforcement officers of the various facilities of the FBI and like facilities in their respective countries available to them, and encourage their use, in so doing increasing the efficiency of law enforcement throughout the world. To attend and encourage attendance at all meetings of our local or regional chapters of the FBI National Academy Associates and all training sessions of the FBI National Academy Associates.
To encourage and assist in the enlightenment and education of the general public in matters of interest to our citizenry, and particularly regarding their responsibility to cooperate with law enforcement officers in the detection and prevention of crime. To facilitate the exchange and dissemination of ideas and information with all duly constituted law enforcement officers and the general public in all matters of mutual interest, thereby pledging and striving for the highest degree of respect for law and order and the maintenance thereof and to always conduct ourselves in both private life and official position in a manner that will lend strength, dignity, credit to the profession of law enforcement.
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION:
SECTION 1. MEMBERSHIP
A. NATIONAL – Membership in this association shall consist only of those individuals who have satisfactorily completed the course of instruction of the FBI National Academy and are graduated, this to include those active and retired from law enforcement.
B. LOCAL – Membership shall be effective upon graduation from the FBI National Academy and payment of dues to this association.
C. Those active and retired special agents of the FBI who have served as Field Office National Academy Coordinators and/or Counselors for a National Academy Session or who have been directly involved as a regularly appointed full-time administrator of the National Academy program at the FBI Headquarters. Active and retired special agents shall not be eligible to hold elective office.
D. There shall be no honorary or other type of membership.
SECTION 2. DUES
A. Dues for the Maryland/Delaware Chapter shall be determined on an annual basis by the Maryland/Delaware Chapter Executive Board, which will include dues set by the National Executive Board. Dues are payable in January of each year and shall be submitted no later than March 31st.
B. Additional assessments (emergencies) can be assessed on recommendation of the Executive Board.
C. Any member who has not paid his/her dues by April 30th shall remain a member of the FBI National Academy Associates but shall be removed from the mailing list. This includes both local and national mailing list.
SECTION 3. RIGHT TO VOTE
Any active member whose dues are not paid in full at the time of any duly authorized business meeting og this Association shall forfeit his/her right to vote.
SECTION 4. SUSPENDED FROM MEMBERSHIP
A. Upon non-payment of any required dues.
B. Upon participation in activity unworthy of or inimical to the best interest of law enforcement, as evidenced by any dismissal or requested resignation from any law enforcement agency based upon misfeasance or malfeasance, and by a majority vote of the membership present at any regular or special meeting.
C. Upon participation in activity unworthy of or inimical to the best interest of the FBI National Academy, or upon participation in activity unworthy or inimical to the best interest of the Federal Bureau of Investigation when so decided administratively by the Bureau.
ARTICLE V: OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION:
SECTION 1. OFFICERS
- President
- 1st Vice President
- 2nd Vice President
- Secretary Treasure
- Sergeant at Arms
SECTION 2.
In case of death, resignation, removal, suspension, inability to serve, or absence of the President, the 1st Vice President shall advance and serve as President
SECTION 3.
Interim vacancies in any other office shall be filled by the Executive Board and such officer shall hold office until the next regular business meeting of the Association.
ARTICLE VI: ELECTION OF THE OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
SECTION 1.
The officers of the Association shall be elected at the annual business meeting held in December each year. It shall be the duty of the Secretary/Treasure of the Association to notify the membership by mail of the date, time, and place of the meeting.
Prior to this meeting, an audit of the Treasurer’s books shall be made by the FBI local office.
SECTION 2.
Officers will serve for a total of five years on the Executive Board. After election to the position of Sergeant at Arms, an officer will advance through the positions of Second Vice President, First Vice President, President and Immediate Past President. Each position will be held for one year or until such time as their successors have been duly elected and qualified. The Secretary/Treasurer will be elected to and serve a two-year term apart from other positions on the Executive Board.
SECTION 3.
A. Nominations for Sergeant at Arms will be reviewed by a Nominating Committee appointed by the President. Any member interested in the office must submit a resume to the President by a date to be determined and announced in writing by the current president. The Nominating Committee will review all applications and present nominees, with a recommendation, to the general membership at the Annual Business Meeting.
B. Nominations from the floor may be made by a member in good standing. After hearing the nomination, a motion and approval by a simple majority of the membership in attendance will be required to place the name on the ballot.
C. The office of Sergeant at Arms will be alternated each year between the State of Maryland and the State of Delaware (Maryland odd year, Delaware even year).
SECTION 4.
The Secretary/Treasurer and Sergeant at Arms will be responsible for distributing, collecting and tabulating the ballots for any contested election.
ARTICLE VII. DUTIES OF THE ELECTED OFFICERS
SECTION 1. PRESIDENT
The President shall preside at all regular and special meetings of the Association. In conducting meetings of the Association, his/her decision shall be final unless otherwise provided for by this Constitution. His/her decision may be reversed by a two-thirds vote of the membership present at any business meeting of the Association. He/she shall appoint all protem officers in case of absentees. If, in the opinion of the President, an occasion or circumstance should arise to warrant calling of a special meeting of the Association, he/she shall have the authority to call such a meting and shall notify the membership of the date, time, and place of such a meeting, and the purpose of the meeting.
The President shall be Chairman of the Executive Board.
The President shall appoint the members of all committees not otherwise provided for.
The President shall be a member of all committees.
SECTION 2. 1st VICE PRESIDENT
The 1st Vice President will be the chairperson of the Scholarship Program and the co-chairman of the Youth Leadership Program. The 1st Vice President shall also perform all duties for the good of the organization required of him by the President of the Association, and this Constitution. The 1st Vice President shall be a voting member of the Executive Board.
SECTION 3. 2nd VICE PRESIDENT
The 2nd Vice President will be the chairperson of the Youth Leadership Program and the co-chairman of the Scholarship Program. The 2nd Vice President shall also perform all duties for the good of the organization required of him by the President of the Association, and this Constitution. The 2nd Vice President shall be a voting member of the Executive Board.
SECTION 4. SECRETARY/TREASURER
The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep the minutes of all business meetings of the Association, also the minutes of all meetings of the Executive Board.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall prepare any correspondences as directed by the President of the Association.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall collect all dues and make an accounting of all funds at each regular business meeting of the Association. He shall have the authority to disburse such monies for incidental expenses, such as membership cards, stationary, mailing, printing, etc. He shall pay bills and have Treasurers report completed, filed, and up to date and ready for audit, prior to the December election meetings so they can be turned over to the new Treasurer.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep a copy of paid bills on any and all monies expended.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall be a voting member of the Executive Board.
SECTION 5. SERGEANT AT ARMS
The Sergeant at Arms shall examine the membership present at business meetings and permit no un-authorized persons to be present during the meetings. He shall maintain order and shall perform any duties required of him by the President for the orderly conduct of such business meetings.
The Sergeant at Arms shall be a voting member of the Executive Board.
SECTION 6. EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive Board shall consist of all officers set forth in Article V., Section 1, of this Constitution and the Immediate Past President. The Immediate Past President shall remain as a member of the Executive Board for one year following his/her term as President to provide guidance and counsel to the Executive Board as requested by the members of the Executive Board. The Past President shall be a non-voting member of the Executive Board.
A majority of the members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VIII COMMITTEE
SECTION 1.
All committees not otherwise provided for by the Constitution shall be appointed by the President of the Association. All committees shall serve no longer than one (1) year and may be relieved of their duties at any time by the President of the Association.
ARTICLE IX. BUSINESS MEETINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION
SECTION 1.
A minimum of four Executive Board meetings of the Association shall be held during each year, and shall be known as the Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter Meetings. All officers of the Association shall be elected at the annual business meeting in December; the Secretary/Treasurer shall be elected every two years. The active members of the Association present shall constitute a quorum.
SECTION 2.
Special business meetings of the Association may be called as provided in Article VII, Section 1, of this Constitution. Only those items set forth in the President’s call for a special business meeting of the Association, or matters relating directly thereto, shall be acted upon at any special business meeting of the Association. At the next regular business meeting of the Association after any special business meeting, the President of the Association shall make a full report of all transactions of the special business meeting of the Association. The active members of the Association present at a special meeting of the Association shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE X ORDER OF BUSINESS
SECTION 1.
The order of business shall be as follows:
1. Calling the meeting to order.
2. Reading the minutes of the previous meeting.
3. Treasurer’s report.
4. Report of Committees.
5. Nomination and election of officers.*
6. Installation of officers.*
7. Unfinished business.
8. New business.
9. Discharge of committees.*
10. Adjournment.
* Annual Business Meeting held in December.
ARTICLE XI CHANGES AND AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
If there be any changes and/or amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws, a written notice will be sent to each active member at least ten (10) days prior to the special or regular meeting. Any proposed changes must be written in full. Any changes and amendments may be made by a two-thirds votes of the active members present at any social function or regular business meeting of the Association.
Amended May 8, 2000
Annual Training Conference
Annapolis, Maryland