By-Laws

ARTICLE I: NAME, OBJECTIVES, HISTORY

Section 1: Organization Name

This organization shall be known as the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (WLEEDA).

Section 2: Objectives

The purpose of the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Executive Development Association is to establish Wisconsin as a leader in promoting professional, progressive, innovative and high quality police executive training while developing a pool of professional, knowledgeable and informed police executives creating a positive influence on the future of policing in Wisconsin.

It is also a policy of the Association to cooperate with existing police and training organizations of recognized professional and technical standing.

Section 3: Historical Record of Association

In 1991 the Wisconsin Department of Justice and the International Association of Police Chiefs sponsored the first Wisconsin Law Enforcement Executive Development Course. Thanks to the efforts of Ray Galvin, who was in charge of Administrative Law Enforcement Training for the state, Wisconsin became a leader in this unique step forward in promoting professional, progressive, innovative and high quality police executive training. The course comprised of seven weeks of training devoted to this end. Once the course content was developed, the training was accomplished by utilizing prominent instructors from across the entire country. The Executive Development Course was offered a total of 3 times by the end of 1994, with a total of 116 graduates.

Not wanting to waste this opportunity, all three classes came together at Stevens Point in January of 1995 and held what was hoped to be an annual training conference. Our members come from every corner of the state, representing local, county and state agencies. We believe that we can fulfill an important and vital need in Wisconsin Law Enforcement.


ARTICLE II: EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1: Business Affairs

The Executive Board shall manage the business and affairs of the Association.

Section 2: Board of Directors

The Board of Directors, in addition to the Executive Officers as set-forth in Section 3, shall consist of six (6) members elected from the membership at large.

The out-going President shall serve as an ex-officio member of the board for one year.

Section 3: Elections

The Executive Officers shall consist of the President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The election of these offices shall be as follows:

A. Executive Officers that are to serve two-year terms are Secretary and Treasurer. The Secretary to elected in even years and the Treasurer in odd years.

B. The Office of Second Vice President shall be elected at each annual conference.

C. The Office of First Vice President shall be filled by the member who held the Office of Second Vice President the previous year.

D. The member who held the Office of First Vice President the previous year shall fill the Office of President.

Board Members at large shall be elected for two-year terms by the general membership. Three board members will be elected each year.

Board members may not serve more than two (2) consecutive terms.

Section 4: Quorum

A majority of its voting members shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Board.

Section 5: Board Meetings

The Board of Directors shall direct all operations of the Association, and it shall meet at such times, at least once a year, and at such places, as the President shall determine.

Section 6: Termination of Term

The term of any member of the Executive Board shall terminate immediately after the person’s status as an Association member ceases.

Section 7: Board Vacancies

Any vacancies occurring among the members of the Executive Board shall be filled by appointment of the board.

Section 8: Removal from Board

Members of the Board of Directors shall serve the term in office with good faith, and are subject to removing during the term by a majority vote of the Executive Board for cause.


ARTICLE III: OFFICERS

Section 1: Executive Orders

The Officers of the Association shall consist of a President, Vice President, Second Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary. All of the said officers shall be elected by the method as set forth in Article II, Section 3. The nominations for each office shall be received from the floor. Those offices that have a term of two years shall commence at the end of the annual conference in which they were elected and run through the end of the next annual conference when that position is up for election.

The candidate receiving a majority of votes cast for each office shall be declared elected. In the event no candidate receives a majority of votes on the first ballot, the voting shall continue with the two members receiving the most votes until one receives the majority.

Section 2: President

The President shall be principal executive officer of the Association and subject to the control of the Executive Board, shall in general, supervise and control all business and affairs of the Association. Other responsibilities of the President include, but not limited to:

A. Presiding at all meetings of the Executive Board, Board of Directors and General Membership.

B. Authority to sign, executes, and acknowledges all legal documents on behalf of the Association.

C. Act as the official representative of the WLEEDA.

D. Perform other duties as may be prescribed by the Executive Board.

The President shall have the power to appoint special committees in order to accomplish Association goals and tasks.

Section 3: Vice President

It shall be the duty of the First Vice President to perform all the duties of the President, during the President’s absence.

Section 4: Second Vice President

It shall be the duty of the Second Vice President to perform all the duties of the President, during the absence of the President and the First Vice President. In addition, the Second Vice President shall keep documents that are of historical value to the Association. It is the responsibility of the Second Vice President to up-date WLEEDA members of any significant historical events of the Association and to prepare a Historical Report for the annual conference.

Section 5: Secretary

The secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the general membership and the Executive Board. The secretary shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with by-laws or as required by law. The secretary shall be the custodian of the Association records, shall keep or arranged for keeping a register of the post office address of each association member, which shall be furnished to the secretary by each member. Other duties as prescribed by the Board.

Section 6: Treasurer

The Treasurer shall keep accurate accounts of all financial transactions of the Association and shall draw all orders on the treasury for such amounts as is authorized by the Executive Board or general membership. The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the Association, shall issue receipts for monies due and payable to the Association from any source whatsoever and deposit all such monies in the name of the Association in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as shall be selected by the Board.

At each Board and General Membership meeting, the Treasurer shall furnish a financial report concerning the Association funds. Upon reasonable notice and at reasonable times, the Treasurer shall make available the books, papers, and accounts of the Association for examination by any member of the Board or the general membership.

The Board may prescribe other duties.


ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Membership Requirements

Membership to the Association is limited to graduates of a Law Enforcement Executive Development Course, The FBI National Academy, The Southern Police Institute, Northwestern Traffic Institute, or any other certified Executive Development Institute pertaining to the management of Law Enforcement that is approved by the Board of Directors.

Section 2: Active Membership

Active membership in the Association is based upon receipt of current annual dues, as determined by the Executive Board and to be part of the fees for the annual conference.

Section 3: Membership Privileges

The privileges of membership include:

A. Voting Privilege — The right to vote on any question raised during the general meeting.

B. The privilege to be in attendance during Board of Directors or general membership meetings.

C. The privilege to speak on any business matter at a Board of Director or general membership meeting.

D. The privilege to hold elective office as voted in by the general membership or to hold a position on a committee as determined by the President.

E. Eligible for any other privileges as determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 4: Charter Membership

Charter Members are those members of the Association who are graduates of the 1991-1994 Wisconsin Law Enforcement Executive Development Courses.

Section 5: Life Membership

Members of the Association who are in good standing with the Association, at the time of their retirement from Law Enforcement, may apply for Life Membership in the Association.

Life Members are exempt from annual membership dues.

Life Members who attend the annual conference shall be charged only the actual cost incurred by the Association for their participation at the conference.


ARTICLE V: CONFERENCES

Section 1: Annual Training Conference

The Annual Training Conference of the Association shall be held during January / February of each year at such place as determined by the Board of Directors. Dates of each annual conference shall be established and approved by the Board, and such notice shall be given to all members of the Association.

Attendance and participation at the annual training conference is open to WLEEDA members as well as first line supervisors and higher ranking officers of any law enforcement agency.


ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS

Section 1: Amendment Process

The members of the Association shall have full power at any meeting to alter, amend, or revise the by-laws by a (2/3) vote of the eligible voting members of the Association present provided that a statement of the specific nature of the proposed amendments is provided to each present member, and a discussion is available prior to a vote.


ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES

Section 1: Appointment

The President shall appoint all committees and their chairperson, with approval of the Board of Directors.

Section 2: Standing Committees

The following committees shall be standing committees of the Association: Conference, Membership, By-Laws, Audit, and Training. The chair of the Audit Committee shall be the out-going President of the Association.


ARTICLE VIII: ORDER OF BUSINESS

Section 1: Annual Meeting

The President, who shall serve as chairperson shall determine the order of business at the annual meeting, and all business shall be conducted in accordance with the By-Laws and governed by Robert's Rules of Order.

Section 2: Agenda of Annual Meeting

The business of the annual meeting shall include, but not necessarily be limited to the following:

Call to Order

Report of Officers

Old Business

New Business

Any business for the good of the Association

Election and Introduction of Officers

Adjournment