Section 1: The name of the organization shall be: "The Alabama Association of Rescue Squads, Incorporated", and shall hereinafter be referred to as the "Association".

Section 1: The objectives of the Association shall be as follows:

(1) To promote a better understanding between the various life saving and rescue units, the general public, and the State of Alabama.

(2) Increase efficiency through education and personal contact through holding conventions and contests and through a publication dealing with the subjects of interest to all rescue units in Alabama on life saving, first aid, and all other emergency services.

(3) To establish life saving and first aid work in the State of Alabama on a basis comparable to that of other organizations whose work is statewide in character.

(4) To foster a program of accident prevention throughout the State of Alabama.

(5) To give rescue units in Alabama exact information pertaining to equipment and manpower which would be available to any unit in the event of major catastrophe or calamity beyond the power of a single unit to satisfactorily handle.

(6) To cooperate in, foster, and conduct research designed to advance the science and art of rescue and first aid work, and to encourage the standardization of practice and equipment, when such standardization is found to be practicable.

(7) To develop and maintain a code of high ethical standards among rescue and first aid personnel.

(8) To bring together in a common Association all organizations and individuals in the State of Alabama interested in the aforementioned objectives.

Section 1: Membership in the Association shall be open to any organization or individual supporting and sustaining the objectives set forth in Article II of this Constitution and conforming to the requirements hereinafter set forth in the By-Laws.

Section 2: Application for membership in the Association shall be made in writing on the regular application form provided by the Association. Approval of all applications shall be prescribed in the By-Laws.

Section 1: The officers of the Association shall be: President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, and Executive Secretary-Treasurer.

Section 2: The Board of Directors of the Association shall consist of the President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, and one (1) Director from each affiliated rescue unit. Each unit Director is elected by the unit. Unit Director may also serve as an Association official.

Section 3: All officers shall be elected by ballot at the annual convention and shall assume the duties of their respective offices on the first day of January following the annual convention.

Section 4: The Executive Secretary-Treasurer will be an appointed position based on the recommendation from the Executive Committee and Nominating Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.

Section 1: The Association shall meet in convention once each year.

Section 1: Proposed amendments to this Constitution must be submitted in writing, by an affiliated unit member through its Director, to the Resolutions Committee prior to the opening of the annual convention. A two-thirds vote of the membership present and voting in convention shall be required for the adoption of an amendment to this Constitution.

Section 1: President:

(1) He shall preside at all meetings of the Association and the Board of Directors.

(2) He shall be directly responsible for the performance of the work entrusted to the Vice-Presidents, Executive Secretary-Treasurer and Lawyer.

(1) In the event any officer is unable to complete their term, a special election will be held at the next quarterly meeting immediately following the vacancy of said office. A Board of Directors meeting will be held at which time the nomination committee will report on it’s recommendations. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor. In the event more that one nomination is received, voting will take place immediately following the Board of Directors meeting. The results will be announced during the General Business meeting. The newly elected officer will assume the position immediately to complete the term.

Section 1: The Board of Directors:

(1) Each unit member shall notify the President and/or Secretary-Treasurer 15 days prior to first quarterly meeting to be held during a calendar year giving the name and address of the elected Director to represent the unit for the coming year and also state that the elected Director is authorized to vote proxy of that unit in all matters of business coming before the Board of Directors or general business meeting, or annual convention for action.

(2) Directors shall hold office for a period of one (1) year.

(3) Directors shall be eligible for re-election.

(4) The Board of Directors shall only have the authority to make recommendations to the general business meeting in any and all cases except emergencies.

(5) The Board of Directors (in case of emergencies) shall have charge of the interest and all affairs of the Association. They shall have the power, authority, rights, and privileges to do any and all acts which the members of the Association might do pertaining to the affairs of the Association which must be handled between quarterly meetings.

(6) Special board meetings may be held when called for by the President or upon written demand of three members of the Board of Directors. At such time, date, and place as designated by the President or said three members calling the meeting.

(7) At every such meeting, each Director shall be entitled to cast one (1) vote on each matter of business.

(8) A majority of the members of the Board of Directors present at all regular or called special board meetings shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the Board.

(9) No person shall serve on the Board of Directors of the Association unless he is an active member, in good standing, of the Association.

Section 2: The Alabama Association of Rescue Squads name shall not be used by any member for personal gain, nor in any other manner, except as specifically approved by the Board of Directors.

Section 1: Application for membership in the Association shall be received by and under the supervision of the Membership Committee.

Section 2: Active Membership: The active membership of the Association shall consist of those actively engaged in rescue, life saving, first aid, and emergency services work.

(1) Unit(s) membership shall consist of squads, crews, brigades, corps, etc., operating in limited areas.

(2) Individual membership shall consist of those individuals actively engaged in rescue and first aid and emergency services movements and who are members of Association unit members.

Section 3: Associate membership: The associate membership shall consist of those individuals or concerns who manufacture or sell rescue or first aid equipment or supplies or who are otherwise interested in financially supporting the Association.

Section 4: The requirements for admission shall be as follows:

(1) Units applying for membership shall submit acceptable evidence of adequate organization, trained membership, and equipment as required by minimum list approved by Association, and proper provisions for meetings and acceptance of calls.

(2) Effective January 28, 1968, all unit applications for membership in the Association which are received from rescue units that are situated in counties where other rescue units are current unit members of this Association, the applications for membership shall be handled according to the following procedures, respectively:

(A) Upon receipt of application, the Association Secretary shall immediately notify the person(s) in charge of such unit's which are current member units of the Association. This notification shall be in writing and shall contain the Name of the unit applying for membership, the unit's mailing address, and any other information deemed necessary.

(B) Upon receipt of notification from the Secretary, the current member unit's shall immediately make recommendations in writing to the Membership Committee concerning the acceptance or rejection of the application. Such recommendations must be received by the Membership Committee no later than the next regular scheduled quarterly meeting or annual convention of the Association.

(C) Upon receipt of the recommendations from the current unit members, the Membership Committee shall then make recommendations to the Board of Directors concerning the acceptance or rejection of such application. The recommendations of the Membership Committee shall be presented to the Board of Directors during the next scheduled Board of Directors meeting. The Membership Committee can at its discretion recommend a unit which has been rejected by a current member to the Board of Directors for the Board's consideration.

(D) All unit membership applications subject to the foregoing procedures shall be accepted or rejected by a vote at the general business meeting. A majority shall be constituted as those members present.

(E) Should any unit's request for membership be rejected under the foregoing procedures, such units may request, in writing, a hearing for the purpose of rebuttal. Such a request must be submitted to the Membership Committee and scheduled no later than the next regular quarterly meeting or annual convention of the Association.

(F) The decision of the Membership Committee in granting such a hearing or the decision of the general business meeting after such a hearing has been held, shall be final.

(3) The unit shall accept all regulations of the Association which are in force at the time they apply for membership. Acceptance of these regulations will be by vote of its active members.

(4) Every application for membership must be endorsed by its unit Director and be approved by the Association Membership Committee.

(5) A check for the dues shall accompany application.

(6) A copy of each of the following items shall also be attached to the application for unit membership: List of currently owned equipment, membership roster (give name and mailing address of each member), Constitution and By-Laws, and name of one member to serve on the Association's Board of Directors and an alternate.

Section 5: Regulations concerning dismissal of units and individuals from membership in the Association shall be as follows:

(1) Any unit shall be dismissed from the Association by action of the Board of Directors when it has become known that the unit has ceased to function or has reached a condition rendering it unfit to give the service it claims to offer.

(2) Any unit or individual member shall be dismissed if judged by the Board of Directors to be guilty of behavior unsuitable to such an organization.

(3) Units of individuals failing to comply with the By-laws and Constitution shall automatically suspend themselves from membership in the Association and representation at a Board meeting.

(4) Units officially charged with delinquency not requesting a hearing within 30 days may be temporarily suspended by action of the President until the following Board meeting, upon notification of said action to each unit currently holding membership in the Association.

(5) Any unit charged with delinquency shall have a right to a hearing before the Board of Directors if it so desires.

(6) Any member of the Association who appears in public while representing the Association, or while attending any meeting or gathering of the Association, and, in the three-fourths majority opinion of the Board of Directors of the Association, is under the influence of alcoholic beverages or drugs, shall be immediately dismissed from the Association and said member shall not have recourse to the decision of the Board of Directors.

(7) Any unit or individual member who fails to pay their annual dues within 60 days following the due date shall be automatically dismissed as a member of the Association and re-instatement as a member shall be handled as a new member according to Article III which pertains to membership.

(8) Unit members must be represented at two (2) of the Association meetings each calendar year to maintain active membership. Any unit failing to meet this requirement will be placed on probation for a period of two (2) years, during which time the unit member must be present at two (2) meetings per year during the probationary period to regain active membership. Unit members failing to be represented at two (2) meetings during the probationary period, will be dropped from membership and must file application for membership as a new member if the unit wishes to remain a part of the Association.

Section 1: Active Membership Dues.

(1) Individual dues shall be $15.00 per year, due December 1 of each year.

(2) Unit dues shall be $25.00 per year, due December 1 of each year.

Active unit’s will be assessed a $5.00 late fee for renewal applications not post marked by December 1.

Active units will be assessed a $25.00 late fee for renewal applications not post marked by January 1 of the following year.

New unit’s dues shall be $50.00 due at the time application is submitted to the association.

Members will be allowed one membership card replacement each year at no charge. Additional replacements cards will be $5.00.

Section 2: Waiver of Dues Payment.

(1) The Board of Directors may at its discretion, waive payment of all dues and assessments for any one year.

Section 3: Associate Membership.

(1) Associate individual dues shall be $20.00 per year, due December 1 of each year.

(2) Associate organization dues shall be $20.00 per year, due December 1 of each year.

(3) Individual and organization associate dues shall also be subject to waiver by the Board of Directors.

Section 4: Any expenditures of the Association exceeding $500.00 shall have the prior approval of the Board of Directors. All other expenditures must have approval of the Executive Board.

Section 5: All membership dues shall be due and payable on the first day of December for the coming year.

Association memberships will be accepted during renewal time and during the month of July to be eligible to receive a "RS" tag for the tag year. In the event a squad inadvertently omits a members name during renewals, a letter, indicating the members name and address, signed by the unit secretary, must be sent to the association office with applicable association dues before said member(s) name can be added to the Association’s roster. This procedure does not affect new units that join the Association during the year.

(2) It is requested that all member squads hold their local elections for offices in November for the coming year to coincide with the State Association.

Section 6: The Association Treasurer shall mail a statement of annual dues to all members of the Association at least 30 days prior to due date.

Section 7: The Association shall make available to all individual members, at a nominal fee an official Association shoulder patch to display on their individual uniform. Proceeds from the shoulder patches will be deposited in the Association's treasury.

Section 1: Committees and their duties.

(1) The Membership Committee shall consist of the First Vice-President who is designated as Chairman, and two other members appointed by the President from the active membership of the Association. They shall endeavor to strengthen the membership of the Association, conduct such investigations as is necessary to provide needed information to the Board of Directors concerning active prospective member units, and make recommendations to the Board of Directors for disposal of matters regarding membership.

(2) The Public Relations and Publicity Committee shall carry out a program of favorable publicity.

(3) The Ways and Means Committee shall cooperate with the Board of Directors and perform such duties as may be delegated to it by that body.

(4) The Educational Committee will disseminate information of an educational nature pertaining to safety, life saving and first aid to all members of the Association.

(5) The Resolution Committee shall consist of three members appointed by the President to receive all resolutions presented by the units through their Director and shall after due consideration, report on such resolutions at the third quarterly general business meeting and to be voted on at the annual convention.

(6) The Nominating Committee shall consist of three active members appointed by the President at least thirty (30) days before the date of the annual convention, and they shall present to the convention, nominations for all elective offices of the Association when called for by the President.

Section 1: The Nominating Committee will make its report in August or at the third quarterly meeting.

Section 2: All nominations from the floor for each office will be made at the third quarterly meeting. No nominations will be made at the annual convention.

Section 3: A list of nominees for all offices will be forwarded to all member units immediately following the third quarterly meeting.

Section 4: If member unit is unit member only, unit will have five (5) votes; if member unit is partial member, the unit will have ten (10) votes; if member unit is 100% in membership, the unit will have fifteen (15) votes.

Section 5: Unit's representative will bring unit's consent and cast secret ballot of unit's vote at annual convention.

Section 6: Nominating Committee will count votes and give report at the general business meeting.

Section 7: Unit must have at least one (1) representative present at the annual convention to cast the ballot. There will be no vote by proxy.

Section 1: Conventions shall be held annually to promote the organization in any manner desired.

Section 2: Annual conventions shall be directed and conducted by those officers who have held office for the preceding year and up to that time.

Section 1: Parliamentary procedure of Association meetings and conventions shall be the Robert’s Rules of Order, revised, unless otherwise provided.

Section 1: Any member unit shall have the right to propose an amendment to any Article or Section of the By-Laws to the Board of Directors. Any amendment must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Directors present at regular or special Board of Directors meetings to become effective.

Section 2: Amendments shall become effective immediately upon approval of the membership of Directors and notification shall be forwarded to each unit member in the Association.

Section 3: The term, Secretary-Treasurer as it appears in various sections of the Association By-Laws, shall be changed to Executive Secretary-Treasurer as amended in Article 1 Section 4 in Convention on the 21^st day of November, 1998.

The effective date of said changes shall be immediately upon its passage.