Constitution and Bylaws

Illinois Mosquito And Vector Control Association Constitution and Bylaws

  1. IMVCA STANDING RULES
  2. CONSTITUTION OF THE ILLINOIS MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL ASSOCIATION (Revised November, 1991)

PREAMBLE

History records that the prevention or control of important diseases and notable enhancement of the socio-economic status of vast segments of the human population of the world have resulted from organized control of the mosquito and other vectors.

Since the turn of the 20th century similar protection and improvement benefiting large areas of the continental United States, its territories and possessions, are attributed to organized mosquito and vector control in this nation.

The possibility of outbreaks of mosquito- or vector-borne human diseases in Illinois such as encephalitis and Lyme disease, is of concern to the people of this state. In addition, mosquito-borne diseases of animals, such as heartworm in dogs and equine encephalitis, threaten the health of domestic animals. Moreover, the welfare of citizens of Illinois is affected by personal annoyance from pest mosquitoes, which can inhibit development of the full economic or recreational potential of certain areas of this State.

Although the Illinois Mosquito and Vector Control Association is primarily an organization concerned with abatement of mosquitoes and other vectors, we recognize the importance research has for our members. Applied and basic research provides the information needed to improve prevention and control of mosquitoes and other vectors.

We, the practitioners of mosquito and vector control combine our effects to more effectively improve public health and the general socio-economic welfare of the people of Illinois through extending the benefits of organized mosquito and vector control to all affected areas within the State.

ARTICLE I. NAME

This organization, a not for profit association in Illinois, shall be known as the “Illinois Mosquito And Vector Control Association”.

ARTICLE II. OBJECTS AND PURPOSES

This Association is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501( c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The objects and purposes of this association shall be to promote cooperation among those directly and indirectly concerned with, and interested in, mosquito control and related work, the development of improved methods and techniques for mosquito control and the dissemination of information in relation thereto, and the advancement of mosquito control in the Sate of Illinois and elsewhere. The association may also encourage and undertake such other insect control problems as the Association or Executive Committee may determine.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. The membership of this Association shall consist of four classes: Voting Members, Associate Members, Honorary Members, and Sustaining Members.

Section 2. Voting Members will be legally established Mosquito Abatement Districts and other State and Local Governmental Agencies directly engaged in or concerned with mosquito control in the State of Illinois. Each Voting member which has paid its annual dues shall be considered in good standing and entitled to one vote in the affairs of the Association and this vote shall be cast by its DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE. That DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE must be an Associate Member who is an official or employee of an officially established Voting Member. There will be no proxy votes.

Section 3. Associate Members will be individuals or representatives of organizations interested in or concerned with mosquito or vector control. Associate members shall enjoy all the privileges of membership except that they will have no vote in the Association, unless appointed as the DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE of a Voting Member.

Each Mosquito Abatement District will have one DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE. For agencies other than Mosquito Abatement Districts with more than one office or branch, the following hierarchy will determine which office or branch will provide the DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE.

For county or local health departments, sanitary districts, forest preserve districts, and similar agencies with more than one office per county, there may only one DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE per county.

For state departments or universities or similar agencies with branches or offices in more than one county, there may be only one DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE per agency for each county.
An individual may not be the DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE for more than one Mosquito Abatement District or agency.

The DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE of new Voting Members must present a letter from the chief administrator of that agency to the President certifying the individual is the duly appointed DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE. The DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE will assume all privileges of membership 15 days after the letter of certification is presented to the President of the Executive Board.

Section 4. Any individual who has performed some outstanding service in the interest of mosquito control and who is nominated and elected as provided in the Bylaws, shall be an Honorary Member. Honorary Members shall have no vote in this Association, unless he or she is the DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE of a Voting Member.

Section 5. Sustaining Members will be any agency or organization interested in or concerned with mosquito control.

Section 6. At all meetings of this Association, all Associate Members and Honorary Members will be permitted to take part in the discussion and proceedings.

Section 7. All DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES must have their individual dues fully paid.

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of this Association shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and the members of the Executive Committee. At the time of nomination and election, each officer shall be an Associate Member who is also a current or retired official or employee of a Voting Member of this Association.

Section 2. Each officer of the Association shall be nominated and elected at the annual meeting of this Association, and shall serve through the next annual meeting following his/her election and until the election and qualification of his/her successor in office. A vacancy may be filled, until the next annual meeting, by appointment by the Executive Committee of this Association.

Section 3. The duties of the officers of this Association shall be set forth in the Bylaws of this Association.

Section 4. The Executive Committee shall consist of: (a) the President, Vice-President, the Secretary, and Treasurer of this Association; (b) the immediate past President of this Association; (c) an Associate Member who is also a permanent employee of a member district or agency as defined in Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution; (d) an Associate Member who is also a member of the governing board of a District or Agency or if one is unavailable, the DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE of a Voting Member as defined in Article III, Section2 of the Constitution; (e) the Executive Committee shall also include one member at large to be nominated from Associate Members who are current or retired officials or employees of any Voting Member in good standing with Illinois Mosquito and vector Control Association.

ARTICLE V. REVENUE

The revenue of this Association shall be derived: (1) from dues of Voting Members; (2) from contractual payments for services rendered by this Association to Voting Members and others; (3) from dues paid by Association Members and Sustaining Members; (4) from the sale of publications and advertising, from donations, and from such other sources as may be approved by the Executive Committee of this Association.

ARTICLE VI. INUREMENT OF INCOME

No part of the net earnings of this Association shall be inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, its members, trustees, officers or other private persons except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered.

ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS

Section 1. The annual meeting of this Association shall be held each year at such time and place as shall be designated by the Executive Committee. Special meetings may be held as specified in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VIII. REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS

Section 1. An annual report of this Association may be published each year. This report may contain the proceedings, papers, and business transacted at the annual meeting. It may also include any other matter deemed essential to the general welfare of the members of this or other associations engaged in or interested in mosquito or pest control.

Section 2. Reports of special meetings, and other information, may be published by this Association with the approval of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IX. LEGISLATIVE OR POLITICAL ACTIVITIES

No substantial part of the activities of this Association shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation and the Association shall not participate in or intervene (including the publishing or distribution of statements) in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

ARTICLE X. OPERATIONAL LIMITATIONS

Notwithstanding any other provisions of those articles, this Association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an Association exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b) by an Association, contribution to which are deductible under section 170 (c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

ARTICLE XI. DISSOLUTION

Upon the dissolution of the Association, the Association shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all the liabilities of this Association, dispose of all the assets of the Association exclusively for the purpose of the Association in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501 (c )(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Trustees shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the Association is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purpose.

ARTICLE XII. AMENDMENTS

Section 1. This Constitution may be altered or amended, in the manner provided in this article, at any regular meeting or any special meeting of this Association called for that purpose. Any amendment proposed by three (3) or more Voting Members’ DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES shall be considered when submitted in writing to the Secretary who shall submit the proposed amendment to the Executive Committee for review and recommendation. The Secretary who shall thereafter advise by written notice each Voting Member of the terms and recommendations of the proposed amendment. This information shall be transmitted at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which the proposed amendment is to be considered.

Section 2. At any meeting duly called in accordance with Section 1. of this article, and in accordance with the Bylaws applicable thereto, and at which a quorum is present as defined in the Bylaws, if two-thirds (2/3) of the Voting Members’ DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES present vote in favor of the adoption of a proposed amendment, this Constitution shall be amended accordingly.

BYLAWS (Revised November 2015)

BYLAWS OF THE ILLINOIS MOSQUITO AND VECTOR CONTROL ASSOCATION

ARTICLE I. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The president is Chairman of the Executive Committee and has the usual duties which pertain to the office, subject to the authority of the executive committee.. He/she is empowered to:

  1. Call meetings of the officers.
  2. Select the Chairman and members of committees, except nominating, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.
  3. Execute with the Secretary and Treasurer legal and fiscal documents.
  4. Discharge such other duties as usually pertain to the office of President.

Section 2. The Vice-President will assist the President with the duties of these offices as directed. He/she will be responsible for the Program planning of all meetings. In the absence or disability of the President or in the case of a vacancy in the office of President the Vice-President shall exercise and perform the duties of the President.

Section 3.

  1. The Secretary shall keep full and correct minutes of all meetings of this Association and of the Executive Committee. He/she shall be responsible for the maintenance of all membership records, conduct the correspondence of this Association, and issue all notices of meetings. He/she shall perform such other duties as are usually incident to the office of Secretary and as may be assigned to him/her by the Executive Committee. He/she shall be responsible for solicitation of new memberships. The Secretary may be placed under adequate bond.
  2. The Treasurer shall handle financial transactions of the association. He/she shall collect and receipt for all dues, contractual payments, assessments and other income. He/she shall deposit promptly all funds of this Association in such depositories as shall be approved and designated by the Executive Committee. Checks in payment of obligations of this Association shall be signed in the manner prescribed by the Executive Committee. He/she shall, under the direction of the Executive Committee, pay all bills of this Association and make such other disbursements as are necessary and incidental to the operations of the Association. He/she shall, at the annual meeting of this Association, and if directed by the Executive Committee at special meetings, make full and true reports of the financial condition of this Association. He/she shall perform such other duties as are usually incident to the office of Treasurer and as may be assigned to him/her by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer may be placed under adequate bond.

Section 4. The Executive Committee shall meet upon the call of the President, or upon request in writing of three (3) or more members of the Executive Committee directed in writing to the Secretary. At least five (5) days prior notice shall be given by the Secretary to all members of the Executive Committee as to any meetings of the Executive Committee, the time and place of such meetings to be designated by the President. Not less than four (4) members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and action by the Committee shall be upon the vote of a majority of those members present at any meeting of the Committee at which a quorum is present.

Section 5. The Executive Committee shall manage the affairs of this Association, and shall have power:

(a) to fill any interim vacancy among the officers of this Association, including the membership of the Executive Committee;

(b) to appoint or employ an Executive Secretary of this Association, with duties to be defined by the Executive Committee;

(c) to appoint a publications Committee to assemble, edit and cause to be published the proceedings of the annual meeting of this Association, and of such special meetings as the Executive Committee shall direct;

(d) to appoint an Auditing Committee who shall audit the accounts of this Association and report thereon at the annual meeting of this Association;

(e) to appoint such other committees as it may deem to be necessary or useful in conducting the business of this Association;

(f) to prescribe the duties of officers of the Association not otherwise prescribed in the Constitution and Bylaws of this Association;

(g) to prescribe rules and regulations for the conduct of the affairs of this Association, as are consistent with the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws of this Association;

(h) at each annual meeting, to recommend to the Association the rate of payments to be made by the Members to the Association for the next ensuing fiscal year.

ARTICLE II. NOMINATION – ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1. At least ten (10) days prior to the annual meeting of this Association the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee, consisting of Associate Members who are also officials or employees of Voting Members of this Association. Four or more Voting Members must be represented on the Nominated Committee. In the selection of this committee the President shall give due regard to a fair representation of active mosquito abatement organizations throughout the State of Illinois, based on geographical distribution.

Section 2. The Nominating Committee shall meet at a time and place, in advance of the annual meeting of this Association, and determine its nominee for the various elective offices of this Association. A nominee must be an active member in good standing for at least one year. Nominations by the Nominating Committee shall be posted in writing by the Nominating Committee prior to the closing time of the opening session of the annual meeting. The Nominating Committee shall also receive and post during the first session of the annual meeting, nominations made in writing and signed by the DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES of at least three (3) Voting Members, for any elective office in this Association. The name of the current Vice President, who automatically ascends to the office of President, shall not appear upon the ballot for election of officers. Nominations may not be made in any other manner.

Section 3. The election of officers shall be held at the close of the first day of the Annual Meeting. Election shall be by majority ballot of the Voting Member DESIGNATED RERESENTATIVES.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Each District or Agency as defined in the constitution of this Association may designate to the Secretary one DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE, who shall be entitled to one vote in this Association. The assignment of this DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE by each qualified agency in good standing shall be made in writing to the Secretary. Such written assignment shall remain in force until changed by the District or Agency. Such written assignment must be signed by a responsible officer of the District or Agency and contain the full name of the DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE and name of the organization that he/she will represent. The written assignment may also contain the full name of an alternate who may vote in the absence of the DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE.

The Treasurer will verify the standing of the District or Agency by appropriate notation on the written assignment. He/she will deliver all credentials to the Chairman of the Executive Committee on the first day of the meeting. At the opening of the business session of the Association the Secretary will announce the names of accredited DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES, or alternates, and on each subsequent action shall record the name and vote of the DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE, or alternate as polled by the chair.

Section 2. At all meetings of this Association, all Associate Members and Honorary Members shall be permitted to take part in the discussions and proceedings, but only the DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES of each District or Agency shall be entitled to vote.

Section 3. Applications for Associate Membership in this Association shall apply in writing to the Secretary and upon payment of dues to the Treasurer shall become an Associate Member.

Section 4. Any individual who has performed some outstanding deed or some outstanding service in the interest of mosquito control in the State of Illinois or elsewhere shall be eligible for election to Honorary Membership upon recommendation of three (3) or more Voting Members’ DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES. After at least ten (10) days’ notice in writing to all Voting Members, such recommendation shall be presented at the annual meeting of the Association and such individual shall become an Honorary Member of the Association upon election by a majority vote of the DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES present at the meeting at which a quorum is present.

ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS

Section 1. There shall be an annual meeting of this Association for the election of officers, the presentation of papers and discussion on mosquito control and related subjects, and such business as may properly be brought before it. Such meetings shall be held at such times and places as the Executive Committee shall prescribe. At least thirty (30) days prior notice in writing shall be given by the Secretary to all members of this Association as to the time and place of the annual meeting. The annual Meeting shall be open to registrants; however, only IMVCA members in good standing shall be eligible to participate in the Business Meetings.

Section 2. Special meetings of the Association may be held whenever the Executive Committee deems such meetings necessary. The Secretary shall give written notice of all special meeting. With the approval of the Executive Committee, local meetings for consideration of ethnical or administrative matters, field demonstrations, or similar matters may be held at times places to be determined by the Executive Committee

Section 3. One-third (1/3) of the DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVES of the Voting Members of this Association shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any regular or special meeting of this Association, and any actions taken at such meetings shall be by majority vote unless otherwise provided in the Constitution of this Association or it’s Bylaws. If a quorum is not present at any meeting, the presiding officer may adjourn the meeting from time to time for not more than sixty (60) days. Adjourned meetings shall be held at such times and places as shall be designated by the Executive Committee.

Section 4. The Vice-President shall be the Program Chairman for each annual meeting, and he/she shall appoint a committee to work with him/her. The Secretary shall ex officio be a member of any Program Committee.

ARTCLE V. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Section 1. No debt or other financial obligation of this Association shall be incurred by this Association beyond the amount of funds, (over and above all liabilities) then in the hands of the Treasurer.

ARTICLE VI. REVENUE

Section 1. The revenue of this Association shall be derived from the sources stated in Article V of the Constitution of this Association.

Section 2. Payment of dues by all classes of Members shall be made annually for each fiscal year on the first day of the year (January 1), and dues shall become delinquent after June 30 of that calendar year. Payment for services rendered by the Association shall be made annually in like manner. Members delinquent in their dues will be charged a penalty of $5.

Section 3. The dues of all classes of membership shall be as follows:

  1. VOTING MEMBER, to be based on the size of the current annual budget for all mosquito abatement districts in accordance with the following schedule:

Current Budget Dues
Less than $30,000 – Dues are $25.00
$30,000 to $200,000 – Dues are $50.00
$201,000 to $1,000,000 – Dues are $150.00
Over $1,000,000 – Dues are $200.00

For other VOTING MEMBERS, representing state or local agencies concerned with the directly or indirectly engaged in mosquito control in Illinois, dues shall be twenty five dollars ($25.00) per annum.

  1. ASSOCIATION MEMBERS (which includes officials or employees of Voting Members), twenty five dollars ($25.00) per annum.
  2. Sustaining MEMBER, at least thirty dollars ($30.00). The name of the member and amount to be duly acknowledged by the Secretary, officially posted at the annual meeting, and recorded in the proceedings of the annual meeting.
  3. HONORARY MEMBERS shall not be subjected to the payment of dues.

Section 4. All dues or contractual payments shall be paid to the Treasurer of this Association.

Section 5. Members who are delinquent in dues or contractual payments shall not be entitled to any privileges of this Association.

ARTICLE VII. PUBLICATIONS

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall determine the general policies of this Association as to the publication of any proceedings, papers, discussions, reports and other matters in connection with any annual or special meetings of this Association, or other matters.

Section 2. The Secretary, with the approval of the Executive Committee and with the assistance of the publications Committee, may publish and distribute the proceedings and other publications of this Association.

ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS

Section 1. The Bylaws may be supplemented, altered, amended or rescinded in whole or in part in the same manner as is provided in Article XII of the Constitution of this Association with respect to amendments to the Constitution.