Issue link: https://nnumagazine.uberflip.com/i/447668
C A L I F O R N I A N U R S E J U L Y / A U G U S T 2 0 0 5 35 ballot to the CNA members represented in each region. B. The CNA list of eligible candidates which have been submitted by the Ballot Committee shall be prepared in ballot form under the direction of the executive director. CNA ballots and candidate information shall be mailed at least ten (10) weeks prior to the first meeting of the next session of the CNA House of Delegates. C. CNA election ballots shall be returned to the CNA elected secretary ioffice of the Executive Director in care of and addressed to the appointed certified public accountant or independent election firm who shall verify the eligibility of each voter, open and count all the ballots. He shall then submit in a sealed envelope the results of the election to the secretary of CNA. Votes for write-in candidates will be counted, but such candidates may be eligible for office only if proper documents are on file with the CNA administrative office before ballots are count- ed by the CPA. D. Report of Election Results* 1. The CNA election report shall be opened by the representative of the president Council of Presidents and the candidates and the membership notified of the results. The regions shall be sent the election report for the directors and delegates. a.The election report for titled officers, directors, Commissioners and Ballot Committee shall be read to the House of Delegates during the first business meeting. b. A plurality vote shall elect the officers, directors, Commissioners, delegates and the members of the Ballot Committee as specified in Section 1.A of this Article; and, c. A tie vote for a titled officer or member of the Ballot Committee shall be reconciled by a ballot vote of the House of Delegates. A tie vote of a director or Commissioner shall be reconciled by a ballot vote of the delegates for the affected Region at the House of Delegates. E. Vacancies 1. Vacancies for delegates other than the minimum two (2) shall be filled by the alternates with the next highest votes from that region. 2. In the event the above option is exhausted, the vacancy shall be filled by the elected alternate with the next highest votes, regardless of region. F. Ballots, credentials, and election records shall be preserved for one (1) year after announcement of election results. ARTICLE XIII Finance (See also Article on Board duties and Finance Committee duties) Section 1. Fiscal Year A. The fiscal year for CNA shall be July 1 through June 30 of the follow- ing year. B. An operating budget shall be prepared annually and shall be subject to the approval of the CNA Board. Section 2. Audits An audit by an independent certified public accountant of CNA assets, liabil- ities, revenue, and expense accounts shall be made at the end of each fiscal year, upon special request from the CNA Board or House of Delegates, or in the case of change in personnel responsible for maintaining accounts. ARTICLE XIV Dissolution or Reorganization of CNA or CNA Regions Section 1. CNA A. In the event of the dissolution of CNA, its assets, after payment of all indebtedness, obligations, and cost of dissolution, shall be distributed in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of California. B. The CNA may elect to conclude its affairs and voluntarily dissolve by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of at least fifty (50) percent of the members in good standing, or by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the House of Delegates, providing at least sixty (60) days notice was given the total membership of such proposed action, or if it is not possible to obtain a House of Delegates quorum, by an eighty (80) percent affirmation vote of the CNA Board. The powers of the CNA Board to manage the affairs of the Corporation shall continue for as long as required in order to completely consummate this decision. C. Voluntary dissolution of CNA shall be subject to the procedures of California law. Section 2. Disqualification of Regions A. Any constituent association which fails to comply with the require- ments of CNA bylaws or standing rules or the direction of the House of Delegates may be dissolved as a region of the California Nurses Association. B. Disqualification of a region may be accomplished by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the CNA Board providing the constituent membership has been given at least three (3) months written notification of the pending action. Should the region contest the pending action it shall be given at least two (2) alternative dates for a hearing with the CNA Board before the Board takes final action. Section 3. Dissolution of Regions A. Dissolution of regions can be accomplished by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of at least twenty-five (25) percent of the members in good stand- ing of the region and approved by two-thirds (2/3) vote of CNA Board provided at least sixty (60) days notice was given the total region mem- bership of such proposed action. The Board of Directors of such region shall continue to manage the affairs of such region until dissolution and payment of indebtedness are complete. B. In the case of consolidation of two (2) or more constituent regions, funds remaining, after dissolution is complete, shall be held in trust as designated by the constituent association until such time as the new consolidated region is formed; if, however, it is still in trust after a five (5) year period, the remaining funds may be disposed of at the discre- tion of the CNA Board. Section 4. Appeal An appeal to consider the reversal of the CNA Board decision of disqualifi- cation can be made by the affected region to the CNA Board or to the CNA House of Delegates at its next meeting, provided notification of appeal intent is in the hands of the CNA president or designated representative within thir- ty (30) days of receipt of CNA notice of disqualification.