Constitution and ByLaws

ARTICLE I

General

Name: This Association shall be known as the Metro Atlanta Fire Chiefs Association.

Mission Statement: The mission of the Metro Atlanta Fire Chiefs Association is to promote informed and progressive leadership in the Metro Atlanta area that

results in control and reduces the impacts from fire, emergency medical, and natural or man- made disasters through legislation, prevention, professional

development, standards, information, and education.

Purpose: The purpose of this Association is to provide Chief Officers, Managers, Directors, and other members of fire and emergency medical services

organizations that provide emergency 911 response throughout the Metropolitan Atlanta area with information, education, services, and representation to

enhance their professionalism and capabilities to protect the citizens of their communities from the devastation of disastrous incidents. To carry out this

purpose, the Association shall:

1. Serve as a recognized Association for the exchange of ideas, information, knowledge and experience concerning disastrous incidents in the areas of

prevention, suppression, rescue, emergency medical services, and all related areas of fire and emergency services.

2. Provide a forum for the interaction of the individual members through networking and scheduled meetings.

3. Cooperate with other agencies and organizations to promote programs that further the goals and objectives of the fire and emergency services.

4. Support and encourage the delivery of pre-hospital emergency medical services.

5. Encourage, promote, and organize professional development for the members of the Association through training and educational opportunities.

6. Assist the Georgia Fire Service Joint Legislative Committee by supporting sound and progressive legislation to assure the advancement and development

of fire and emergency services

ARTICLE II

Membership

Membership: The membership of this Association shall be as follows:

1. Active Membership – Active members shall include the Chief of the Department and all Chief Officers or equivalent as designated by the Chief, Director, or

Manager, of legally organized public, 911 private emergency medical services, governmental, or industrial fire departments within the Metropolitan Atlanta

area as defined by the Atlanta Regional Commission.  An Active Membership will apply for the department and/ or agency.

2. Section Membership- Individuals belonging to a department where an Active Member, or individuals who are representatives of organizations that are

Associate Members will be allowed to join  Sections (See Article V Sections and Committees.)

3. Associate Membership – Associate Membership shall be granted to individuals and organizations who have a vested interest in fire and emergency services

organizations. Associate members shall be entitled to fully participate in the activities of the Association, except they are not eligible to vote or hold office.

4. Advisory Membership- Advisory Membership shall be granted to staff of the Georgia Fire Academy, the State Fire Marshal’s Office, Georgia Firefighter

Standards and Training, and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency.  In addition, non 911 emergency medical services agencies will have the

capability to have and Advisory Membership.

5. Honorary Membership – Honorary membership may be conferred by a majority vote of the members upon an individual who has rendered conspicuous

service to their agency and the Association.

ARTICLE III

Officers

Eligibility: Only Active Members of the Association shall be entitled to hold elected office.

1. The Executive Board will be the elected officers of the Association and shall consist of a President, Vice President, and a Secretary/Treasurer.

2. Terms for elected officers will be in duration of 2 years.  Recommended natural progression.

3. The election of officers shall occur during the last official meeting of the Association during the even calendar year.  Officers shall be sworn in and take

office during the next official meeting of the Association.

4. In the event that a member retires from the fire service while holding an elected office, the member may continue to hold office for the remainder of their

term.

5. No officer or member of the Association shall incur any expenses in the name of the Association without the approval of the Executive Board, except in the

case of an emergency. The President is empowered to authorize, with the approval of the majority of the Executive Board, the expenditure of sufficient

funds to meet the emergency.

6. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of the President, the Vice President shall assume the duties of the President for the remainder of the term.

In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Vice President, the Secretary/Treasurer shall assume the duties of the Vice President for the remainder of the

term. In the event of a vacancy in the term of the Secretary/Treasurer, the President shall call for a Special Election.

7. No officer of the Executive Board shall be eligible to serve as a Chairperson of a Section while holding an Executive office.  (See Article V for Sections.)

ARTICLE IV

Duties of the Officers

The duties of the elected officers are as follows:

The President shall:

1. Be the official spokesperson for the Association.

2. Serve as the Chairperson of the Executive Board.

3. Preside at the meetings of the Association.

4. Insure that all sections, committees, task forces or work groups conduct business in a professional manner consistent with the policies and by-laws of the

Association.

The Vice-President shall:

1. Assume the duties of the President in the absence or inability of the President to perform all duties of the office.

2. Assist the President in conducting the business and policies of the Association.

3. Perform such other duties as prescribed by the Executive Board.

The Secretary/Treasurer shall:

1. Supervise the assets of the Association with the advice and approval of the Executive Board.

2. Assure that all monies of the Association are deposited into proper accounts providing the highest degree of safety for the funds of the Association.

3. Assure that all funds are collected, recorded and disbursed by the Association according to accepted accounting practices and in accordance with the by-

laws if the Association.

4. Present a financial report to Association at the first meeting of the calendar year.

5. Maintain minutes of the meetings and provide notification of meetings to all members.

6. Maintain an active roster of all members.

ARTICLE V

Sections & Committees

The following Sections and/ or Committees are established as follows:

1. Executive Officers Section- this Section shall consist of all Fire Chiefs, Managers, Directors, and/ or equivalent agency heads of public and private fire and/

or emergency medical services.

2. Emergency Medical Services Section- this Section shall consist of members of public and private fire and/ or emergency medical services with the purpose

of improving the delivery and advancement of emergency medical services.  Members may include, but not be limited to, EMS Supervisors, Instructors,

Physicians, Medics, or other professionals with an interest in emergency medical services.

3. Training Section- this Section shall consist of public and private fire and/ or emergency medical services with the purpose of improving and planning

educational and professional development.  Members may include, but not be limited to, Training Officers, Instructors, or other professionals interested in

fire, rescue, emergency medical services, and/ or emergency response training and education.

4. Company Officer Section- this Section shall consist of members of public and private fire and/ or emergency medical services with the purpose of preparing

Company Officers and/ or mid- level Supervisors for future advancement as well as improving current operational skills and traits.  Members may include,

but not be limited to, Sergeants, Lieutenants, Captains, Battalion Chiefs/ Commanders, and/ or other supervising professionals interested in strategy,

tactics, and/ or tasks in the operations of their respective functions.

5. Prevention Section- this Section shall consist of members of public and private fire and/ or emergency medical services with the purpose of improving

prevention methods and practices involving fire and life safety issues.  Members shall include, but not be limited to, Fire Marshals, Inspectors, Plan

Reviewers, Educators, and/ or other professionals interested in saving lives and property through prevention.

6. Health and Safety Section- this Section shall consist of members of public and private fire and/ or emergency medical services with the purpose of improving

health and safety for emergency professionals, as well as the reduction of line of duty deaths and injuries.

7. Public Information Section- this Section shall consist of members of public and private fire and/ or emergency medical services with the purpose of

developing and improving media relations.  Members may include, but not be limited to, Public Information and Public Relations Officers, or those

individuals that may have the responsibility of performing in that role, as well as local print and electronic media outlets.

8. Administrative Professionals Section- this Section shall consist of members of public and private fire and/ or emergency medical services with the purpose of

sharing and supporting administrative functions that will improve internal and external service delivery.  Members may include, but not be limited to,

Administrative Assistants, Secretaries, Administrative Chief Officers, and/ or other professionals that serve in an administrative support role.

9. Nominating Committee- this Committee shall gather names and recommendations of individuals to submit to the membership when elections of Officers of

the Executive Board is applicable.

The President may name additional committees, sections, work groups, or task forces to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Association.

The Chairperson of Sections and/ or Committees shall solicit membership from the members of the Association on a voluntary basis in order that individual

members shall have an opportunity to serve.

Each Section and/ or Committee shall provide a report on their respective activities at each business meeting of the Association when applicable.

Sections shall develop their respective By Laws with the final approval and confirmation by the Executive Board.

Each Section shall have a Chairperson that is elected by the members within that Section with the final approval and confirmation by the Executive Board.

Each Section Chairperson shall conduct regular meetings as called by that Section Chairperson

BY-LAWS

General

1. The Association shall conduct monthly meetings at a time and place as determined by the President of the Association.

2. The dues for membership in the Association shall be as follows:

a. Active Members: Departmental Dues of $100.00 annually commencing on the first day of the fiscal year.

b. Associate Members: Individual and organizational dues are $150.00 commencing on the first day of the fiscal year.

c. Honorary Members: There shall be no dues for honorary members.

d. Section Members: Dues of $25.00 per individual, per Section commencing on the first day of the fiscal year.

e. Advisory Members: There shall be no dues for Advisory Members.

3. The fiscal year for the Association shall be from July 1 through June 30 of each calendar year.

4. A department in arrears for dues shall not be permitted to vote. A department or organization in arrears for more than 90 days shall be removed from the

active roster of members.

5. Applications for membership shall be processed by the Secretary/Treasurer of the Association.

6. All departments shall be entitled to one vote on matters brought before the Association without regard to the number of individual members from a single

department. Any active member may cast the single vote for their organization.

7. A simple majority of the voting members present constitutes a decision on issues brought before the Association

8. Robert Rules of Order shall govern the Association meetings.

9. Membership in a Section requires that the member’s respective department be an active member in the Association

10. Other rules may be implemented through the Association with said additions entered into the By Laws of the Association.