|
|
|
|
AMENDED
BYLAWS OF
SOCIETY OF
REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ADJUSTERS, INC.
ARTICLE I
NAME AND
OBJECT
Section 1.
Name.
This organization shall be known as Society of
Registered Professional Adjusters, Inc. and is hereinafter referred to as
the “Society.”
Section 2.
Object.
The objectives and purposes of the Society shall be
to provide education and experience based criteria for the professional
registration of insurance loss and claims adjusters, Third-Party
Administrators and their supervisors, managers, trainers and/or educators.
Section 3.
Professional Conduct. All members of the Society shall comply with the
Code of Ethics, which shall set out the conduct expected of members. The
Code shall be established and may be amended from time to time by the Board
of Directors by Resolution.
Section 4.
Nonprofit Organization.
The Society shall not be operated for profit, and
its funds may not be used to align with any political body, group or person
to advance the candidacy of any individual.
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1.
Regular Membership.
Any individual who is working as an Insurance
Adjuster, Third Party Administrator or as a supervisor, manager, trainer or
educator of Insurance Adjusters or Third-Party Administrators either (i)
exclusively in the representation of insurance companies and/or self-insured
entities, or (ii) for a not-for-profit insurance industry support
organization, shall be eligible to be considered for regular membership
provided such person satisfies the educational and experience criteria
established by the Society, possesses personal and other qualifications for
membership in the discretion of the Membership Committee, and is not less
than eighteen years of age at the time he or she makes application.
Section 2.
Lifetime and Honorary Membership. The Board of Directors shall have the
power to grant Honorary or Lifetime Membership to Regular Members or other
individuals, based on criteria established by the Board. Honorary and
Lifetime Members shall not have a right to vote, but with that exception,
shall have the same privileges as Regular Members without having to pay dues
or assessments, or maintain continuing CE credits.
Section 3.
Agreement to Honor Bylaws and Rules. Every
member, upon application and as a condition to membership in the Society,
agrees to be bound by these Bylaws, as may be amended from time to time, and
all other rules and regulations of the Society. Further, each member
specifically agrees that in the event he or she no longer qualifies for
membership in the Society, the member will cease to publicly hold himself or
herself out as being a Society member and will cease using the description
“RPA” on letterhead, professional cards, other business literature, or in
any other fashion.
Section 4.
Personal Qualifications. Prior to voting upon each application, the
Membership Committee shall give due consideration to the following
qualifications: (1) the personal character and reputation of the applicant;
(2) the nature, character and reputation of the applicant's business; and
(3) the character and reputation of the applicant's employer and associates.
No person shall be eligible for any class of membership if he or she or it
is a member of or is associated with a person or entity whose objectives,
goals and/or operations are adverse to the purposes of the Society.
Section 5.
Membership Approval. Applications for membership shall be submitted to
the Society at an address designated by the Board of Directors on a
Membership Application Form approved by the Board of Directors. Applications
shall be reviewed and voted upon by the Membership Committee and, if found
satisfactory, submitted to the Board of Directors for approval.
Section 6.
Termination/Sanctions.
a.
Membership in
the Society shall be terminated at the exclusive authority of the board of
directors if a member: (1) fails to pay dues or satisfy any other monetary
obligation to the Society, or (2) fails to obtain the minimum number of
continuing education credits required by the Society or (3) fails to
maintain the personal qualifications that originally qualified the
individual for consideration for membership or commits a violation of the
Code of Ethics, or (4) ceases working as an Insurance Adjuster, Third Party
Administrator, supervisor, manager, trainer or educator of such adjusters or
TPAs either (i) exclusively in the representation of insurance companies
and/or self-insured entities, or (ii) for a not-for-profit insurance
industry support organization, provided however, that the Board of
Directors, in its exclusive discretion, may grant an exception to the rule
in subsection (4) to a member who submits a petition demonstrating good
cause why such exception should be granted.
b.
Upon the recommendation of the Ethical Practices and Grievances Committee,
the Board of Directors may place on probation, censure, suspend, or
terminate the membership of any member. Upon receipt and after initial
review of the circumstances, the Board may temporarily suspend the
membership of any member pending evaluation by the Ethics Practices and
Grievances Committee. Actions requiring referral to the Ethical Practices
and Grievances Committee shall include: (1) falsification or
misrepresentation in an application for membership; (2) conduct in a manner
prejudicial to the good name or best interests of the Society; (3) exhibited
traits of character or conduct inconsistent with the qualifications for
membership; or (4) other questionable conduct. Following an evaluation of
the information by the Ethical Practices and Grievances Committee and upon
its recommendation, the Board shall provide the member in question with due
notice, a hearing and an opportunity to be heard. A majority vote of the
Board in a duly constituted meeting, shall be sufficient to place on
probation, censure, suspend or terminate a member.
Section 7.
Reinstatement. Any former member may be reinstated as a member of
the Society at the discretion of a majority of the Board provided, that: 1)
if such former member was in arrears in the payment of dues or other
financial obligations to the Society at the time of his or her termination,
the former member shall be required to pay to the Society all such arrears
as a condition to reinstatement, unless the Board, by majority vote and for
good cause, shall waive the payment thereof, 2) such former member must have
completed any continuing education requirements that were not completed at
the time of his or her termination, and 3) satisfy any other requirements
that the Board has established by resolution or otherwise (prior to receipt
of the application for reinstatement) for reinstatement.
Section 8.
Membership Dues. The Board of Directors may determine from time to
time the amount of annual dues payable to the Society by its members.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Section 1.
General Powers. The affairs of the Society shall be managed by its
Board of Directors.
Section 2.
Number, Tenure and Qualifications.
The number of
directors shall be between six and twelve as determined by the Board of
Directors from time to time. Directors shall serve three year terms and
shall hold office until the expiration of the director's term of office or,
if later, until his/her successor shall have been elected and qualified.
However, Directors elected in March of 2005 shall be elected for one, two or
three year terms as determined by the Board of Directors; thereafter, terms
for newly elected directors shall be three years. There is no limit on the
number of consecutive terms a director may serve on the Board of Directors.
Section 3.
Regular Meetings. A regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors
shall be held, without other notice than this bylaw, on the first Friday in
the month of March each year at the principal office of the Society or at
such other time and place as the Board of Directors may determine by
appropriate resolution.
Section 4.
Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be
called by or at the request of the president or any two directors. The
person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board may fix
any place as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board called
by them.
Section 5.
Notice. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of
Directors shall be given at least seven days previously thereto by written
notice delivered personally or sent by mail or facsimile to each director at
his/her address as shown by the records of the Society. If mailed, such
notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the
Section 6.
Quorum. A simple majority of the Board of Directors shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the
Board. If less than a majority of the directors are present at said meeting,
a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to
time without further notice.
Section 7.
Manner of Acting. The act of a majority of the directors present at a
meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of
Directors, unless the act of a greater number is required by law or by these
Bylaws.
Section 8.
Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors and
any directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the number of
directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
remaining directors, though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. A
director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term
of his/her predecessor in office.
Section 9.
Compensation. Directors as such shall not receive any stated
salaries for their services but expenses may be reimbursed by resolution of
the Board of Directors, if it decides to do so. Nothing herein contained
shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Society in any
other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 10.
Informal
Action by Directors. Any action required by law to be taken at a meeting
of directors, or any action which may be taken at a meeting of directors,
may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the
action so taken or to be taken, shall be signed by all of the directors
entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.
Section 11.
Election.
The Board of Directors of the Society shall be
elected by a majority vote of the directors then in office.
Section 12.
Indemnification. Each director shall be indemnified by the Society,
to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, against all expenses and
liabilities, including counsel fees, reasonably incurred or imposed in
connection with any legal proceeding to which they may be made a party, or
become involved in by reason of their position as a past or present
director.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1.
Officers. The officers of the Society shall be a chairman of
the board, a president, a secretary, and a treasurer, and such other
officers as may be elected in accordance with the provisions of this
Article. The Board of Directors may elect or appoint such other officers as
it shall deem desirable, such officers to have the authority and perform the
duties prescribed, from time to time, by the Board of Directors. Any two or
more offices may be held by the same person.
Section 2.
Election and Term of Office. The officers of the Society shall be elected
annually by the Board of Directors at the regular annual meeting of the
Board of Directors. If the election of officers shall not be held at such
meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as conveniently may
be. New offices may be created and filled at any meeting of the Board of
Directors. Each officer shall hold office until his/her successor shall have
been duly elected and shall have qualified.
Section 3.
Removal. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of
Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment
the best interests of the Society would be served thereby, but such removal
shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the officer so
removed.
Section 4.
Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death,
resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise may be filled by the
Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term.
Section 5.
Chairman of the Board. The chairman of the board shall preside at all
meetings of the Board of Directors at which he shall be present. He shall
have and may exercise such powers and perform such other duties as are, from
time to time, assigned to him by the Board and as may be provided by law.
The chairman of the board shall have primary responsibility for public
relations and shall automatically be a member of the membership committee.
If there is no president appointed, or to the extent directed by the Board,
the chairman of the board shall perform the duties of the president.
Section 6.
President. The president shall in general supervise and
control the business and affairs of the Society. The president may sign any
deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other negotiable instruments which
the Board of Directors has authorized to be executed, except in cases where
the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board
of Directors or by these Bylaws or by statute to some other officer or agent
of the Society. In general, the president shall perform all duties incident
to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the
Board of Directors from time to time.
Section 7.
Treasurer
.
If required by the Board of
Directors, the treasurer shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of his
duties in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Board of
Directors shall determine. He shall have charge and custody of and be
responsible for all funds and securities of the Society, receive and give
receipts for moneys due and payable to the Society from any source
whatsoever, and deposit all such moneys in the name of the Society in such
banks, trust companies or other depositaries as shall be selected in
accordance with these Bylaws; and in general perform all the duties incident
to the office of treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be
assigned to him by the president or by the Board of Directors.
Section 8.
Secretary. The secretary shall keep the minutes of the
meetings of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that
purpose, see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the
provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law, be custodian of the
corporate records of the Society, and in general perform all duties incident
to the office of secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be
assigned to the secretary by the president or by the Board of Directors.
Section 9.
Indemnification. Each officer shall be indemnified by the Society to
the fullest extent not prohibited by law against all expenses and
liabilities, including counsel fees, reasonably incurred or imposed in
connection with any legal proceeding to which they may be made a party, or
become involved in by reason of his or her position as a past or present
director.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
Section 1.
Standing Committees. The following committees shall be standing full
time committees of the Society:
a.
Constitution and Bylaws.
The duties of this committee shall be
to advise the officers, directors, and members of the Society on matters
pertaining to the Constitution and Bylaws. In the event of proposed changes,
it shall further be the duty of this committee to review and prepare the
proposed changes in a suitable format for presentation to the officers,
directors and members.
b.
Ethical Practices and Grievances.
The
duties of this committee shall be to investigate any and all allegations of
misconduct directed toward members of the Society. Allegations of misconduct
shall include, but not be limited to: (1) criminal offenses; (2) neglect of
duty; (3) violation of the Code of Ethics or other policies or rules of the
Society; (4) conduct that tends to reflect unfavorably on the Society or its
members; and (5) falsification or misrepresentation in an application for
membership. Following the completion of an investigation, the committee
shall forward the results and recommendations in writing to the Board of
Directors for final action.
c.
Membership.
The duties of this committee shall be to promote,
encourage and solicit membership in the Society. The committee shall also be
charged with reviewing applications for membership to determine whether the
applicants meet the criteria for membership, and submitting recommendations
regarding membership to the Board of Directors for approval.
d.
Continuing Education.
The
duties of this committee shall be to establish standards, develop materials,
and oversee programs for the continuing education and training of members.
Section 2.
Other Committees.
Other committees may be appointed by the Board of
Directors as the Board in its discretion deems appropriate.
Section 3.
Term of Office. Each member of a committee shall continue as such
until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the Society and
until his/her successor is appointed, unless the committee shall be sooner
terminated, or unless such member be removed from such committee, or unless
such member shall cease to qualify as a member thereof.
ARTICLE VI
CONTRACTS,
CHECKS, DEPOSITS, FUNDS
Section 1.
Contracts. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or
officers, agent or agents of the Society, in addition to the officers so
authorized by these Bylaws, to enter into any contract or execute and
deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Society, and such
authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Section 2.
Checks, Drafts, etc. All checks, drafts or orders for the payment of
money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the
Society shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the
Society and in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by
resolution of the Board of Directors. In the absence of such determination
by the Board of Directors, such instruments shall be signed by the treasurer
or an assistant treasurer and countersigned by the president or a
vice-president of the Society.
Section 3.
Deposits. All funds of the Society shall be deposited from
time to time to the credit of the Society in such banks, trust companies, or
other depositaries as the Board of Directors may select.
Section 4.
Gifts. The Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the
Society any contribution, gift, bequest or devise for the general purposes,
or for any special purpose, of the Society.
ARTICLE VII
NON-DISCRIMINATION
It is the
policy of the Society to provide equal membership opportunity to all members
and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national or
ethnic origin. The Society expressly prohibits any form of discrimination
based on to race, color, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin.
ARTICLE VIII
BOOKS AND
RECORDS
The Society
shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and shall also
keep minutes of the proceedings of its Board of Directors and committees
having any of the authority of the Board of Directors, and shall keep at its
registered or principal office a record giving the names and addresses of
the members entitled to vote. All books and records of the Society may be
inspected by any member of the Board of Directors, or his/her agent or
attorney, for any proper purpose at any reasonable time.
ARTICLE IX
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal
year of the Society shall begin on the first day of January and end on the
last day of December in each year.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS TO
BYLAWS
These Bylaws
may be amended, altered or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted by a
majority of the directors present at any regular meeting or at any special
meeting, if at least seven days' written notice is given of intention to
amend, alter or repeal or to adopt new Bylaws at such meeting.
The Board of
Directors adopted these Amended Bylaws at its Board meeting on July 28,
2010.
Donna Popow,
Corporate Secretary |
 |
Copyright,©, Society of Registered Professional Adjusters, 2011. World rights reserved./font> |
