ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  A member in good standing is anyone who is listed on the current membership roster of the Council and who has paid the annual dues set by the Council officers and approved by a majority vote of the members present at a duly established business meeting. Membership shall be for one year spanning the period January 1st through December 31th and shall be renewable each year.

Section 2.  Membership in this Council shall be voluntary. Membership is encouraged for representatives from private and public schools and agencies federal and state, who have a professional, helping, supportive and educational interest in serving the objectives of the Council. By virtue of their positions, all Education Services Officers from all branches of the Armed Forces and the institutional on-base representatives are expected to be members. Members who do not attend two consecutive meetings will be removed from the current membership list and added to the information section of the roster.

Section 3.  Membership in this Council is held by individuals. Civilian and military personnel concerned with education, counseling, and/or training of service members and their families

ARTICLE V - FEES

Section 1.  The Executive Committee shall establish a registration fee to cover operating expenses for each conference. A portion of the fee shall be set aside to cover annual operating expenses such as postage, stationery, recording of minutes, etc.

Section 2.  Fees will be collected by the Treasurer. Fees will be used to defray the operational costs of ACME. Fees will be deposited by the Treasurer into an ACME account. A financial report will be prepared by the Treasurer and submitted to the Council for report at each business meeting.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS

Section 1.  The Council shall meet annually in Spring at a time and place to be determined by the Planning committee. The Planning committee will consist of the Executive Committee and such members as may be appointed by the President.

Section 2.  The meetings shall be for the purpose of:

a) Hearing summary reports from the Education Services Officers, the educational providers, ACME officers and ACME committees.

b) Election of officers.

c) Conducting the necessary business of the Council.

d) Presenting and actively participating in programs of interest, concern, and benefit to the membership.

Section 3.  Special meetings may be called by the President or the Executive Committee. Special meetings may transact only such business as is stated in the call and at least twenty (20) days written notice shall be given to the membership as of the previous annual meeting.

Section 4.  A majority of the registered members present at an annual meeting shall constitute a quorum. A majority of the members of the Executive Committee at an Executive Committee meeting shall constitute a quorum for meetings of that body.

Section 5.  Minutes of all special meetings shall be recorded and presented at the subsequent Council meeting for approval.

Section 6.  Electronic mail may be used for all official notices and communications of the Council.
 

ARTICLE VII - OFFICERS

Section 1.  The officers of this Council shall be the President, Vice President, the immediate Past-President, Treasurer, and Secretary.

Section 2. Election of officers:

a) Officers must have an active, paid membership in the Council.

b) Officers must reside within the legal boundaries of the State of Florida.

b.1) If a candidate is so voted upon the Florida residency can be waived for all positions other than the treasurer.

c)  Elections shall be conducted at the annual meeting

d) The President shall appoint a nominations committee to encourage candidates and shall present a list of candidates for the offices of President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.

e) Nominations will be solicited from the floor.

f)  Officers will be elected by written ballot to serve until the close of the meeting at which their successors are elected.

Section 3.  A majority of the votes cast shall constitute an election.

Section 4.  A term of office shall be two years. The President and Vice President may be re-elected for a second consecutive term. The President and Vice President shall be elected in even-numbered years. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected in odd-numbered years. Once elected, the Secretary and Treasurer may serve multiple consecutive terms at the discretion of the Council.

Section 5.  Any elected officer who fails to fulfill the duties or term of office will be replaced at the next general ACME meeting through the election process.

ARTICLE VIII - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1.  The President shall be the principal officer of this Council and shall:

a) Preside at the semiannual meeting, the meetings of the Executive Committee, and at any special meetings.

b) Be an ex-officio member of all committees.

c)  Appoint all standing and special committee chairs with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee.

d) Ensure that a well-rounded program is developed for the year to include projects and activities geared to achieving the purposes for which this Council is formed.

Section 2.  The Vice President shall:

a) At the President's direction, serve as conference manager.

b) Assist in the recruitment of new members.

c)  Assist the President in the administrative functions of ACME.

d) In case of an emergency and the office of Vice President becomes vacant; the President shall appoint an interim Vice President with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee.

e) In case of an emergency and the office of President becomes vacant; the Vice President shall assume the office of President.

Section 3.  The Treasurer shall:

a) Maintain all monies of the Council, keeping accurate records thereof.

b) Maintain a checking account for the deposit of the Council's funds.

c)  Be one of three officers authorized to sign the Council's checks.

d) In case of an emergency and the office of Treasurer becomes vacant; the president shall appoint an interim Treasurer with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee.

Section 4.  The Secretary shall:

a) Take and maintain minutes of all business meetings, general sessions, executive meetings, or special called meetings.

b) Maintain an up-to-date roster of membership.

c) Ensure accuracy of the official Council web site.

d) Assist in conference planning.

e) In the case of emergency and the office of Secretary becomes vacant; the President shall appoint an interim Secretary with the advice and counsel of the Excecutive Committee.

Section 5.  The Immediate Past President shall:
a. Advise and assist the President and other officers of the ACME.

ARTICLE IX - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1.  The following officers of ACME shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Council:  President, Immediate Past President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall:

a) Have general supervision of the Council in the interim between regular meetings.

b) Plan and organize the general meetings of the organization.

ARTICLE X - OTHER

Section 1.  Ad hoc committees are appointed, as required, by the President.

Section 2.  Conditions of expediency:

a) In a situation regarding membership status requiring a timely remedy the Executive Committee can, by majority vote, decide membership status.  Such decisions may be appealed during the business meeting at the next conference.

b) Should a situation arise regarding policy or legislation necessitating a quick response by the Council the Executive Committee can do so providing:

1.  A majority of the Executive Committee approves.

2.  Such action is believed by the majority of the Executive Committee to be consistent with the ACME policy and goals.

3.  The timeline for action is believed by the majority of the Executive Committee to prohibit the normal process of discussion and assent by the membership.

4.  Every reasonable measure is taken to convey to the membership the nature of the situation, the intended response by the Executive Committee and solicit response from the members.

5.  Actions taken extraordinarily shall be presented for discussion at the next conference of the ACME.

ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

Section 1.  These bylaws may be amended at the annual meeting of the Council provided:

a) The amendments are submitted in writing to the Executive Committee thirty (30) days prior to the meeting, or the amendments are presented to the membership at the business session of a the annual meeting.

b) A majority vote of registered members present in favor of the proposal moves the process to committee review. Failing a majority vote, the proposed amendment dies.

c)  The President acts on a favorable majority vote by appointing an ad hoc committee to study the proposed amendment(s) and present a recommendation at the next semiannual general meeting of the ACME.

d) A two-thirds majority of the ACME members present is required to adopt any change recommended by the ad hoc Bylaws Committee.

EXECUTION: A two-thirds majority of registered members present of the Florida Advisory Council on Military Education having voted to accept these Bylaws on Wednesday, April 21st at the 2008 Annual Meeting in Jacksonville, Florida, these provisions are hereby adopted as the official Bylaws of the Florida Advisory Council on Military Education (FL-ACME).