FAOP - Florida Association of Orthotists & Prosthetists

Bylaws of the Florida Association of Orthotists & Prosthetists, Inc.

ARTICLE I: NAME

SECTION I. The name of the organization shall be the "Florida Association of Orthotists & Prosthetists, Inc.", hereinafter called "the Association".

ARTICLE II: DEFINITION

SECTION I. The name of the organization shall be the "Florida Association of Orthotists & Prosthetists, Inc." includes those persons, firms, or corporations, principally engaged in the business of making and/or fitting Orthotic and Prosthetic devices, as described in Florida Statutes 468 part XIV; including any persons, firms or corporations whose principal business is in the provision of Orthotic and/or Prosthetic services or material.

ARTICLE III: OBJECTS

SECTION I: The objectives of the Association shall include, but not necessarily be limited to:

  1. Consideration and dealing with those common intra-professional relationships and problems of the profession which may arise in the State of Florida, including those of management; to secure cooperative action in advancing the common purposes of its members; to foster equity in professional standards, and to promote activities to enable the profession to conduct itself with the greatest economy and efficiency.
  2. Dissemination of business information of a general economic, social, and governmental character; to advise and present the views of the members and the Association to the organizations, to local governments, agencies, and the general public.
  3. Assisting State governing bodies in the formation of regulations of professional standards and conduct.
  4. Doing anything necessary and proper for the accomplishment of any objects herein set forth, or which shall be recognized as proper and lawful objects of the professional association, all of which shall be consistent with the public interest, as well as in the interest of this profession.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICES

SECTION I: The principal office of the Association, as an incorporated Association, shall be that of the Treasurer, who is duly elected by the members of the Association, in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws.

ARTICLE V: MEMBERSHIP

SECTION I: Membership in the Association consists of the following categories:

  1. Active Member: Any person certified by, and in good standing with, an orthotist/prosthetist credentialing body whose educational standards and requirements are based of CAAHEP guidelines, or any person licensed by the State of Florida as an Orthotist or Prosthetist, is eligible to be an Active Member
  2. Affiliate Member: Any person actively engaged in training, fitting, or fabricating Orthotic and/or Prosthetic devices, and any person licensed by the State of Florida as a Fitter, Fitter Assistant, or Pedorthist, is eligible to become an Affiliate Member.
  3. Facility Member: Any firm actively engaged in training, fitting, or fabricating Orthotic and/or Prosthetic devices is eligible to become a Facility Member.
  4. Associate Member: Any person, firm, or corporation, actively engaged in the manufacturing of components, supplies, or other materials for the proper conduct of furnishing Orthotic or Prosthetic devices, is eligible to become an Associate Member. Any association or governmental agency actively engaged in the care of orthotically or prosthetically challenged individuals are eligible to become an Associate Member

SECTION II: Voting Rights. The right to vote on matters affecting the Association is reserved to Active Members. Affiliate, Associate and Facility Members are entitled to participate in the discussion about matters affecting the Association at both general and special meetings, and shall be recognized for that purpose, but they shall not be entitled to vote on such matters.

SECTION III: Voting.

  1. Each Active Member shall be entitled to one (1) vote. In the event of the member's absence, he/she may appoint another Active Member to vote his/her Proxy by written certification to the Secretary on the form included with the written notice. An Active Member, or officer, may hold and/or vote a maximum of (2) Proxies, plus his or her own vote.
  2. In the event the Board of Directors deems it necessary to conduct a vote by mail, each Active Member shall be sent, at least thirty days prior to the deadline for tabulation, by regular mail at the last known address, a Ballot and the official notification of the proposed change to the Bylaws or other business which the Board determines requires a vote by the general voting members. The Ballot shall be completed and signed by the Active Member and returned to the Secretary, at the address indicated on the Ballot, by regular mail, postmarked prior to the stated deadline. The Secretary shall register each vote against a master list of all Active Members in good standing, to assure there is no duplication of the ballot. A proposed change or question shall prevail by receiving the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast. In the event less than fifty-percent (50%) of the Active Members cast a vote, the change or question shall be voided. The Board may then elect to either resubmit the change or question to the voting members, or to table the change or question.

SECTION IV: Duration of Membership

  1. Membership in the Association may be terminated by voluntary withdrawal, by violation of Bylaws or any agreement, rule, or practice properly adopted by the Association, or any other conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Association. Expulsion shall be by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire membership, provided that a statement of charges shall have been mailed by Registered Post to the last recorded address of the member at least thirty (30) days prior to the time final action is taken thereon.
  2. Failure to pay dues. See Article VI, Section III, 1. If a member has been dropped from the membership roles for failure to pay dues, he/she shall pay the current dues in order to reestablish membership.

ARTICLE VI: FINANCES

SECTION I. The Board of Directors, in consultation with the membership, shall set the dues as required to finance the proper operation of the Association. The Treasurer shall present an accounting of finances at each regular meeting. If requested for an open accounting at any other time, the Treasurer has fifteen (15) days to respond.

SECTION II. Failure to Pay Dues:

  1. Members who fail to pay dues within ninety (90) days of the due date shall be dropped from the membership roles.
  2. A member who is dropped for failure to pay dues shall, without further notice and until such time as payment is made and membership is reestablished under Article V, forfeit all rights and privileges of membership.

ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS

SECTION I. The Association shall hold at least one (1) general meeting in each year for the transaction of business. The election of officers shall take place at a general meeting as close to the start of the fiscal year as practical.

SECTION II. Special meetings of the Association shall be held at the call of the President or upon written request of one-fifth (1/5) of the Active Members to the President.

SECTION III. Notice of Meetings: Notice of general meetings shall be in writing at least thirty (30) days in advance of said meeting, mailed to the last recorded address of each member. Special meetings shall be called by notification, in writing, to each member at least ten (10) days in advance of said meeting.

SECTION IV. Quorum: A quorum shall consist of one-third (1/3) of the Active Members, in good standing, in person or by Proxy. If a quorum is not present, the President shall adjourn the meeting. A quorum is necessary at any general or special meeting in order to do business.

ARTICLE VIII: ORDER OF BUSINESS

SECTION I. The presiding officer shall determine the order of business of any meeting of the Association.

SECTION II. The parliamentary rules as laid down in Robert's Rules of Order shall govern all proceedings during Association meetings.

ARTICLE IX: OFFICERS

SECTION I. Designation. The officers of the Association shall be the President, the President-Elect, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the Immediate Past-President. All officers must hold active membership in the Association.

SECTION II. Term of Office. The terms of the officers of the Association shall be for two (2) years, and officers shall be elected at the general meeting of the Association as stated in Article VII, Section I. Each officer may be removed from office by the affirmative vote of the majority of the total Active membership.

SECTION III. President's Duties. The President shall preside at the general meetings of the Association and shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees of the Association. The President shall appoint a person in Active membership to fill any vacancy which may occur in the officialdom of the association caused by death, resignation, or otherwise, until the general or special meeting where an election shall be held to fill the vacancy. He/she shall perform any duties incident to office, and/or prescribed by the Board of Directors. He/she shall keep the President-Elect informed of all major items affecting the association. The President shall appoint Chair and/or members of each committee of the Association, except for those committees which have pre-designated members.

SECTION IV. President-Elect's Duties. The President-Elect shall, in the absence or disability of the President, perform all the duties and exercise all the powers of the President. He/she shall succeed to the Presidency at the time when the President's term of office has been fulfilled.

SECTION V. Secretary's Duties. The Secretary shall keep the official minutes of all meetings of the Association's activities, except that which is appropriate for the President to conduct in the discharge of his/her duties.

SECTION VI. Treasurer's Duties. The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all funds of the Association and shall maintain an accounting thereof which shall be presented for approval to the membership at all general meetings. The Treasurer shall deposit funds in a bank or banks, a trust company or other depository approved by the President. All disbursements for the benefit of the Association shall be made, when possible, by check drawn on the Association's account, and each disbursement will be supported by a voucher showing evidence of expenditure signed by the Treasurer. The fund's accounts and vouchers in the possession of the Treasurer shall be available to inspection and verification of the President or any Active Member. At the expiration of his/her term of office, the Treasurer shall deliver all books, moneys, records and any property of the Association over to his/her successor, or in the absence of a Treasurer-Elect, to the President. The Treasurer shall furnish, at the Association's expense, a fidelity bond approved by the Board of Directors, in such sum as the Board shall prescribe.

ARTICLE X: COMMITTEES

SECTION I. General. The President may create such committees as are considered to be necessary for the conduct of the Association's business, in addition to any specifically authorized. Committees created under this provision shall terminate on the expiration of the term of the President appointing them, unless otherwise specified.

SECTION II. Standing Committees. Standing committees shall be:

  1. Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of the three (3) most Immediate Past-Presidents available. They shall present (1) nominee for each elected office at the meeting for elections.
  2. Membership Committee. The Membership Committee shall encourage practitioners to become participating members of the Association.
  3. Government Liaison Committee. The Government Liaison Committee shall present the views of the practitioners in the State of Florida to appropriate governmental agencies in order to get proper service for the physically challenged population served.
  4. Finance Committee. The Finance Committee shall consist of the Officers and the Immediate Past President of the Association. The committee will be responsible for the financial oversight of the Association's assets and financial management.

ARTICLE XI: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION I. The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Immediate Past-President.

SECTION II. The Board of Directors may have control and management of the affairs of the Association with the approval of the Active Members in accordance with the Bylaws.

ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS

SECTION I. Amendments and Changes. These Bylaws may be amended, repealed or altered in whole, or in part, by an affirmative majority vote of at least one-half (1/2) the Active Members, voting in person or by proxy, at any duly organized meeting of the Association, provided the proposed change or changes are submitted by ordinary mail to each Member at his/her last recorded address at least thirty (30) days prior to the date of the meeting which is to consider such changes.

ARTICLE XIII: COMPENSATION

SECTION I. Compensation. No officer or member of the Association shall receive compensation for his/her services, except that the Board may provide for reimbursement to any officer or member of expenses properly incurred in connection with Association duties.

September 2003

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