Constitution and Bylaws
Reasons for Being Preamble:
We, students of nursing, believe there is a common need to organize, to represent ourselves to the consumer and other health disciplines, and to assume our rightful place in the profession of nursing.
We believe every citizen has a right to the highest quality of health care.
We believe in the development of the whole person toward his/her professional role with its rights, responsibilities and ideals.
We believe every right bears inherent responsibility.
We believe responsibilities are participatory, not purely philosophical or ideological, and
We believe the quality and quantity of participation are not exclusive, but bear the responsibility of participation.
Rights/Responsibilities:
Students have a right to a sound education;
a right to and a responsibility for having a creative educational opportunity;
a right to and a responsibility for having the highest quality practitioner-teacher;
a right to and a responsibility for achieving input into curriculum planning;
a right to and a responsibility for achieving self-directed learning;
a right to and a responsibility for achieving equal participation in all areas of clinical practice;
a right to and a responsibility for participating in interdisciplinary activities. Students have a right to due process;
a right to and a responsibility for insuring peer review and self-evaluation. Students have all the rights and privileges of internal governance.
Students have a right to and a responsibility to organize and participate in an organization directed toward achieving professional goals;
a right to and a responsibility for facilitating change in health care delivery through various channels;
a right to and a responsibility for assembling and exploring fundamental and current professional issues and concerns;
a right to and a responsibility for organizing in a flexible structure to encompass and
represent the diversities within nursing and be representative of the fundamental and current professional issues and concerns;
a right to and a responsibility for fostering a better correlation between nursing education and practice.
Article I - Name
The name of this organization shall be the Mid-State Student Nurses’ Association, hereinafter referred to as MSNA. The organization is part of the National Student Nurses’ Association, Inc., hereinafter referred to as NSNA. The organization is associated with the Wisconsin Student Nurses’ Association, hereinafter referred to as WSNA.
Article II - Purpose and Functions
The purpose of MSNA is:
a) To assume responsibility for contributing to nursing education in order to provide for the highest quality health care.
b) To provide programs representative of fundamental and current professional interests and concerns, and
c) To aid in the development of the whole person, his/her professional role, and his/her responsibility for the health care of people in all walks of life.
The function of the MSNA shall include the following:
a) To have direct input into standards of nursing education and influence the educational process.
b) To influence health care, nursing education and practice through legislative activities as appropriate.
c) To promote and encourage participation in community affairs and activities towards improved health care and resolution of related social issues.
d) To represent nursing students to the consumer, to institutions, and other organizations. e) To promote and encourage students’ participation in interdisciplinary activities.
f) To promote and encourage recruitment efforts, participation in student activities, and educational opportunities regardless of person’s race, color, creed, sex, age, life style, national origin, or economic status.
g) To promote and encourage collaborative relationships with the Wisconsin Nurses’
Association, the Wisconsin League for Nursing, as well as other nursing and related health organizations.
Article III - Members
Section 1. School Chapter:
The school chapter shall be composed of at least 10 members from Mid-State Technical College (MSTC), or the total school enrollment if less than 10. There shall be only one chapter in the MSTC district.
Section 2. Categories of Chapter Membership: Members of the MSNA chapter shall be: 1. MSNA chapter-only members:
a) Students enrolled in pre-nursing courses and students enrolled in program specific courses of the Associate Degree Nursing program at MSTC.
b) Students who pay membership dues to MSNA according to the MSNA fee schedule. c) Chapter-only members have privileges of MSNA membership only.
d) Chapter-only membership is for the duration of the program or year depending on payment.
e) Students must be enrolled in a core nursing course to hold the office of MSNA president or vice president.
2. Active NSNA and associate NSNA membership shall be renewed according to the NSNA fee schedule.
Section 3. Dues: 1. Students:
a) The annual dues for NSNA shall be as designated within the membership form from NSNA. The dues year for member shall be a period of twelve consecutive months. b) The dues for NSNA joining for two years shall be as designated within the
membership form from NSNA. The dues for these members shall be a period of twenty-four consecutive months.
c) National and Wisconsin dues shall be payable directly to NSNA. NSNA shall remit to each state constituent the dues received in behalf of the chapter.
d) Chapter-only membership is for the duration of the program or a determined amount per year.
e) Annual dues for chapter-only membership shall be designated in the Spring for the following school year. If a quorum is not present at the Spring meeting dues will be unchanged.
2. Any member who fails to pay current dues shall forfeit all privileges of membership. Article IV - Officers
Section 1. Officers of MSNA shall be a president, a vice president, a secretary, treasurer, student senate representative, and activites director.
Section 2. Eligibility:
a) Only members enrolled in nursing courses shall be eligible for the offices of president and vice president.
b) Any MSNA (chapter only or NSNA/WSNA Members) shall be eligible for the office of secretary, treasurer, student senate representative, or activities director.
c) No member shall hold more than one elected position at a time. Section 3. Term of Office:
The term of office shall be one year from the date of assuming office. Elections will be held each spring for officers assuming positions in May. Additional elections will be held in December when necessary for vacant positions.
Section 4. Duties of Officers:
The officers shall perform the duties prescribed by the parliamentary authority, and more specifically shall include:
1. The president shall:
a) Serve as the principal officer of MSNA and preside at all meetings of MSNA.
b) Represent MSNA in matters relating to the association and perform in all other duties pertaining to the office.
c) Prepare an agenda for MSNA Board of Directors (BOD) & MSNA member meetings. 2. The vice president shall:
a) Assume the duties of the president in the absence or disability of the president. b) Accede to the office of president in case of a vacancy in the office.
c) Attend BOD and MSNA member meetings
d) Contact and arrange for speakers for the MSNA member meetings. e) Perform other duties as assigned by the president.
3. The secretary shall:
a) Prepare the minutes of all business of MSNA. b) Attend BOD and MSNA member meetings
c) Perform other duties as assigned by the president. 4. The treasurer shall:
a) Act as custodian of MSNA funds.
b) Handle needed financial transactions of MSNA. c) Attend BOD and MSNA member meetings
d) Present financial reports at each MSNA and BOD business meeting. e) Perform other duties as assigned by the president.
5. The student senate representative shall:
a) Attend MSTC Student Senate meetings as the MSNA representative. b) Attend BOD and MSNA member meetings
c) Be accountable to the membership for notification of pending student activities and decisions.
d) Perform such duties as assigned by the president in accordance with the priorities and needs of MSNA.
6. The activities director shall:
a) Prepare written announcements (flyers) about MSNA member meetings and events. b) Attend BOD and MSNA member meetings
c) Perform other duties as assigned by the president. Section 5. Absence of Officers
a) Officers who have missed more than two regularly scheduled meetings of any current term year without prior notification to the MSNA President and who offer no valid reason for such absences may be removed from office by a plurality vote of the MSNA BOD. The officer in question will be notified in advance of the meeting.
Article V - Elections
a) Elections shall be conducted by electronic vote to be open and available for one 7 day week.
b) A plurality vote shall elect.
c) A tie vote shall be decided by casting a lot.
d) Persons interested in running for office must fill out nominating papers.
Article VI - Meetings
Section 1. Membership Meetings
a) The privilege of making motions and voting shall be limited to the voting body. A voting member shall have but one vote in any election or on any question. This vote may be exercised in person by the member, or in their absence may be written. b) All meetings of MSNA shall be open unless voted otherwise by the membership. c) A quorum for a meeting shall consist of 10% of the total membership.
d) The President shall have the authority to convene a special meeting at such time as is deemed necessary and shall notify the general membership of such meeting, location, and time.
Article VII - Consultants
Section 1. There shall be at least one faculty consultant. Additional consultants may include faculty or community RNs.
Section 2. The consultant(s) shall:
a) Be responsible for providing for inter-change of information between MSTC, the community and WSNA.
b) Serve as resource persons consulting with the members and officers. c) Attend meetings of MSNA.
Article VIII - Committees
Section 1. Appointments
a) The president, at his/her discretion, shall establish committees deemed necessary to carry on the work of MSNA and determine the functions, terms, and membership of the committees. All committees shall be deemed ad hoc unless otherwise stated at the time of appointment.
b) A quorum for committee meetings shall be a majority of the members. c) Committee chair appointments shall be made by the President. Section 2, Responsibility
a) All committees shall be responsible to the Executive Board for reporting
committee activities on a regular basis and shall, upon direction of the Executive Board, report the same to the general membership.
Article IX - Executive Board of Directors
Section 1. Definition
a) The Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers Section 2. Duties and responsibilities
The Executive Board shall be responsible for:
1. Transacting business of MSNA between membership meetings and shall report such transactions at the next regularly scheduled membership meeting.
2. Filling vacancies in any office by two-thirds majority vote of Executive Board except the office of President.
3. Reviewing monetary disbursements, acquisitions and fund raising activities.
4. Meeting prior to the general membership meetings to develop the agenda.
Article X - Delegates
Section 1. Purpose and Function
a) To serve as spokesperson for MSNA at the state and national conventions. b) Present to WSNA all proposed resolutions or amendments to bylaws or policies
proposed by MSNA.
c) Keep informed as to all current and proposed resolutions at the state and national levels and report information to MSNA membership at regularly scheduled membership meetings.
Section 2. Qualification and Appointment
a) A delegate must be a NSNA member. Chapter-only members may not be delegates. b) Appointment shall be for the upcoming state or national meeting. Eligible members
may volunteer for the appointment. Appointments will be voted upon at regularly scheduled membership meetings. The members(s) receiving the largest number of votes cast shall be awarded the position(s).
Article XI - Amendments
Section 1. This constitution may be amended at regularly scheduled membership meetings by a 2/3 vote of the total membership provided that notice of the proposed amendments has been posted for review at least two weeks prior to the meeting. Absentee voting is allowed.
Section 2. Proper amendments shall be submitted in writing, carrying proponent’s signature, to the officers for review at least 3 weeks prior to the meeting.
Revised 12/11
