NEW HAMPSHIRE ASSOCIATION
OF FIRE CHIEFS, INC

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I

Name and Purpose

We, the fire chiefs, chiefs of fire departments, and chief engineers within the State of New Hampshire, and such other persons as we deem it proper to join with us, form ourselves into an organization to be known as the New Hampshire Association of Fire Chiefs, Inc. The purpose of this organization shall be to:

  • Promote professionalism in all aspects of the fire service including, but not limited to, EMS and the protection of life, property and the environment.
  • Promote research and effective and efficient methods of suppression, prevention, training and public education as it relates to all aspects of the fire service.
  • Promote legislative changes that will aid the fire service in carrying out its functions.

And such other matters as the interest of the Fire Service may, from time to time, bring to our attention.

ARTICLE II

Qualification of Members

Section I - Active Members

Active members shall be any fire chief, chief of department, chief engineer, chief fire ward, deputy fire chief, assistant fire chief, district fire chief, battalion chief, fire commissioner; chief coordinator of a mutual aid association; chief, deputy chief or assistant chief of a private or federal fire department; director of fire standards and training, chief of operations and deputy chiefs; state fire marshal and deputy state fire marshal; chief of forest protection, law enforcement and training officer and regional forest rangers in the Division of Forest and Lands; the bureau chief of EMS in the Department of Health and Human Services within the State of New Hampshire and any fire chief in active service in any city, town, village or fire district within the State of New Hampshire.

Section II - Associate Members

Associate members shall be members of any federal, state, town, city, village, county area or private fire agency or organization, or any person interested in the purpose of this organization.

Section III - Advocate Membership

Membership shall be offered to individuals or entities who support the objectives of the association. The dues, rights and privileges shall be defined by the Board of Directors prior to acceptance as a member in this category.

Section IV - Life Membership

Any active member who has retired from the fire service and has been a dues paying member for ten (10) years, may apply for life membership. Any individual eligible for active or associate membership shall not be eligible for life membership. In the case of the disabled active member, the ten year rule may be waived. All applications for life membership shall be referred to the Board of Directors to establish eligibility. The Board of Directors may waive this section for extenuating circumstances. All applicants shall be voted into life membership by a majority of those present and voting, a quorum being present.

Section V - Retired Membership

Any active or associate member in good standing who has retired from the fire service may apply to the Secretary for a change in membership category. The individual's dues shall be fifty (50) percent of the current year's dues. In the event the member reverts to active service, he/she will no longer qualify for this category.

Section VI - Honorary Members

Honorary members shall be those who may have rendered conspicuous service to the New Hampshire Association of Fire Chiefs, Inc. Said members shall be exempt from the payment of dues.

Section VII - Rights and Privileges

Associate, retired, honorary, and advocate members shall have all the rights and privileges of floor discussion, and to make suggestions. They shall not hold any elected office or appointed position. They may, however, due to their expertise be asked to serve as a technical consultant or advisor to any committee or elected or appointed official. They shall not have the right to vote or to make motions or seconds to motions.

ARTICLE III

Officers and Directors

Section I - Eligibility

Any member of the association seeking election to any of the elected offices specified in this Article of the Constitution shall:

  • Be an active member of the association at the time of his election.

Section II - Elected Officers

The elected officers of the association shall consist of a president, first vice president, second vice president, secretary, treasurer, and a sergeant-of-arms, all of whom shall be elected by ballot at the Annual Meeting and shall have a term of office for one (1) year or until their successors are elected and qualified.

Section III - Board of Directors

There shall be a board of directors consisting of five (5) active members, two (2) of which shall be full-time career chiefs, two (2) of which shall be volunteer or call chiefs and one (1) of which shall be a chief from either the career, call or volunteer fire department. The board of directors shall be elected by ballot at the Annual Meeting of the association and shall hold their office for one year or until their successors are elected and qualified. The past president of the association, the director to the New England Association of Fire Chiefs and the director to the New England Division of International Association of Fire Chiefs shall be ex-officio members of the board of directors for one (1) year.

Section IV - Executive Committee

There shall be an executive committee which shall consist of the board of directors and the officers of the association. The president of the association shall chair their meetings.

Section V - Expenses

All expenses incurred by the association shall be approved by the executive committee. All spending in excess of the approved budget shall require an affirmative vote by the executive committee prior to funds being disbursed.

Section VI - Vacancies and resignations of Elected Offices

Should any of the above named officers become vacant prior to the next Annual Meeting, the board of directors shall be empowered to fill said vacancy.

ARTICLE IV

Duties of the Officers and Directors

Section I - The Duties of the Officers

The president shall:

  • Be the official representation and spokesman for the association.
  • Serve as chairman of the executive committee.
  • Appoint all committees, including those not provided for in the Constitution and Bylaws.
  • Preside at meetings of the association and executive committee.
  • Call a special meeting of the board of directors when so requested by a majority of the executive committee or whenever the president determines necessary, except when the president determines that an unusual emergency exists: at least five (5) days notification shall be given and the reason for the special meeting stated.

The first vice president shall:

  • In the absence or inability of the president to perform all the duties of the office be directed to assume the duties of the president.
  • Assist the president in conducting the business and policies of the association.
  • Performs such other duties as are prescribed by the board of directors.

The second vice president shall:

  • Assist the president and first vice president in conducting business and policies of the association.
  • In the absence or inability of the president or the first vice president to perform their duties, be directed to assume all the duties and responsibilities of the president.
  • Perform such other duties as are prescribed by the board of directors.

The secretary shall:

  • Keep proper records of all proceedings at the association, board of directors and executive committee meetings.
  • Attend to all correspondence.
  • Keep the necessary records and files of the association.
  • Receive all monies and transfer same to the association treasurer.

The treasurer shall:

  • Supervise the use of all the assets of the association with the advice and approval of the executive committee.
  • Determine that all monies of the association are deposited in proper accounts and where applicable, drawing the highest rate of return consistent with the greatest safety for the association funds.
  • Determine that all funds are collected, recorded and disbursed according to accepted accounting practice and principles and in accordance with the Bylaws of the Association and the policies adopted by the board of directors.
  • Report to the Annual Meeting of the association on the financial condition of the association including a summary of all revenues and disbursements.

The Sergeant-of-arms shall:

  • Serve as guardian of the ballot box.
  • Assist the association secretary with the examination of the credentials of voting members.
  • Perform such other duties as may be required by the president or the board of directors.

Section II - Board of Directors

The board of directors shall:

  • Have general charge of the affairs of the association.
  • Review the work of the association and develop broad policy for the operation of the association.
  • Give their concurrence on prospective appointments of active members to the auditing and nominating committees as received from the association president.
  • Meet not less than four (4) times each year with written record kept of their proceedings.
  • At their first meeting following their election at annual meeting, they shall elect a chairman.

Section IV - Executive Committee

It shall be the duty of the executive committee to:

  • Carry out the duties assigned to it by the board of directors.

ARTICLE V

Meetings

Section I

The regular meeting of the association shall be held on the second Thursday of each month at such a time and place as the association may choose. The time, place and date may be changed by a vote of the association or in case of emergency, by the association president.

Section II

The Annual Meeting of the association will be held on the second Thursday of April unless changed as provided for in Article V, Section I.

Section III

Sub-section A

Eleven (11) active members from at least five (5) different communities shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of association business. There shall be a quorum call prior to the start of any business meeting.

Sub-section B

Three (3) members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of board business.

Sub-section C

Six (6) members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of committee business.

Section IV

For the purpose of orderly administration, Robert's Rules of Order, most current edition, shall be the authority for all meetings.

ARTICLE VI

Amendments

Section I

The association shall have full power at any meeting to alter, amend or revise this constitution, providing that notice of such alteration, amendment or revision has been in the hands of the active membership for at least 30 days prior to the date of the intended vote. A two-thirds majority of the members entitled to vote, who are present and voting shall be necessary for the adoption of any such alteration, amendment or revision.

Section II

All amendments, alterations or revisions shall take effect immediately upon adoption by the membership unless otherwise provided.

BYLAWS

Section I

The dues for the active and associate members are payable upon billing by the association secretary.

Section II

Any members whose dues are in arrears 120 days after billing shall, after notice of such arrears, be removed from the mailing list and the membership rolls by the president.

Section III

Application for membership and the current year's dues shall be submitted to the secretary and read at the next regular meeting of the association. Application will then be referred to three members of the board of directors who will act on same and make their report at the next regular meeting of the association. A favorable report shall be voted upon at the same meeting by those members present.

Section IV

Any active member shall have served one year as president of the association may be re-elected to the office of another one year term. Providing, however, after having served as president for two consecutive terms, he shall not again be eligible to the office of president until the expiration of three (3) years from the latest date he held the office of president.

Section V

The fiscal year of the association shall extend from the first day of April through the last day in March.

Section VI

Sub-section A

Upon the expiration of the term as Director of the New England Association of Fire Chiefs, at the annual meeting of the Association, the active membership of the New England Association of Fire Chiefs shall nominate a member to the Board of Directors of the New England Association of Fire Chiefs. This nominee shall be an active Fire Chief and a member of the New England Association of Fire Chiefs.

Sub-section B

Upon the expiration of the term as Director of the New England Division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs, at the annual meeting of the Association, the active membership of the International Association of Fire Chiefs shall nominate a member to the Board of Directors of the New England Division of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. This nominee shall be an active Fire Chief and a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Section VII

The association shall have the full power at any meeting to alter, or revise these Bylaws, providing that notice of such alteration, amendment or revision has been in the hands of the active membership at least 30 days prior to the date of the intended vote. A two-thirds majority of the members entitled to vote, who are present and voting shall be necessary for the adoption of any such alteration, amendment or revision.

Sub-Section A

All amendments, alterations or revision shall take effect immediately upon adoption by the membership unless otherwise provided.

Order of Business

The order of business at the monthly meeting of the association shall be:

  • Opening ceremonies
  • Salute to the flag of our country
  • Moment of silence for departed members
  • Quorum call
  • Welcome by the host chief
  • Reading of the recordings of the previous meeting
  • Financial report by the treasurer
  • Reading of communications
  • Reading of applications for membership
  • Reports of committees
  • Auditing Committee
  • Nominating Committee
  • Legislative Committee
  • Public Relations Committee
  • Professional Development Committee
  • Program Committee
  • Budget Committee
  • Report of Liaisons:
  • Fire Standards and Training
  • LOSAP
  • Bureau of Emergency Communications
  • HAZ-MAT
  • EMS/Trauma Coordinating
  • Fireworks
  • SERC
  • Unfinished business
  • New business
  • Good and welfare of the association
  • Report on attendance and place of next meeting
  • Adjournment

Effective Date: April 8, 2004

 
Copyright © 2007 NHAFC
PO Box 617 • Concord, NH 03302-0617