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Section 1
Membership
A. The membership of this Association shall consist of Active, Associate, Life, and Retired Members as prescribed herein.
B. All applications for membership in the Association shall be subject to the approval of the Executive Board.
C. The Executive Board shall have the authority to reject or revoke any membership in the Association for cause and such decision of the Executive Board shall be final except upon appeal to the floor of the Conference assembled.
Section 2
Active Member
A. Active Member shall be defined as full-time, part-time, auxiliary, or reserve law enforcement officer of any federal, state, county, or municipal criminal justice agency. This will include youth counselors, correctional officers, and all other full-time crime combating persons including retirees thereby as described above.
B. Applicants for active membership must be in good health in order to be accepted into membership.
C. Applicants for active membership who have passed their fiftieth (50th) birthday shall not be eligible for the death benefit. (See Section 8.)
Section 3
Associate Member
A. Associate Member shall be defined as persons who fully supports the Association’s philosophy, programs, and law enforcement efforts and who shall be approved by the Executive Board of the Association.
B. Applicants for associate membership must be recommended by an active member.
C. Associate Members shall not be permitted to vote during Conference or hold office.
Section 4
Life Member
A. Life Member shall consist of all individuals who have served one complete term as president of the association or an individual who has been a member in good standing for twenty (20) or more years.
B. Life members shall be excused from the payment of dues.
Section 5
Retired Member
A. Retired Member shall be defined as any retired person who would otherwise qualify as an Active Member as described in Section 2.
B. Retired Members shall be entitled to hold any office on the Executive Board.
Section 6
Dues and Assessments
A. The amount of Annual Dues shall be set by the Conference assembled and is due to the Association on or before the membership anniversary date each year. If the dues are not paid within thirty (30) days of the membership anniversary date, the Member shall be delinquent and not in good standing with the Association.
B. Each Criminal Justice Agency that pays the Annual Dues for all its eligible Active Members is entitled to a discount rate of twenty percent (20%). Agencies that participate in the discounted rate must furnish to MLEOA, at the time of payment, a current roster of all its personnel eligible for Active Membership. If an Active Member leaves the employment of a participating agency, their membership benefits will continue until the end of the current year in accordance with Sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the MLEOA Constitution and Bylaws. If additional personnel are added to a participating agency’s roster after payment of dues, the new personnel will not be eligible for MLEOA membership until their dues are paid by the agency or the individual. A participating agency may also elect to pay dues based upon their total manpower allocation as opposed to their actual numbers - any member added, up to the total allocation, will be eligible for membership. It will be the responsibility of the participating agency to notify MLEOA of any new members and to provide their membership application.
Section 7
Death Benefit
A. Death Benefits shall be paid to the designated beneficiary or estate of members of the Association who were members in good standing at the time of their death, except that members who joined the Association after passing their fiftieth (50th) birthday shall not be eligible for the Death Benefit.
B. The Death Benefit shall be paid within thirty (30) days after the Association is properly notified of death. Payment of the death benefit may be delayed if such payment would place the association's financial security in jeopardy.
C. Death Benefits for Active, Life, and Retired Members shall not exceed five hundred ($500) dollars for death by natural causes and one thousand dollars ($1,000) for line-of-duty death.
Section 8
Executive Committee
A. Only Active, Life, and Retired Members are eligible to serve on the Executive Board.
B. Only members who have registered at Conference shall be entitled to vote or be elected to office.
C. Members of the Executive Board, except the Secretary-Treasurer, shall be elected during the annual Conference and begin their term immediately upon the conclusion of the conference.
D. Members of the Executive Board shall have the right to vote on all issues before the Executive Board and such decision shall be final in all matters concerning the Association except upon appeal to the floor of the Conference assembled.
E. The Executive Board shall have the authority to pay for items or services that are reasonable and necessary for the good of the Association.
F. The Executive Board shall perform an annual audit in compliance with regulations of the Mississippi Securities Act and the Charitable Solicitation Act.
G. The Executive Board shall consist of the following Members, to include: one President, one First Vice-President, one Northern District Vice-President, one Central District Vice-President, one Southern District Vice-President, one Secretary-Treasurer, one Northern District Sergeant-at-Arms, one Central District Sergeant-at-Arms, one Southern District Sergeant-at-Arms, one Chaplain, a six member Board of Directors, and all Past Presidents. A quorum shall consist of six (6) members of the current elected officers.
H. The State shall be divided into three districts -- Northern, Central, and Southern. The members of the Association shall elect a District Vice- President and a Sergeant-at-Arms to serve in each District, each of which must reside or work in his or her respective District.
I. Northern District shall consist of the following counties: Alcorn, Benton, Calhoun, Carroll, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clay, Coahoma, DeSoto, Grenada, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, LeFlore, Lowndes, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Oktibbeha, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Tunica, Union, Webster, and Yalobusha.
J. Central District shall consist of the following counties: Attala, Bolivar, Hinds, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Madison, Newton, Neshoba, Noxubee, Rankin, Scott, Sharkey, Sunflower, Warren, Washington, Winston, and Yazoo.
K. Southern District shall consist of the following counties: Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Clarke, Copiah, Covington, Forrest, Franklin, George, Green, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jeff Davis, Jones, Lamar, Lincoln, Lawrence, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, Pike, Simpson, Smith, Stone, Walthall, Wayne, and Wilkinson.
L. Board members are expected to conduct the business of the association and attend called meetings by the president. Board members who do not attend a minimum of six (6) of the called meetings may be removed from office by a majority of the board members and not be eligible for re-election to their current position or any other board position for a period of one (1) year. If a member is removed from office, the president may appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the term which must be ratified by the executive board.
Section 9
President
A. The President shall serve for a term of office of one year but may be reelected to serve a second successive one-year term.
B. The President shall be the presiding officer of the Association and be responsible for convening and presiding over meetings of the Executive Board and Annual Conference.
C. The President may appoint any special or standing committees as necessary, whether or not during Conference assembled or in recess.
D. Vacancies on the Executive Board may be filled through an appointment by the President and ratification by the Executive Board.
E. The President shall present all proposed Resolutions and Constitutional Amendments to the Executive Board for its approval prior to the Annual Conference.
F. The President shall work for the good of the Association, shall present Memorials and Resolutions to the Governor of the State or to the State Legislature when so directed by the Executive Board or Conference assembled, and shall perform other duties as may be directed by the Executive Board or Conference assembled.
G. Past Presidents shall continue to serve on the Executive Board.
Section 10
First Vice-President
A. The First Vice-President shall serve for a term of office of one year but may be re-elected to serve successive one-year terms.
B. The First Vice-President shall, in the absence or temporary disability of the President, act as presiding officer of the Association unless the Association in Conferencen assembled elects a President Pro-Tem.
C. The First Vice-President will automatically succeed to the office of President in the event of the President’s death, disability, resignation, or removal from office, and will serve until elections are held at the next conference assembled.
D. The First Vice-President will advise and assist the President and work under his direction for the good of the Association.
Section 11
District Vice-Presidents
A. The District Vice-Presidents shall serve for a term of office of one year but may be re-elected to serve successive one-year terms.
B. District Vice-Presidents will advise and assist the President and work under his direction for the good of the Association in their respective Districts.
C. District Vice-Presidents shall diligently engage in the recruitment of new members for the Association.
D. District Vice-Presidents shall report to the President anything affecting the welfare of the Association which arises in their respective Districts.
E. If the Association deems it necessary to hold District meetings between conferences, then it shall be the duty of the District Vice-Presidents to convene and preside over such meetings in their respective districts and to present to such meetings any matters of business as directed by the Association, President, and/or Executive Board. All matters brought up at any District meeting must be referred back to the Executive Board for final approval prior to presenting such matters at the next Conference assembled.
Section 12
District Sergeant-at-Arms
A. The District Sergeant-at-Arms shall serve for a term of office of one year but may be re-elected to serve successive one-year terms.
B. The District Sergeant-at-Arms shall advise and assist the President and work under his direction for the good of the Association.
C. The District Sergeant-at-Arms shall maintain order and proper decorum at all meetings, forbid entry to those not authorized to enter, ensure that guests are properly greeted and introduced, and provide any other service that will add to the comfort and well-being of the members and guests.
Section 13
Chaplain
A. The Chaplain shall serve for a term of office of one year but may be re-elected to serve successive one-year terms.
B. The Chaplain shall advise and assist the President and work under his direction for the good of the Association.
C. The Chaplain shall give the Invocation at all meetings of the Executive Board and Conference, and at other times as may be appropriate.
Section 14
Board of Directors
A. The Board of Directors shall consist of six (6) members, three of whom shall be elected at one Conference to serve a two-year term and three shall be elected at the next Conference to serve a two-year term.
B. The Board of Directors shall assist and advise the President and work under his direction for the good of the Association.
Section 15
A. An association member must be present during the conference to be elected to a position on the Executive Board, unless it is an absence excused by the Executive Board prior to the general election. (2023)
Section 16
Secretary-Treasurer
A. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be appointed by the Executive Board, shall serve at the will and pleasure of the Executive Board, and shall receive a salary such as approved by the Executive Board.
B. The Secretary-Treasurer shall furnish a surety bond as directed by the Executive Board and the premium shall be paid by the Association.
C. The Secretary-Treasurer shall receive allowances for travel expenses, lodging and other expenses directly connected with the duties of Secretary-Treasurer.
D. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep the records and minutes of the Association, receive and safeguard all monies due the Association, and keep a just and accurate accounting of the Association monies, properties and membership records.
E. The Secretary-Treasurer shall have the authority to purchase on behalf of the Association such necessary minor items and services as postage, telephone service, stationery, printing, typing assistance, etc. Other expenditures such as computers, office furniture, etc. must be first approved by the Executive Board.
F. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be the custodian of the Official Seal and Records of the Association.
G. The Secretary-Treasurer shall ensure that all pending matters of the Association are brought before the Executive Board and presented to the Conference assembled.
H. The Secretary-Treasurer shall submit to the Conference assembled a report of active members (dues paid), expenditures for the past year, and financial condition of the Association.
I. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep minutes of the conference proceedings.
J. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep a proper record of all members in a database and insure members stay current with their dues.
K. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep a record of each member’s designated beneficiary and shall pay to the member’s beneficiary or member’s estate, the Death Benefit prescribed in Section 7 herein.
L. The Secretary-Treasurer shall cause to be made and presented to the deceased member’s beneficiary an appropriate plaque of which the design and cost shall be determined by the Executive Board.
M. The Secretary-Treasurer shall immediately relinquish to his successor all the Association’s monies, records, financial accounts, properties, etc.
Section 16
Special and Standing Committees
A. The President and/or the Executive Board may appoint and direct Special and Standing Committees to assist the Association in accomplishing its goals and objectives.
Section 17
Proposed Resolutions and Constitutional Amendments
A. All proposed Resolutions and Constitutional Amendments must be first approved by the Executive Board prior to being presented to the Conference assembled.
B. The Secretary-Treasurer shall cause to be read or distributed during the Annual Conference assembled all proposed Resolutions and Constitutional Amendments.
C. All proposed Resolutions and Constitutional Amendments will be presented for adoption at the final business meeting on the last day of the Annual Conference.
D. If any such proposed Resolution or Constitutional Amendment shall not be given proper motion, then it shall be referred back to the Executive Board for reconsideration prior to the next Conference.
Section 18
Annual Conference
A. The Executive Board will be responsible for selecting the dates, location, and length of the next Annual Conference
B. The Executive Board will notify the members of all information pertaining to the next Annual Conference.
C. The Executive Board will be responsible for visiting potential conference sites to check on: Local Law Enforcement Support, Motels, Restaurants and activities for conference participants.
D. All Activities must be approved by the Executive Board no later than (30) days prior to the Conference.
E. If it becomes necessary to change locations of the next Annual Conference, it shall be the duty of the Executive Board to select an alternative host and location.
Section 19
Official Association Publication
A. An Official Association Publication may be published and mailed periodically to each member of the Association.
B. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be responsible for providing to the publisher a current membership roster.
C. The Official Association Publication shall contain articles and information dedicated to the interest of law enforcement and the Association. The publisher shall publish any articles submitted by the Secretary-Treasurer that may be of interest to law enforcement or the Association.
Section 20
Conference Proceedings
The proceedings of the Annual Conference shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order and shall be as follows:
1. Meeting called to order by the President.
2. Invocation by the Chaplain.
3. Pledge of Allegiance
4. Address.
5. Introduction of Members and guests.
6. Presentations and communications.
7. Old or unfinished business.
8. New business.
9. Election of officers.
10. Closing comments.
11. Adjournment.