BYLAWS
OF THE
FLORIDA LARYNGECTOMEE ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE I NAME

The name of this organization shall be the FLORIDA LARYNGECTOMEE ASSOCIATION, and henceforth shall be referred to as the FLA. The organization is supported in part by the American Cancer Society, Florida Division, on an annual basis.

ARTICLE II GOALS

The Goals of this organization shall be as follows:

1.Promote complete rehabilitation of the laryngectomee. Provide measures and programs for laryngectomees and their families for improving quality of life with voice being a high consideration.
2. Maintain continuing laryngectomee outreach educational and assistance programs through such measures as newsletters, website, local support clubs, periodic meetings or structured training sessions for professionals/students and or laryngectomees. A designated Director of Education will be selected by the Executive committee.
3. Encourage and facilitate the formation and growth of local laryngectomee support groups within the state of Florida.
4. Cooperate with the American Cancer Society Florida Division, its units and affiliates and all recognized societies and organizations whose objectives are to combat cancer.

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the FLA shall consist of any laryngectomized person, his or her spouse, speech pathologists, physicians, nurses, rehabilitation specialists, counselors and/or any other person interested in the work of the Association or the fight against cancer in any form. The person may be represented by a local laryngectomee club or have membership as an individual.

ARTICLE IV DUES

Annual dues will not be a requirement for membership. However, voluntary contributions will be accepted from the members, local laryngectomee clubs and others to cover expenses of the FLA.

ARTICLE V OFFICERS

Officers of the FLA shall consist of President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws and, in addition, shall perform the duties as are customary of their offices. These positions may require knowledge and use of state of the art communication methods with a need to have basic commuter skills and own or have access to adequate computer equipment. Fax capability is highly desirable.

A. Duties

1.The President shall be the person responsible for seeing that the Association functions. He/she shall preside at all regular meetings of the organization and shall call meetings of the Executive Committee and such emergency meetings of committee chairmen, officers and other selected members as are necessary. He shall serve ex officio on all committees except the Nominating Committee.

1. The First Vice President shall perform the functions of the President whenever the President is absent or unable to function.

3. The Second Vice President shall assume the duties of the First Vice President should he/she be unable to fulfill those duties and be prepared to move up into that position at the end of the 2 year term.

4. The Secretary shall handle correspondence assigned to him/her by the President or Vice President. The Secretary shall keep records and prepare brief minutes of the organization's regular meetings and Executive Committee meetings.

5. The Treasurer shall have custody of all monies; shall place them for safekeeping in such depositories as may be designated by the Executive Committee and shall expend the funds of the Association as directed by the Executive Committee, taking proper vouchers for such expenditures. He/she shall keep, or cause to be kept, a book or books setting forth a record of receipts and expenditures, and shall render a statement of the financial condition of the Association as required by the President or Executive Committee.

B. Term of Office

1. The officers shall be elected by the members at the Annual Meeting held on the even numbered years.

2. The President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer shall hold office for two years, beginning immediately after the Annual Meeting following the election. The President and Vice President shall not succeed themselves in office. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be limited to three consecutive terms of two years each.

3. Unexpired terms shall be filled by the Executive Committee.

C. Removal from Office

Any officer may be removed from office by an appropriate resolution approved by two thirds vote of the members of the Executive Committee

ARTICLE VI EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A. Membership
The membership of the Executive Committee shall include the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, , Director of Education of the Outreach Committee, President of the Auxiliary, The last living Past President and up to four members at large who shall be nominated and elected by the general membership and serve for a two year term. No more than three members of the Executive Committee shall be from the same club. As many as possible of the members at large should be laryngectomees. The President shall act as Chairman of the Executive Committee and shall preside at all meetings.

B. Meetings

At the request of the President or any two members of the Executive Committee, a meeting of the Committee may be called provided adequate notice has been given to each member of the Committee by mail or telephone. To maximize efficiency and minimize expenses the Executive Committee may elect to conduct some business by conference call or Email. A quorum shall consist of 50% plus one of the members of the Committee whether in person, by conference call or by electronic mail.

C. Powers and Duties

1. The Executive Committee shall have and exercise all powers and duties of a Board of Directors between meetings of the Association.

2. The incumbent Executive Committee shall appoint the Nominating Committee and designate its chair.

ARTICLE VII MEDICAL ADVISOR

The Medical Advisor will provide professional guidance to the membership on policy matters relating to medical issues. The Medical Advisor will be appointed by the Executive Committee and will serve at their pleasure or until said Medical Advisor resigns. The position will normally be filled by an otolaryngologist or other medical professional familiar with laryngectomy and the needs of laryngectomees

ARTICLES VIII COMMITTEES
The Executive Committee may create committees, whether Standing or Special, as may be deemed appropriate. The term and composition and duties of each such committee be fixed in the resolution creating it.

1. There shall be a Nominating Committee consisting of a minimum of three persons, for the purpose of nominating President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and members at large. The appointment of the Nominating Committee shall be made by the Executive Committee not later than 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting in which elections are to be held Nominations shall be submitted to the organization through the current FLA Newsletter or posted on the FLA website.
2. There shall be an FLA Hall of Fame Committee consisting of at least two persons. The purpose of this committee is to select individuals (one living, the other deceased) to honor, for their significant contributions to the Association. These awards will be made at the Annual Meeting.

3. There shall be a permanent standing committee called the Education Outreach which will strive to fulfill FLA’s outreach educational goals. It’s Director will be appointed by the FLA Executive Committee and will serve at their pleasure until terminated or the Director resigns. The Education Outreach standing committee will be operated and governed by the Director and his designated appointees, subject to broad and general oversight by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IX PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order (newly revised) shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt.

ARTICLE X AMENDMENTS

Amendments to these bylaws may be made at any regular meeting of the members of the Association and in any manner not consistent with the bylaws by a majority vote, provided the proposed changes have been announced to the membership of the Association through the FLA Newsletter prior to the date of action.

ARTICLE XI DISSOLUTION

In the event of dissolution of the Florida Laryngectomee Association, all funds and other than assets shall be donated to the American Cancer Society Florida Division and to the International Association of Laryngectomees (IAL), equally.

Last Revised : September 16, 2007