By-Laws VCPA

ARTICLE I: NAME OF ASSOCIATION

The name of the association shall be the Virginia Crime Prevention Association, Inc.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

To provide a forum for the exchange of ideas pertaining to the reduction of crime through education about prevention and opportunity reduction .

To coordinate crime prevention activities on a statewide basis to assure a degree of uniformity.

To provide crime prevention education and training on a statewide basis in order to increase citizen and law enforcement involvement in the reduction of criminal opportunity.

To provide a mechanism for informing state and local policy makers of crime prevention issues and possible solutions.

To increase the efficiency and effectiveness of crime prevention efforts through technology transfer and improvement of resources.

To make statewide crime prevention training available to law enforcement and criminal justice personnel.

To encourage the formation of regional crime prevention associations to educate citizens, law enforcement personnel and others about crime prevention.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Virginia Crime Prevention Association shall be divided into four classes.

Active - Membership shall be open to any individual who desires involvement in crime prevention and whose interest are not inimical to the interest of the Association and such other persons that may be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Honorary - Membership shall be bestowed upon any such person and/or organization as deemed appropriate by a majority of the Board of Directors.

Corporate - Membership is open to any business who seeks to support local and state efforts to prevent crime and whose interest are not inimical to those of the Association.

Organization - Membership is open to any established organization who seeks to support local and state efforts to prevent crime and whose interest are not inimical to those of the Association.

ARTICLE IV: VOTING

The right to vote is limited to active members of the Association. Each corporate membership may have one voting representative as designated by the corporation. Each organization membership may have one voting representative as designated by the organization.

ARTICLE V: QUORUM

A quorum for a general membership meeting shall consist of the active members present. A majority of active members present at a properly convened meeting shall be sufficient for the transaction of business.

ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS

The officers of the Association shall be the President, Vice President, Second Vice President, and Secretary.

Nominating Procedure

The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee annually. The Nominating Committee shall be comprised of one member from each of the five geographical regions of the state and one at-large member. The six appointed members will elect a chairperson.

Any member of the Association may submit to the Nominating Committee, in writing, a recommendation for nomination for an elected office provided such member has obtained permission of the recommended nominee to have his or her name submitted. Any person recommended must be a member of the Association. The recommending member must submit to the nominating committee supporting information concerning the nominee's qualifications.

Through the Association's various publications the membership will be reminded of the opportunity to submit recommendations to the Nominating Committee and informed of the address and deadline for submission.

The Nominating Committee shall prepare a slate of officers at least thirty days (30) prior to the Annual Membership meeting and notify the Association President and the Presidents of regional chapters of the selected slate of officers.

The Nominating Committee will prepare a biographical description of each candidate nominated for distribution at the Annual Membership meeting and, time permitting, for inclusion in one of the Association's publications or correspondence to the membership.

Election Of Officers

The election of officers shall be held at the Annual Membership meeting of the Association. Only members of the Association may vote. Voting shall be conducted by secret ballot. The voting procedure shall be administered and supervised by the Nominating Committee. Nominations from the floor shall be permitted provided the nominee is a member of the Association and gives permission to have his or her name placed in nomination.

In the event a member cannot attend the Annual Conference such member may request from the Association an absentee ballot and return such ballot by stated deadline. Absentee ballots will be counted at the Annual Conference. The candidate receiving the majority of votes cast for each office shall be declared elected and shall hold office for one year beginning July 1, or until a successor is elected or appointed.

There shall be an order of succession for the position of President, Vice President and Second Vice President. The order of succession shall be as follows: Second Vice President to Vice President and Vice President to President. The Association shall elect a Second Vice President and Secretary annually. Duties of the officers shall be as follows:

President - The President shall preside at all regular and special meetings of the Association; shall appoint members of all standing committees and other committees as the need arises; shall perform such duties as directed by the Board of Directors in the conduct of its business; and shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors.

Vice President - In the absence or disability of the President, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President. The Vice President will oversee the financial transactions of the Association and will assure that complete and accurate records are kept of all monies received and disbursed. The Vice President will review financial reports submitted by the Association's accountant and will make reports to the Board of Directors. The Vice President shall provide for an annual audit of the financial records immediately following the election of officers.

Second Vice President - In the absence or disability of the Vice President, the Second Vice President shall perform the duties of the Vice President.

Secretary - The Secretary shall keep a full and accurate written record of all proceedings of the Association and shall furnish the Board of Directors with written minutes of the preceding meeting. The Secretary shall forward all correspondence as directed by the presiding officer of the Board of Directors.

Vacated Office - In the event an elected or appointed officer is unable to serve out his/her term, the Board of Directors shall select a replacement for the remainder of that term.

ARTICLE VII: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, Immediate Past President, Citizen Representative, a member representing each of the Association's five geographical regions, an at-large member, presidents of each of the five regional chapters, a representative of the Virginia Department of State Police and the Association's representative on the Criminal Justice Services Board as appointed by the Governor. All members of the Board of Directors must be members of the Association.

The President shall appoint the citizen representative; the director at-large; the State Police representative, based on a recommendation submitted by the Department of State Police; and each of the five regional directors. A member of the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services shall serve the Board of Directors in an advisory and coordinating capacity. The designated advisor shall serve on the Board of Directors but shall have no vote.

An Executive Director shall serve as staff to the Board of Directors but shall have no vote.

The Board of Directors shall meet at least twice annually.

Seven members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of its business at any regular or special meetings of the Board. Any officer or member of the Board of Directors may be removed by two-thirds vote of the Board.

The Association President shall serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VIII: DUES

Active, corporate, and organization members of the Association shall be assessed dues in an amount to be determined annually by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IX: MEETINGS

The Association shall conduct a minimum of one meeting of the membership annually. The President may call as many additional meetings as is deemed necessary to conduct the business of the Association.

ARTICLE X: ORDER OF BUSINESS

Robert's Rule of Order shall be the standard for Parliamentary Law in the absence of a rule governing.

ARTICLE XI: COMMITTEES

The President may appoint committees as the need arise. Committees shall consist of not less than three (3) persons. The President and Vice President may not serve on the same committee.

All committees shall serve at the will and pleasure of the President. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of committee proceedings and report same to the Board of Directors when requested.

An Executive Committee of the Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, and one member appointed by the President.

The president may call meetings of the Executive Committee in situations where it is not practical, timely or necessary to convene a regular meeting of the Board of Directors.

The Executive Committee shall be empowered to conduct business in the best interest of the Association's purposes and its actions and decisions shall be binding on the Board of Directors. Three of the five members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum. The President shall serve as Chairperson of the Executive Committee.

The President shall provide a full report to the Board of Directors concerning all meetings, discussions and actions of the Executive Committee. Minutes of the Executive Committee meetings shall become part of the Association's official record.

A Citizen Representative Standing Committee shall be appointed by the President from a list of private citizens submitted by each of the five regional directors. Each member of the committee shall represent one of the Association's five regions. The Committee will represent the interest of community crime prevention organizations to the Board of Directors. Members of the committee shall serve a term which coincides with that of the Association President. The Citizen Representative on the Board of Directors shall serve as Chairperson of the committee.

ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS

The Association By-Laws may be amended by majority of vote of members voting whether by mailed ballot or in person at any general membership meeting of the Association, provided that such amendment shall have been submitted to the Board of Directors for review and approval. The Board of Directors shall determine whether a membership vote on a By-Law amendment (s) shall be conducted by mailed ballot or a general membership meeting of the Association.

ARTICLE XIII: GRANTS, GIFTS, AND DONATIONS

The Board of Directors is empowered to accept grants, gifts, and donations to carry out the purposes and objectives of the Association.

ARTICLE XIV: ENDORSEMENTS

Neither the Association or any member thereof, representing the Association, shall publicly endorse any product affiliated with the prevention of crime.

ARTICLE XV: DISSOLUTION

Upon dissolution of the corporation, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all of the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all of the assets of the corporation exclusively for the purposes of the corporation in such manner, or to such organization operated exclusively for the promotion of social welfare as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any further United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Directors shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Circuit Court of the county or city in which the principal office of the corporation is them located exclusively for such purposes to such organization or organizations as said court shall determine which are organized and operated exclusively for such purpose.

Amended and revised on September 29, 1998.