ELVFD CHARTER

(Revised 12/09/2002)

This is not an official copy of the ELVFD Charter and Bylaws. If you choose to join our department, one will be given to you at the time you turn in your application for membership.

Section I :       Name

The name of the herein described organization shall be; East Limestone Volunteer Fire Department, described herein as ELVFD.  The official address of the ELVFD shall be P.O. Box 54, Capshaw, AL 35742.

Section II :      Objective

The object of the ELVFD shall be to prevent or suppress all fires and provide emergency medical service in the ELVFD’s Fire District in order to save life and protect property, and to assist any agency of the county, state and/or federal government when called upon to do so.

Section III :    Membership

Article I : Active Members

Active Members of the ELVFD shall consist of able bodied persons, eighteen (18) years of age or older, as may be approved by the active membership.  The current and proposed members shall live within the ELVFD fire District.  All prospective members shall serve a probationary period of 90 days, which may be reduced to sixty (60) by a unanimous vote of all active members present during any scheduled or special called ELVFD meeting.  During this probationary period, prospective members shall attend all meetings, training sessions and fundraisers.  If absence is required by a prospective member he/she shall notify an officer of the ELVFD prior to the absence and the officer notified shall report to the executive committee the reason for the prospective member’s absence.  The executive committee may then excuse the absence.  After completion of the probationary period the active members present at any ELVFD Meeting may vote to accept the prospective member as an active member of the ELVFD by a unanimous vote.  Once active membership is obtained the member must attend six (6) business meetings and six (6) training sessions and/or fund raisers per year.  Failure to attend at least six (6) business meetings and six (6) training sessions and/or fund raisers per year by a member, shall result in the loss of active membership and the member shall be placed on an inactive membership list until the member attends six (6) business meetings and six (6) training sessions and/or fund raisers within the year.

Article II : Honorary Members

The honorary members of the ELVFD shall consist of any active member who due to illness, injury and/or who after three (3) consecutive years of service, retires or moves away from the community.  Other persons not active member of the ELVFD who through their generosity contributes substantial financial amounts, equipment or performs notable special service in behalf of the ELVFD may, through recommendation of the executive committee and a majority vote of active members present, become an honorary member.

Article III : Voting Rights

Only active members in good standing, who have paid any Dues (as described in Section III, Article V herein) of the ELVFD, shall have voting rights.  Probationary and Honorary Members do not have voting rights.

Article IV : Suspension

Any member of the ELVFD may be suspended or discharged from the ELVFD by the executive committee at any time they deem such action necessary for the good of the ELVFD.  Any member suspended or discharged may submit a written request to the executive committee for a hearing on the reasons for suspension or discharge.  The executive committee may then grant a hearing.

Article V : Dues

All active members shall pay dues to the ELVFD in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00).  Dues will be due upon acceptance of this charter and thereafter on the date of the January business meeting each year.  All prospective members shall pay dues in the amount of One Dollar ($1.00) upon being accepted as an active member and thereafter as described above.

Section IV :    Officers

Article I : Elected Officers

The elected officers shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Chief and Assistant Chief.  Any elected officer may be removed from office by a majority vote of all active members.  The number of elected officers may be increased or decreased as the need arises.

Article II : Terms of Office

All elected officers will be elected for a period of one year and may succeed themselves.

Article III : Appointed Officers

The Chief and Assistant Chief shall have the power to appoint fire ground officers as they deem necessary.  These appointed officers shall be referred to as Captain.  The Chief and Assistant Chief shall determine the number and ranking of the Captains.  One of these Captains shall be appointed as the Emergency Medical Service Officer, who shall be referred to as the EMT Captain.  With the approval of the Chief and Assistant Chief the EMT Captain may appoint a subordinate officer, who shall be referred to as the EMT Lieutenant.  All appointed officers shall be announced at the first meeting following their appointment.  The President may also appoint an active member as the ELVFD Chaplain.

Article IV : Executive Committee

The executive committee shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Chief, and Assistant Chief.  Two-thirds (2/3) of the committee must be present to vote and/or consider any issue.  The President of the ELVFD shall serve as the Chairman of this committee.  Meetings of the executive committee shall be called by the Chairman as necessary to conduct the business of the committee.

Section V :      Elections

Article I : Annual Elections

The elections of the officers shall be held no sooner than the second Monday of December of each year with a majority vote of all active members present.  Newly elected officers shall take office no sooner than the second Monday of January the following year.

Article II : Special Elections

A special election may be called at the first meeting, but must be called by the second meeting, by the President of the ELVFD following the death, resignation, or removal of an elected officer.  Until a special election is held the vacant position may be filled with an active member appointed by the President of the ELVFD.

Section VI : Duties of Officers

 Article I : Determination of Duties

Duties of the elected officers shall be determined by the executive committee.

Article II : Duties of the President

The President shall be the official Representative and Spokesman for the ELVFD and shall serve as the Chairman of the executive committee who shall preside at all meetings of the executive committee and the ELVFD.  The President shall appoint committee(s) not provided for in this charter and/or the by-laws.  The President shall sign all official papers executed on behalf of the ELVFD.  The President shall ensure a set of rules and regulations are developed and instituted to govern the ELVFD.  The President shall perform other duties required of the position of President.

Article III : Duties of the Vice President

The Vice President shall assist the President in executing the Office of the President of the ELVFD and in the absence or inability of the President to perform all duties of the Office of the President; the Vice President shall be directed by the executive committee to assume the duties of the President.  Performs other duties as directed by the President.

Article IV : Duties of the Treasurer

The treasurer shall keep accurate records of all department funds and expenditures.  A financial statement of expenses, receipts and bank balances should be provided monthly but shall be provided every sixty (60) days to the ELVFD.  Performs other duties as directed by the President.

Article V : Duties of the Secretary

The secretary shall keep accurate records of all department and executive committee meetings and shall provide an oral report at each meeting of the minutes of the previous meeting.  Performs other duties as directed by the President.

Article VI : Duties of the Chief

The Chief of the ELVFD shall be responsible for the personnel, morale and general efficiency of the department.  The Chief shall determine the number and kinds of Fire Companies of which the ELVFD is to be composed and shall determine the response of these companies to alarms.  At least once per month the Chief shall conduct suitable drills and/or instructions in the operation and handling of equipment, first aid and rescue, salvage, building construction, fire prevention, water supply, and other subjects generally essential to good fire fighting, safety of personnel and protection of life and property from fire.  The Chief shall assist the proper authorities in the detection of arson by investigating or causing the investigation of the cause, origin and the circumstances of all fires.  The Chief shall report the following information to the ELVFD; (1) the condition of the apparatus and equipment (2) the number of fires during the preceding month, to include location, cause, date, time, and estimated loss (3) the number of other calls made during the preceding month and (4) any changes in membership.  The Chief shall make an annual report to the community within one month of the end of the fiscal year that shall include the following information; (1) the condition of the apparatus and equipment (2) the number of fires during the preceding year, to include location, cause, date, time and estimated loss (3) the number of other calls made during the preceding year (4) comparable data from previous years and (5) recommendations for improving the efficiency of the ELVFD.

Article VII : Duties of the Assistant Chief

The Assistant Chief shall assist the Chief in executing the duties of his/her Office and in the absence or inability of the Chief to perform all duties of the Office, the Assistant Chief shall be directed by the executive committee to assume the duties of the Chief.  The Assistant Chief shall also be responsible for securing and distributing equipment to ELVFD active members which are essential to their performance as fire fighters.  The Assistant Chief, under the direction of the Chief, shall supervise all training session(s), drill(s), and perform administrative duties assigned to him/her.

Section VII :   Meetings

All regularly schedule and special called meetings of the ELVFD shall be called by the President or Vice President.  These meeting types, locations, times and days may be further established in the By Laws of this charter.

Section VIII : East Limestone Fire Department Rapid Responder Unit

Article I : Name

There shall exist an emergency medical service unit within and under the control of the ELVFD, which shall be known as the ELVFD Rapid Responder Unit, otherwise referred to herein as the ELVFDRRU.

Article II : Purpose

The purpose of the ELVFDRRU shall be to provide emergency care for critically ill and injured persons within the level of training obtained by its individual members through the Alabama Emergency Medical Technician Training Program. This care shall be administered as a Rapid Responder Unit within the ELVFD Fire District and outside this district as direct by the ELVFD Officers and by the dispatching agencies to which it responds to.  Care shall be administered within the rules and regulations set forth in the Alabama State Laws governing the conduct and duties of a Licensed Emergency Medical Technician.

Article III : ELVFDRRU Authority

The ELVFDRRU Officers shall have authority over patient care at any scene within the ELVFD Fire District that the ELVFD responds to.  This authority shall be in accordance with applicable state laws, regulations and local emergency medical service prodicall.  This care once started shall be maintained until all care providing Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are relieved by a higher certified EMT and/or transport agency.  In the absence of an ELVFDRRU Officer the highest certified EMT responding will assume the authority over patient care.  The ELVFDRRU Officers have no Fire Ground Officer responsibility and therefore shall be responsible to the Fire Ground Officer in charge of the response/scene.  The authority of the ELVFDRRU Officers in based on patient care and therefore the Fire Ground Officer in charge of the response/scene should not interfere with patient care, unless an immanent danger to the patient or ELVFD personnel exists.

Section IX :    Amendments

All revisions and or amendments to this charter shall be submitted in writing to the active members present at an ELVFD Business Meeting.  The active member present and those not present shall be made aware of the proposed revision and/or amendment by the ELVFD Secretary and shall vote on these proposed revision and/or amendment at the next ELVFD Business Meeting.  A two thirds (2/3) majority vote of all active members present shall be required to approve any proposed revision and/or amendment to this charter.  All revisions to this charter and/or By Laws shall have an approval sheet attached that shall follow the last page of the charter/by laws indicating the revision number, the date of the revision (approval by membership) and it shall be signed and dated by the President, Vice President and the Secretary of the ELVFD.  Each page of the charter and by laws shall also contain the revision number, the date of the revision (approval by membership) and the initials of the President, Vice President and the Secretary of the ELVFD.

Section X :      By Laws

A set of By Laws shall be established by the active members of the ELVFD for governing of meetings and other ELVFD affairs not covered previously in this charter.  These By Laws shall become a part of and/or an attachment to this charter.

Article I : Monthly Business Meeting

The monthly business meeting should be held on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 PM at the ELVFD unless otherwise directed by the President.  All members of the ELVFD and/or the community having business for the ELVFD shall be present at the above date, time and location and request to be heard.  The Chiefs and the Treasurers report should be presented at this meeting.  In order to conduct any business a quorum must be established as follows:  (1) The meeting must be chaired by the President or in his absence the Vice President and (2) There must be at least seven (7) active members present.

Article II : Monthly Training/Equipment Maintenance Meeting

The Monthly training/equipment maintenance meetings should be held on the fourth Saturday of each month at 8:00 AM at the ELVFD unless otherwise directed by the President.  All members of the ELVFD should attend these meetings.  If there is ELVFD business that needs to be conducted at this meeting, the President may call a special business meeting, as long as a quorum is present as stated in Section X, Article I of the By Laws.

Article III : Special Called Meetings

The President or the Vice President shall have the authority to call a special meeting when they deem it necessary.  In addition, with the approval of the Chief or Assistant Chief, the EMT Captain may call a special meeting for the ELVFD’s EMTs as he/she deems necessary.  These meetings should be held at the ELVFD but may be held at other locations.  As stated in Section X, Article I of the By Laws a quorum must be present to conduct any business of the ELVFD.

Article III : Meeting Attendance

All members should attend all meetings, training session, fund raisers and other scheduled activities of the ELVFD.  All active members must attend at least twelve (12) meetings, training session and/or fund raisers (as stated and defined in Section III – Membership, Article I – Active Members) to retain active membership status.

Article IV : Presenting Business at Meetings

All members and/or other attending meetings of the ELVFD having business to present to ELVFD will address the President and wait until they are recognized before proceeding.

Article V : Equipment

Only active members, who have had the proper training as determined by the Chief, will operate ELVFD Equipment to include all Fire Apparatus.  All active members shall take the necessary steps to become more proficient with the equipment at their command.  All members shall be responsible for keeping unauthorized person(s) off all ELVFD Equipment.  Any member who willfully or intentionally abuses and/or destroys the property of the ELVFD will be disciplined.  Any member who resigns from the ELVFD shall, within ten (10) days, return all equipment issued to them by the ELVFD, to the Chief or Assistant Chief.  All inactive members, upon the request of the Chief or Assistant Chief, shall return all equipment issued to them by the ELVFD, to the Chief or Assistant Chief, within ten (10) days of the request.

Article VI : Responding to Alarms

All members should respond to all fire and other emergency calls if possible, unless otherwise directed by the senior fire ground officer responding.  When responding to alarms/calls all traffic laws will be followed while providing services to the ELVFD, whether in ELVFD vehicle’s or in personally owned vehicle’s.  At no time shall any member neglectfully endanger their life or the life of others while responding to an alarm/call.

Article VII : Use of Alcohol, Controlled Substances and/or Illegal Drugs

Absolutely no member shall attend any function of the ELVFD while under the influence of alcohol, controlled substances and/or illegal drugs.

Article VIII : Member Duties

All members will perform their assigned fire ground, training and station duties unless otherwise directed by the Chief or Assistant Chief.  These duties include, but are not limited to the following:  (1) all members will stay on the scene of an alarm/call until all equipment is reloaded, (2) All members will return to the station after an alarm/call unless otherwise directed by the senior officer/fire fighter on the scene, (3) The senior fire ground officer/fire fighter shall be responsible for ensuring that all equipment is returned to service and stored in its proper location after an alarm/call, and (4) All active members shall be required to complete a standard first aid and CPR course.  All other duties assigned to members shall be performed unless otherwise directed by the President or Vice President.

Article IX : Captain’s Responsibilities

Captains shall be responsible for equipment and personnel in their assigned unit.  They shall ensure that all equipment assigned to them is kept clean, in serviceable condition and returned to service following use.  The Captains shall be responsible for performing all other duties assigned to them by the Chief and/or the Assistant Chief.

Article X : Fire Ground Officers (FGO)

The Fire Ground Officer of the ELVFD consist of the Chief, Assistant Chief, Fire Fighter Captains and if non of the aforementioned FGOs are present or responding to the scene, the Senior Fire Fighter on the scene shall be considered a FGO.

Article XI : Obeying Orders of Fire Ground Officers

All members shall obey the lawful orders given to them on the fire ground by the fire ground officers.  Any member disobeying a lawful order, given by a FGO, may be disciplined by the executive committee.