WBA 2021 Bylaws 
 

ARTICLE I -NAME

 

Section 1.  This organization shall be known as the Wisconsin Biomedical Association (WBA).
 

ARTICLE II -OBJECTIVES
 

Section 1.  The purpose of the WBA shall be to advance the development and role of biomedical and healthcare technologies.
 

Section 2.  Provide a medium for the exchange of ideas and the distribution of information among members.
 

Section 3.  Encourage and assist in conducting regular meetings, conferences, volunteerism, educational and charitable opportunities.
 

Section 4.  Encourage and assist members to develop their knowledge and to increase their competence in biomedical and healthcare technologies.
 
ARTICLE III -NATURE OF THE ORGANIZATION
 

Section 1.  Membership
Part A.   Members of the WBA shall be individuals actively participating in biomedical and healthcare technologies or who have retired from the biomedical and healthcare technology field. .
Part B.  Corporate membership in the WBA shall consist of manufacturers, companies, or organizations whose focus is related, or in support of biomedical services or healthcare.
 

Section 2.  Non-discrimination
Part A.  This organization or any representative of this organization will not discriminate in any manner on the basis of age, race, color, handicap, gender identity, creed, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, or religion.
 

Section 3.  Non-Profit Status
Part A.  The WBA is organized as a 501 c (6) exclusively for educational, scientific, and charitable purposes and shall remain a not for profit organization. It shall so be conducted that its income and earnings shall accrue to the benefit of all members. If the organization disbands, any assets upon dissolution of the WBA will be decided by active board members.

 

ARTICLE IV -MEMBERSHIP  
 

Section 1.  WBA Membership
Part A.  Individuals become members through their paid membership to the WBA. Membership coincides with the fiscal year of WBA, January-December.
Part B.  Groups with an interest in biomedical and healthcare technologies may petition to become chapters of WBA. The Board of Directors may set standards or criteria that must be met by petitioning groups before recognition as a participating chapter is conferred.
 

Section 2.  Membership Categories
Part A.  Active membership shall be granted to persons in the biomedical field, who have retired, or are employed by a clinic, hospital, shared service organization, equipment manufacturer or government agency, and are chapter members in good standing.
Part B.  Student Membership shall be granted to persons currently enrolled in a biomedical and healthcare technologies, biomedical engineering, or clinical engineering program and who are chapter (including student chapter members) members in good standing.
Student members will be voting members. Student members may not hold office. Student members may be delegates.

 

ARTICLE V -MEETINGS   
 

Section 1.  Annual Meeting 
Part A.  An annual meeting of members shall take place with date, time, and location of which will be determined by the Board of Directors. 
 

Section 2.  Board Meetings            

Part A.  A quorum of five board members shall be present to conduct a board meeting.

Part B.  Board Meetings shall be held quarterly, at a time, and place determined by the Board of Directors.
 

Section 3.  Regular Meetings 
Part A.  Regular meetings (member meetings) of the members shall be held quarterly, at a time and place determined by the Board of Directors.
 

Section 4.  Special Meeting

Part A. Special meetings may be called by the Board of Directors. Thirty (30) day notice of a special meeting shall be given to all members whenever possible. 
 

Section 5.  Notice of Meetings
Part A.  Email or electronic notification of each meeting shall be given to each member not less than two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.

 

Section 6.  Meeting Minutes

Part A.  All meeting minutes will be published on the Wisconsin Biomedical Association Website

    

ARTICLE VI -BOARD OF DIRECTORS  
 

Section 1.  Makeup and Terms of Office for the Principal Officers
Part A.   The Board of Directors will consist of a Secretary, Treasurer and three (3) active WBA members whose terms shall be for two (2) years with no term limits.
Part B.   Two (2) Delegates from each region shall be elected for a two (2) year term. Delegates are to be elected before the annual WBA meeting for each regional chapter. Terms of office for new delegates commence with the WBA Board of Directors meeting proceeding with the annual conference and extend through the end of the annual conference two (2) years later.
Part C. Interim is a temporary position held for a maximum of six (6) months or two (2) Regular Meetings.

 

Section 2.  Eligibility Requirements for Officers
Part A.  All active WBA members are eligible for officer nomination.  When possible, the officers shall represent different chapters.
 

Section 3.  Time of Election of Officers and Terms of Office
Part A.  Officers shall be elected at the annual WBA meeting the new officers shall be installed in their offices at the conclusion of the annual WBA meeting.
 

Section 4.  Replacement of an Officer Unable to Continue in Office
Part A.  In the event that a Board Director shall become unable to perform the duties of the office, the Board of Directors shall hold a Special Meeting to determine an interim replacement until voted upon by WBA or local chapter.
 

 

 

ARTICLE VII -DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS
 

Section 1.  Board of Directors
Part A.  The Board of Directors shall nominate an individual to preside at all board and WBA meetings prior to their start. It shall be the Board of Directors duty to exercise general supervision over activities and welfare of the WBA.
 

Section 2.  Duties of the Secretary
Part A.  The Secretary shall issue notices of meetings, keep a roster of members, distribute the roster to all regional groups, file an annual report and perform such duties as may be requested by the Board of Directors consistent with these bylaws, and with policies and other commitments of the WBA.

Part B.  The Secretary shall attend and keep minutes of meetings.

Part C.  In the event of the Secretary's absence from a meeting or temporary inability to perform the duties of office, the Board of Directors shall appoint a temporary Secretary to carry out the functions of Secretary.

Part D.  The Secretary shall provide a copy of minutes and WBA meetings to all board members within thirty (30) days after the respective meeting.
 

Section 3.  Duties of the Treasurer
Part A.  The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds, books of account, and all valuable papers of the WBA.

Part B.  The Treasurer shall keep a set of books of entry containing in detail, the financial transactions of the WBA. All receipts shall be deposited within one (1) week of their receipt in the bank prescribed by the board of directors.

Part C.  The Treasurer and/ Board of Directors shall have authority to sign all checks, drafts and notes drawn by the WBA.

Part D.  The Treasurer shall prepare a balance sheet and present it at each meeting. 

Part E.  The treasurer shall compile a roster that will list all active and student members for the coming year. The roster will be given to the Secretary and a copy given to each member if such is requested.
 

ARTICLE VIII -NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS 
 

Section 1.  Nominations
Part A.   The Board of Directors shall start the nominations process with all active WBA members no later the thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting.

Part B.  The members shall nominate one or more persons for elections of Secretary, Treasurer and three (3) additional Board Members.

Part C.  Prior to announcing its decisions, the Board of Directors shall contact the person proposed to be nominated for an office and determine if the person is willing to run for election.

Part D.  The Board of Directors shall give due consideration to balanced representation among the chapters in its deliberations.

Section 2.  Elections
Part A.  The candidate with the largest number of votes will be elected for each office being filled.
Part B.  No person shall be elected to office that has not been an active member of the WBA for at least six (6) months.
Part C.  Each active member present at the election meeting or by virtual participation will have one vote, and no member shall vote by proxy.

Part D.  Results of all elections shall be posted no later than thirty (30) days of poll closing, after seven (7) day voting period.
 

ARTICLE IX -COMMITTEES
 

Section 1.  WBA Committees will be formed to help in the allocation of critical duties as needed.
 

Section 2.  Committees include but are not limited to:
 

Part A.  Award Committee, whose duty it shall be to solicit nominations for the Jim Kipp

Scholarship and Benefactor awards, and to present each at the annual conference to the individual most deserving according to the criteria.
Part B. Conference Committee, whose duty it will be to oversee all annual conference preparations and educational courses.
Part C. Scholarship committee, whose duty it shall be to review scholarship applications. Submit to the board an acceptable candidate for the award at annual banquet.
Part D. Mission Committee, whose duty it shall be to explore mission opportunities for WBA members.
 

Section 3.  Committee Duties
Part A.  All Committees shall develop goals, objectives and an annual budget and submit them to the Board of Directors for their approval at the first meeting after annual conference.
 

Section 4.  Reporting Responsibility
Part A.  Committee activities shall be reported to the Board of Directors during the monthly Board Meeting
 

ARTICLE X -ASSESSMENTS
 

Section 1. Membership Fees
Part A.  Individual membership fees will be set by the Board of Directors and published on the website.

Section 2.  Other Information
Part A.  Each chapter shall send to the WBA Secretary a copy of the minutes for each meeting, notices for chapter education programs or seminars, active member publications in professional journals, and individual member attendance at professional courses, programs, and seminars.
 

ARTICLE XI -EXPULSIONS
 

Section 1.  The Board of Directors may expel any member who neglects to comply with these bylaws or whose conduct is detrimental to the WBA.

Part A.  Before the Board of Directors can expel the member, written charges shall be filed with the Board of Directors and the Secretary shall furnish the individual a copy of the charges and a notice of the time and place where the board will consider such charges.

Part B.  The member may appear before the board to answer such charges and present such proof as the member may have relative to the charges.

Part C.  After such hearing, the Board of Directors shall determine whether or not the member shall be expelled. The decision of the Board of Directors shall be final.
 

 

ARTICLE XII – ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
 

Section 1.  Each chapter may adopt bylaws to govern its procedures and operations.

Part A.  No chapter bylaws shall conflict with the bylaws of the WBA.

Part B.  Groups with an interest in biomedical and healthcare technologies may petition to become chapters of WBA. The Board of Directors may set standards or criteria that must be met by petitioning groups before recognition as a participating chapter is conferred.

 

ARTICLE XIII -AMENDMENTS
 

Section 1.  These bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed by a simple majority vote of the members at the annual or a special meeting.