• promoting standards of practice
• resource to our membership, promotion of sharing of information and ideas that foster the growth of our profession
• sponsor quality educational programs to enhance our practice of nursing
• liason to the National DDNA for local nurses

Our Bylaws

Minnesota Metro Developmental Disabilities Nursing Association

Article I—Name

Section I

This voluntary, non-political, non-profit organization, developed in the State of Minnesota shall be known as the “Minnesota Metro Developmental Disabilities Nursing Association” and shall be known also by its acronym, “MnMetroDDNA”.

Article II—Purpose

Section I

The purpose of this non-profit mutual benefit network shall be:

            A.  To establish and promote standards for the enhancement of nursing practice in the field of developmental disabilities in Minnesota.

            B.  To serve as a resource for new developments in developmental disability nursing practice and support mutual sharing of information and views which foster the growth of the profession.

            C.  To serve locally as a liaison to other professional organizations that relate to the field of developmental disabilities.

            D.  To sponsor quality educational programs oriented toward an advanced scope of quality developmental disabilities nursing practice.

            E.  To support developmental disabilities nursing certification and renewal.

Article III—Membership

Section I

            A.  Regular membership shall be open to regional registered nurses and licensed practical/vocational nurses, upon completion of the application and payment of dues.

            B.  Membership entitles a member to hold office, serve as chairperson or member of any committee, participate in association meetings, and have a single vote in the election of directors and officers.

            C.  Any member may be suspended or expelled from the MnMetroDDNA by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. Grounds for such action shall include unprofessional conduct, abuse of membership in MnMetroDDNA or violation of the DDNA Code of Ethics.

            D.  Membership in MnMetroDDNA shall be unrestricted by nationality, race, creed, color, sex or disability.

Section II

            A.  Dues will be established by the Executive Committee announced at the annual meeting.

            B.  Charter members, designated as those whose membership was dated no later than May 31, 2004, will enjoy the charter membership dues rate throughout their membership, no matter the raise of other’s dues.

Article IV.—The Executive Committee

Section I

            A.  The MnDDNA Executive Committee shall address the regular business of the association, make policy decisions concerning the MnDDNA, approve the annual budget, chair the regular meetings, approve, modify or disapprove of reports, resolution, or actions of the officers or committees, and communicate to the membership by various means such as by phone, mail, electronic mail, facsimile or telecommunication.

            B.  The Executive Committee shall consist of no less than four voting members.  This includes the position of President, Past President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Section II

            A.  The Executive Committee shall meet in person at least once per quarter.  Each member shall have one vote, and a majority shall decide the matters before the committee.

            B.  In order to conserve travel and telephone costs, single issues matters may be determined by presentation to and voting by, the Executive Committee by mail, electronic mail or facsimile.

            C.  The Executive Committee is vested with legal responsibility of the conduct of all business of the MnMetro DDNA.

            D.  A committee member may be removed for cause.  This shall include, without limitation, the failure to perform the duties of his/her office, failure without excuse to attend meetings, or acting in such a way as to injure the MnMetro DDNA’s reputation or hamper its work. 

            E.  An officer may resign by giving a minimum of thirty days written notice during which time they complete all outstanding duties of the office.

            F.  In the event of a vacancy, the unexpired term shall be filled by appointment by the Executive Committee until the next election of officers.

Article V--- Executive Committee Officers

Section I

            A.  There shall be the following elected officers on the Executive Committee:

                  1.  President

                  2.  Past President

                  3.  Vice President

                  4.  Secretary

                  5.  Treasurer

            B.  These elected officers shall serve as members of the Board of Directors for the association, with the President serving as the Chairperson.

Section II

            A.  An elected officer’s term of office shall be a maximum tenure of six consecutive years in any given office.

            B.  Qualified nominees shall be a member in good standing as of the date of the nomination deadline. 

            C.  Officers are available by electronic mail at the addresses posted on the MnMetro DDNA website.

Section III

            A.  An officer who does not fulfill the responsibilities of that office may be relieved of the office by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. Appointment of a replacement will be made by committee for the remainder of the term. The appointment will be reviewed on an annual basis.

            B.  Any officer who vacated their office before the expiration of the term or in the absence of an appropriate nominee will be filled pursuant to Article V Section 3A of the bylaws.

            C.  The Executive Committee shall by a majority vote appoint a replacement for the president if necessary.

Section IV

            A.  Officers of MnMetroDDNA are not personally liable to the association or its members for monetary damages for conduct as an officer, to the fullest extent allowed by law.

            B.  MnMetroDDNA shall indemnify an individual, made a party to a proceeding because the individual is or was an officer against liability incurred in the proceeding, to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Article VI---Elections

Section I

            A.  Terms of office shall be for one year minimum, with elections held annually for offices to be filled.

Section II

            A.  The annual election of Officers shall be by a sealed ballot.  Only members who have paid annual dues (a minimum of four weeks prior to the election) are eligible to vote.

            B.  The Executive Committee shall direct the distribution by e-mail of the information regarding the candidates running for election.  Ballots will be distributed at a regular meeting, four weeks prior to the annual meeting where the voting will take place.

Counting of the ballots will be overseen by the Executive Committee, and the President will announce the results to the membership.

Article VII--Duties of Officers

Section I: The President

            A.  The president or their designee shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee, the general membership meetings, as well as any special meetings that may be called by the Executive Committee.

            B.  To appoint heads of all committees with the majority approval of the

Executive Committee.

            C.  Make interim appointments as needed with the majority approval of the Executive Committee.

            D.  Sign all contracts with the majority approval of the Executive Committee.

            E.  Serve as ex-officio member of all committees.

Section II:  The Vice President

            A.  The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President if absent, and other duties as assigned by the President.

Section III:  The Secretary

            A.  The secretary shall ensure that minutes are recorded of all proceedings of the Executive Committee, the Annual meeting, monthly meetings, special meetings called by the Executive Committee, and other duties as assigned.

Section IV:  The Treasurer

            The Treasurer shall perform the duties of the financial officer of the association, including, but not limited to: payment of expenses, preparation of financial reports for the monthly meetings and Annual meeting, custodial care of the association checking accounts, collection and record keeping of the membership.  This person reports to the Executive Committee and sits on the Membership Committee, and assumes other duties as assigned.

Article VIII---Meetings

Section I

          A.  There will be monthly meetings September through May, hosted by volunteering agencies throughout the metro area.

            B.  An Annual Membership meeting will take place; the membership will be notified in advance of this meeting.

            C.  Committee meetings will take place as needed and as scheduled by the committee chairperson.

            D.  The Executive Committee will meet at least quarterly to review issues at hand and to review the agenda and content of the future membership meetings.

Article IX—Finances

Section I

            A.  The fiscal year of the MnMetroDDNA shall be January 1 through December 31.

            B.  Dues for the MnMetroDDNA shall be established by the Executive Committee.  Members shall forfeit all membership rights by non-payment of dues.

            C.  Dues are payable annually with the membership period initiated when the dues are received by the treasurer.  The expiration day shall be the last day of the month of the period for which the membership is issued. 

            D.  Dues shall be prorated for anyone joining the membership, so that if six months or more of the year is passed the dues will be half of the annual dues.

            E.  Signatures for checks, drafts, notes and other documents of a fiscal nature may be signed by the President, Treasurer or other officer the Executive Committee designates.

Article X---Amendments

Section I

            A.  The Executive Committee shall by a majority vote, have the authority to amend the bylaws.

            B.  All changes shall be made available to the membership at the Annual Membership Meetings as a matter of general information.

Article XI---Procedures

Section I

            A.  This association will be guided by the “Robert’s Rules of Order”.

            B.  Standing Rules of the association may be developed at any time to facilitate business proceedings.

Article XII---Offices

Section I

            A.  The MnMetroDDNA does not have a principle office.  The association has a web site address at MNMETRODDNA.org.

            B.   The addresses of the principle officers will be located on the web site.

            C.  The Executive Committee shall have the exclusive authority to appoint a management firm/position, to attend to the responsibilities of the day-to-day business management and communication of the organization.