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SOUTHERN NEVADA IMMUNIZATION AND
HEALTH COALTION BYLAWS

ARTICLE 1 – NAME, PURPOSE

Section 1.

The name of the organization shall be the Southern Nevada Immunization and Health Coalition (SNIHC). Southern Nevada Immunization and Health Coalition is a nonprofit partnership of individuals from various public and private organizations working together to serve children, adolescents and adults of Southern Nevada.

Section 2.

The Southern Nevada Immunization and Health Coalition was established in response to the extremely low immunization rates of Clark County's two-year-olds.

Section 3.

The Southern Nevada Immunization and Health Coalition mission is to promote health and decrease the incidence of vaccine preventable diseases in Nevada through community partnerships and education.

Section 4.

The goals are as follows:

Goal 1 - Develop and sustain an effective community organization
Goal 2 - Provide immunization awareness, education and health access to the               community.
Goal 3 - Provide immunization information, health education, and support to               providers.
Goal 4 - Advocate for policy changes to maximize immunization rates and health               outcomes.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1:  Application for membership shall be open to any individual or organization that supports the purpose statement in Article 1, Section 2.

Section 2:   Each eligible voting member of the Southern Nevada Immunization and Health Coalition shall have a vote during annual election of officers.  Each person who is an individual member of an organization, who has completed a membership application on file with the Executive Director and has been a coalition member for at least 6 months from the date of their completed application, is considered an eligible nominee for an officer position and an eligible voter.

Section 3:  The Board shall have the authority to establish and define nonvoting categories of membership.

ARTICLE III – MEETINGS OF MEMBERS

Section 1:  Regular Meeting.

Regular meetings shall be held the first Thursday of each month. The Executive Board shall also set the time and place. Attending members shall constitute a quorum at regular meetings. Regular meetings are open to the public.

Section 2:  Special Meetings.

Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson, or a simple majority of the Executive Board. 

Section 3:  Notice. 

Notice of each meeting shall be given to each coalition member, by e-mail, not less than ten days before the meeting.

Section 4:  Agenda.

The agenda shall be developed by the Chair with the Director. Members should notify the Director at least one month before regular scheduled meetings for any item (s) they wish to add to the upcoming agenda. For each meeting, the agenda will state or identify which agenda action items indicating a vote will be taken by the attending members. Members who perceived a conflict of interest shall state their conflict before discussion of the issue and abstain from voting if an action item.

Section 5:

All coalition meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the latest revised Roberts' Rules of Order.

ARTICLE IV – EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1: Board Role, Size, Composition.

The Board is responsible for overall policy and direction of the Coalition, strategic planning, review and approve annual budget, review and approve major coalition expenses, approve committee chair to the executive board, approve committee goals and activities, and delegates responsibility for day-to-day operations to the Coalition's  Director  The Executive Board shall review the performance and evaluation of the Director. The board receives no compensation and may be reimbursed for approved travel expenses. Executive Board and/or coalition members shall not expend any personal funds for SNIHC day-to-day operations. The Board shall have a minimum of seven (7) members, representing the broad composition of the membership of the SNIHC, and whenever possible, representing private, and public agencies and individuals.

Section 2: Meetings.

The Board shall meet at least quarterly, at an agreed upon time and place.

Section 3: Election Procedures.

The officers shall be elected as follows: The Chair shall appoint a Nominating Committee before the January General Coalition meeting. The Southern Nevada Immunization and Health Coalition Chair shall serve as Chair of the Nominating Committee and members shall be comprised of 4 members of the Executive Board. The Committee shall solicit nominations and recommendations from members of the Coalition, shall determine whether nominees consent to serve if elected, and shall prepare a slate of candidates with at least one nominee for each position. To qualify for nomination, coalition members must have a completed application on file with the Executive Director and be a participating member for at least 6 months from the date of the completed application. Coalition Members shall be advised by the Executive Director of such slate of candidates at least two weeks prior to the January meeting.

The annual election shall be held at the January meeting with the order of election as listed on a ballot being Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary. Any member of SNIHC may submit independent nominations, provided such nominations are filed with the SNIHC Director at least one week before the meeting of elections. Individuals making the nomination must have determined that the nominee consents to serve if elected. Each member may vote for one candidate only for each office. Candidates receiving a majority vote from those members present and voting shall be elected to the office. If no candidate receives a majority vote, the top two candidates shall be placed in a run-off. When a tie exists for the run-off positions, the tie shall be promptly determined by lot. Newly elected officers shall take office at the end of the February meeting and serve until the following March meeting when the new slate of officers takes office.

The Medical Advisor shall be appointed by the Executive Board with a majority input from the general coalition members. The Medical Advisor shall be an active licensed practicing physician in Nevada.

Section 4: At-Large Board Members.

When necessary, the Executive Board shall elect and/or appoint individuals from the community to serve as at-large members of the Board.  At-large members should represent diverse interests of the community. During Executive Board, the board may identify areas of needed representation, with the goal of maintaining a board broadly representative of the community.  At-large board members will serve one-year terms and their term can be renewed successively. 

Section 5: Terms.

All elected officers shall serve two-year terms. The Medical Advisor shall serve a minimum of two years and may serve longer when agreed upon by the individual, executive board and input from general coalition members. At-large members shall serve a one-year term and their term can be renewed successively. 

Section 6: Quorum.

For Executive Board meetings, a quorum must be attended by two-thirds majority vote of the Board members before business can be transacted or motions made or passed.

Section 7:  Notice.

An official Board meeting requires that each Board member have notice two weeks in advance unless a meeting is deemed urgent.

Section 8: Officers and Duties.

There shall be three officers of the Board consisting of a Chair, Vice-Chair and Secretary. The Medical Advisor shall be appointed by the Executive Board with a majority input from the general coalition members and shall not be considered an officer. The officers shall be elected by the Board at the January General Coalition Meeting. Their duties are as follows:

The Chair shall convene regularly scheduled Board meetings, shall preside or arrange for other members of the executive committee to preside at each meeting in the following order: Vice-Chair, Secretary and Medical Advisor. The Chair develops the agenda with the Director.

The Vice-Chair the Vice Chair shall serve as temporary Chair in the event of the Chair’s absence or resignation from office until the General Coalition shall elect a new Chair to fill the unexpired term of office. The Chair may delegate to the Vice Chair such duties as the Chair may designate.

The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping records of all the proceedings of the General Coalition Board actions, including overseeing the taking of minute’s at all general and executive board meetings.

The Medical Advisor – may provide advisory services and comments to SNIC on recommended immunizations, education to physicians and is a link to providers in the community.

Section 9: Vacancies.

When a vacancy on the Board exists, nominations for new members may be received from present Board members and coalition members by the Executive Director two weeks in advance of a General Meeting.  These nominations shall be sent out to Coalition members with the regular meeting announcement, to be voted upon at the next Coalition meeting.  SNIHC Board Members must work within the southern Nevada geographic area for that board position.  All vacancies will be filled only to the end of the particular Board member's term.

Section 10:  Resignation, Termination and Absences. 

Any member of the Board may resign at any time by giving written notice to the President, Vice President or Executive Director. A member of the Board, including an Officer, may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Board. If a vacancy on the Board is created by reason of death, resignation, removal, or otherwise, the Board shall appoint a replacement from the Eligible Voters for the remainder of the original term.

ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES

Section 1:

The Executive Board may create committees as needed, such as childhood, adolescent and flu / adult.  The Committee Chair is select by committee members. Each person who is an individual member of an organization, who has completed a membership application on file with the Executive Director and has been a coalition member for at least 6 months from the date of their completed application, is eligible to be selected as a Committee Chair. Resignation from the Board must be in writing and received by the SNIHC Director. Each Committee chair shall coordinate all work plans, goals and activities with the SNIHC Executive Director. The Executive Board shall approve all committee goals and activities.

ARTICLE VI – EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Section 1. Executive Director. 

The Executive Director is hired by the Fiscal Agent with input by a personnel committee nominated by the Executive Board.  The Executive Director has day-to-day responsibility for the Coalition, including carrying out the Coalition's goals and Board policy.  The Executive Director will attend all General and Executive Board meetings; participate with each committee, review committee work plans, goals and activities, report on the progress of the Coalition, answer questions of Board members and carry out the duties described in the job description.  The Board can designate other duties as necessary.

ARTICLE VII – POLICY EDUCATION & ADVOCACY

Section 1. SNIHC is a nonpartisan organization and does not make political endorsements.  SNIHC may, however, educate / advocate on specific immunization-related legislation.  Individual SNIHC members supporting or proposing legislation should not identify their affiliation with SNIHC without first gaining approval of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

Section 1.

These bylaws may be amended when necessary by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Directors.  Proposed amendments must be submitted to the Executive Director to be sent out with regular Board announcements.

Revised 04/10/2008
Revised 07/10/2008
Revised 01/07/2010
Revised 02/03/2011