FHIMA

Current Bylaw

Recommended Change

Rationale

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 2. Active Membership

Any AHIMA active member who is employed and residing in the State of Florida, or who is employed or residing in another state and selects this state for association membership, shall become an active member of this Association. Active members in good standing shall be entitled to vote, to hold office as Directors; serve as Committee Chairmen or committee members; and serve as members of the AHIMA House of Delegates; or serve as a member of the FHIMA House of Delegates. The President-Elect and President must be active members in good standing who hold a valid AHIMA credential.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 2. Active Membership

Any AHIMA active member who is employed and residing in the State of Florida, or who is employed or residing in another state and selects this state for association membership, shall become an active member of this Association. Active members in good standing shall be entitled to vote, to hold office as Directors; serve as Committee Chairmen or committee members; and serve as members of the AHIMA House of Delegates; or serve as a member of the FHIMA House of Delegates. ~~The President-Elect and President must be active members in good standing who hold a valid AHIMA credential.~~

This wording does not belong in this section of the bylaws under membership. Wording will be moved to Article IV Officers and Directors, Section 1 Officers.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 3. Student Membership

Any individual who holds student membership in AHIMA and is formally enrolled in an AHIMA accredited or approved including those pending accreditation/approval and selects this state for his association membership shall be a student member of FHIMA as long as the student membership in AHIMA continues. A student member may attend business and education meetings of the association. Registration fees are waived, but the student is responsible for payment of fees related to food functions and handout materials. A student member shall not be entitled to vote, hold office or serve as a Committee Chairman or to serve as a member of the AHIMA or FHIMA House of Delegates.

Student members shall have all rights and privileges of membership, including that of serving on committees in designated student positions with voice but no vote.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 3. Student Membership

Any individual who holds student membership in AHIMA and is formally enrolled in an AHIMA accredited or approved including those pending accreditation/approval and selects this state for his association membership shall be a student member of FHIMA as long as the student membership in AHIMA continues. A student member may attend business and education meetings of the association. ~~Registration fees are waived, but the student is responsible for payment of fees related to food functions and handout materials.~~ A student member shall not be entitled to vote, hold office or serve as a Committee Chairman or to serve as a member of the AHIMA or FHIMA House of Delegates.

Student members shall have all rights and privileges of membership, including that of serving on committees in designated student positions with voice but no vote.

Remove reference regarding registration fee for students. This is in the Standing Rules which is the appropriate location for expense/fees references.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 6. Transfer of Active, Associate, Student or Inactive AHIMA Membership

When an employed member changes his place of employment to another state or a non-employed member changes his residence to another state, or a student transfers to a school in another state, or upon graduation changes his residence to another state, he shall notify the Membership Department of AHIMA and transfer of the membership out of the State of Florida shall be automatic as provided in the Bylaws of AHIMA.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 6. Transfer of Active, ~~Associate,~~ Student, or Inactive AHIMA Membership

Removes invalid membership class.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 1. Officers

The officers of FHIMA shall be a President and President-Elect. The President shall serve for a term of one year, after having served as President-Elect during the previous year.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 1. Officers

The officers of FHIMA shall be a President and President-Elect. The President shall serve for a term of one year, after having served as President-Elect during the previous year. The President-Elect and President must be active members in good standing who hold a valid AHIMA credential.

Moves highlighted text from on Article (Article III, Section 2) to more appropriate Article.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 6. Elections

Election shall be a plurality of the votes cast by the Active Members. In case of a tie, the election shall be decided by lot.

Voting shall be by ballot only. Ballots with instruction for their use shall be distributed to all Active Members at least 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting. In order to be counted, the ballot must identify the voter member by name and AHIMA ID number, and be received prior to the close of the election polls. Ballots received after the deadline shall be considered invalid and will not be counted in the tabulation. When paper ballots are used, the Chief Teller shall meet with all appointed tellers prior to the Annual Meeting to tabulate votes. Ballots not valid shall be destroyed by the Chairman of the Tellers in the company of all tellers, who shall verify ballot validity. When electronic voting is used, the Executive Director shall provide access to the electronic ballot to one designee as appointed by the Management Steering Committee, who shall verify ballot results along with the Executive Director. Results of the election shall be announced at the Annual State Convention, with number received, the number valid and the number destroyed reported, if applicable…

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 6. Elections

Election shall be a plurality of the votes cast by the Active Members. In case of a tie, the election shall be decided by lot.

Voting shall be by ballot only. Ballots with instruction for their use shall be distributed to all Active Members at least 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting. In order to be counted, the ballot must identify the voter member by name and/or valid AHIMA ID number, and be received prior to the close of the election polls. Ballots received after the deadline shall be considered invalid and will not be counted in the tabulation. When paper ballots are used, the Chief Teller shall meet with all appointed tellers prior to the Annual Meeting to tabulate votes. Ballots not valid shall be destroyed by the Chairman of the Tellers in the company of all tellers, who shall verify ballot validity. When electronic voting is used, the Executive Director shall provide access to the electronic ballot to one designee as appointed by the Management Steering Committee, who shall verify ballot results along with the Executive Director. Results of the election shall be announced at the Annual State Convention, with number received, the number valid and the number destroyed reported, if applicable.

Adds term “/or valid” to allow for current online voting practices where FHIMA members are identified by valid AHIMA ID number only.

ARTICLE IX. COMMITTEES, COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN AND BOARD LIAISON

Section 2. Nominating Committee

The committee shall consist of a chairman and one (1) member appointed by the Management Steering Committee and one member from each region.

Regional Associations may submit one (1) nomination for the Nominating Committee. Nominations shall be sent to the Executive Director at least ninety (90) days in advance of the Annual State Convention. Names and their respective Regional Associations shall be included in the delegate packet mailed in advance.

This committee shall prepare a list of nominees from those consenting to serve if elected. The ballot shall also list nominees for AHIMA delegate. Those receiving the highest number of votes shall be delegates and all others shall be alternates. The alternates shall be called to serve as delegates in order according to the highest number of votes received.

ARTICLE IX. COMMITTEES, COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN AND BOARD LIAISON

Section 2. Nominating Committee

The committee shall consist of a chairman and one (1) member appointed by the Management Steering Committee and one member from each region.

Removes wording from this section. Revised wording is moved to Article XI Representation to AHIMA House of Delegates.

Section 4. Committee Chairmen

The Management Steering Committee shall be responsible for the appointment of Committee Chairmen who in turn are responsible for carrying out the duties required by their assignments as set forth in the FHIMA Policy and Procedure Manual.

The Committee Chairmen may appoint such number of members as necessary to assist them in the performance of their assignments.

Each Committee Chairman shall present a written report to his respective Board Liaison Director five (5) weeks prior to the Annual State Convention. The Board Liaison Directors will verify the report submitted by their Committee Chairmen and submit them to the President three (3) weeks prior to the Annual State Convention, for presentation.

Section 4. Committee Chairmen

~~The Committee Chairmen may appoint such number of members as necessary to assist them in the performance of their assignments.~~

The number of committee members is clarified in the Standing Rules. Removes this reference so it will not conflict with the Standing Rule regarding committee membership.

ARTICLE XI. REPRESENTATION TO AHIMA HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Section 2. Election of Delegates

Only Active members shall be eligible to serve as delegates to AHIMA.

The FHIMA President, AHIMA Delegate, Chief Delegate, President-Elect and immediate Past President at the time of the AHIMA Annual Convention shall be delegates. Nominations of any additional delegates shall be made by the Nominating Committee and election shall be by ballot of Active members. The ballot shall indicate the membership classification of each nominee. A plurality vote shall elect. The Executive Director shall be sent as an alternate if a delegate finds it impossible to serve.

ARTICLE XI. REPRESENTATION TO AHIMA HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Section 2. Election of Delegates

Only Active members shall be eligible to serve as delegates to AHIMA.

The FHIMA President, AHIMA Delegate, Chief Delegate, President-Elect and immediate Past President at the time of the AHIMA Annual Convention shall be delegates. The Executive Director shall be sent as a first alternate if a delegate listed above finds it impossible to serve. If necessary, the non-elected AHIMA Delegate candidates shall be called to serve as alternate delegates in order according to the highest number of votes each received. Nominations of any additional delegates shall be made by the Nominating Committee and election shall be by ballot of Active members. The ballot shall indicate the membership classification of each nominee. A plurality vote shall elect.

Clarifies order of alternate delegates to accurate reflect current practice of the Executive Director serving as first alternate rather than non-elected AHIMA Delegate candidates. This Article conflicted with Article X, Section 2 of the bylaws. Allows for additional alternates as needed.

ARTICLE XII. FHIMA HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Section 2. Election of Delegates

Delegates shall be elected by and from the Active AHIMA members of regional associations. Each regional association of ten (10) Active members or less shall be entitled to two (2) delegates. Regional associations of more than twenty (20) Active members shall be entitled to one (1) additional delegate for each additional twenty (20) members or major portion thereof, but no regional association shall be entitled to more than ten (10) delegates. The apportionment of delegates shall be based on Active membership of the AHIMA on the last day of February of the current year.

ARTICLE XII. FHIMA HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Section 2. Election of Delegates

Delegates shall be elected by or appointed from the Active AHIMA members of regional associations according to regional association bylaws and policies. Each regional association of ten (10) Active members or less shall be entitled to two (2) delegates. Regional associations of more than twenty (20) Active members shall be entitled to one (1) additional delegate for each additional twenty (20) members or major portion thereof, but no regional association shall be entitled to more than ten (10) delegates. The apportionment of delegates shall be based on Active membership of the AHIMA on the last day of February of the current year.

A list of delegates from each region must be submitted to the FHIMA Executive Director by a date to be determined by the Management Steering Committee.

Allows for regions to appoint delegates if necessary. Moves statement regarding list of delegates from Regional Association article to this article since it pertains to the House of Delegates.

ARTICLE XIII. REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Regional Associations who have been recognized by the FHIMA Board of Directors by January 1st shall elect Active members of AHIMA to represent them in the FHIMA House of Delegates. Appointment of and election of delegates shall be as provided in previous section. Active AHIMA members will vote in the region of their FHIMA mailing address.

A list of delegates from each region must be submitted to the FHIMA Executive Director by a date to be determined by the Management Steering Committee.

ARTICLE XIII. REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Regional Associations who have been recognized by the FHIMA Board of Directors by January are eligible to send delegates to the FHIMA House of Delegates meeting. FHIMA has the authority to recognize the existence of regional associations and determine regional association boundaries. shall elect Active members of AHIMA to represent them in the FHIMA House of Delegates. Appointment of and election of delegates shall be as provided in previous section. Active AHIMA members will vote in the region of their FHIMA mailing address.

~~A list of delegates from each region must be submitted to the FHIMA Executive Director by a date to be determined by the Management Steering Committee.~~

Removes references regarding House of Delegates functions. Adds necessary information pertaining to regional associations.