BYLAWS
OKLAHOMA WORKERS’ COMPENSATION
EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE I
ORGANIZATION
Section 1. The name of the organization shall be the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Education Association.
Section 2. The organization may, at its pleasure by a majority vote of the membership body, change its name.
Section 3. The purposes of the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Education Association are to be carried out so that the organization is exempt from income taxation pursuant to Section 501 C (6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or a corresponding Section of any future United States Internal Revenue Law.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE
The purpose of this organization shall be:
Section 1. To further and protect the interests of all Oklahoma employers who provide workers’ compensation benefits to their employees.
Section 2. To maintain an active interest in the Workers’ Compensation Act and its administration.
Section 3. To keep members informed of trends, pending legislation, regulations, and other matters which may affect the operation or risk of a business providing workers’ compensation benefits to their employees and ways to mitigate said risk.
Section 4. To provide representation on behalf of the members at meetings, hearings, conferences, or other forums that pertain to the operation and administration of workers’ compensation benefit programs, or otherwise affect the law.
Section 5. To cooperate with other organizations which may have similar interests.
Section 6. To do and perform all other acts necessary or incidental to carrying out the functions and purposes above set forth.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERS
There shall be at least three (3) classes of members: Regular and Provider.
Section 1. Regular Member: Any person, firm, corporation, or group association authorized by law to do business in the State of Oklahoma, shall be eligible for regular membership with one vote per member.
Section 2. Provider Member: Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, or other organization that renders a service, provides assistance, counsels, or otherwise helps businesses that provide workers’ compensation benefits shall be eligible for membership with one vote for their provider representative.
Section 3. The Board of Directors, by a majority vote, shall have the authority to create such other classes of membership as the Board deems appropriate.
Section 4. Dues: The annual dues or membership fees and mode of payment shall be determined and established by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Term of Membership: Membership in this organization shall be effective immediately upon the acceptance of the application and the payment of dues and shall continue until the end of that calendar year, the member resigns, or is suspended. The member may be suspended for nonpayment of dues.
Section 6. By a 2/3 majority vote of the Board members, the Board may deny membership to any applicant without cause.
Section 7. The President, when necessary, shall call for a vote of the Board to decide any such matters before the Board. Votes may be done, via email or any other such means as called for by the President.
ARTICLE IV
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. There shall be a nine (9) member Board of Directors.
Section 2. Duties: It shall be the duty of the members of the Board of Directors to elect the officers of the organization, to approve the compensation of the officers, set the budget of the organization, set the policy for the organization, and generally supervise the overall functioning of the group.
Section 3. Directors: The directors shall be elected by the membership. Each director shall serve a term of three (3) years beginning January 1, except that the initial Board shall consist of three (3) members to serve three (3) years, three (3) members to serve two (2) years, and three (3) members to serve one (1) year.
Section 4. Qualifications: No person shall stand for election to the Board of Directors except such individual that meets the following qualifications:
- Be a Regular or Provider member in good standing, including currently paid annual dues.
b.Be nominated by a member in good standing.
Section 5. Status: If a member of the Board has a change in employment or eligibility status, such Board member shall notify an officer of the Board or Executive Director within ten (10) days.
Section 6. Eligibility: In the event that a sitting board member becomes ineligible to serve under their classification, said member shall have 90 days to become eligible or tender their resignation to the Board.
Section 7. Vacancy: Any vacancy on the Board shall be filled by majority action of the remaining directors. The filled position shall be for only the remainder of the term until the regular election is held.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers and the executive director.
Section 2. The Board shall have the power and authority to create and eliminate committees as it deems proper.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers: The officers of this organization shall be the President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer. The President of the organization, by virtue of the office, shall be the chairperson of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. The President of the Board of Directors shall be the chief elected officer and shall preside at the meeting of the Board of Directors, provide leadership and perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Board.
Section 3. The Vice President shall in the absence or incapacity of the President act and perform the duties hereinbefore required of the President.
Section 4. The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep, or cause to be kept, the books and records of the organization, including the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform the duties usually pertaining to the office and shall render an annual accounting for all of the funds of the organization each year.
Section 5. Salaries: The Board of Directors shall hire and fix the compensation of any and all employees or contractors to perform the executive operations function that they, in their discretion, may determine to be necessary to conduct the business of the organization.
Section 6. Election of Officers. The Board of Directors shall elect officers at the January Board meeting every odd calendar year or as needed.
ARTICLE VII
MEETINGS
Section 1. The fiscal year of this organization shall be from January 1 through December 31.
Section 2. The annual meeting of the organization shall be held annually as determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. At the annual or any specially called meeting of the membership, a majority of those in attendance shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VIII
REPEALER
The adoption of these Bylaws shall repeal and eliminate all prior Bylaws.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDING
Section 1. The Bylaws may be amended by the majority vote of the voting members of the organization present at any meeting, or by 2/3 majority of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee in joint session.
Section 2. The Board may adopt a Policy and Procedures Manual to allow for the implementation of the Bylaws. The Policy and Procedures Manual may be amended by a majority vote of the voting members of the organization present at any meeting, or by 2/3 majority of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee in joint session.