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BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
Section 1
Name
The name of this corporation shall be, TRI-COUNTY BONDING ASSOCIATION, INC.
Section 2
Location
The principal office of this corporation shall be located in the city of Orlando, County of Orange, State of Florida.
ARTICLE II
Section 1
Membership and Meetings
MEMBERS of this Association shall be restricted to those persons who are licensed by the Florida Department of Financial Services and hold an active license to transact business as a Limited Surety Agent, Professional Bail Bondsman or a Temporary Limited Surety Agent in the State of Florida.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS of this Association shall be any of the above referenced individuals as well as any unlicensed person desirous of being involved in the Tri-County Bonding Association and who are approved by the Officers of the Association. Associate membership shall be $150.00 per calendar year. All Associate members are ban from soliciting during a meeting.
This Association shall maintain and rotate on a regular basis a list of current bail bond agencies at the Orange County Jail. There shall be a maintenance fee of $100.00 per year for each agency that applies for and pays a maintenance fee of $100.00 per year. Application for an agency to be listed on the Orange County Jail list must be accompanied by a current Occupational License for the location of the agency. All maintenance fees are renewable and due in January of each year. The list shall be rotated with the last agency on the list moving to the first agency on the list. The list shall be rotated on the 1st Monday of each month. Any agency which is next to be at the top of the list may at their option accompany a designated Officer of this Association when he or she delivers the list to the jail.
The Association may also maintain a list at Seminole or Osceola Counties if voted on by the membership and shall collect an additional maintenance fee from each county in which they are listed.
Section 2
Processes for admittance and removal of Membership
APPLICATION. No application for membership shall be necessary for any licensed and appointed Limited Surety Agent, Professional Bail Bonds or a Temporary Limited Surety Agent that resides, owns, or is employed by an agency that is located within the boundaries of Orange, Osceola, or Seminole counties in the State of Florida
DENIAL OF MEMBERSHIP. A person or organization may be denied membership to the Association by the Officers of the Association if they decide that it is in the best interest of the Tri-County Bonding Association Inc. to deny such Membership. Any person or organization may appeal the denial at the next scheduled meeting by reapplying and being voted on by the membership at said meeting.
The Tri-County Bonding Association does not discriminate against anyone because of age, race, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, handicap or religion.
TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP. The membership of any member whose license as a Limited Surety Agent, Professional Bail Bondsman, or Temporary Limited Surety Agent is suspended by the Department of Financial Services shall also be suspended until the member’s license is reinstated. Any member whose license is revoked shall no longer be a member or associate member of the Tri-County Bonding Association, Inc.
Section 3
Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the Association shall be held at the principal Association shall be held at the principal office of the Association, or such other place as may be designated by the Officers, in January of each year, unless changed by the By-Laws of the Association. Election of Officers, as prescribed by these By-Laws, shall occur at Annual Meetings. Notice of such meetings, location, dates, and times shall be given in the Association’s newsletter or by special mailing to the membership, e-mail, fax, or posting on the Association’s web site thirty (30) days prior to said meeting.
Section 4
Regular Meetings
Regular Meetings of the Association shall be held at the principal office of the Association or such other place as may be designated by the Officers at any time designated by the officers of the Association, unless changed by the By-Laws of the Association. Notice of meetings, location, dates, and times shall be given in the Association’s newsletter or by special mailing, E-mail, fax, or posting on the Association’s website to the membership thirty (30) days prior to said meeting.
Section 5
Special Meetings
Special Meetings of the Association may be called by resolution of the Officers of the Association, or by call of the President of the Association, for a specific purpose, and notice therefore shall be given at least ten (10) days before the time for holding such a special meeting.
Section 6
QUORUMS
The presence of ten (10) members or ten percent (10%) of the membership, whichever is less, shall be necessary to constitute a quorum of the members at any meeting. In case there is no quorum present on the day fixed for a meeting, the members present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until quorum is obtained, or may adjourn such meeting "sine die". At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 7
Voting
ONLY the designated primary bail bond agent of each agency may vote in the elections of officers unless another member of the association presents a notarized proxy from the designated primary bail bond agent which shall authorize that member to cast the vote on behalf of the designated primary bail bond agent. There shall be one vote authorized by each agency represented in person or proxy. All issues other than elections of officers shall be voted on by all members present at the meeting. A proxy will only be authorized in the election of officers and shall not be valid for any other purpose. Each proxy must state the date in which it shall be used and shall expire after that date. A new proxy must be obtained for each date and/or each election of officers.
ALL QUALIFIED VOTING MEMBERS, in order to exercise their voting privileges, must be present to vote. Qualified designated primary bail bond agents when voting in elections of officers can be REPRESENTED BY A NOTARIZED PROXY ON A FORM PRESCRIBED AND APPROVED BY THE OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
NOMINATIONS for the position of Officers shall be made by a current member of the Association and such person being nominated MUST be a current member of the Association whom is a licensed Limited Surety Agent or a Professional Bail Bondsman that resides, owns, or is employed by an agency that is located within the boundaries of Orange, Osceola, or Seminole Counties in the State of Florida. Once elected, an Officer shall serve for his or her term unless such Officer has two (2) unexcused absences, in which case the Officer will be automatically removed by operation of these By-Laws and a vacancy in office shall exist. The Officers shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer. (The Assistant Secretary shall be appointed by the Secretary and shall be appointed within thirty (30) days after the elections)
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS cannot vote.
Section 8
Officers of the Meeting
The President, if present, shall preside at all meetings of the membership. In the absence of the President, the next officer in due order who may be present shall preside. For the purpose of these By-Laws, the due order of the Officers shall be as follows: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Secretary of the Association shall keep a faithful record of all proceedings of the meetings.
Section 9
Dues
Dues shall be due on January 1st of each year.
Section 10
Vacancy in Office
In the event of a death, disability, resignation, or removal of one or more of the Officers, the remaining Officers, although less than a quorum, shall make appointments from the members to fill the unexpired term.
Section 11
Absences
Any Officer who fails to attend 2/3 of any of the meetings, in any calendar year, without a written valid excuse that has been approved by the officers, shall be subject to mandatory removal from the Board.
ARTICLE III
Section 1
Officers designated
The officers of this Association shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. There shall be no compensation of the Officers except for Association related expenses.
Section 2
Duties of the President
The President shall preside at all meetings of the membership and shall have general charge of and control over the affairs of the Association. The President may purchase for the Association any tangible asset or service having a cost not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00). The President’s term shall continue until a new President shall convene and preside over all meetings until such election of a successor is complete. The President shall promote the Association.
Section 3
Duties of the Vice President
The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in the event of the President’s absence or temporary disability for any cause whatsoever. He or she shall monitor nation and state legislative activities that may affect the bail bond profession. The Vice President shall promote the Association and assist the President.
Section 4
Duties of the Secretary and Assistant Secretary
The Secretary and assistant Secretary shall keep record of the minutes of the proceedings of meetings of members, and shall give notice as required in these By-Laws of all meetings. The Secretary may have custody and charge of all books, papers, and records of the Association except such as by resolution shall be given to the President of the Association. Minutes may be recorded.
Section 5
Duties of the Treasurer
The Treasurer shall keep accounts of all monies, credits, and property of the Association that come into the Association and keep an accurate account of all monies received and discharged. The Treasurer shall keep appropriate books of accounts and other books showing at all times the amount of the funds and other property belonging to the Association, all of which shall be open at all times to the inspection of the Members at a reasonable time and location to be predetermined by the Treasurer or President of the Association. He or she shall submit a detailed written line-item financial report of the accounts and financial condition of the Association at each meeting. The Treasurer under the direction of the President may disburse all monies and sign all checks and other instruments drawn on or payable out of the funds of the Association. Checks may be countersigned by the President, Vice President, or such other member of the association designate in writing by the President or Vice President. In general, the Treasurer shall perform all the duties that are incident to the Office of treasurer, subject to directions of the President or Vice President.
Section 6
Advisor Position
Each ex-President of the association may at his or her option be an advisor to the association and shall be notified of all association meetings both membership and planning meetings. The ex-President shall advise the officers of the Association in matters of concern and the Association may take notice of this advice if it chooses to do so. The ex-President shall have no authority to represent the association in any matter what-so-ever without the expressed authority of the current President of the Association. The ex-President shall serve as an advisor for one year until the election of a new President at which time the pre-existing president shall at his or her option become an advisor to the association.
ARTICLE IV
Miscellaneous
Section 1
Funds of the Association
All monies of this Association, or under its charge, deposited in any bank or other place of deposit shall be deposited to the credit of the Association in its corporate name. All bonds, notes, and other evidence of indebtedness, mortgages, deeds, and contracts of this Association shall be signed in its name by the President or Vice President and attested by the Secretary, and no such instrument shall be valid without being so signed.
Section 2
Annual jail list maintenance fees
The amount of annual jail list maintenance fees shall be determined by a vote of the members of the Association.
Section 3
Amendments to the By-Laws
Any member in good standing may propose an amendment to the By-Laws. The By-Laws may be amended, repealed, or altered in whole or in part at any Regular, Special, or Annual Meeting if the Association if at the previous meeting, a Member gives notice of intent to amend the By-Laws by presenting a specific motion, in writing, stating the proposed change. Such amendment shall be adopted upon approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present if sufficient notice was provided at the previous meeting.
Section 4
Reviews and update of By-Laws
There shall be a review of the association’s By-Laws in each odd number year. Upon election the President of the association shall appoint a committee to review and submit updates and changes to the current By-Laws.
Section 5
Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these By-Laws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt.
Section 6
Fiscal year
The fiscal year of the Association begins on the 1st day of January in each calendar year and ends on the 31st day of December of the same calendar year.
Section 7
Code of Ethics
The Association shall adopt a code of ethics. The code of ethics shall be binding on all members and may provide for expulsion from membership in the Association. Notice of the intent to change the code of ethics shall be mailed to the Association members at least thirty (30) days prior to a Regular Meeting.
Code of Ethics require a guarantee from each member or associate member shall that they will practice and conduct their business with the highest level of integrity and morals. Each member and associate member shall abide by the laws of this State and of the United States. Each member and associate member shall comply with the regulatory rules that apply to his or her business or occupation. Each member or associate member will strive to project a positive view of the bail bond business and industry
Section 8
Misconduct
Any display of misconduct, inappropriate speech or behavior by a guest or member shall result in the expulsion of that member or guest from the meeting. To assure the maintenance of good order, expulsion from any meeting for disruptive behavior or misconduct, may be enacted upon recommendation of any member present in good standing and with the majority vote of those present at the meeting.
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