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Neuman Systems Model |
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By-Laws of
ARTICLE l – ORGANIZATION
The Neuman Systems Model Trustees Group, Inc., founded by Betty Neuman, PhD, RN, FAAN, author and theorist, shall be known as Neuman Systems Model International, (NSMI). NSMI is a non-profit organization comprised of educators, administrators, researchers and practitioners from many countries. The organization is represented by the logo
ARTICLE ll – MISSION & PURPOSES
Section 1 Mission The mission of NSMI is to advance nursing knowledge through development and promotion of the Neuman Systems Model (NSM). NSMI is committed to maintaining the integrity and relevance of the NSM to the global nursing community and the global health care community.
Section 2 Purposes The purposes of the organization are to:
ARTICLE lll – OFFICIAL ADDRESSES
The official mailing addresses for NSMI shall be the specific addresses of the active trustees who govern the organization and Betty Neuman. These addresses can be found on the official web site under the header TRUSTEES.
The official web site shall be: www.neumansystemsmodel.org.
Archival materials, Neuman and Trustees publications, theses and dissertations can be located at the Barbara Bates Center of the Study of the History of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing Claire M. Fagin Hall, Room 2011 U 418 Curie Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19104-4217
These addresses may be changed as needed by action of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE lV – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 Trustees
A. There will be an indeterminate number of active trustees deemed necessary to conduct the business of the organization.
B. Trustees shall be named by Betty M. Neuman or nominated and approved by active trustees.
C. Trustees are selected and retained on the basis of their past and current contributions toward the use, evaluation, testing and advancement of the model in education, practice, administration and research in health care, and their willingness to be fully involved and a dues paying member of the Neuman Systems Model International as described in these bylaws.
D. Candidates elected as trustees will be acknowledged at the symposium and in Neuman Systems Model media publications and web site.
E. Duties of Trustees
1. Active Trustees
a. Active involvement with the model, fulfilling one or more purposes of the organization.
b. Active participation in the business decisions of the organization as demonstrated by · Attending at least one trustee meeting every two years. · Voting on business issues viva voce, or by proxy on issues stated in writing and mailed 60 days in advance to membership. · Responding to the printed and spoken criticisms through intelligent and scholarly analysis of the work(s). · Serving as consultants, advisors, mentors, and facilitators toward the ongoing development and utilization of the Neuman Systems Model. · Paying annual dues thus indicating a desire to continue active status.
c. Trustees who cannot fulfill active duties will be requested by the President to accept a change in status to become an inactive or former trustee.
2. Inactive Trustees
a. Trustees may be granted inactive status with the option to return to active status provided there is a vacancy, the criteria for membership are evident, and pending approval of the trustees.
b. Inactive trustees will pay full trustee dues.
3. Former Trustees
Trustees who no longer pay trustee dues are changed to former trustees and are listed with their dates of service. F. Decisions of the organization will be made by active trustees. All active and inactive trustees will be informed in writing of the outcome of decisions. 1. Inactive and former trustees may be called on an ad hoc basis to serve a particular function of the organization. 2. Termination for Cause Any Trustee upon a two-thirds vote of all trustees in good standing may be terminated from membership for any cause which the Neuman Systems Model International may deem as reasonable. The trustee who is the subject of such action shall be given an opportunity to be heard by the trustees before any action is taken. Section 2 Members A. Members voluntarily join by completing a membership form and paying member dues. B. Members shall participate in the various activities and committees set up by the trustees to further the goals of the organization. C. Members may attend the biennial business meeting with voice but without vote. D. Members are encouraged to apply to serve as a trustee when there is a vacancy.
ARTICLE V – MEETINGS Section 1 Organization Meetings The regular meeting of the organization shall be held once every two years on a date and at a place established by the Active Trustees. Such regular meeting dates and meeting location shall be announced one year in advance. Section 2 Trustee Meetings A. The Trustees shall meet annually, with a meeting held in conjunction with the scheduled organization meeting and an Interim Meeting of Trustees held once every two years between the regular meetings. B. Meetings may be conducted electronically. Section 3 Special Meetings Special meetings of this organization may be called by the Officers/Directors when they deem it for the best interest of the organization. Notices of such meetings shall be mailed to all members at least 60 days before the scheduled date set for such special meetings. Such notice shall state the reasons that such a meeting has been called, and the business to be transacted at such a meeting. No other business but that specified in the notice may be transacted at such special meeting without the unanimous consent of all present at such meetings. Section 4 Quorum A simple majority of active Trustees shall be necessary to conduct business of this organization. ARTICLE Vl – VOTING
The election of Officers shall be conducted by written ballot (which may include electronic format) in the fall of even numbered years. Other votes shall be taken viva voce in face-to-face meetings or by written format in electronic meetings. A simple majority vote of Trustees present shall be required for conducting business with the following exceptions. A two thirds majority vote of all active Trustees shall be required for approval of questions related to maintaining the integrity of the Neuman Systems Model. Betty Neuman will hold the final decision on any model diagram changes. A two thirds majority vote of all active Trustees shall be required for a candidate to be accepted as a Trustee or for a Trustee to be terminated for cause.
In case of a tie vote, the chair shall call a second vote. In the event the second vote results in an equality vote, the resolution shall be lost. The meeting chairperson shall appoint tellers to inspect the ballots and tally the results for all votes conducted by ballot. The tellers shall certify the results in writing to the chair with a copy to be affixed to the minutes. No teller shall be a candidate for office.
ARTICLE Vll – OFFICERS Section 1 Executive Committee
The Officers of the organization shall be as follows: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and the immediate Past President. These Officers will constitute the Executive Committee of the Board of the organization who will meet at least once a year on behalf of the membership. Such meetings may be held by teleconference, satellite systems or other communication networks as deemed appropriated by the President. The term of office shall be for a two year period unless otherwise specified with no Officer serving more than two consecutive terms in the same position. Officers shall by virtue of their office be members of the Executive Committee of the Board. No Officers shall for reason of the office be entitled to receive any salary or compensation, but nothing herein shall be construed to prevent an Officer from receiving any compensation from the organization for duties other than as an officer or director. At the end of the term of office the immediate Past President will automatically assume a position on the Executive Committee of the Board for one biennium and assume the chair of the Nominating Committee. Section 2 President The President shall preside at all meetings, and by virtue of the office, be chair of the Executive Committee of the Board. The President shall be present at each meeting of the organization, write a biennial report of the organization, appoint all committees, and see that all books, reports and certificates as required by law are permanently housed in the NSM Archives. Section 3 Vice-President The Vice-President shall in the event of absence of the President become Acting President of the organization with all the rights, privileges and powers as if she/he had been the duly elected President. The Vice-President shall ascend to the position of President at the end of the term of office. Section 4 Secretary
The Secretary shall keep the minutes and non-financial records of the organization, maintain a mailing list data base of Trustees and Members, be the official custodian of the records and seal of the organization, present to the membership and Board any communication addressed to the Secretary, attend to all correspondence of the organization, and exercise all duties incident to the office of Secretary.
Section 5 Treasurer The Treasurer shall keep the financial records of the organization, have the care and custody of all monies belonging to the organization, present to the Officers who shall sign checks/drafts of the organization, render a written account of the finances which will be affixed to the minutes and exercise all duties incident to the office of Treasurer. The Treasurer will designate one other active Trustee to be authorized to sign checks/drafts. An internal review of the NSMI will be conducted biennially. ARTICLE Vlll –EX-OFFICIO OFFICER Betty M. Neuman shall hold a lifetime position as Ex-officio Officer with voting privileges. Dr. Neuman’s role in this position shall be to advise and consult with the organization on matters of organizational business. Dr. Neuman shall by virtue of her action of incorporating the Neuman Systems Model Trustees International, Inc. be an Ex-Officio Officer who serves on the Executive Committee of the Board.
ARTICLE lX – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The business of the organization shall be managed by an Executive Committee of the Board consisting of the Officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, immediate Past President, and one Ex-officio Officer (Dr. Neuman). The Executive Committee of the Board shall execute decisions of the Neuman Systems Model International, Inc. and conduct of the Trustees Group between meetings. Such Executive Committee of the board shall only act in the name of the organization when it shall be regularly convened by its chair after due notice to all the Executive Committee of the Board members on such meetings. Sixty percent (three of five) of the Executive Committee of the Board constitutes a quorum. The meetings of the Executive Committee of the Board shall be held regularly at least once per year. Each member of the Executive Committee of the Board shall have one vote and such voting may not be done by proxy, but may be done by electronic/telephone networks. The Executive Committee of the Board may make such rules and regulations as deemed necessary to conduct the business of its meetings. Vacancies during a term of office on the Executive Committee of the Board of an Officer shall be filled by a vote of the majority of the remaining members of the Board for the balance of the term. Officers shall be members in good standing.
ARTICLE X –SALARY The Executive Committee shall hire and fix the compensation of any and all employees which they, in their discretion, may determine to be necessary in the conduct of the business of the organization. ARTICLE Xl – STRUCTURE Section 1 Executive Committee There shall be an Executive Committee comprised of Officers, Committee Chairs, and the Immediate Past President. The Immediate Past President shall chair the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall lead NSMI to support and extend the efforts of Betty Neuman through scholarly and creative works. Section 2 Standing Committees A. To ensure that the mission and purposes of NSMI are achieved, committees shall be appointed by the President with the following responsibilities: 1. The Committee on Operations and Fiscal Affairs shall include the Treasurer and two or more Trustees. This committee shall · Provide for uniform reporting of fiscal assets · Oversee the fiscal management of NSMI assets · Develop and maintain the use of uniform bookkeeping and financial reporting forms · Coordinate financial aspects of planning the Symposium.
2. The Committee on Knowledge and Information Dissemination shall include at least four Trustees. The committee shall maintain a comprehensive NSM bibliography and maintain the website. 3. The Committee on Bylaws and Archives shall include the Secretary and one or more Trustees. This committee shall · Maintain the records of NSMI · Maintain a current copy of the Bylaws · Serve as a liaison with the Curator for the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, where the Neuman and Trustees archives are housed. 4. The Committee for Symposium Planning shall include the Vice President and three or more Trustees. This committee shall plan and coordinate international forums to update and apprise the professional community of work related to the NSM. 5. The Committee on Research and Theory Development shall include the Vice-President and three or more Trustees. The responsibilities are to
a. Engage in the continuing development and evaluation of the NSM through contributions of nurses and other health care professionals worldwide.
b. Educate nurses and the health care community about the NSM and its applications.
c. Support and extend the efforts of Betty Neuman through scholarly and creative works, including evaluations of applications of new Trustees. 6. The Nominating Committee shall be chaired by the immediate past president. The Nominating committee will prepare a ballot of members willing to hold an office, distribute the ballot, oversee the returns, report to the Trustees on the outcome of the election and disband following the completion of these tasks. The Nominating committee shall prepare and distribute the ballot 60 days before the appointed election date. The chair of the Nominating committee will issue a call for nominations of new Trustees six months in advance of the interim meeting. The call will include number of trustee openings, submission date for nomination, a copy of new trustee guidelines, and an evaluation form. Nominees will be voted on at the Interim meeting and take office at the next symposium. B.All committee members of this organization and their term of office shall be for a period of two years unless otherwise designated by the President at the time of appointment. ARTICLE Xll – ARCHIVES
The Archives for Neuman documents, publications, theses, dissertations and Trustee meetings, publications, and symposia is located at the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of the History of Nursing, School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Finding Aids targeted to the items in the collection are available on line at http://www.nursing.upenn.edu/history in 2012 for researchers. One Trustee will work collaboratively with the Curator of the Barbara Bates Center in an advisory capacity. All papers and documents that directly demonstrate historical development of the model are included. Select Neuman memorabilia and artifacts are housed in the Department of Nursing, Neumann University. ARTICLE Xlll – DUES Dues shall be set biennially by the Trustees for all categories of membership, and may be waived at the discretion of the Executive Committee of the Board for exceptional circumstances at the request of the Trustee or Member. Dues shall be the same for active and inactive Trustees, and shall be payable yearly on the 10th of January. Dues for Members shall be paid biennially on the membership anniversary date. ARTICLE XlV – AMENDMENTS (To be revised by Bylaws Committee. BF) These Bylaws may be revised or repealed by an affirmative vote of two thirds of all active Trustees. Bylaws Revised 4/21/05, 2/15/07, 2/17/07, 6/5/08, 6/2/09, 6/13/10 |
