BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT NURSES’ ASSOCIATION
May 25, 2003
Key Terms:
Bylaws: basic rules governing the internal affairs of the organization.
Constituent Association: a school or state association that has met the requirements for constituency in NSNA; state approved associate degree, diploma, baccalaureate, and generic masters and doctoral programs are eligible for NSNA Constituency Status.
Corporate Charter (Articles of Incorporation): legal document containing the name, purpose, officers, and any other information required by the state in which the organization is incorporated.
Main Motion: a proposal that brings a particular subject before the assembly for consideration and action.
Policy: a definite course of action or proposition adopted by a board of directors, house of delegates, or any other authorized voting body.
Procedure: set method of conducting and managing business.
Quorum: the minimum number of officers and members of a constitute body that must be present for the valid transaction of business.
Resolution: a main motion put in writing on a subject of great importance expressed in formal wording (National Student Nurses’ Association, 2000)
Article I: Name of Organization
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Boise State University Student Nurses’ Association (BSU-SNA).
Article II: Purpose of Function
Section 1. Purpose
A. To assure responsibility for contributing to nursing education in order to provide for the highest quality of health care.
B. To provide programs representative of fundamental interests and concerns to nursing students.
C. To aid in the development of the whole person, professional role, and responsibility for health care of people in all walks of life.
Section 2. Function
A. To have direct input into standards of nursing education and influence the education process.
B. To influence health care, nursing education and practice through legislative activities as appropriate.
C. To promote and encourage participation in community affairs and activities towards health care and the resolution of related social issues.
D. To represent nursing students to the consumer, to institutions, and other organizations.
E. To promote and encourage students’ participation in the interdisciplinary activities.
F. To promote and encourage recruitment efforts, participation in student activities, and educational opportunities regardless of a person’s race, color, creed, sex, lifestyle, national origin, age, or economic status.
G. To promote and encourage collaborative relationships with nursing and health-related organizations.
Article III: Members
Section 1. School Constituent
A. School constituent membership is composed of active or associate members who are members of the NSNA and the Idaho Student Nurses’ Association (ISNA).
B. BSU-SNA shall be composed of at least 10 members from the Boise State University. There shall be only one chapter of BSU-SNA, which shall represent any and all campuses of the Boise State University.
C. For yearly recognition as a constituent, an officer of the BSU-SNA shall submit annually the official application for NSNA Constituency Status which shall include the following areas of conformity: purpose and functions, membership, dues, and representation.
D. A constituent association which fails to comply with the bylaws and policies of NSNA shall have its status as a constituent revoked by a 2/3 vote of the Board of Directors, provided that written notice of the proposed revocation has been given at lest two months prior to the vote and the constituent association is given an opportunity to be heard.
E. BSU-SNA is an entity separate and apart from NSNA and its administration of activities, with NSNA and BSU-SNA exercising no supervision or control over these immediate daily and regular activities.
NSNA and ISNA have no liability for any loss, damages, or injuries sustained by third parties as a result of the negligence or acts of BSU-SNA or the members thereof. In the event any legal proceedings are brought against NSNA and ISNA, BSU-SNA will indemnify and hold harmless the NSNA and ISNA from any liability.
Section 2. Categories of Constituent Membership
Members of the Constituent associations shall be:
A. Active members:
1. Students enrolled in state-approved programs leading to licensure as a registered nurse.
2. Registered nurses enrolled in the program leading to a baccalaureate degree with a major in nursing.
3. Active members shall have all privileges of membership.
B. Associate members:
1. Pre-nursing students, including registered nurses, enrolled in college or university programs designed as preparation for entrance into a program leading to an associate degree, diploma, or baccalaureate degree in nursing.
2. Associate membership shall have the privileges of membership except the right to hold office as president or vice president at state and national levels.
C. Individual members:
Individual membership shall be open at the national level to any eligible student when membership in a constituent association is not available. Individual members shall have the privileges of membership as prescribed in NSNA bylaws.
D. Active and associate membership shall be renewable annually.
Section 3.
Active and associate NSNA membership may be extended six months beyond graduation from a student’s program in nursing, providing membership was renewed while the student was enrolled in a nursing program.
Article IV: Dues
A. The annual NSNA dues for active and associate members joining for two years shall be $50 per member, plus $10 state dues, payable for the appropriate dues years. The dues years for these members shall be a period of twenty-four months.
B. National and state dues shall be paid directly to NSNA. NSNA shall not collect nor remit school chapter dues.
Article V: Board of Directors
Section 1. Composition
The Board of Directors (BOD) shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, with any of the following positions being optional at the discretion of the BOD: Newsletter Editor, Monetary Resource Director, Historian, Project-in-Touch Recruiter, Breakthrough to Nursing Director, Canyon County Liaison, Web Master, and Volunteer Coordinator. The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 2. Responsibilities
A. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for:
1. Transacting business of the association between membership meetings and shall report such transactions at the next regularly scheduled membership meeting.
2. Filling vacancies in any office by 2/3-majority vote of the Board of Directors except the office of President.
3. Reviewing monetary disbursements, acquisitions and fund raising activities and shall be responsible for procuring persons for audit of all accounts on an annual basis.
Section 2: Quorum. A quorum for the board meetings shall be the president and/or vice-president and two other members.
Section 3. Duties of the Board of Directors shall consist of:
A. The President shall:
1. Chair all meetings of the BSUSNA and the Board of Directors
2. Appoint special committees with the approval of the Board of Directors.
3. Serve as ex-officio member of all committees.
4. Prepare, in conjunction with the Board of Directors, goals and objectives for the coming year.
5. Preside over the election of new officers.
6. Represent BSUSNA in matters relating to the association and perform all other duties pertaining to the office.
B. The Vice-President shall:
1. Assume responsibility of the office of the President in the event of the vacancy occurring in the office until the next regular election.
2. Preside at meeting in the absence of the President.
3. Assist the President as delegate and act as advisor to the President.
4. Be responsible for the reviewing and recommendation of changes in the bylaws.
5. Be responsible for the election process to be held no later than March each school year.
6. Perform all duties as assigned by the President and/or as usual to this office.
C. The Secretary shall:
1. Record and distribute to the DOD the minutes of all meetings of this association as directed by the President.
2. Place a copy of the minutes from both general and BOD meetings in the SNA notebook in the Student Lounge.
3. Keep on file as permanent record all reports, papers and documents submitted to the Secretary.
4. Refer to dully appoint committees the necessary records for the completion of business.
5. Forward minutes to the state nursing students association board (President and/or Vice-President, JSNA) as well as the names and addresses of all officers and committee chairpersons after their election appointment.
6. Maintain a current list of members and officers. Ensure that each officer and advisor has a copy of the member list.
7. Maintain a record of attendance at both general and BOD meetings.
8. Deliver to the newly elected Secretary all association papers.
9. Perform all other duties as assigned.
D. The Treasurer shall:
1. Handle all moneys designated for BSU-SNA funds.
2. Serve as chairperson of the budget.
3. Submit financial reports as directed by the President.
4. Prepare financial reports submitted at the annual ASBSU Student Organization Financial Report Hearing and at any meetings of the DOD in which the President or other board member has requested discussion of the topic.
5. Remit payment for approved debits according to the following:
a) Disbursement of funds:
1.) Requests for disbursement of funds shall be made to the BOD. The DOD shall approve disbursement of funds.
2.) Present to the current membership at its regular meetings all requests for funds.
3.) Upon approval the Treasurer will issue checks for those requests.
4.) No funds will be disbursed without prior approval.
6. Perform all other duties as assigned by the President and/or as usual to this office.
E. The Newsletter Editor shall:
1. Compose, edit, publish and distribute a quarterly newsletter to SNA members.
2. Solicit advertisements for the newsletter.
3. Submit articles to the state newsletters.
4. Submit articles to NSNA News according to publication deadline.
5. Perform all other duties as assigned by the President and/or as usual to this office.
F. The Monetary Resources Director shall:
1. Assure compliance at meetings to the BSU-SNA bylaws and Robert’s Rules of Order, Newest Revision.
2. Dismiss and/or suspend any member repeatedly disrupting a meeting as requested.
3. Assume the responsibilities of the Vice-President in the event of the vacancy of the office until the next regular election.
4. Chair fund-raising events for BSU-SNA unless otherwise directed by the President.
5. Perform all other duties as assigned by the President and/or as usual to this office.
G. The Historian shall:
1. Attend SNA functions and take pictures or appoint another member to take pictures in the event of absence.
2. Keep a record of meetings and functions in the BSU-SNA scrapbook.
3. Update bulletin boards in the Student Lounge.
4. Assist Secretary in note taking and minutes as needed.
5. Assist Newsletter Editor and Project-In-Touch Recruiter in producing newsletter and updating web page as needed.
6. Perform all other duties as assigned by the President and/or as usual to this office.
H. The Project-In-Touch Recruiter shall:
1. Conduct membership campaigns, which may be in conjunction with other scheduled SNA meetings or may be separate events scheduled primarily for recruitment.
2. Focus efforts on recruiting of new members as well as retention of previous members.
3. Be prepared to explain benefits of NSNA and BSU-SNA membership to interested students.
4. Invite these students to become SNA members:
a.) Generic BSU students taking prerequisites to nursing in preparation of applying to the BSU Nursing Program.
b.) LPN students planning and/or preparing to bridge into a program with the intent of receiving a degree as a Registered Nurse; and
c.) RN students planning and/or preparing to bridge into the baccalaureate nursing program.
5. Organize and maintain BSU-SNA Web page in conjunction with Newsletter Editor.
6. Perform all other duties as assigned by the President and/or as usual to this office.
I. The Breakthrough to Nursing Director shall:
1. Chair Breakthrough to Nursing Committee of at least five students including yourself and implement Breakthrough to Nursing Project.
2. Chair State Breakthrough to Nursing Committee.
3. Chair Resolution Committee and organize the writing of a resolution to be submitted at the National Student Nurses’ Association Convention each spring.
4. Identify two or three goals for Breakthrough to Nursing.
5. Assist the PIT Recruiter with membership campaigns.
J. The Canyon County Liaison shall:
1. Serve as a contact to Canyon County students regarding SNA meetings and events.
2. Make available SNA fund-raising merchandise to the Canyon County nursing students’ campus.
3. Make announcements to Canyon County classes regarding upcoming SNA events hi-weekly.
4. Email Canyon County students regarding details of upcoming SNA meetings at the Boise campus.
5. Encourage Canyon County students’ participation in Boise campus events.
K. The Web Master shall:
1. Design and maintain a web site hosted by Boise State University as a sister sight to the Department of Nursing at
http://nursing.boisestate.edu/sna
2. Update web site at least once monthly.
3. Solicit advertising in conjunction with the Newsletter Editor for both the newsletter as well as the SNA Website.
4. Assist the Newsletter Editor with column articles as needed.
L. The Volunteer Coordinator
1. Attend scheduled meetings of the BSU-SNA Board of Directors and meetings of the general membership.
2. Collaborate with BSU-SNA appointed project chair(s) to determine number(s) of volunteers needed for each fund-raising and/or community service project.
3. Collaborate with the Historian, other BSU-SNA officers, and faculty as necessary to produce and distribute posters, flyers, brochures and handouts, announce volunteer opportunities in classes, and produce, distribute and collect sign-up sheets and lists for return to the project chair(s).
4. Research and report to the Board of Directors upcoming opportunities for SNA community service involvement and volunteer participation in SNA community service projects.
5. Other related duties as assigned by the President or his/her designee.
Section 4. Removal of Officer
A. Members of the BOD who have excessively missed meetings may be removed from office by a
majority vote of the current BOD membership.
B. An officer may also be removed from office by a majority vote of the BOD present at a meeting called for that purpose.
Article VI: Elections
Section 1. Election of Board of Directors
A. Nominations shall be held no later than the first week in March at the regular monthly SNA meeting. All nominations shall be made from the floor.
B. All elections shall be by secret ballot.
C. A plurality vote of the members present and entitled to vote and voting shall constitute an election.
D. In the event of a tie, a re-vote shall be held.
E. All candidates shall be notified of election results prior to announcing results to the incoming to all other SNA members.
Article VII: Meetings
Section 1. Membership Meetings
A. A periodic general SNA meeting and a periodic DOD meeting shall be conducted unless otherwise directed by the President.
B. The President shall have the authority to convene a special meeting as is deemed necessary and shall notify the members of date, time, and location.
Article VIII: Committees
Section 1. Appointments
A. Committee chair appointments shall be made by the BOD and shall be deemed standing committees unless otherwise stated at time of appointment.
B. Committee members shall be appointed by the committee chairperson or selected by the DOD from a group of volunteers.
Section 2. Responsibility
A. All committees shall be responsible to the DOD for reporting committee activities on a regular basis and shall, upon direction of the BOD, report it to the general membership.
Article IX: Delegates
Section 1. Function
A. To serve as spokesperson for this association at the annual state and national conventions.
B. Present to the state and national organizations all proposed resolutions or amendments to bylaws or policies proposed by this association.
C. Keep informed as to all current and proposed resolutions at the state and national levels and report information to this association’s membership at regularly scheduled membership meetings.
D. Make available to members updates, explanations, and copies of current and proposed state and national resolutions.
Section 2. Qualification and Appointment
A. Any member maintaining a grade level of C or above and who is active is eligible to hold the position of delegate.
B. Delegates shall preferably be the President and/or Vice-President of BSU-SNA and may have any member as an alternate who is eligible to be a delegate by the above terms.
Section 3. Delegate Representation
A. School Constituents:
1. BSU-SNA, when recognized as an official NSNA constituent, shall be entitled to one voting delegate and alternate at the NSNA House of Delegates, and in addition shall be entitled one voting delegate and alternate for every 50 members.
2. The BSU-SNA delegate(s) and alternate(s) shall be member(s) in good standing in the chapter and shall be selected and/or elected by members of the school chapter at a proper meeting according to chapter bylaws. The school association may designate an alternate delegate for each delegate by one of the following two mechanisms:
a.) Selection and/or election by members of the school chapter according to chapter bylaws; or
b.) Written authorization to the State Board of Directors requesting them to appoint a member of the State Board to act as a state-appointed alternate for their school chapter.
1.) School chapters shall approve the appointment.
2.) The State Board of Directors shall verify that any state-appointed alternate is a member in good standing of the NSNA and the state association.
3.) A school chapter must have a selected and/or elected delegate present at the NSNA Convention in order to have a state-appointed alternate seated in the House of Delegates.
4.) All alternates, whether school elected or state-appointed, shall have same privileges as an elected delegate when seated in the House.
3. The school association shall be entitled to delegates according to the number of members in good standing in NSNA. Delegates shall be computed on the basis of the number of members in each constituent as evidenced by the annual dues received by NSNA on a date eight weeks prior to the annual meeting.
Article X: Amendments
Amendments to the bylaws may be made with a 2/3 vote of those present and voting at a regularly scheduled meeting. Only proper amendments submitted in writing and carrying the proponent’s signature will be considered.
Article XI: Parliamentary Authority
All meetings of this association shall be conducted according to the parliamentary law as set forth in Robert’s rules of Order Newly Revised where the rules apply and are not in conflict with these bylaws. National Student Nurses’ Association (1999). “Policies, Procedures and Bylaws.” Guidelines for Planning New York, NY: National Student Nurses’ Association, Inc.