Article I: Name
The organization to be governed by this constitution and bylaws shall be known as the Massachusetts Environmental Health Association (MEHA). The Association is an affiliate of the National Environmental Health Association, Inc (NEHA).
Article II: Purpose
The objectives and purposes of this organization should conform to the objectives and purposes of the National Environmental Health Association, Inc. Thereto, this Association holds as its purposes:
- To function as the official body representing the professional sanitarian, registered environmental health specialist, registered sanitarian, all other environmental and public health professionals employed in public, private, corporate or as individuals in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- To promote and foster high standards of attainment for the professional sanitarian, registered environmental health specialist, registered sanitarian, all other environmental and public health professionals.
- To strive for recognition of the professional sanitarian, registered environmental health specialist, registered sanitarian, all other environmental and public health professionals as a member of the professional, administrative, and scientific group engaged in the fields of Public Health and Environmental Health.
- To encourage the employment of qualified professional sanitarians, registered environmental health specialists, registered sanitarians, environmental and public health professionals by governmental units throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- To promote the conduct of educational courses of instruction and schools of training for the purpose of increasing the knowledge and proficiency of the professional sanitarian, registered environmental health specialist, registered sanitarian, all other environmental and public health professionals.
- To concern itself with the welfare, interests, and economic position of the professional sanitarian, registered environmental health specialist, registered sanitarian, and all other environmental health professionals .
- To foster and promote uniformity to public health laws and regulations throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
- To cultivate social interaction among professional sanitarians, registered environmental health specialists, registered sanitarians, and all other environmental health professionals to establish a central body for exchange of ideas and actions.
Article III: Definitions
Section 1. There shall be the following four (4) classes of membership:
General active membership includes any person working as a professional sanitarian, environmental health specialist and/or registered sanitarian or in related educational activities for a public health agency, or in a similar capacity for another organization such as an institution of higher learning, military service or private employer, who are eligible to become active member, subject to confirmation by the Executive Board, and upon payment of appropriate dues.
Retired membership may be conferred upon any association member of five (5) or more years who has or will be retiring, subject to confirmation by the Executive Board.
Student membership may be granted to any student working toward a degree in public health, sanitary science, or environmental health, who has an interest in the Association, upon payment of appropriate dues, and subject to confirmation by the Executive Board.
Honorary membership may be granted to any individual who has supported the goals and mission of MEHA, and subject to confirmation by the Executive Board.
Section 2. The membership year shall be from July 1 through June 30.
Article IV: Finances
Section 1. Annual dues for the various classes of membership in this Association shall be as prescribed by the Executive Board. There are no dues for Honorary Memberships.
Section 2. Dues for all members shall be payable annually.
Section 3. Members who have not paid dues shall be delinquent and membership privileges shall be suspended.
Section 4. All monies of this organization shall be deposited in a bank or banks approved by the Executive Board in the name of the Massachusetts Environmental Health Association (MEHA).
Section 5. Disbursements shall be made only by one of the following persons: President, Vice President, or Treasurer.
Article V: Governance
MEHA shall be governed by the Officers and the Executive Board, which shall determine and execute the policies and activities of this association.
Article VI: Officers
Section 1. Positions
President – The President shall be chairman of the Executive Board, preside at all meetings of the Association, and perform such other duties as may rightfully pertain to the office as stated in these bylaws. The President shall call members and chairs of committees deemed necessary to properly conduct the business of this Association. The Board shall ratify all nominations.
Immediate Past President – The immediate Past President shall make themself available to the President and Executive Board as a resource.
Vice President – The Vice President shall be responsible for coordinating and expediting the work and reports of the several committees and shall assume and discharge the duties of the president in the absence or disability of the President, when called upon by. The Vice President is nominated by the President.
Secretary – The Secretary shall keep a record of all proceedings at each meeting. The secretary shall keep a record of membership (or coordinate record keeping with an Agent assigned by the Executive Board), have charge of all correspondence of the Association, and perform all other duties required of the office.
Treasurer – The Treasurer shall have custody of all monies paid into this Association, shall keep a true and just record of all transactions, and shall deposit all monies in the manner provided in Article IV Section 4 of these bylaws. The Treasurer shall prepare any required tax filings, prepare financial statements and report the Association’s financial condition to the Executive Board prior to each meeting.
Section 2. Term of officers
President: Two (2) year term. May not serve more than one full consecutive term.
Immediate Past President: Two (2) year term after Presidency.
Vice President: Two (2) year term and then becomes President.
Secretary: One (1) year term. May serve more than one term.
Treasurer: One (1) year term. May serve more than one term.
Section 3. Officers shall be any active MEHA executive member, excluding honorary members, for at least three (3) consecutive years prior to taking office, in good standing, and shall remain a member during their term in office. Officers shall be nominated in writing by executive members.
Section 4. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President for any cause other than expiration of term, the Vice President shall fill the position. In the event of a vacancy in any other office for any cause other than expiration of term, such vacancy shall be filled by an appointment of the President.
Section 5. The President with the approval of the Executive Board, may replace Officers and Executive Board members who fail to attend four (4) consecutive meetings without being excused. The new member shall serve the remainder of the replaced individual’s term.
Article VII: Executive Board
Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Past Presidents, and twelve (12) at large members of good standing elected at an annual meeting.
Section 2. At each annual meeting, four (4) of the twelve (12) at large members of the Executive Board shall be elected for a three (3) year term.
Section 3. The Executive Board shall have jurisdiction over matters pertaining to the management, maintenance, welfare, and growth of the organization and in addition thereto shall:
- Establish spending limits by a majority vote.
- Approve one or more depositories for funds of the organization.
- Provide ways and means of financing activities of the Association.
- Act on all applications for membership.
- Fix date and location for regular meetings, special meetings, and annual meeting of this Association.
- The Nominations Committee will select recipients from qualified applicants for the Association’s awards.
- The Scholarship Committee will select recipients from qualified applicants for the Association’s scholarships.
- Perform such other duties as may be delegated to it by the bylaws of this Association.
Section 4. The Executive Board may take action in session or out of session. All actions by the Executive Board in session shall be by majority vote of the members present, and out of session by a majority vote of the members of the Executive Board.
Section 5. Four consecutive unexcused absences from the Executive Board meetings will constitute grounds for removal of a Board member, subject to agreement from the Executive Board and Officers.
Section 6. Annual elections for Open Board member seats will occur by the end of June.
Section 7. Board members shall be persons who have been General Active members of the Association, for at least three (3) consecutive years prior to taking office and shall remain members during their term in office.
Section 8. The Executive Board, at any time, may take a vote of no confidence for any officer position.
Article VIII: Meetings
Section 1. The Association shall hold at least three (3) educational meetings at a time and place determined by vote of the Executive Board. These meetings shall take the form of a conference on matters pertaining to the welfare, interests, and professional education of the membership. The President, Executive Board and Education subcommittee shall arrange the program for these meetings.
Section 2. There shall be at least one annual meeting of this Association that takes place prior to July 1st. Any agenda items should be brought to the President two (2) weeks before the Annual meeting for consideration.
Section 3. Executive meetings should be held at least six times a year (every other month) or more frequently if needed.
Section 4. Special meetings may be called by the President upon written request of ten (10) members.
Section 5. Written notice of each regular, special, and Annual Meeting shall be given to all members at least two (2) weeks before the meeting is to take place.
Article IX: Elections
Section 1. The Nominations Committee shall submit the name of members for each of the elective offices vacant including the Executive Board by March 30.
Section 2. Nominations for all vacancies on the Executive Board Article shall be made in writing one month in advance of the Annual Meeting. Nominations will be made available to members two (2) weeks before the Annual Meeting.
Section 3. Election of officers and members of the Executive Board shall be by voice vote, except when requested by at least ten (10) members; a vote by hand shall be taken.
Section 4. The Secretary shall record the outcome of all elections and shall submit them to the Office of the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Section 5. All officers and members of the Executive Board shall take office on July 1st.
Article X: Committees of the Association
Section 1. There shall be the following standing committees:
Audit/Budget Committee – The Audit/Budget Committee shall consist of at least three (3) Executive Board members nominated by the President and ratified by the Executive Board. The committee shall audit the Association’s financial records and present a report to the Executive Board with its recommendations every January and July.
Awards Committee – The Awards Committee shall consist of at least three (3) Executive Board members nominated by the President and ratified by the Executive Board. At the Annual Meeting, the Awards Committee may submit to the Association membership the name of one worthy person or entity to receive an Association, Yankee Conference, NEHA issued award and scholarships.
Nominations Committee – The Nominations Committee shall consist of the three (3) Executive Board members nominated by the President and ratified by the Executive Board. It shall be the duty of this committee to nominate Executive Board members for vote by the Association membership at the Annual Meeting.
Scholarship Committee – The Scholarship Committee shall consist of the three (3) Executive Board members nominated by the President and ratified by the Executive Board. It shall be the duty of this committee to review scholarship applications and recommend qualifying candidates to receive various scholarships to the Executive Board.
Education Committee – The Education Committee shall consist of the three (3) Executive Board members nominated by the President and ratified by the Executive Board. The Education Committee shall be responsible for promoting educational courses of instruction and training for the purpose of increasing the knowledge and proficiency of sanitarians, registered environmental health specialists, and other environmental health professionals. The Education Committee can appoint subcommittees with the approval of the President. The Education Committee reports to the Executive Board as requested.
Bylaws Committee – The Bylaws Committee shall consist of the three (3) Executive Board members nominated by the President and ratified by the Executive Board. The Bylaws Committee shall be responsible for an advisory role to the President and the Executive Board. The Bylaws Committee shall review the current bylaws and report to the Executive Board with any proposed amendments at a minimum of every 5 years.
Section 2. The President may nominate, and the Executive Board may ratify members to serve on such other committees that may be deemed necessary to properly conduct the business of this Association.
Section 3. Committees must present to the full Board a report, written or oral, at every Board meeting. Committees must also present to the full Board all recommendations for consideration and approval.
Article XI: Amendments
These bylaws may be amended by a vote of two- thirds of the members present at any regular meeting; a copy of the proposed amendments should be made available to each member. A notice of the meeting will be sent at least two (2) weeks before said meeting.
Article XII: Quorum
Section 1. A quorum of the Executive Board should consist of five (5) members.
Section 2. A majority of the committee members shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of that committee.
Section 3. Twenty (20) members present and voting at any regular, special, or Annual Meeting shall constitute a quorum.
Article XIII: Voting
Section 1. Active general members and retired members of the association shall have one vote at any regular, special or annual meeting in which a vote takes place.
Section 2. All actions or suggested changes taken by the Association shall be deemed taken or approved upon a majority vote of the voting members of the Association in writing, or by a vote at an Association meeting.
Section 3. The President shall cast the deciding vote in the case of a tie vote.
Article XIV: Rules of Order
Section 1. Except as otherwise provided by these bylaws, the meetings of this Association and Executive Board shall be governed by the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.
Section 2. The President shall direct the Executive Board to review Robert’s Rules of Order when requested.
Article XVI: Effective Date
These bylaws took effect upon a vote and approval by the Massachusetts Environmental Health Association. These bylaws where accepted and approved by the parties mentioned above on July 1, 2022 and are effective immediately.