ATTENTION CNIA MEMBERS!



The CNIA Executive is looking for your input to our proposed new Bylaws. All CNIA members -please read the new bylaws by clicking on the leaf graphic below. Once you have read through them, please use the feedback form below to send your input to our CNIA President, Eithne Reichert.

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CNIA Bylaws

Copyright © 2003 - 2010 The Canadian Nursing Informatics Association.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.
To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA.

Table of Contents

Article 1 General

Nursing Informatics

Article 2 Membership

Article 3 Executive Board

Article 4 Elections

Article 5 Meetings of Members

Article 6 Amendments

Article 1 General

Section 1.1 Property of the Association

It shall be the duty of every officer and director to turn over to his/her successor, upon retirement from office, all property of the Association which is within his/her possession, custody or control.

Section 1.2 Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of CNIA shall begin on the 1st of January and end on the 31st day of December every year.

Section 1.3 Appointment of Auditors

The appointment of auditors shall be initiated as determined by the Executive.

Article 2 Membership

Section 2.1 Admission of Members

Membership shall be available to individuals who are providers, coordinators, users or potential users of health information systems, or individuals interested in contributing to the advancement of informatics in nursing. Non-nurses, known as associated members, will not be eligible to vote on matters of the association, but otherwise retain all rights and priviledges of nursing members.

Section 2.2 Membership Fees

The annual membership fee shall be such an amount as fixed by resolution of the Executive Committee. Notice shall be provided to all members at least 30 days prior to renewal date.

The annual fee shall be due and payable on or before June 1st in each year.

Section 2.3 Termination of Membership

A member of the Association shall forfeit membership when membership fees are in arrears.

A member may withdraw from CNIA by delivering a written resignation to a member of the executive board.

Article 3 Executive Board

Section 3.1 Qualifications

All members of the executive board shall:

  1. Be a member in good standing with the association.
  2. Be a member in good standing with a recognized college or association of nursing in Canada.

Section 3.2 Composition of Executive Board

The CNIA executive board shall be composed of:

Section 3.3 Composition of Executive Management Committee

The CNIA management committee shall be composed of:

Section 3.4 Responsibilities of the Executive Board

The CNIA executive board shall:

  1. Control and administer the affairs of the Association including its finances;
  2. Designate the officers and officials who shall have power to receive monies belonging to the Association and to give acquittance for the same;
  3. Designate the officers or officials who shall have power to draw, accept, sign and make bills of exchange, promissory notes, bank overdrafts, cheques and orders for payment of money and, for the credit of the Association only to assign and transfer stocks, bonds and other securities;
  4. Arrange for an annual audit of the accounts of the Association, if appropriate;
  5. Have power to direct the expenditures of the funds of the Association and to arrange for the payment of all expenses and charges incurred in the administration of the affairs of the Association;
  6. Assess, plan and implement strategic initiatives on behalf of the association.
  7. Regularly evaluate and report status of initiatives.

Section 3.5 Responsibilities of Management Committee

The CNIA management committee shall:

  1. Address urgent decisions regarding CNIA when the convening of a full Board meeting or solicitation of membership input is not feasible.

Section 3.6 Meetings of the Executive Board

The Executive Board shall meet, in person or through other means, not less than four (4) times a year. In each case at the time and the place specified in the notice for such meeting at the call of:

  1. A member of the Association expressed by resolution;
  2. One half (1/2) or more Members of the Executive expressed in writing;
  3. The president of the Association.

Section 3.7 Resignation or Termination of Board Member

A member of the executive board shall forfeit membership:

  1. by delivering a written resignation to president of the executive board.

Article 4 Elections

Section 4.1 Election and Term

Each member of the executive board shall hold office for the term for which he or she is elected and until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation, removal or death.

Section 4.2 Election Committee

At least 60 days prior to an election, the executive board is responsible for the formation of an election committee. The committee may consist of outgoing members of the executive board, members of the association, or other volunteers as deemed appropriate by the executive board. The role of the election committee will be to oversee the distribution, collection and counting of nomination and election ballots.

Section 4.3 Notice of Election

Notice stating the position(s), and date of the election shall be delivered not less than forty five nor more than ninety days before the date of the election to each member of the association entitled to vote in such election. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the mail addressed to the member at his or her address as it appears in the membership records.

Section 4.4 Nominations and Voting

Nomination ballots (either paper or equivalent electronic means), shall be provided to each member of the association no less than 45 day prior to the election date. Twenty days after mailing the nomination ballots, the Election Committee shall close nominations and shall make a preferential count of nominees for the required position(s). The Election Committee shall contact the nominees to confirm their interest in the nominated position. In the event of nomination for multiple positions, the nominee shall be required to choose only one, and only votes specific to that position shall be included in the preferential count. The Election Committee shall then prepare for the final election ballot a slate including the names of the four persons who receive the largest numbers of nominating votes for each position.

Section 4.5 Results

All ballots postmarked on or before the closing date of the nomination and election shall be included in the respective counts. Those successful in receiving the greatest percentage of the total vote shall be deemed the winner. Results shall be communicated to all nominees first, no more than 15 days after the election. Members of the association shall be notified of election results by any means deemed appropriate by members of the Executive Board.

Article 5 Meetings of Members

Section 5.1 Place of Meetings

Meetings of the members shall be held at any place in Canada as designated in the notice of the meeting.

Section 5.2 Annual General Meeting

A meeting of the members shall be held annually at such time and place as the Executive Board may determine. The meeting shall occur not more than thirteen (13) months after the date of the last annual meeting, at which annual meeting the members shall elect a Executive Board and transact other proper business.

Section 5.3 Special Meetings

Special meetings of the members shall be held when directed by the President or the Executive Board, or when requested in writing by not less than ten percent (10%) of all members entitled to vote at the meeting. The call for the meeting shall be issued by the Director of Communications, unless the President, Executive Board or members requesting the meeting shall designate another person to do so.

Section 5.4 Notice

Notice stating the place, date and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than fifteen (15) nor more than ninety (90) days before the date of the meeting to each member of record entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the mail addressed to the member at his or her address as it appears in the membership records.

Section 5.5 Member Quorum

Except as otherwise required by law, or by these Bylaws, one-third (1/3) of the members entitled to vote, represented in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of members. If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the members represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the members, unless the vote of a greater number is required by these Bylaws.

Section 5.6 Voting

Each member shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of the members. A member may vote either in person or by proxy executed in writing or as directed by the board.

Section 5.7 Proxies

Every member entitled to vote at a meeting of members or to express consent or dissent to actions of the Association, may do so without attending the meeting, either in writing or by other means as directed by the board. No proxy shall be valid after one (1) year from its date of issue. All proxies shall be revocable.

Article 6 Amendments

Section 6.1 Notice

The Executive Board may revoke, amend or re-enact the bylaws provided notice in writing is given to each member of the association at least four weeks before the general or annual meeting of the association at which such revocation, amendment or re-enactment is proposed to be implemented.

Section 6.2 Commencement

Any revocation, amendment or reenactment shall not come into force unless and until it has been ratified by the voting members at a general or annual meeting of the Group.

In the event that a majority of voting members ratifies the change, such change shall come into force on a date to be determined by the Executive Board.

Appendix A

References

Bylaws of the Canadian Nursing Informatics Association
Updated Fri Feb 13 11:22:33 AST 2004

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