VCU SNA Bylaws

Prepared by: Zelda Benjamin, former President

The Purpose of the VCU SNA is:

·         To assume responsibility for contributing to nursing education in order to provide for the highest quality health care.

·         To provide programs representative of fundamental and current professional interests and concerns.

·         To aid in the development of the whole person, his/her professional role, and his/her responsibility for the health care of people in all walks of life.

The Function of the VCU SNA shall include the following:

·         To have direct input into standards of nursing education and influence the educational process

·         To influence health care, nursing education and practice through legislative activities as appropriate

·         To promote and encourage participation in community affairs and activities towards improved health care and the resolution of related social issues

·         To represent nursing students to the consumer, to institutions, and to other organizations

·         To promote and encourage students' participation in interdisciplinary activities

·         To promote and encourage recruitment efforts, participation in student activities, and educational opportunities regardless of a person's race, color, creed, sex, age, lifestyle, national origin or economic status.

Section 1:  Constituent Associations

·         The VCU SNA shall be composed of at least 10 members presently enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University.

·         There shall be only one chapter at Virginia Commonwealth University.

·         For yearly recognition as a VNSA and NSNA constituent, VCU SNA shall be required to submit annually the official applications for NSNA constituency status.  The constituent's bylaws shall include the following area of conformity for active and associate members: purpose and function, membership, dues, and representation.

Section 2: Categories of Constituent Membership

    Members of the constituent associations shall be:

        A: Active Members:

·         Students enrolled in state approved programs leading to licensure as a registered nurse.

·         Registered Nurses enrolled in a program leading to a baccalaureate degree with a major in Nursing.

·         Active members shall have all privileges of membership outlined in Article III, Section 2, Item A.

·         Active members must have paid NSNA dues to have privileges of membership.

        B: Associate Members:

·         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.

·         Associate members shall have all the privileges of membership except the right to hold office as President or Vice-President at the state or national levels.

        C: Active and associate memberships shall be renewable annually.  These memberships may be extended 6 months beyond graduation from a student's program in nursing, providing membership was renewed while student was enrolled in nursing program.

*Section 3:   Dues

          A.  Board of Directors will determine chapter dues.   National and state dues are                             determined at national and state level.

Section 1:

    The VCU SNA Board of Directors is comprised of elected officers, class directors and chairs of standing committees.  The elected officers are the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer and will comprise the Executive Committee. There will be a class director for each of the following classes: freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, RN-BS and 1^st and 2^nd year Accelerated students.  The standing committees include:  the History Committee, the Newsletter Committee, the Legislative Committee, the Breakthrough to Nursing Committee, and the Public Relations Committee.   The Honors Council Coordinator and MCV Student Government Association Coordinator will be ex-officio members of the Board of Directors.

Section 2: Eligibility

·         The following will be elected by the SNA membership:  President, 1^st Vice President, 2^nd Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.  Chairs of standing committees will be appointed by the Executive Committee.  Class directors will be elected by their class.  Class directors are required to join the NSNA if elected.  

·         Any member of the VCU SNA who has been nominated by self or by another member of the VCU SNA shall be eligible to be a candidate for office.

·         Candidates for office shall be chosen from among those members who shall be nursing students throughout at least three-quarters of the term of office.

·         No member shall hold more than one elected chapter position at a time.

·         All officers and Directors of the VCU SNA shall have and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (on a 4.0 point scale).

Section 3: Terms of Office

    Newly elected officers shall assume office no later than May 1.  The VCU SNA shall elect officers during the month of March of as deemed necessary by the Board of Directors.

Section 4: Duties of Officers, Directors and Representatives.

    The Officers shall perform the duties prescribed by the parliamentary authority and more specifically shall include:

    A. The President shall:

·         Serve as the principle officer of the association and preside at all meetings of the VCU SNA, the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.

·         Appoint committees and their chairperson, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors, and make other appointments as necessary.

·         Be bonded and co-sign checks with the treasurer for monetary disbursements.

·         Represent the VCU SNA in matters relating to the association and perform all other duties pertaining to the office.

·         Communicate with members of the Board of Directors on a routine basis.

·         Be responsible for seeing that all class obligations are carried out.

·         Serve as an Ex-Officio member of the nursing division of the MCV Alumni Association of VCU, along with the Senior Class Director.  This is a liaison role between nursing alumni and the student body.

·         Ensure that the official application for NSNA Constituency Status is submitted annually.

·         Be responsible for planning the SNA general meeting program which will include reports from the SNA Executive Committee, the Honor Council, the MCV Campus SGA, VCU School of Nursing Committees (UAPP, UCEC, GAPP, GCEC, ACD), University Committees and Taskforces (Athletics, University Health Services etc.) and a 30 minute program.  

·         Assume, in rank, the duties of the President in the absence or disability of the President.

·         Accede to the office of the President in the event of a vacancy in the office.

·         Perform all other duties assigned by the President.

·         Be responsible for reviewing and recommending changes to the Bylaws.

·         Serve as a resource person regarding parliamentary procedures.

·         Accede the office of the First Vice President in the event of a vacancy of the office.

·         Keep files and record minutes of all VCU SNA Transactions.  Minutes shall be posted on the VCU SNA Bulletin Board and E-mail no later than one week following the meeting.

·         Maintain files, which include the names and addresses of all constituent members of the VCU SNA.

·         Conduct the general correspondence of the VCU SNA requested by the President or the Board of Directors.

·         Keep the Points System.  The point system shall consist of the record of attendance and an awarding of points to each individual participating in the VCU SNA activities.  The Board of Directors shall determine the number of points awarded for each activity.  The points system shall be used by the Board of Directors to award recognition to individual members.  Recognition may include full or partial funding of expenses related to NSNA and VNSA conventions.

·         Shall prepare a ballot for both the SNA officers and class director elections.  The consent of all proposed candidates shall be obtained in writing before placing their names on the ballots. 

    E. The Treasurer shall:

·         Act as custodian of association funds.

·         Be bonded and co-sign checks with the President for monetary disbursements.

·         Keep accurate, current financial files, make regular reports to the VCU SNA and let any member of the VCU SNA see these upon request.

·         Have at all times knowledge of the status of the VCU SNA books and shall be accountable to the association for this information.

·         Prepare an estimated fiscal budget for presentation and the subsequent approval by the Board of Directors.

·         Supply a copy of the fiscal budget to each member of the VCU SNA Board of Directors.

·         Be responsible for documenting Most Active Constituency (MAC) points accumulated by the VCU SNA and putting together the MAC book to be presented at the VNSA Convention.

·         Takes photographs of respective class members, which are suitable for publication in the MCV campus yearbook, the X-Ray.

·         Have responsibility for arranging special programs for the VCU SNA.

·         The chair will serve on the Board of Directors. 

·         Be responsible for writing, editing, publishing and distributing the official publications of the VCU SNA.

·         Encourage members to contribute articles to the Newsletter.

·         Publish four (4) publications per year with deadline date approved by the Board of Directors.

·         Offer ideas/suggestions for new columns, article topics, etc.

·         Write editorials.

·         Serve as Chairperson of the Image of Nursing Committee, when such a committee is established by the Board of Directors.

·         The chair will serve on the Board of Directors. 

·         Keep the Board of Directors informed of current legislation pertinent to the health care field.

·         Evaluate effectiveness of legislation/education activities of recent past (e.g., voter registration drives, the importance of political involvement for nurses, etc.).

·         Educates members on how to become politically active.

·         Plan educational activities related to legislation/education.

·         Review all resolutions submitted to the Board of Directors.

·         The chair will serve on the Board of Directors. 

·         Work with the Director of Enrollment & Student Services to set goals for recruitment activities. 

·         With the class directors, coordinate activities for general recruitment.

·         With the class directors, coordinate four (4) recruitment events per year (e.g.: elementary school visits, etc.)

·         The chair will serve on the Board of Directors. 

·         Recruit new members to the NSNA.  Hold at least 2 recruitment events each semester.

·         Update the SNA Bulletin Board in room 100.

·         Create/Maintain the VCU SNA Webpage link with the assistance of the Office of Enrollment.

·         The chair will serve on the Board of Directors. 

    K. The Class Directors shall:

·         Represent each class in the School of Nursing (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, 1^st and 2^nd year Accelerated class, RN-BS. 

·         Conduct monthly class meetings.  Meetings during the summer months and final examination months are left up to the discretion of the Class Director.

·         Director is responsible for holding elections to elect the class representative to the Honor Council and MCV Campus SGA . 

·         Coordinate fund raising and community service activities with the other Class Directors.

·         Become a liaison between the class and the VCU SNA Board of Directors.

·         The Senior Class Director will serve as an Ex-Officio member of the nursing division of the MCV Alumni Association of VCU, along with the President.  This is a liaison between nursing alumni and the nursing student body.  The Senior Class Director will also coordinate graduation activities with the Office of Enrollment and Student Services including but not limited to announcement, pins, NCLEX (State Boards) review sessions, senior class pictures, and work with the Development Office on the class gift.

·         The director position is open to members of the class only.

·          Class and general SNA meetings are open to all students.  Students are encouraged to join the SNA.  

ARTICLE V -- COMMITTEES

    The Executive Committee will appoint chairs for the following standing committees:

·        History Committee

·        Newsletter Committee

·        Legislative Committee

·        Breakthrough to Nursing Committee

·        Public Relations Committee

Section 1:  Nominating and Elections

    A. Nominations shall be submitted orally or in writing by a VCU SNA member to the secretary as early as the February general meeting or as deemed necessary by the VCU SNA Board of Directors.

    B. The Secretary shall prepare a ballot for the SNA officers and Class Directors.  The consent of all proposed candidates shall be obtained in writing before placing their names on the ballot.

    C. Further nomination may be made from the floor at subsequent meetings prior to the election.  Candidates nominated from the floor must be present and shall immediately present their written consent.

    D. If elected by their class, a student choosing to run for Class Director must be or become a member of the SNA.  Only classes will vote on their class director.             

Section 1:  General meetings will be open to all nursing students regardless of membership in the SNA and shall be held at least quarterly. 

Section 2: Delegate Representation

    A. The VCU SNA shall have delegate representation to the annual meeting of VNSA as outlined in VNSA bylaws, Article VI, and Section 4 (Amended June 1987).

    B. The VCU SNA shall have delegate representation to annual NSNA meeting as outlined in NSNA bylaws, Article VII, Section 3, and number 1.

    C. The VCU SNA shall be entitled to one voting delegate and alternate in good standing in the chapter and shall be elected by members of the chapter at a proper meeting.

Section 1: The Board of Directors of the VCU SNA shall be President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Class Directors, and chairs of the standing committees. The coordinator of the school’s SGA and Honor representatives will be ex-officio member of the Board of Directors.

Section 2: The Board of Directors shall:

    A. Transact all business and manage affairs during the interim between meetings of the                   school chapter.  The Board of Directors shall report such transaction at the next meeting of the VCU SNA.

    B. Plan ways and means for the growth and development of the VCU SNA.

    C. Have the power to fill any vacancy occurring in any office on the Board of Directors, except that of the President.

    D. Approve the President's appointment of committee chairperson.

    E. Approve the budget, authorize all monetary disbursements, and provide for the annual review of accounts at the close of the fiscal year.

    F. Perform all duties as may be specified in these bylaws.

*Section 3: The Board of Directors shall meet prior to every general meeting or as often as is deemed necessary for the President or a majority of the Board of Directors.

Section 4: There shall be an Executive Committee of the Board of Directors comprised of officers ( President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, The committee shall have all the powers of the Board of Directors to transact business of an emergency nature between the Board of Directors meetings.  All transactions of the Executive Committee shall be reported in full by the secretary at the next meeting of the Board of Directors.

Section 5: No board meetings shall be closed to VCU SNA members except for the discussion of matter relating to a member of the Board of Directors and finance when deemed necessary by the Board of Directors.

Section 6: A quorum at meetings of the Board of Directors shall consist of a majority of the voting members of the Board of Directors, one of which shall be President or the First Vice President.

Section 7: The board shall have the power by a 2/3 vote to declare an office vacant upon refusal or neglect of any member of the Board of Directors to perform the duties of that office.  The negligent officer will receive written notification to appear at the next Board of Directors meeting and be asked to show why he or she should not be removed from the Board of Directors.  If not responded to within 2 weeks, the post will be declared vacant.  If an officer is declared vacant due to negligence, any funds provided to that officer for the purpose of performing the duties of said office shall be returned to the association no later than 4 weeks after the office is vacated.

Section 8:  Vacancies

Section 1:  There shall be one advisor for the VCU SNA.  This advisor shall be the Enrollment & Student Services Director or his/her designee.  The advisor is to be nominated by the VCU SNA members.  All VCU SNA members shall vote this advisor on during the October general meeting.  The elected advisor shall serve for one year or until a successor is elected.

Section 2: The Faculty Advisor shall:

            A.  Serve as resource persons consulting with the Board of Directors, Members                              and Staff.

            B.  Attend the meeting of the chapter without a vote.

            C.  Assist elected and appointed officers to identify issues, problems and                                         alternatives as they carry out their legal and organizational responsibilities.

            D.  Identify potential resources and provide the guidance needed for decision-                    making, problem solving, program planning and fundraising.

            E.  Serve as a resource and liaison to administration, faculty and members.

            F.  Facilitate discussion leading to decision making by student leaders while                          refraining from directing the outcomes.

            G.  Facilitate the orderly transition of the outgoing and incoming Board of                                         Directors and Faculty advisor.

Section 1:      Bylaws may be amended at the general meeting of this chapter by a 2/3 vote of those present and entitled to vote.

Section 2:     The Constituents of the VCU SNA shall submit proposed amendments to the Second Vice President.

Section 3:     All proposed amendments shall be prepared by the Second Vice President and submitted to the Board of Directors for approval.

Section 4:     An amendment of these bylaws shall become effective immediately upon its approval at the general meeting, unless the amendment specifies a time for its commencement.

INFORMATION

Section 1:         Dues

A.

1.      The NSNA and the VNSA dues shall be payable directly to the NSNA.  The NSNA shall remit to each state constituent association the dues received behalf of the constituent association.  Local dues shall not be submitted to the NSNA.

2.      Payment of the NSNA and VNSA dues is prerequisite for membership.  For twelve months, the NSNA dues shall be $30.00 per member with $10.00 going to VNSA or $40.00 per member with $10.00 going to VNSA for renewals.  For twenty four months, the NSNA dues shall be $70.00 per member.

3.      There are no chapter dues at this time.

B.  Any board member who fails to pay current dues shall forfeit all privileges of membership.

Section 2:         Points

A. 

1.      The SNA is currently using the point system.  Points are awarded for meeting attendance and activity in fundraisers and community service projects. Point are awarded as followed: 1 pt/member and 4 pt/board of director for each class, general and board of director meeting attended and 2 pts/hr for each fundraiser and community service project.  Other points awarded will be under the discretion of the Executive Board.

2.      All attendance for meetings, fundraisers and community service projects must be forwarded to the secretary who is responsible for keeping track of each member’s points.

3.      Points are used to decide which members will represent VCU SNA at the NSNA Midyear and National Conventions.

Section 3:         Funds

A.  SNA is a self-funded organization with the exception of money from the School of Nursing to help fund hotel/travel for NSNA Conventions.  All monies collected by the SNA through fundraisers are used to fund community service projects, parties and other social or recruitment events, the Senior Send-Off and hotel/travel for NSNA Conventions.