Name

The name of this nonprofit organization shall be the “Insurance Professionals of St. Petersburg, Inc.” an association affiliated with the National Association of Insurance Women (International) hereinafter referred to as the Association.

Purpose

The object and purpose of this association, organized as a non-profit corporation, shall be to serve its members by providing professional education, an environment in which to build business alliances, and the opportunity to make connections with people of differing career paths and levels of experience in the insurance and risk management industry.

Members

Section 1.  Membership eligibility includes, but is not limited to:

(revised & approved 8/11/09-IPOSP)

Employees of insurance companies, agencies and those handling insurance/risk management functions (i.e. health benefit coordinators at public utility, risk manager at restaurant, etc.)

1. Employees of the Third Party Administrators (TPA) and adjusting organizations.
2. Employees of trade associations, rating, auditing, salvage, engineering, investigative, reporting, statistical and advisory boards, bureaus and companies.
3. Members of editorial staffs of publications which cover the insurance and risk management industry.
4. Attorneys at law regularly handling insurance and/or risk management functions.
5. Employees of premium finance companies.
6. Professors and other educators who teach/author courses in the insurance and risk management industry.
7. Accountants regularly employed in the insurance and risk management industry.
8. Employees of companies providing repair, restoration and/or replacement of property following an insured loss, medical rehabilitation, auditing and structured settlements.

1. Active members who have been a member for at least five (5) years, who are no longer employed in the Risk Management or Insurance Industry and who are at least sixty five (65) years of age by July 1st of the renewal year, shall be known as "Retired Members"
2. Student.  Student membership is open to persons who are full-time students enrolled in a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours per term in a college or university .  Student members who belong to a local association are entitled to make recommendations and to hold both elective and appointive office at all levels of the association.

Section 2.  Membership

1. Application.  Resignation, Revocation and Reinstatement of Expired Members

   Application for and renewal of membership shall be made on the official form obtained from NAIW Corporate Centre, accompanied by the required amount of dues.  Membership is effective upon receipt at NAIW Corporate Centre of these items.  Members belonging to a local association may resign from NAIW by notifying their local association and NAIW Corporate Centre, in writing.  Revocation and Reinstatement of Expired Members provisions are outlined in the NAIW International Bylaws, Article III, Section 2, subsection D&E.

Section 3.  Dues

1. Dues Payment Dates.  Dues shall be paid on or before July 1st in an amount set forth in the standing rules plus the prescribed amount payable to National NAIW, and in accordance with Article III.  National dues shall be due and payable to NAIW Corporate Centre by July 1^st.  Membership shall be forfeited if dues are not paid by the end of the last business day of August.  All associations shall use the same dues payment, forfeiture dates as pertained to International dues and membership for association dues and membership.
2. Partial Dues Payment.  Members (other than retired members) who join NAIW between January 1 and June 30 shall be charged 50% of the annual dues price for that year.
   
3. Membership Year.  The membership year shall be July 1, through June 30.

Officers

Section 1.  Officers.  The officers of this Association shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past President and two (2) Directors.

Section 2.  Term of Office

1. All officers, except the Immediate Past President shall be elected annually and shall assume office and duties on July 1^st
1. They shall serve one (1) year or until their successors are elected and assume office.  No member shall hold more than one office at a time and no member shall be eligible to serve more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same office.
2. Candidates for President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer shall have been a member of the organization for at least (1) year prior to the time of their nomination.  A candidate for the office of President shall have served at least one (1) year on the Board of Directors not including the current year.

Section 3.  Duties of Officers

1. The President shall:

• Preside at all meetings of the Association and the Board of Directors
• Appoint all standing committee chairman and other committees as authorized by the Association or Board of Directors
• Be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee
• Perform other duties as pertain to the office of President

1. The Vice President shall:

• Perform the duties of the President in the event of their absence or disability
• Perform other duties as pertain to the office or as requested by the Board of Directors

1. The Secretary shall:

• Take minutes of the meetings of the Association and the Board of Directors
• Conduct the general correspondence of the Association at the direction of the president
• Submit to national headquarters the names and addresses of newly elected officers

1. The Treasurer shall:

• Be custodian of all Association funds
• Receive all monies and disburse funds only upon the sanction of the Board of Directors or the Membership
• Pay dues to NAIW as required
• Submit written reports at each regular meeting
• Submit books and records for audit when required
• File any and all tax forms required
• Perform other such duties as pertain to the office

1. The Immediate Past President shall:

• Serve in an advisory capacity
• Serve as Parliamentarian for all meetings of the Association and of the Board

1. The Director(s) shall perform such duties as pertain to their office

Section 4.  Vacancy

1. A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the Vice President who shall succeed to the office of President for the remainder of the term and then has an option to serve the full term for which elected
2. If a vacancy should occur in any other office, the vacancy shall be filled from the Board of Directors.  In the event the office cannot be filled from the Board, appointment can be made by the Board of Directors with consensus of the Board of Directors
3. Should an officer fail to perform the duties of the office or be unable to fulfill those duties, the Board of Directors, upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote may remove the officer from office

Nominating Committee

1. Nominations
1. Membership.  A nominating committee of five (5) members shall be selected in the following manner:

• Shall be elected by the Board of Directors at their February meeting
• The Immediate Past President shall serve as chairman

1. Duties.  The nominating committee shall submit at least one name for each office to be filled.  The nominating committee shall report to the membership at their regular meeting in May
2. Nominations.  Nominations from the floor shall be permitted prior to the election.  The candidate shall have consented to serve.
1. Elections
1. Officers and Directors shall be elected by ballot at the regular meeting in May
2. In the event there is only one (1) candidate for any office, the office may be elected by voice vote

Meetings

1. Regular Meetings.  The regular meetings of this Association shall be held on the second Tuesday of the month, unless otherwise ordered by the Association or Board of Directors

2. Annual Meeting.  The regular meeting in June shall be known as the Annual Meeting and shall be for the purpose of installing officers, receiving reports of officers and committees and for any other business that may arise
3. Special Meetings.  Special meetings may be called by the President or by the Board of Directors and shall be called upon written request of five (5) members.  The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call.  Except in cases of emergency, at least three (3) days’ notice shall be given

4. Quorum.  Twenty-five (25) percent of the members shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting

5. Electronic Meetings.  The Board of Directors, officers and committees are authorized to meet by telephone conference or through other electronic communications media as permitted by law.    (revised & approved 8/11/09-IPOSP)

6. Representation at Meetings.  This Association shall be entitled to representation at the annual convention, regional conference and state council meetings of NAIW as outlined in Article IV, Section 2.A, Section 3.A, and Article VII, Section 3 of the National NAIW bylaws.  The delegate and alternate shall be elected by the Board of Directors
7. Proposed Amendments.  Members or Local Associations are entitled to propose amendments to the National NAIW Bylaws as outlined in Article XV, Section 1.A.1. of the National NAIW Bylaws.  Proposed amendments for the State and Regional bylaws may be made by Associations as outlined in the regional and state bylaws

Board of Directors

Section 1.  Composition.  The members of the Board of Directors shall consist of the officers and two (2) Directors.

Section 2.  Duties. The Board of Directors shall:

1. Supervise the affairs and conduct the business of the Association between business meetings
2. Make recommendations to the membership
3. Be subject to the orders of the membership
4. Not act in conflict with actions taken by the Association
5. Meet at a time and place determined by the Board of Directors
6. Perform the duties prescribed in these bylaws, the standing rules and the parliamentary authority adopted by the Association

1. Expend fund allocated in the approved budget
2. Authorize non-budgeted expenditures not to exceed $300.00 without prior approval of the membership

Section 4.  Quorum

1. A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum
2. The Board of Directors shall secure a Fidelity Bond to meet the needs of Association

Committees

Section 1.  Standing Committees

1. These are the following Standing Committees:  Audit, Budget & Finance, Bylaws, Education, Membership & Program

Section 2.  Duties of the Standing Committees

1. Audit Committee – The audit committee shall consist of three (3) members selected by the President.  They shall audit the books and have them ready to turn over to the new Treasurer before the first meeting of the new officers and membership
2. Budget & Finance Committee – The Budget & Finance Committee shall annually, at the beginning of the fiscal year, prepare an estimated budget to be voted on at the July meeting.  The committee shall present this in the form of a working budget.  If the budget is approved at the meetings, committees need not seek approval to secure allotted funds
3. The Bylaws Committee – Shall consider all written proposed changes to the National, Regional and State Bylaws and Standing Rules and shall present them to the Association with recommendations.  It shall also review any local association bylaw changes and submit them for approval
4. The Education Committee – Shall recommend and supervise educational programs and courses of study in insurance and related subjects.  The Education Committee should promote NAIW programs.  The education Committee will administer the Marguerite Dawson Scholarship.
5. The Membership Committee – Shall be responsible for:
• Promoting membership in the association
• Preparing and maintaining a complete membership roster
• Distributing the roster to members
6. The Program Committee – shall be responsible for arranging of monthly programs, meeting places and menus of each regular meeting in cooperation with other committees

Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the proceedings of NAIW in all cases to which they are applicable and which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws, any special rules of order that NAIW may adopt, and any statutes applicable to this organization that do not authorize the provisions of these bylaws to take effect.

Amendment of Bylaws

1. Amendment.  These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting by two-thirds (2/3) vote provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting or has been mailed to the entire meeting at which it will be considered.

2. Approved Amendments.  Approved amendments shall become effective immediately unless otherwise specified in the Amendment; if any amendment to these bylaws and standing rules, regional or council bylaws, this document shall automatically conform to the NAIW International bylaws.  A copy of the revised bylaws must be sent to NAIW Corporate Centre immediately following adoption.

3. Corrections. Automatic changes in grammar and punctuation in these bylaws and standing rules and/or amendments there to which is now and/or alter their intent shall be affected bu the board of the local Association.

1.  Education Committee
1. This Committee will receive all applications for the Marguerite Dawson Scholarship Program and administer the Scholarship
2. Parliamentarian
1. The immediate past president of this association shall serve as parliamentarian for Monthly meetings and board meetings.  The final decision for all matters shall rest with the presiding officer
3. Selection of the Delegate
1. First consideration shall be give to the President.  If for some reason the President cannot attend, next consideration shall be given to members attending at their own expense

• The delegate and alternate shall be elected by the Board of Directors.  The delegate and alternate will be sent informed, but not instructed as to their vote
• Only allowable expense for reimbursement will be the delegate’s registration fee if not paid by his/her employer
• Subject to available funds, other reasonable expenses may be considered with prior approval of the Board of Directors