National Nurses United

Bylaws.2:Text to Black 5/29/09 9:59 AM Page 23 member an amount not to exceed ten (10) percent of the annual dues. A statement of the purposes and need for such a fund, together with a proposed budget for its expenditure, shall accompany the recommendation. ARTICLE IV Titled Officers Section 1. Titled Officers A. Titled Officers. The titled officers of CNA shall be four (4) Members of the CNA Council of Presidents, each of whom shall hold the Titles and bear the responsibilities of CNA President and Member of the Council of Presidents, and a Secretary, and a Treasurer. for two (2) years immediately preceding declaration of election. B. An employee of this Association is eligible to be a candidate contingent upon resignation from the staff position when candidacy is declared. C. Supervisors of CNA-represented nurses, or management personnel of employers of CNA represented nurses, who have an inherent conflict of interest with the interests and duties of patient advocacy of staff nurses represented by CNA, as determined under applicable labor laws and/or the application, custom and practices under CNA collective bargaining agreements, shall not be eligible to be a candidate for, or elected to, or serve as a titled officer. Section 3. Term of Office B. Council of Presidents – Purposes. The Council of Presidents was created to meet the demands on elected staff nurse leadership of CNA presented in part by the significant growth in membership resulting from successful organizing, the expanded scope and complexity of CNA operations required to fulfill representational responsibilities, and the high public profile CNA now commands as a result of its leadership, commitment and direct actions in support of an activist patient and health care consumer protection agenda. C. Change in Leadership Model. The Presidents' Council reflects an important change in leadership structure and cultural orientation, establishing a new model of collective leadership intended to increase the organization's capability for rapid response and accountable decision making across the national scope of current CNA operations and obtaining the efficiencies and quality of critical analysis offered by disciplined group decision making based on competent investigation, meaningful assessment of available options, and timely execution of plans for action. Collective attention and determination of difficult policy and operational issues confronting CNA will greatly improve accountability to members and perceived integrity of CNA decision making processes. If successful as anticipated, this new model of collective leadership is expected to attract significant interest throughout the organization, resulting in conversion from individual, often isolated decision making practices to various methods of collective decision-making, with or without formal organizational changes. D. Council of Presidents – Formal Election. Consistent with the purpose of establishing collective leadership as a fundamental organizational value and method of operation, candidates for election to the Council of Presidents must run for office as a member of a four member slate running collectively for the office of Council of Presidents. The "candidate" for election will be a complete slate of four members. Ballots will reflect the identity of each of the four slate participants, but members will vote only on slates as a whole and not on the election of individual members of a candidate slate. A. Officers shall serve for a term of two (2) yearsthree (3) years beginning with the adjournment of the CNA House of DelegatesConvention at which they are elected and ending with the election of their successors. B. Officers shall assume office at the final adjournment of the House of DelegatesConvention during which their elections shall have been declared. C. An officer who has served more than one-half (1/2) a term is considered to have served a full term in that office. Section 4. Vacancies A. Any vacancy in an elective office which is apparent at the time of the House shall be filled by election in the House of DelegatesConvention. If a vacancy occurs during the bienniumthree (3) year period between Conventions, it shall be filled as stated in B or C of this section. B. A vacancy in one or more of the offices of Member of the Council of Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer shall be filled by Board appointment for the remainder of the term with a two-thirds (2/3) vote. In making these appointments, the Board shall first consider current members of the Board. C. A vacancy in the Secretary, or Treasurer, shall be filled by Board appointment for the remainder of the term with a two-thirds (2/3) vote. Section 5. Duties of Titled Officers A. Each officer shall: 1. Perform such duties as are specified in the CNA bylaws, standing rules, parliamentary authority, Rules of Procedure, and by the CNA Board; Section 2. Eligibility A. In order to be a candidate for a titled office in this Association, a candidate shall be a CNA member at the time of nomination and M AY 2 0 0 9 2. Submit a biennial report in writing for publication in the REPORT TO THE HOUSE OF DELEGATESCONVENTION; and, W W W. C A L N U R S E S . O R G REGISTERED NURSE 23

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