Article I: Name
The association shall be known as the State Law Enforcement Chiefs’ Association, Inc.
(SLECA) and shall be referred to herein as the “association”.
Article II: Purpose
The association, a not-for-profit corporation organized under the authority of Part I, Chapter 617, Florida Statutes, is formed to provide training and educational opportunities that will enable members to better manage state law enforcement agencies, foster and promote better mutual understanding among different types of state law enforcement functions, to promote professionalism, ethical conduct, and competency in the field of law enforcement, to provide outreach and public awareness on issues effecting state law enforcement agencies, and any other purpose authorized by state law. No part of the income or assets of this corporation may be distributed to any director, officer, or member of the association.
Article III: Membership
Classes and qualifications of membership:
1. Active Members
Persons are eligible to become active members if they meet one of the following:
a. Be a full-time law enforcement officer, as defined in Chapter 943, Florida Statutes, and employed by the State, in a position that manages a department, division, bureau, or unit employing certified law enforcement officers,
b. Serve in such state law enforcement department, division, bureau, or unit as a sworn manager or sworn supervisor, holding the rank of Lieutenant or higher, or an equivalent level position as determined by the employing agency.
c. Serve as a non-sworn manager, holding a policymaking position that directs the activities of sworn law enforcement officers, or that directs support staff who are vital to the mission of the law enforcement department, division, bureau, or unit, as determined by the Chief Executive within the respective employing law enforcement entity.
d. Managers, attorneys, and administrators of state law enforcement departments, divisions, bureaus, or units that provide support to the law enforcement functions as determined by the Chief Executive within the respective employing law enforcement entity.
e. Be retired from employment in a position described in a. through d. above and otherwise eligible for membership.
f. In no case will any member of any collective bargaining unit be eligible for membership.
2. Associate Membership
The following persons are eligible for associate membership:
a. Chief Executives and Command Staff of Federal, County, Municipal, and Special District law enforcement agencies.
3. Honorary Membership
The following persons not eligible for active or associate membership
may be granted honorary membership at the discretion of the President:
a. Elected or other Public Officials.
b. Members of civic, social, service, and fraternal organizations who support the purpose and activities of the association.
c. Any person, business, or entity that advocates good law enforcement, promotes public safety, and supports the activities of the association.
4. Life Membership
Any active member is eligible to be a life member in recognition of worthy or meritorious service to the association. All past presidents shall be life members. Life members retain their active membership status even if they no longer meet the requirements for such membership, except when revoked pursuant to requirements established in the bylaws.
5. Privileges of Members and Life Members
a. Active and life members may vote on all association business as prescribed by the articles or by-laws, chair and serve on committees, and have the privilege of the floor at all membership meetings.
b. Associate members may not vote on business but shall have the privilege of the floor at all membership meetings.
c. Honorary members may not vote nor shall they have the privilege of the floor at any meeting, unless invited to speak for a specific purpose by the President.
6. Admission to the Association
a. Persons wishing to join the association as an active or associate member will submit a written application to any member, who shall submit the application to the Membership Committee, which shall review and screen the applications and recommend to the Executive Board the approval or disapproval of each applicant for membership. Any application that is rejected by the Executive Board will be provided to the President for a response to the applicant. Appeals of a rejection may be heard by the general membership at any regularly schedule business meeting upon the petition of any member to the President.
b. Life membership, other than Past Presidents, which is automatic, shall be recommended by any member of the Executive Board to the general membership, and shall be acted on by a simple majority vote of the members present.
c. Honorary Membership may be awarded by the President with the concurrence of the Executive Board.
7. Dues and Fees
a. Dues and Fees of the association, if any, shall be established by the Executive Board.
b. Any special assessments must be approved by a simple majority of the Executive Board in a regularly scheduled or special meeting of the Executive Board.
Article IV: Term of Existence
The term of existence of the association shall be perpetual.
Article V: Officers, Executive Board, and Committees
The Board of Directors, herein referred to as the Executive Board, shall consist of the following officers, who shall manage the affairs of the association:
President
1st Vice President
2nd Vice President
3rd Vice President
Secretary/Treasurer
Immediate Past President
All Chairs of the Standing Committees
The Standing Committees of the Association are as follows:
Membership
Governmental Affairs
Technology
Nominating and Awards
Education and Training
State Accreditation
The chairs of each standing committee must be active or life members, who are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the President. Ad-hoc committees may be appointed at the President’s discretion.
Officers shall be elected at the annual meeting by a majority vote of the voting membership in attendance and shall take office at that meeting. They shall hold office for twenty-four (24) consecutive months or until their successors assume office. Officers may succeed themselves for one additional term of office by vote of the membership. Vacant offices shall be filled through appointment by the President. Each officer must be an active or life member of the association, and shall have received nomination by the Nominating and Awards Committee.
Article VI: Identification of Initial Officers who served until
First Election under Articles of Incorporation
President, Colonel Bobby R. Burkett
1st Vice President, Director Robert L. Edwards
2nd Vice President, Colonel Don Ellingsen
3rd Vice President, Colonel Brantley Goodson
Secretary/Treasurer, Lieutenant Colonel John W. Carmody
Membership Committee Chair, Major Grady Phelps
Ways and Means Committee Chair, Mr. Jim McPherson
Nominating Committee Chair, Mr. Chuck Bradshaw
Personnel and Collective Bargaining Committee Chair, Major James H. Green
Article VII: By-Laws
By-Laws may be made, altered, or amended at any meeting on recommendation of the Executive Board or motion of any member by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present.
Article VIII: Amendments of Articles of Incorporation
Articles of incorporation may be amended at any regularly scheduled business meeting upon recommendation of the Executive Board, provided the amendments have been published at a prior meeting, or provided to the membership by written or electronic means prior to the vote being taken. A two-thirds vote of the voting members present is required to amend the articles.
Article IX: Charitable/Educational Organization Status
A. Said corporation or organization is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational and scientific purposes, including for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or the corresponding section of any future Federal tax code).
B. No part of the net earnings of the corporation or organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, directors, officers or other private persons, except that the corporation or organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of Section 501(c)(3) purposes.
C. No substantial part of the activities of the corporation or organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation or organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office.
D. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the corporation or organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a.) by a corporation or organization exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding section of any future Federal tax code), or (b.) by a corporation of organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding section of any future Federal tax code).
Article X: Dissolution
In the event the association is dissolved and ceases to be a non-profit corporation of this state, all assets shall be distributed to an organization operated for religious, charitable, governmental, or educational purposes, organized as tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the current or amended IRS Code. No member, officer, or director of this association, or private individual shall be entitled to any share of association assets upon such dissolution of the organization.
Amended and approved on July 19, 2011.
Subscribed to and acknowledged by the following this ____ day of ________
in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida.
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