Mission:
Kansas Health Care for All
is a statewide network of individuals and organizations advocating for
universal access to quality, affordable, comprehensive health care for
all Americans.
ARTICLE I: Name
The name of this organization
shall be Kansas Health Care for All.
ARTICLE II: Purposes
Section 1. To educate
the general public, policy makers, and elected officials about the problems
with the United States health care system and to advocate for accessible,
comprehensive, affordable, quality health care for all and to develop
strategies to secure reform consistent with these principles.
Section 2. To develop
a network of business, labor, church, community organizations and individuals
to work to secure reform consistent with these principles.
Section 3. To advocate
for and monitor state and national legislative health reform initiatives.
Section 4. To join and
support national health care reform efforts of HealthCare—Now!, Universal
Health Care Action Network, and others as appropriate, through participation
in the national organizations, and by supporting their positions locally.
ARTICLE III:
Membership
Section 1. Individual
member: A person who supports the purposes of this organization
can become a member of Kansas Health Care for All by paying annual dues.
Section 2. Supporting
organizations: Organizations which support the purposes of Kansas
Health Care for All and pay annual dues shall be member organizations.
Such member organizations shall be encouraged to send a representative
to meetings of Kansas Health Care for All.
ARTICLE IV: Officers
Section 1. The officers
of Kansas Health Care for All shall be Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary,
Treasurer, and Past Chair.
Section 2. Duties of
the officers:
Chair – The Chair
shall preside at all meetings of Kansas Health Care for All and at all
meetings of the Executive Committee. The Chair shall be eligible
to sign all Kansas Health Care for All documents and checks.
Vice-Chair – The Vice-Chair
shall perform all the responsibilities of the Chair when that person
is absent or is unable to perform his or her duties. The Vice-Chair
shall serve on the Executive Committee.
Secretary – The Secretary
shall record minutes of membership meetings and see that all minutes
are maintained in a permanent book. The Secretary shall submit
minutes of each previous meeting. The Secretary shall be responsible
for all official correspondence. The Secretary shall serve on
the Executive Committee.
Treasurer – The Treasurer
shall be responsible for all funds of Kansas Health Care for All and
shall be responsible for all record-keeping of such funds. The
Treasurer shall make monthly reports on the status of such funds to
the membership and the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall
be eligible to sign checks for Kansas Health Care for All. The
Treasurer shall serve on the Executive committee and serve on the Development
Committee.
Past Chair – The Past
Chair shall serve on the Executive Committee in order to assure continuity
and share expertise and experience with that committee.
Section 3. Annual membership
meeting
Election of officers shall
be at the annual membership meeting in October. The Chair shall
review the highlights of the past year and set forth future plans and
suggested goals. The Treasurer shall review the financial record
of the past year. The Chair of the Nominating Committee shall
present a slate of officers for election by the membership. Further
nominations may be taken from the floor prior to the election of new
officers for the year.
Section 4. Tenure of
officers
All officers shall be elected
for a one year term of service.
Section 5. Removal from
office
Any officer may be removed
by a two-thirds vote of the membership. The affected officer will
be given the opportunity to address the membership prior to the vote
on removal. Cause for removal from office shall include malfeasance,
misfeasance, or nonfeasance.
ARTICLE V: Committees
The following standing committees
shall exist: Executive, Membership, Public Relations/Publicity, State Outreach,
State Legislative, National Issues, Nominating, Development and Program.
Standing committees shall apprise the membership of their activity and
recommendations monthly.
- The Executive Committee shall be composed of the officers and as needed, the chairs of the standing committees. Tasks shall include taking action as directed by the membership and, if needed, between membership meetings. Such action shall be subject to review and approval by the membership at the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Executive Committee may draft the agenda for each subsequent membership meeting.
- The Membership Committee will recruit new individual and organizational members on the local level, and provide contact information for all members.
- The Public Relations/Publicity Committee shall develop brochures and flyers to publicize the efforts of Kansas Health Care for All, and will contact the media to announce any events or programs of Kansas Health Care For All. The Committee will arrange for speakers to address groups requesting more information about the mission of Kansas Health Care for All.
- The State Outreach Committee will endeavor to generate new chapters in Kansas and to involve affiliate organizations who share the mission of Kansas Health Care for All, through local and state collaboration.
- The State Legislative Committee will monitor state efforts and legislation regarding health care, will confer with state officers and legislators, and will collaborate with other statewide groups. This committee will report regularly to the membership regarding recommendations and proposals for meetings with legislators.
- The National Issues Committee will monitor national proposals, campaigns, and legislation and report to the membership with its recommendations. It will participate in monthly HealthCare—Now! and UHCAN conference calls and report to the membership with a review of the calls and associated activity.
- The Development Committee will set forth an annual development plan for the Executive Committee and membership approval. It will work to generate funds throughout the year to support Kansas Health Care for All in accordance with the approved plan.
- The Program Committee will organize special events and projects of Kansas Health Care for All, such as reserving facilities, scheduling times, inviting speakers, and other details as needed.
- The Nominating Committee will be appointed by the Chair in August and will prepare a slate of officers to be presented to the membership in September. Nominations can also be taken from the floor in September and October before the vote is taken at the October meeting of the membership. The October meeting will also serve as the annual membership meeting of Kansas Health Care for All. The Nominating Committee will also seek replacements for unexpired, vacant offices and will make its recommendations to the Executive Committee who will then fill the vacancy with the concurrence of the membership.
- Other committees will be designated and appointed by the Chair, as needed, in consultation with the membership. All committee recommendations will be brought before the membership for approval.
ARTICLE VI:
Meetings
Section 1. Annual meeting
– The annual meeting of Kansas Health Care for All will be in October
of each year, with the date set at least 30 (thirty) days in advance.
Section 2. Membership
meetings – The membership will meet no less than six (6) times a year.
Meetings will be scheduled for every third Tuesday (subject to change),
and as needed with notification to the membership.
ARTICLE VII:
Ratification and amendments
Section 1. Notification
of a meeting to ratify said bylaws will be made to all members at least
two weeks before a vote is taken. These bylaws shall be ratified
if approved by a two-thirds vote of the members at the designated meeting
to ratify.
Section 2. These bylaws
may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the membership. Notification
of a meeting to amend the bylaws will be made to all members at least
two weeks before a vote is taken.