MAHCR-Maryland Association for Health Care Recruiters

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Maryland Association for Health Care Recruitment (MAHCR) By-Laws
ARTICLE I:	NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1:	Name The Name of the Association shall be the Maryland Association for Health Care Recruitment (MAHCR). The Association is chartered as a corporation in the State of Maryland as of January 4, 1996.
Section 2:	Purpose The purpose of the Association shall be to: Promote and exchange sound and ethical principles of health care recruitment; promote the interest of, and cooperation among its members; Collect and distribute information regarding conditions in the field that will assist members in the conduct of their business; Educate and promote health care careers, and Perform within the by-laws of the Association.
ARTICLE II:	MEMBERSHIP
Section 1:	Eligibility Applicants for membership or renewal thereof must be actively involved in health care recruitment, retention and/or human resource processes and employed by organizations providing direct health care such as hospitals, long-term care facilities, home care agencies, HMOs, the military and out-patient health care entities. The membership is held by the health care entity (each individual site/location). No temporary, personnel placement, or supplemental staffing agencies are eligible for membership in the Association.
Section 2:	Application and Approval Applications for membership shall be made through the Membership Chairperson to the Executive Board. Applications shall be reviewed by the Executive Board and approved according to these By-laws.
Section 3:	Voting Privileges Each member entity shall be entitled to one vote in the matters of the Association.
Section 4:	Suspension and Expulsion The Executive Board may suspend or expel any member for just cause, after giving the member the opportunity for a hearing before the Executive Board. If appropriate, any member suspended or expelled may be reinstated by an affirmative vote of a majority of the Executive Board present and voting. For purposes of this section, the terms for just cause shall include, but not be limited to any of the following: Any willful violation of these By-laws. Any conduct on the part of said member that is prejudicial to the interests of MAHCR.
ARTICLE III:	DUES AND FEES
Section 1:	Annual Dues Annual dues of each member entity shall be paid to MAHCR and submitted to the treasurer by November 15th of each year. Any change in dues shall be recommended by the Executive Board and must be approved at a meeting of the Association.
Section 2:	Delinquent Dues If any member entity is in arrears of payment for thirty (30) days, a thirty (30) day notice will be sent to the member entity by the Treasurer of the Association. Upon the failure of said member entity to pay up such arrears at or before the expiration of thirty (30) days from the date of such notice, the member shall be terminated from the Association.
ARTICLE IV:	EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1:	Composition The Executive Board of the Association shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Career Day Chairperson, Member Services Chairperson, Regional Conference Chairperson, Scholarship Committee Chairperson and the Website Committee Chairperson. The Immediate Past-President shall serve as a non-voting member of the Executive Board.
Section 2:	Duties of the Board The Executive Board shall assist the President in developing policies, reviewing the activities and achievements of the organization, and making recommendations for consideration of the general membership. The Board shall meet at the discretion of the President.
Section 3:	Terms of Office All duties of officers shall transfer to the newly elected officers at the June meeting. Officers remain in office until their successor has assumed office. Only two (2) consecutive one (1) year terms are allowed for the same office, except for the Secretary and the Treasurer.
Section 4:	Duties of Officers President – shall serve as the executive officer of the Association and shall preside at all meetings. The President shall appoint the Chairpersons of the Career Day, Member Services Committee, Regional Conference Committees and Chairpersons of any task force. The President shall prepare and present an annual report to the membership and NAHCR. The President will also designate someone to prepare a slate of officer candidates by March 30th each year. Vice-President – shall assume the responsibilities of the President in his/her absence; shall facilitate presentations that enhance the knowledge of the members; shall serve as parliamentarian; shall perform all other duties as delegated by the President, and shall assist the President in the preparation of the annual report. Secretary – shall record proceedings of the meetings of the Association and Executive Board meetings; shall maintain membership and attendance records; shall prepare, duplicate and distribute the minutes of all Association meetings; shall prepare all general correspondence, and shall perform all other duties as requested by the President. Treasurer – shall be responsible for all financial affairs of the Association; shall regularly deposit such funds, maintain bank accounts in the name of the Association and shall sign all checks and withdrawals for expenses approved by the Association; shall keep a record of receipts and disbursements; shall submit a monthly financial report at the membership meeting; shall submit an annual financial report and budget proposal to the Executive Board, and shall arrange for an annual audit of the financial records of the Association.
Section 5:	Eligibility for Elected Office All candidates for elected office shall be a current representative of a member entity of MAHCR. Candidates for the office of President shall be a member of MAHCR for two (2) years. Candidates for all other offices shall be members of MAHCR for one (1) year. Upon assuming office, the President shall become a member of the National Association for Health Care Recruitment (NAHCR).
Section 6:	Resignations and Vacancies Officers shall automatically forfeit their office if they are no longer eligible to be a representative in the Association. Any officer may resign his/her office at any time and may do so without loss of membership in the Association. A vacancy in any office for any reason shall be filled as follows: If a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the Vice-President shall complete the term of the office of President. If a vacancy occurs in the office of Vice-President, Secretary or Treasurer, the Executive Board shall elect by majority vote the successor to complete the term of office. If a vacancy occurs in any other Board position, the President shall appoint an individual to complete the term of office.
Section 7:	Election of Officers Elections of Officers shall be held during the April meeting of the association. Each member entity shall be entitled to one vote in the election of officers. Voting shall be by secret ballot or by proxy vote. The results shall be determined by a majority vote. The Officers shall be elected for their respective terms as stated in these bylaws.
ARTICLE V:	COMMITTEES
Section 1:	*Career Day Committee* The Career Day committee shall organize and implement programs for the recruitment of health care professionals. Planning at least one (1) annual career event is the specific responsibility of this committee. The committee shall perform other duties as requested by the President.
Section 2:	*Member Services Committee* The Membership committee shall solicit new members; review applications for membership in the Association as approved by the Executive Board; recommend the admission of new members to the Executive Board; solicit and recruit Institutional Members, and perform other duties as requested by the President.
Section 3:	*Regional Conference Committee* The Regional Conference Committee shall organize, plan, and evaluate a regional educational event. The conference agenda and coursework should provide an opportunity to develop knowledge of healthcare recruiting practices. Emphasis should be placed on strategies that can be applied to any number of healthcare settings.
Section 4:	*Scholarship Committee* The Scholarship Committee shall organize, plan and evaluate the annual scholarships awarded to one (1) Allied Health Student and one (1) Nursing Student. This committee will ensure that the application form is updated each year, disseminate the information to the association, evaluate the submissions and select the most appropriate candidates.
Section 5:	*Website Committee* The Website Committee will coordinate all activities related to the website. This will include maintaining the website with the assistance of the website contractor, ensuring that all members have access to the website, updating and making recommendations for the updating of the website, and other duties as requested by the president.
ARTICLE VI:	MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1:	Rules of Parliamentary Procedure Roberts Rules of Order shall be the authority on all questions of parliamentary usage and procedure at the meetings of the Association. The Vice-President shall function as the Parliamentarian.
Section 2:	Fiscal Year The fiscal year of the Association shall be September 1 to August 31.
Section 3:	Budget A budget shall be prepared and submitted by the Treasurer to the Executive Board prior to September for approval. The proposed budget shall be presented to the membership at the September meeting for approval.
Section 4:	Expenditures Any proposed non-budgeted expenditure of the Association that exceeds $500.00 must be approved by an official vote of the membership.
Section 5:	Amendments All proposed amendments to these by-laws shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Board for review and then presented to the membership for a majority vote.
Section 6:	Meetings A simple majority of the member entities present shall constitute an official vote.
Section 7:	NAHCR Dues MAHCR may finance the cost of NAHCR dues for the President. MAHCR may finance the cost of NAHCR dues for the Executive Board.
ARTICLE VII:	INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP
	Institutional members will be invited to join MAHCR and must be approved by the Board. The membership dues will be determined by the Board and memberships may be renewed annually. Institutional members may not be representatives of staffing or placement agencies. Institutional members will be allowed to attend monthly meeting as a non voting member, participate in association committees (non-chair positions), receive discounting booth fees at MAHCR conferences, present an update on new services at MAHCR meetings at least once annually, co-sponsor recruitment related or community service projects, have access to MAHCR roster of members, receive recognition on the MAHCR website and be a resource expert on recruitment practices, educational topics and speakers.
Revised:	January 1996 September 1998 January 2004 November 2005 February 2008