A CALIFORNIA NON-PROFIT CORPORATION SERVING THE FORENSIC SCIENCE COMMUNITY SINCE 1937
ARTICLE 1
The name of this Association shall be “The SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF FINGERPRINT OFFICERS,” (hereinafter “Association” or “SCAFO”) which shall be incorporated under and by virtue of the laws of the State of California, as a non-profit corporation, and is formed for the following purposes:
To raise the standard and promote the dignity of the Identification Profession.
To contribute scientific knowledge to law enforcement investigation.
To assist in the prevention of crime.
To promote the welfare of the public through identification programs.
To gain further knowledge of the equipment, facilities, and assistance available or in use by the various governmental and law enforcement agencies in Southern California so that each officer may have confidence in being able to obtain the answer to any problem through mutual cooperation.
To increase the efficiency and accuracy of the work of its individual members by bringing to their attention improvements of methods, techniques, and equipment in the field of identification.
To promote the social and professional relationship of all persons engaged in any type of scientific identification and investigation work.
To increase the value of our relationship by recognizing and promoting the desirable personal uplift that is derived from good fellowship.
ARTICLE 2
ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP
The active membership of the Association shall be confined to those tax-paid law enforcement officers and tax-paid civilian employees of law enforcement agencies who, at the time of their election to membership, are employed in law enforcement and whose duties include fingerprint identification, forensic photography, and/or scientific investigation.
Any Member who becomes inactive and remains in inactive status for two consecutive years, shall be required to start the application process from the beginning and all previous years towards Life Membership shall be forfeit.
CHANGE OF DUTIES
An active member’s status shall not be affected should he/she be transferred to duties of a different nature in his/her department, or leave of service by retiring or in the interest of National Defense.
SEVERANCE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT
Those active members who have honorably severed their connection with law enforcement agencies may remain Active Members regardless of their subsequent employment, provided said employment is in conformity with the rules of conduct as defined in Article 8.
HONORARY MEMBERSHIPS
Honorary Memberships may be conferred on Judges, Sheriffs, Chiefs of Police, Heads of Law Enforcement Agencies, Wardens of State Prisons, District Attorneys, Present and Past Presidents of the California State Division International Association for Identification, and other qualified individuals selected by a majority of the Executive Committee.
Upon admission to Membership they shall enjoy all rights and privileges of Active Members except that they shall not be entitled to vote or be elected to the Executive Board.
No fees shall be charged to Honorary Members, and their membership shall remain in effect as long as they hold any of the qualified positions. Any Honorary Member having the qualifications, and wishing to do so, may become an Active Member.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
All reputable persons fully or partially engaged in or supplying equipment for the various segments of the science of Forensic Identification and Investigation, and who are not qualified for Active Membership, are hereby eligible to become Associate Members. They shall, in all respects, be subject to the same rules, fees, and charges and shall be entitled to the same rights as an Active Member, except that they shall not be entitled to vote or be elected to the Executive Board. The annual membership dues for Associate Members shall be in conformance with provisions set forth in Article 6 of these Bylaws.
LIFE MEMBERSHIP
A Life Membership shall be granted to all Past Presidents, to recipients of the Charles W. Wolford Award, and to Active Members of the Association who have paid their annual dues for the past twenty-five consecutive years. A membership card bearing the inscription “Life Member” shall be issued to all such members and they shall enjoy the same rights and privileges as Active Members. They shall receive the newsletter and remain on the current membership roster and shall be exempt from the payment of annual dues.
DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS
Any Active Member, or Life Member, in good standing who meets the following requirements may apply to the Executive Board for Distinguished Member status.
Requirements:
Five years of continuous paid membership.
50% meeting attendance for each of the five years preceding the application for Distinguished Member status.
Attendance at three Association annual training conferences.
Past speaker at an Association meeting/conference and published an original article in the Association publication or have done either one twice.
All applicants, upon approval by the Executive Board, will be presented a membership certificate designating the applicant as a Distinguished Member.
ARTICLE 3
ELECTED OFFICERS
The elected officers of the Association shall be:
President
First Vice President
Second Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Sergeant-at-Arms
Directors (4)
Historian
Editor
Eligibility to hold office shall be restricted to Active Members in good standing only.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive Board shall be comprised of the Elected Officers, the immediate Past President, the Webmaster and the Parliamentarian. Executive Board meetings are “closed” and shall be at times and places selected by board members and shall be presided over by the Past President, or, in his/her absence by the President.
TENURE
The President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, and Sergeant-at-Arms shall be elected for a term of one year. The Secretary, Treasurer, Four Directors, Historian and Editor shall be elected for a term of two years. Two Directors shall be elected at each election, thus alternating two Directors each year.
REMOVAL FROM THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
The President, with the approval of a majority vote of the Executive Board and the Active Members present at a regular meeting, may remove from office, an elected officer who fails to act for the good of the Association.
NOMINATIONS
Only members of the Association who are Active Members and Life Members in good standing shall be eligible for election to the elected offices of the Association. Nominations, election, and installation dates shall be determined by the Executive Board at the January Board Meeting. Only Active Members and Life Members in good standing may vote at the elections. Letters of Intent to run for an office shall be submitted to the Parliamentarian by September 1st in the year the election is to be held; this will allow the Parliamentarian to consult with the Executive Board as to the whether the individual is in good standing so that their intent can be provided to the Membership on the Association’s website.
Good standing shall be defined as:
Membership rights are not in suspension, either because of current dues delinquency, disciplinary proceedings or by operation of some specific provision in the bylaws of the organization, and previous membership has not been inactive in the last two years, and
has attended at least three scheduled bi-monthly training meetings in the last twelve months.
Eligibility for inclusion on the current membership roster shall be contingent upon the payment of annual dues set by a vote of the Executive Board as determined by the assessment of Association costs. Such annual dues shall by payable at the first of November for the subsequent year and shall be delinquent on the first of January of that year.
Delinquent members shall be dropped from the current membership roster until the annual dues and a fifteen-dollar ($15.00) reinstatement fee is paid. Any member that has not paid their dues and reinstatement fee by March 31st of the current year will be considered ‘inactive.’ Their past payment history will no longer apply towards a Life Member status.
Past-Presidents and Life Members shall be exempt from the annual dues but need to mail their dues notices to the Secretary, to keep addresses up to date.
OATH OF OFFICE
The newly elected Officers shall be collectively administered the following oath of office at the time of their installation. The oath shall be given by a Past President or Active Member as designated by the outgoing President.
“I, (state your name), do hereby acknowledge the faith and trust exhibited by the membership in electing me to office, I hereby promise that as a member of the Executive Board, I will execute the duties of my office to the best of my abilities in guiding this Association toward fulfillment of its goals.”
MEETINGS
The meetings of the Association shall be conducted according to the current Policy and Procedures established by the Executive Board. An annual Executive Board meeting shall be held each January. The meeting shall be chaired by the immediate Past President who shall hold the title of Chairperson.
Special meetings shall be called by the President on his/her own motion or by request of a majority of the Executive Board or upon written request of ten members of the Association. The reason for the special meeting shall be stated on the notice of the special meeting.
A notice of the special meeting shall be sent to each member, and only the business as stated in the special meeting notice shall be transacted at the special meeting. All membership meetings are open unless announced “closed” by special vote of the Membership or by vote of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE 4
QUORUM
Fifteen Active Members in attendance, which includes at least six elected officers, shall constitute quorum at all regular meetings of the Association. Six elected officers shall constitute a quorum at all Association Executive Board meetings.
ARTICLE 5
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
The immediate PAST PRESIDENT shall preside as the chairperson at all Executive Board meetings and he/she shall be an advisor to the President and provide any assistance and counsel to the Association that the Chairperson deems necessary and appropriate.
The PRESIDENT shall preside at all regular and special meetings. He/she shall appoint all committees and perform such other duties as pertain to his office. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The FIRST VICE PRESIDENT shall assume the duties of the President during the absence of the President and shall be chairperson of the Membership Committee and perform such other duties as are necessary for the proper performance of his/her office. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers, and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The SECOND VICE PRESIDENT shall assume the duties of the President during the absence of both the President and the First Vice President. He/she shall assume the duties of any other officer during their absence and perform such other duties as are necessary for the proper performance of his/her office. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The SECRETARY shall keep an accurate written record of the proceedings of all meetings, issue notices of regular and special meetings, issue other notices which may be required from time to time and perform such other duties as are necessary for the proper performance of his/her office. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The TREASURER shall keep an accurate accounting of all monies belonging to the Association, shall collect the fees and other monies due, shall pay all bills contracted and approved by the members, shall prepare an annual financial report for the calendar year of his /her tenure and submit the annual financial report one week prior to the January Executive Board meeting. The Treasurer will submit the Executive Board’s approved for filing report to the Auditor used by the Association for tax filing purposes both to the State of California and the Internal Revenue Service Agencies. The report will also be presented to the general Membership at the scheduled February bi-monthly training meeting. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers, and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The SERGEANT-AT-ARMS shall maintain order, assist the Treasurer in the collection of assessments, maintain the flags of the Association and present the Association’s flags at the bi-monthly meeting and such other duties as the presiding officer may direct. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The DIRECTORS shall attend to such matters as may be, from time to time, referred to them by the Association. They will assist the Membership Committee in determining eligibility for membership and shall pass on all applications for membership between the first and second readings. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The HISTORIAN shall search for, collect, and have custody of all items of historical interest to the Association. The Historian shall identify and mark each item, acknowledge the donor of each, maintain an inventory of all materials on hand, and shall advise the Executive Board of new acquisitions and other pertinent matters on a regular basis. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The EDITOR shall publish the official publication of the Association. The publication shall include Association business and information relating to forensic science and investigation. The Editor shall receive all articles and items of interest to the members. The number of issues of the publication to be published annually shall be determined by the Executive Board. The Editor shall advise the Executive Board regarding publication costs and other related issues. The Editor may appoint an Assistant Editor as deemed necessary. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The WEBMASTER shall be appointed by the President. The Webmaster’s duty is to maintain and improve the Association’s website and social media platforms. The Webmaster will edit the website when so directed by the Executive Board. The Webmaster may attend the Executive Board meetings as necessary; as an appointed position, the Webmaster does not vote during Executive Board voting sessions. If the Webmaster is a member, the Webmaster is entitled to all the voting rights associated with members. He/She need not be a member of the Association, although it is generally preferred.
The PARLIAMENTARIAN shall be bestowed upon a Life Member who, in the opinion of the President, is deserving of this title. He/She shall hold this office during the tenure of the appointing President. The Parliamentarian shall ensure that the rules contained in “Robert’s Rules of Order” govern the Association in all applicable cases in which Robert’s Rules of Order are consistent with the Association’s By-Laws. He/she shall assist the President or Presiding Officer in matters relating to such rules at meetings of the Association or the Executive Board. He/she shall receive, evaluate, and submit to the Executive Board any proposed changes or additions to the By-Laws.
ARTICLE 6
ASSOCIATION FUNDS
Eligibility for inclusion on the current Membership Roster shall be contingent upon the payment of annual dues set by a vote of the Executive Board as determined by the assessment of current Association costs. Such annual dues shall by payable at the first of November for the subsequent year and shall be delinquent on the first of January of that year.
Delinquent members shall be dropped from the current membership roster until the annual dues and a fifteen-dollar ($15.00) reinstatement fee is paid. Any member that has not paid their dues and reinstatement fee by March 31st of the current year, will be considered ‘inactive.’ Their previous payment history will no longer apply towards a Life Member status.
Past-Presidents and Life Members shall be exempt from the annual dues but need to mail their dues notices to the Secretary, to keep addresses up to date. A sum may be charged against each member attending a monthly meeting to defray the cost of dinner. Special Assessments not to exceed one dollar ($1.00) per member may be voted by a majority of the members present at a regular meeting.
ARTICLE 7
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
Applicants for membership shall be proposed and vouched for by an Active member who is familiar with the applicant and shall be present at the applicants first and second reading. An applicant wishing to seek membership must have been in their current position with their agency for a minimum of twelve (12) months.
The application shall be referred to the Membership Committee and, if approved, the applicant will be introduced to the Membership by the Sponsor at the time of his/her first reading and the Secretary shall publish this information in the official meeting minutes so that all members are made aware of the name of the proposed member. The applicant shall be accepted, or rejected, by a majority vote of the members present at a regular meeting of the Association.
The applicant shall be present for his second reading, at which time the applicant will be voted upon by the Membership. If there is a lapse of one year after a prospective member’s first or second reading, the prospective member shall reapply for membership. The new member will be sworn-in at the third meeting. The oath of membership shall be administered by the presiding officer or by a Past-President or other Active Member designated by the presiding officer . ~ UNDER REVIEW ~
APPLICATION FEES
A non-refundable application fee, as determined by the Executive Board pursuant to Article 6, shall accompany each application for Active or Associate Membership. The application fee shall serve to meet the costs of the application process.
Once the Membership Committee approves the application, the applicant will pay the yearly Association dues. If the application is presented after the first day of October, the dues shall apply to the following year. If the applicant is rejected by a majority of the Membership at a regular meeting, the dues shall be returned, and the applicant’s name removed from the Association’s official Membership Roster.
OATH OF MEMBERSHIP
“I, (repeat your name), do solemnly promise to personally endorse the purposes of this Association, to attend all meetings when able to do so, to assist any member whenever possible, to investigate and report to the Association any new developments in fingerprinting, in forensic photography, or scientific aid to our work that shall come to my attention. To serve on a committee when requested and to not involve the Association any controversy outside the scope of our work.”
ARTICLE 8
SUSPENSION AND/OR EXPULSION
Members may be suspended or expelled for any of the following reasons:
Conduct detrimental to the good name of the Association.
Professionally unethical conduct.
Dishonesty.
Conviction of a felony.
Any violation of the purposes or objectives of the Association.
Falsification of application or misrepresentation therein.
The suspension and/or expulsion shall be accomplished in the following manner:
Charges shall be preferred at a regular meeting in writing by an Active Member in good standing. These charges shall be referred to the Executive Board for investigation.
The Secretary shall notify the member so charged by registered mail, return receipt requested, of the charges lodged against him/her and the date of the hearing.
The Executive Board shall investigate the charges and report their findings to the membership at the next regular meeting of the Association, at which time the member so charged shall be heard.
In the event the Executive Board is unable to complete the investigation before the next regular meeting, additional time may be granted by a majority vote of the Executive Board members present.
Any Member expelled, or who resigns, from the Association CANNOT be reinstated, be allowed to rejoin as a new member or by any other means become a member in the Association. The membership certificate and the name badge remain the property of the Association and shall be surrendered in the event of separation from the Association by means of expulsion or resignation of a Member as defined in this article.
ARTICLE 9
DUTIES OF MEMBERS
Members shall assist any identification employee, whether a member of this Association or not, whenever possible. All members shall investigate and report to the Association any new developments in fingerprinting, forensic photography, or scientific aids which may come to their attention.
Members shall not, as members of this Association, nor shall the Association as a body, endorse any political candidate, or proposition on any ballot, or any patented process or system, and shall remain free from any political publication issued for the purpose of obtaining funds for any purpose whatsoever from individuals, companies, or firms.
ARTICLE 10
THE CHARLES W. WOLFORD AWARD
A member of the Association may be recognized with an award from the Association for outstanding efforts in promoting our science and/or Association. The award shall be in the form of a plaque and certificate purchased with Association funds by the Secretary or delegate. In addition, the recipient shall be granted a “Life Member” status within the organization and given all privileges as an Active Member.
Suggestions for candidates shall be made in writing, complete with a description of the outstanding effort(s) and submitted to an Executive Board member prior to the conclusion of the August meeting.
The Executive Board shall evaluate the suggestions and determine if, and to whom, the award shall be presented. The presentation of the award shall be at the December meeting prior to the installation of the new officers. The award, established in 1986, shall be known as: The Charles W. Wolford Award.
ARTICLE 11
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended, changed, or altered by two thirds vote of the Active Members present at a regular meeting, provided that the proposed amendment, change or alteration will change the original context of the Constitution or By-Laws, and provided that a period of one (1) month shall have elapsed between the proposal date and the voting date and provided further that the Secretary will ensure that the proposed change(s) shall be distributed through the Association’s official publication known as ‘The Print’ and/or on the Association’s website.
Previous Constitution and By-Laws Revisions: 03.03.1967, 07.07.1967, 05.02.1975, 01.20.1979, 09.09.1989, 10.19.1996, 10.07.2016, 04.07.2018, 07.22.2018, 10.05.2018, 04.13.2019, 01.11.2020, 02.27.2021, 09.01.2021
A CALIFORNIA NON-PROFIT CORPORATION SERVING THE FORENSIC SCIENCE COMMUNITY SINCE 1937
ARTICLE 1
The name of this Association shall be “The SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF FINGERPRINT OFFICERS,” (hereinafter “Association” or “SCAFO”) which shall be incorporated under and by virtue of the laws of the State of California, as a non-profit corporation, and is formed for the following purposes:
To raise the standard and promote the dignity of the Identification Profession.
To contribute scientific knowledge to law enforcement investigation.
To assist in the prevention of crime.
To promote the welfare of the public through identification programs.
To gain further knowledge of the equipment, facilities, and assistance available or in use by the various governmental and law enforcement agencies in Southern California so that each officer may have confidence in being able to obtain the answer to any problem through mutual cooperation.
To increase the efficiency and accuracy of the work of its individual members by bringing to their attention improvements of methods, techniques, and equipment in the field of identification.
To promote the social and professional relationship of all persons engaged in any type of scientific identification and investigation work.
To increase the value of our relationship by recognizing and promoting the desirable personal uplift that is derived from good fellowship.
ARTICLE 2
ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP
The active membership of the Association shall be confined to those tax-paid law enforcement officers and tax-paid civilian employees of law enforcement agencies who, at the time of their election to membership, are employed in law enforcement and whose duties include fingerprint identification, forensic photography, and/or scientific investigation. Any Member who becomes inactive and remains in inactive status for two consecutive years, shall be required to start the application process from the beginning and all previous years towards Life Membership shall be forfeit.
CHANGE OF DUTIES
An active member’s status shall not be affected should he/she be transferred to duties of a different nature in his/her department, or leave of service by retiring or in the interest of National Defense.
SEVERANCE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT
Those active members who have honorably severed their connection with law enforcement agencies may remain Active Members regardless of their subsequent employment, provided said employment is in conformity with the rules of conduct as defined in Article 8.
HONORARY MEMBERSHIPS
Honorary Memberships may be conferred on Judges, Sheriffs, Chiefs of Police, Heads of Law Enforcement Agencies, Wardens of State Prisons, District Attorneys, Present and Past Presidents of the California State Division International Association for Identification, and other qualified individuals selected by a majority of the Executive Committee. Upon admission to Membership they shall enjoy all rights and privileges of Active Members except that they shall not be entitled to vote or be elected to the Executive Board. No fees shall be charged to Honorary Members, and their membership shall remain in effect as long as they hold any of the qualified positions. Any Honorary Member having the qualifications, and wishing to do so, may become an Active Member.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP
All reputable persons fully or partially engaged in or supplying equipment for the various segments of the science of Forensic Identification and Investigation, and who are not qualified for Active Membership, are hereby eligible to become Associate Members. They shall, in all respects, be subject to the same rules, fees, and charges and shall be entitled to the same rights as an Active Member, except that they shall not be entitled to vote or be elected to the Executive Board. The annual membership dues for Associate Members shall be in conformance with provisions set forth in Article 6 of these Bylaws.
LIFE MEMBERSHIP
A Life Membership shall be granted to all Past Presidents, to recipients of the Charles W. Wolford Award, and to Active Members of the Association who have paid their annual dues for the past twenty-five consecutive years. A membership card bearing the inscription “Life Member” shall be issued to all such members and they shall enjoy the same rights and privileges as Active Members. They shall receive the newsletter and remain on the current membership roster and shall be exempt from the payment of annual dues.
DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS
Any Active Member, or Life Member, in good standing who meets the following requirements may apply to the Executive Board for Distinguished Member status.
Requirements:
Five years of continuous paid membership.
50% meeting attendance for each of the five years preceding the application for Distinguished Member status.
Attendance at three Association annual training conferences.
Past speaker at an Association meeting/conference and published an original article in the Association publication or have done either one twice.
All applicants, upon approval by the Executive Board, will be presented a membership certificate designating the applicant as a Distinguished Member.
ARTICLE 3
ELECTED OFFICERS
The elected officers of the Association shall be:
President
First Vice President
Second Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Sergeant-at-Arms
Directors (4)
Historian
Editor
Eligibility to hold office shall be restricted to Active Members in good standing only.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive Board shall be comprised of the Elected Officers, the immediate Past President, the Webmaster and the Parliamentarian. Executive Board meetings are “closed” and shall be at times and places selected by board members and shall be presided over by the Past President, or, in his/her absence by the President.
TENURE
The President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, and Sergeant-at-Arms shall be elected for a term of one year. The Secretary, Treasurer, Four Directors, Historian and Editor shall be elected for a term of two years. Two Directors shall be elected at each election, thus alternating two Directors each year.
REMOVAL FROM THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
The President, with the approval of a majority vote of the Executive Board and the Active Members present at a regular meeting, may remove from office, an elected officer who fails to act for the good of the Association.
NOMINATIONS
Only members of the Association who are Active Members and Life Members in good standing shall be eligible for election to the elected offices of the Association. Nominations, election, and installation dates shall be determined by the Executive Board at the January Board Meeting. Only Active Members and Life Members in good standing may vote at the elections. Letters of Intent to run for an office shall be submitted to the Parliamentarian by September 1st in the year the election is to be held; this will allow the Parliamentarian to consult with the Executive Board as to the whether the individual is in good standing so that their intent can be provided to the Membership on the Association’s website.
Good standing shall be defined as:
Membership rights are not in suspension, either because of current dues delinquency, disciplinary proceedings or by operation of some specific provision in the bylaws of the organization, and previous membership has not been inactive in the last two years, and has attended at least three scheduled bi-monthly training meetings in the last twelve months.
Eligibility for inclusion on the current membership roster shall be contingent upon the payment of annual dues set by a vote of the Executive Board as determined by the assessment of Association costs. Such annual dues shall by payable at the first of November for the subsequent year and shall be delinquent on the first of January of that year.
Delinquent members shall be dropped from the current membership roster until the annual dues and a fifteen-dollar ($15.00) reinstatement fee is paid. Any member that has not paid their dues and reinstatement fee by March 31st of the current year will be considered ‘inactive.’ Their past payment history will no longer apply towards a Life Member status.
Past-Presidents and Life Members shall be exempt from the annual dues but need to mail their dues notices to the Secretary, to keep addresses up to date.
OATH OF OFFICE
The newly elected Officers shall be collectively administered the following oath of office at the time of their installation. The oath shall be given by a Past President or Active Member as designated by the outgoing President.
“I, (state your name), do hereby acknowledge the faith and trust exhibited by the membership in electing me to office, I hereby promise that as a member of the Executive Board, I will execute the duties of my office to the best of my abilities in guiding this Association toward fulfillment of its goals.”
MEETINGS
The meetings of the Association shall be conducted according to the current Policy and Procedures established by the Executive Board. An annual Executive Board meeting shall be held each January. The meeting shall be chaired by the immediate Past President who shall hold the title of Chairperson. Special meetings shall be called by the President on his/her own motion or by request of a majority of the Executive Board or upon written request of ten members of the Association. The reason for the special meeting shall be stated on the notice of the special meeting. A notice of the special meeting shall be sent to each member, and only the business as stated in the special meeting notice shall be transacted at the special meeting. All membership meetings are open unless announced “closed” by special vote of the Membership or by vote of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE 4
QUORUM
Fifteen Active Members in attendance, which includes at least six elected officers, shall constitute quorum at all regular meetings of the Association. Six elected officers shall constitute a quorum at all Association Executive Board meetings.
ARTICLE 5
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
The immediate PAST PRESIDENT shall preside as the chairperson at all Executive Board meetings and he/she shall be an advisor to the President and provide any assistance and counsel to the Association that the Chairperson deems necessary and appropriate.
The PRESIDENT shall preside at all regular and special meetings. He/she shall appoint all committees and perform such other duties as pertain to his office. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The FIRST VICE PRESIDENT shall assume the duties of the President during the absence of the President and shall be chairperson of the Membership Committee and perform such other duties as are necessary for the proper performance of his/her office. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers, and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The SECOND VICE PRESIDENT shall assume the duties of the President during the absence of both the President and the First Vice President. He/she shall assume the duties of any other officer during their absence and perform such other duties as are necessary for the proper performance of his/her office. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The SECRETARY shall keep an accurate written record of the proceedings of all meetings, issue notices of regular and special meetings, issue other notices which may be required from time to time and perform such other duties as are necessary for the proper performance of his/her office. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The TREASURER shall keep an accurate accounting of all monies belonging to the Association, shall collect the fees and other monies due, shall pay all bills contracted and approved by the members, shall prepare an annual financial report for the calendar year of his /her tenure and submit the annual financial report one week prior to the January Executive Board meeting. The Treasurer will submit the Executive Board’s approved for filing report to the Auditor used by the Association for tax filing purposes both to the State of California and the Internal Revenue Service Agencies. The report will also be presented to the general Membership at the scheduled February bi-monthly training meeting. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers, and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The SERGEANT-AT-ARMS shall maintain order, assist the Treasurer in the collection of assessments, maintain the flags of the Association and present the Association’s flags at the bi-monthly meeting and such other duties as the presiding officer may direct. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The DIRECTORS shall attend to such matters as may be, from time to time, referred to them by the Association. They will assist the Membership Committee in determining eligibility for membership and shall pass on all applications for membership between the first and second readings. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The HISTORIAN shall search for, collect, and have custody of all items of historical interest to the Association. The Historian shall identify and mark each item, acknowledge the donor of each, maintain an inventory of all materials on hand, and shall advise the Executive Board of new acquisitions and other pertinent matters on a regular basis. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The EDITOR shall publish the official publication of the Association. The publication shall include Association business and information relating to forensic science and investigation. The Editor shall receive all articles and items of interest to the members. The number of issues of the publication to be published annually shall be determined by the Executive Board. The Editor shall advise the Executive Board regarding publication costs and other related issues. The Editor may appoint an Assistant Editor as deemed necessary. He/she shall, at the end of his/her term of office or upon removal from office, surrender all books, papers and property pertaining to his/her office to the Association.
The WEBMASTER shall be appointed by the President. The Webmaster’s duty is to maintain and improve the Association’s website and social media platforms. The Webmaster will edit the website when so directed by the Executive Board. The Webmaster may attend the Executive Board meetings as necessary; as an appointed position, the Webmaster does not vote during Executive Board voting sessions. If the Webmaster is a member, the Webmaster is entitled to all the voting rights associated with members. He/She need not be a member of the Association, although it is generally preferred.
The PARLIAMENTARIAN shall be bestowed upon a Life Member who, in the opinion of the President, is deserving of this title. He/She shall hold this office during the tenure of the appointing President. The Parliamentarian shall ensure that the rules contained in “Robert’s Rules of Order” govern the Association in all applicable cases in which Robert’s Rules of Order are consistent with the Association’s By-Laws. He/she shall assist the President or Presiding Officer in matters relating to such rules at meetings of the Association or the Executive Board. He/she shall receive, evaluate, and submit to the Executive Board any proposed changes or additions to the By-Laws.
ARTICLE 6
ASSOCIATION FUNDS
Eligibility for inclusion on the current Membership Roster shall be contingent upon the payment of annual dues set by a vote of the Executive Board as determined by the assessment of current Association costs. Such annual dues shall by payable at the first of November for the subsequent year and shall be delinquent on the first of January of that year. Delinquent members shall be dropped from the current membership roster until the annual dues and a fifteen-dollar ($15.00) reinstatement fee is paid. Any member that has not paid their dues and reinstatement fee by March 31st of the current year, will be considered ‘inactive.’ Their previous payment history will no longer apply towards a Life Member status. Past-Presidents and Life Members shall be exempt from the annual dues but need to mail their dues notices to the Secretary, to keep addresses up to date. A sum may be charged against each member attending a monthly meeting to defray the cost of dinner. Special Assessments not to exceed one dollar ($1.00) per member may be voted by a majority of the members present at a regular meeting.
ARTICLE 7
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
Applicants for membership shall be proposed and vouched for by an Active member who is familiar with the applicant and shall be present at the applicants first and second reading. An applicant wishing to seek membership must have been in their current position with their agency for a minimum of twelve (12) months. The application shall be referred to the Membership Committee and, if approved, the applicant will be introduced to the Membership by the Sponsor at the time of his/her first reading and the Secretary shall publish this information in the official meeting minutes so that all members are made aware of the name of the proposed member. The applicant shall be accepted, or rejected, by a majority vote of the members present at a regular meeting of the Association.
The applicant shall be present for his second reading, at which time the applicant will be voted upon by the Membership. If there is a lapse of one year after a prospective members’ first or second reading, the prospective member shall reapply for membership. The new member will be sworn-in at the third meeting. The oath of membership shall be administered by the presiding officer or by a Past-President or other Active Member designated by the presiding officer . ~ UNDER REVIEW ~
APPLICATION FEES
A non-refundable application fee, as determined by the Executive Board pursuant to Article 6, shall accompany each application for Active or Associate Membership. The application fee shall serve to meet the costs of the application process. Once the Membership Committee approves the application, the applicant will pay the yearly Association dues. If the application is presented after the first day of October, the dues shall apply to the following year. If the applicant is rejected by a majority of the Membership at a regular meeting, the dues shall be returned, and the applicant’s name removed from the Association’s official Membership Roster.
OATH OF MEMBERSHIP
“I, (repeat your name), do solemnly promise to personally endorse the purposes of this Association, to attend all meetings when able to do so, to assist any member whenever possible, to investigate and report to the Association any new developments in fingerprinting, in forensic photography, or scientific aid to our work that shall come to my attention. To serve on a committee when requested and to not involve the Association any controversy outside the scope of our work.”
ARTICLE 8
SUSPENSION AND/OR EXPULSION
Members may be suspended or expelled for any of the following reasons:
Conduct detrimental to the good name of the Association.
Professionally unethical conduct.
Dishonesty.
Conviction of a felony.
Any violation of the purposes or objectives of the Association.
Falsification of application or misrepresentation therein.
The suspension and/or expulsion shall be accomplished in the following manner:
Charges shall be preferred at a regular meeting in writing by an Active Member in good standing. These charges shall be referred to the Executive Board for investigation. The Secretary shall notify the member so charged by registered mail, return receipt requested, of the charges lodged against him/her and the date of the hearing.
The Executive Board shall investigate the charges and report their findings to the membership at the next regular meeting of the Association, at which time the member so charged shall be heard. In the event the Executive Board is unable to complete the investigation before the next regular meeting, additional time may be granted by a majority vote of the Executive Board members present.
Any Member expelled, or who resigns, from the Association CANNOT be reinstated, be allowed to rejoin as a new member or by any other means become a member in the Association. The membership certificate and the name badge remain the property of the Association and shall be surrendered in the event of separation from the Association by means of expulsion or resignation of a Member as defined in this article.
ARTICLE 9
DUTIES OF MEMBERS
Members shall assist any identification employee, whether a member of this Association or not, whenever possible. All members shall investigate and report to the Association any new developments in fingerprinting, forensic photography, or scientific aids which may come to their attention. Members shall not, as members of this Association, nor shall the Association as a body, endorse any political candidate, or proposition on any ballot, or any patented process or system, and shall remain free from any political publication issued for the purpose of obtaining funds for any purpose whatsoever from individuals, companies, or firms.
ARTICLE 10
THE CHARLES W. WOLFORD AWARD
A member of the Association may be recognized with an award from the Association for outstanding efforts in promoting our science and/or Association. The award shall be in the form of a plaque and certificate purchased with Association funds by the Secretary or delegate. In addition, the recipient shall be granted a “Life Member” status within the organization and given all privileges as an Active Member. Suggestions for candidates shall be made in writing, complete with a description of the outstanding effort(s) and submitted to an Executive Board member prior to the conclusion of the August meeting. The Executive Board shall evaluate the suggestions and determine if, and to whom, the award shall be presented. The presentation of the award shall be at the December meeting prior to the installation of the new officers. The award, established in 1986, shall be known as: The Charles W. Wolford Award.
ARTICLE 11
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
The Constitution and By-Laws may be amended, changed, or altered by two thirds vote of the Active Members present at a regular meeting, provided that the proposed amendment, change or alteration will change the original context of the Constitution or By-Laws, and provided that a period of one (1) month shall have elapsed between the proposal date and the voting date and provided further that the Secretary will ensure that the proposed change(s) shall be distributed through the Association’s official publication known as ‘The Print’ and/or on the Association’s website.
Previous Constitution and By-Laws Revisions: 03.03.1967, 07.07.1967, 05.02.1975, 01.20.1979, 09.09.1989, 10.19.1996, 10.07.2016, 04.07.2018, 07.22.2018, 10.05.2018, 04.13.2019, 01.11.2020, 02.27.2021, 09.01.2021