Bylaws of the
Pacific Coast Association of Health Care Recruiters

Article I

Name and Purpose

• Section 1 - The name of this Corporation is the Pacific Coast Association of Health Care Recruiters herein called the Association and/or PCAHCR.
• Section 2 - The purpose of the Association shall be
  
  
  1. 1) to promote and exchange sound and ethical principles of professional health care recruitment and retention which may be employed by its members for their mutual betterment and professional advancement;
  2. 2) to advance the interest of and promote cooperation among its members;

  3. 3) to acquire and disseminate among its members information regarding conditions in the field that will assist them in conducting their business; and generally to perform such other services for its members as shall be permitted by law and the bylaws of this Association.

     In order to achieve this, the Association will maintain appropriate but separate relationships with voluntary and government hospitals, leading community health organizations, educational institutions, nursing and allied health care societies, advertising media, sharing and coordinating activities for the mutual benefit of participating members of the Association.

                 

Article II

Membership

• Section 1 - Membership in the Association is based upon personal and professional qualifications. Membership may be initiated by payment of dues to the Association and shall be for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months from January 1 to December 31.

  The total PCAHCR membership will be comprised of no more than 30% Corporate/Institutional in ratio to Individual Membership.

• Section 2 - A member of the Executive Board shall review the qualifications of all applicants. Voting membership in the Association shall be on an individual membership basis, provided qualifications for voting membership are maintained.
• Section 3 - Types of Memberships:
  
  
  • A. Classes of Membership. There shall be three (3) classes of members in this association: Individual, Corporate/Institutional and Honorary.
  • 1. Individual Membership - Applicants for individual membership or renewal thereof must be actively involved in health care recruitment/retention and/or human resources processes and be employed by organizations providing direct health care. Individual membership is the only voting PACHCR membership and shall be defined as a member in good standing.
  • • a. National – Shall be defined as a member in good standing of Pacific Coast Association of Health Care Recruiters (PCAHCR) and the National Association for Health Care Recruitment (NAHCR).
    • b. Local – Shall be defined as a member in good standing of PCAHCR.
    • c. All active members shall be individuals whose applications for membership in the PCAHCR have been accepted, whose dues are current, and whose membership is not subject to revocation for violation of these PCAHCR bylaws.
    • d. Individual membership in the Association shall be based on the personal and professional qualifications as outlined in Section 3c. Membership may be transferred to another individual should the original member from an organization leave recruitment and be replaced by another who applies for transfer of that membership. The original member should release the membership for transfer by notifying a member of the Executive Board. No temporary staffing or personnel placement agency and/or individuals employed by such agencies will be allowed individual membership status.
  • 2. Corporate/Institutional Membership – Shall be open to individuals representing an organization closely allied to health care recruitment interested in supporting the goals of the Association and furthering the development and growth of PCAHCR. These individuals may hold committee membership and responsibility but do not have voting privileges and may not hold office. No individuals associated with personnel (search firm) or part-time temporary placements are eligible for Corporate/Institutional Membership. The total membership will be comprised of no more than 30% Corporate/Institutional members in ratio to Individual Memberships.
  • 3. Honorary Membership – May be conferred on individuals or organizations that have rendered distinguished service to the Association and have shown substantial support for the goals and activities of the Association. At any general meeting, the Executive Board may propose for majority vote of the members present, the name(s) of individuals and/or organizations to be considered. Honorary members are ineligible to vote as a member or to hold any office in this Association. No individual associated with personnel (search firm) or part-time temporary placement is eligible for honorary membership. Honorary members are not required to pay PCAHCR chapter dues.
• Section 4 - The active local membership (PCAHCR only) may not vote on issues of NAHCR concern.
• Section 5 - Whenever the word members is used in these bylaws, it shall be defined as members or membership in good standing as stated in Article II, Section 3.
• Section 6 - A member of the Association may have their individual membership suspended for activities deemed by the Board to be detrimental to the Association or any of its members.
• Section 7 - Each individual PCAHCR local member as defined in Article II, Section 3 will have one vote. Unless otherwise provided herein, voting results shall be determined by a simple majority of those voting subject to quorum notice and/or voting requirements of the California Nonprofit Mutual Benefit Corporation Law.

Article III

Fiscal Year and Dues

• Section 1 - The fiscal year of the Association is January 1 to December 31.
• Section 2 - Annual dues shall be established by the Executive Board prior to the beginning of each fiscal year and become payable January 1. Local dues paid after July 30 will be credited to the next fiscal year. However, if inquiry into the membership process begins before July 1, there will be no carry over of dues to the next fiscal year. Individual membership shall be $25.00 per year. Institutional/Corporate membership shall be $50.00 per year for up to two members.
• Section 3 - Delinquent Dues. If any member is in arrears of payment for thirty (30) days, a late notice shall be sent to the member at his/her last known address by the Treasurer of the Association. Upon failure of such member to pay such arrears before the expiration of thirty (30) days from the date of such notice, the member shall be dropped from membership in the Association.

Article IV

Officers and Governing Body

• Section 1 - The elected officers of the PCAHCR shall be: President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. All officers shall be elected for a two (2) year term. Elections will be held in October. Newly elected officers will serve beginning January 1. They shall be active NAHCR members and have full voting privileges during their terms of office.
• Section 2 - All Officers shall be elected for a two (2) year term and may only be eligible to serve for no more than two (2) consecutive terms subject to majority approval of the PCAHCR membership.
• Section 3 - The governing body shall be known as the Executive Board and shall consist of the four (4) duly elected officers, and the Immediate Past President. The President shall be the Chairman of the Board. The Executive Board shall manage and direct the affairs of the Association.
• Section 4 - The Executive Committee shall meet bi-monthly or as determined by the President. Three members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum.

Article V

Duties of the Officers

• Section 1 - The President is the Executive Officer of the Association and shall preside at all meetings. The President shall designate Committee Chairpersons as provided in Article XI. He/she may sign checks in absence of the Treasurer.
• Section 2 - The Treasurer shall maintain the bank accounts in the name of the Association and shall sign checks and withdrawals for expenses approved by the Executive Board. On February 1 of each year, he/she shall submit for the approval of the Executive Board a complete summary of receipts and expenditures of the fiscal year just ending. He/she shall turn over all records to his/her successor after the Executive Committee has approved the summary.
• Section 3 - The Secretary shall maintain all Association Records, including the official list of membership. He/she shall be responsible for recording the minutes of all Executive Board and General Membership meetings.
• Section 4 - The Vice President shall serve as chair of Special Projects as determined by the Executive Board.
• Section 5 - In the absence of the President, any member of the Executive Board may assume the duties of the President in the following order: 1. Treasurer, 2.Secretary, and Immediate Past President.
  The President must prepare and submit an annual report to the membership by March 31 of each year.

Article VI

Election of Officers

• Section 1 - Nominations for Board members of the PCAHCR are solicited in September; election of Board members takes place in October; and the term of office, which begins in January, is for two years.
• Section 2 - Board Officers include: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
• Section 3 - Board officers will be active NAHCR members and have full voting privileges during their terms of office.
• Section 4 - Board members may not serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms subject to the majority approval of the PCAHCR membership.
• Section 5 - In the event an office other than President becomes vacant; an appointee of the President will complete the unexpired term. In the event the position of President becomes vacant, a special election may be called for at the discretion of the Executive Board.

Article VII

Effects

• Section 1 - The Pacific Coast Association of Health Care Recruiters was founded for the purpose of exchanging and promoting sound principles of health care recruitment and retention. In so doing, the members are expected to demonstrate integrity and behavior of the highest professional character; therefore the following shall serve as guidelines:
  
  
  • A. Conduct – The activities of the Pacific Coast Association of Healthcare Recruiters will always be conducted in a professional manner, reflecting credit to them, and with integrity.
  • B. Advertising – The members will utilize advertising, which truthfully exemplifies the characteristics of their institution. Plagiarism is to be avoided, as are references to other agencies

• Section 2 - Conduct and/or activities that do not meet these standards are to be reported, signed and sent to the Executive Board.

  A written notice will be issued to the charged member or facility advising them of the complaint of misconduct to which they will have twenty (20) days to reply to the Executive Board in their defense.

  If the Executive Board deems disciplinary action necessary, a determination will follow from the President outlining the action to be taken. The Executive Board will not accept unsigned correspondence.

• Section 3 - Any complaint or dissatisfaction arising from any interpretation or claim of violation of any provision of these Bylaws is a grievance.

  The following procedure is available to members. PCAHCR assures prompt and impartial consideration of any attributed complaint, which its members may have within the course of their membership. Members may use this procedure without penalty or fear of reprisal.

  Grievance Procedure:

  Within thirty (30) days after the disciplinary action has been taken, the individual may appeal the disciplinary action through a Grievance Committee. Grievance proceeding shall begin upon receipt of a written request addressed to the President.

  The Grievance Committee shall be composed of three (3) members of the PCAHCR . The Executive Board shall choose one committee member and the individual filing the grievance shall choose one committee member. The third committee member shall is to be selected by the aforementioned appointed committee members and shall serve as Chairperson of the Grievance Committee. No member of the Executive Board shall serve on the Grievance Committee.

  The Grievance Committee will accumulate and study the facts about the case and will submit a written decision to the Executive Board within thirty (30) days.

  The decision of the Grievance Committee is final and not subject to appeal.

Article VIII

Meetings, Programs and Activities

• Section 1 - Regular meetings of the members of the Association shall be held six (6) times each fiscal year. The Secretary sends notices of the meeting to members. A majority of the voting members represented in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of members. Members are encouraged to bring to any meeting, guests who may be interested in becoming a member of the Association.
• Section 2 - The purpose of these meetings shall be:
  
  
  • 1. To conduct the business of the Association and to inform the membership of the Association’s activities.
  • 2. To provide a forum for the dissemination and exchange of information regarding issues and trends in the profession.
  • 3. To provide for communication between NAHCR and PCAHCR.
• Section 3 - PCAHCR will demonstrate its interest in the professional growth and development of its members by providing at least one (1) educational program annually.

Article IX

Annual Reports

• Section 1 - The Executive Committee shall be responsible to the membership for the reasonable care in controlling the finances of the Association. The Executive Board must approve all expenditures in excess of $100.00 in advance. The membership may be advised annually of the expenses for the previous fiscal year.
• Section 2 - The President or designee shall prepare and submit an annual report of the Association’s activities for the fiscal year (January 1 to December 31) to NAHCR during the annual NAHCR conference.

Article X

Amendments

• Section 1 - Any member of the Association may submit section 1 Amendments to these Bylaws to the President. The President shall submit the proposed amendment to the Executive Board. If approved by the Executive Board, the Secretary shall submit them to the membership for approval at the next meeting. The affirmative vote of the majority of those present, in person or by proxy, at a duly held meeting of members shall be required in order to adopt any amendment of these Bylaws.
• Section 2 - All major issues affecting the Association shall be submitted to the membership for a vote. The Executive Board shall determine if an issue is major. The membership shall be advised in writing that a vote on a major issue will be held at the next scheduled meeting. A majority vote of those members attending this meeting will be necessary to pass the issue.

Article XI

Committees and Appointments

• Section 1 - The President shall appoint chairpersons of chartered committees from the Individual or Institutional membership as determined by the needs and interests of the membership. Tasks of these committees may include but are not limited to the following:
• Communications and Promotion
  Legislative
  Membership
  Programming
  Service Provider Chairman
  Website
  Nominations
  Bylaws
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  NAHCR Liaison
  Special Projects – The chair of the Special Projects Committee is a function of the Vice President as defined in Article V and not appointed by the President.