The name of the organization shall be the Finance, Operations and Computer Technologies Section (FOCUS) of the West Virginia Public Health Association (WVPHA).

The purpose and objectives of the section shall be to:

Section 1.  Establish a framework for organizing members of the WVPHA that have a common bond in providing administrative services in the provision of health related services

Section 2.  Encourage high performance standards and promote cooperation between all individuals and organizations interested in improving the health of West Virginia citizens.

Section 3.  Promote an effective communications network to meet the goals of the WVPHA.

Section 4.  Improve management and financial information access and utilization through increased computer skills.

Section 5.  Support the need for continuing education for the development of computer skills for all individuals and organizations interested in improving the health of West Virginia citizens.

Section 1.  The membership of this section shall consist of any member of the West Virginia Public Health Association who works or has interest in the disciplines of finance, operations or computer technology.

Section 2.  Annual membership dues are due and payable to the section on January 1 of each calendar year. Annual dues of the Section shall be $10 per year.

Section 1.  Only Members of the Finance, Operations and Computer Technologies Section are eligible to hold office in this section.

Section 2.  The elected, succeeded and appointed officers of the Financial, Operations and Computer Technologies Section shall be the President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. All officers shall take office following their election and appointment at the West Virginia Public Health Conference. Terms of office shall be for twelve months commencing from the WVPHA annual conference.

Section 3.  After serving for one year as Vice-President, he/she will succeed to the office of President. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at meetings of the Finance, Operations and Computer Technologies Section and to supervise and direct the business of the Finance, Operations and Computer Technologies Section. The President shall serve as ex-officio on all committees except the nominating committee and will appoint the chair of all committees, except the nominating and Membership Committees. The President shall also appoint the Secretary, upon taking office during the WVPHA Conference. The President shall represent the Section on the Executive Council of the West Virginia Public Health Association. Should the President resign or otherwise be unable to serve, the Vice President shall fill the unexpired term.

Section 4.  It shall be the duty of the Vice President to act in the absence of the President. The Vice President shall assume such duties as the President may assign. The Vice President shall succeed to the office of President without other election at the annual meeting . The Vice President shall serve as chair of the membership committee. Should the Vice President resign or otherwise be unable to serve, the FOCTS Executive Council shall select an active member in good standing to fill the unexpired term until the next election of officers to the Section.

Section 5.  It shall be the duty of the Secretary to record and prepare minutes of all FOCTS Meetings and be the custodian of all records. The Secretary shall prepare agenda and written correspondence as necessary. The Secretary shall provide sufficient notice of meetings to the FOCTS Executive Council or the Membership. A copy of the minutes will be furnished within thirty days following the meeting. The Secretary shall maintain a listing of all committee appointments and officers. The Secretary shall assume other duties as the President may assign. In the event of death, resignation or impeachment, the President shall appoint a replacement of an active member in good standing to fill the unexpired term.

Section 6.  It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to supervise the financial records of the membership of the section; disburse funds of the section, maintain and provide written reports to the membership, and records of all financial transactions. The Treasurer shall provide written reports at each FOCTS Executive Council meeting and an annual report to the Membership at the WVPHA annual conference. Monthly reports showing expenditures and deposits to date are to be transmitted to the FOCTS Executive Council and filed with the Secretary. The Treasurer is to be the custodian of these books and records. The Treasurer shall have a completed yearly expenditure schedule with receipts and disbursement records in detail ready for review by the Audit Committee. The Treasurer shall maintain the roll of membership and provide it to the FOCTS Executive Council monthly. The FOCTS accounting procedures shall require two(2) signatures on written checks drawn on the Finance, Operations and Computer Technologies Section checking account. The Treasurer’s signature must appear on the check and the other officers authorized to sign checks shall be the President or Vice President. The Treasurer shall assume other duties as the President may assign. In the event of death, resignation or impeachment, the FOCTS Executive Council shall appoint a replacement of an active member in good standing to fill the unexpired term until the next election of officers to the Section.

Section 7.  The immediate Past President shall serve as an advisor to the current President; act as chairman of the nominating committee and serve on the Executive Council of the Financial, Operations and Computer Technologies Section.

Section 8.   Elections. The Officers of the FOCTS shall be elected by the membership at the annual meeting of the WVPHA. Nominations shall be submitted by a nominating committee named by the President. A simple majority vote is required for election.

Section 9.  Officers of the Section are subject to Impeachment by the FOCTS membership in good standing by 2/3 vote for failure to fulfill their duties. Failure to fulfill their duties will also include their absence from two consecutive meetings. The only exception to not requiring impeachment is in the case of unusual, extenuating or emergency circumstances that would prevent their attendance or fulfillment of their obligations, that has been communicated to the President or Vice President. In the case as stated above where the President would have unusual, extenuating or emergency circumstances, communication will be with the FOCTS Executive Council. Any member who has been impeached while holding a position as an officer or committee chair is ineligible for two years to hold any elected office or appointed position within the Finance, Operations or Computer Technologies Section.

Section 1.  Meetings shall be held at the annual conference of the West Virginia Public Health Association and at other times selected by the FOCTS Executive Council.

Section 2.   Special meetings may be called by the President as needed. The General Membership shall be notified by the Section Secretary five working days in advance. In case of emergency, notification can be waived.

Section 3.   Quorum for purposes of doing business of the FOCTS, shall consist of a minimum of 2/3 members of a Board or Committee to be present or their proxy vote be officially designated. A simple majority resolves all issues except amendment of the By-Laws. The President or Vice President must be present to preside over the meeting.

Section 1.  The FOCTS Executive Council shall consist of the elected and appointed officers, committee chairman, and Immediate Past President.

Section 2.  The FOCTS Executive Council shall be the governing body of the Section between meetings.

Section 3.  A majority of the members of the FOCTS Executive Council, one of whom must be the President or Vice President shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Council.

Section 4.  The FOCTS Executive Council shall receive from the bylaws committee any proposed amendments to the bylaws for consideration and approval prior to submission to the general membership for approval.

Section 1.  The standing committees shall be the Audit, Bylaws, Membership, Nominating, Ways and Means, and Conference Planning.

Section 2.  In the event of a vacancy of a standing committee chair, the President shall appoint a member in good standing to fill the vacancy within 15 working days.

Section 3.  The audit committee, appointed by the President, shall consist of three members not on the FOCTS Executive Council. The duties of this committee shall be to examine and audit the records of this Section and report their findings to the FOCTS Executive Council within sixty (60) days from the close of the annual meeting..

Section 4.  The bylaws committee shall make a continuing study of the rules governing the Finance, Operations and Computer Technologies Section. The Committee shall receive recommendations from the membership of the Section and shall consider all proposals for possible submission to the FOCTS Executive Council and general membership for their action.

Section 5.  The Vice President of the Section shall be the chair of the Membership Committee. The membership committee shall strive to recruit as members of the Section members and prospective members, of the WVPHA.

Section 6.  The Immediate Past President of the Section shall be the chair of the nominating committee. The nominating committee chair shall appoint no less than four members to select a slate of qualified nominees for each elected office. The nominating committee shall secure acceptance of each nominee prior to publishing their names. The names of the candidates shall be furnished to the membership at least thirty (30) days prior to the election. For the first year the section’s PRESIDENT will appoint a nominating committee chair.

Section 7.  The ways and means committee shall be responsible for all fund raising activities with the prior approval of the FOCTS Executive Council.

Section 8.  The Conference Planning Committee Chair shall appoint no less than four additional members to plan the Section’s program for the WVPHA annual conference. The committee shall incorporate each of the three areas of the section: finance, operations, and computer technologies into it’s programs. Duties for the committee include planning the program, securing speakers, making arrangements and accommodations, and preparation and distribution of the program. Task groups may be formed to assist in this endeavor, but must be approved by the FOCTS Executive Council or President in advance. This group will also be responsible for any added sessions that are held throughout the year in addition to the annual conference.

Section 9.  Ad hoc committees may be created and appointed at the discretion of the President and approval of the FOCTS Executive Council.

These bylaws may be amended at any business meeting of the Section provided that notice of the proposed amendment has been submitted in written or electronic form to the bylaws committee for consideration, approved by the FOCTS Executive Council, and mailed to members eligible to vote at least thirty (30) days prior to the voting date. The FOCTS Executive Council shall approve a mail ballot for a vote on amending the bylaws. The approval of amendments requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote of all returned ballots. The bylaws will be dated with their last revision date.