CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE      

SPOKANE ADJUSTERS ASSOCIATION

                                                    ARTICLE I

                                    (Name and Form of Organization)

Section 1.

The name of this Association shall be the SPOKANE ADJUSTERS ASSOCIATION.

Section 2

The Spokane Adjusters Association shall be a Not for Profit Association organized under the laws of the State of Washington .

                                                   ARTICLE II

                                             ( Mission Statement)

The Spokane Adjusters Association is committed to the education and professional development of our members by facilitating the systematic study of recognized courses in insurance claims, law and management.  The Spokane Adjusters Association will focus on the development of the whole adjuster by encouraging among adjusters and management the adoption of a career path which will meet and exceed employer guidelines and expectations, and will lead to the attainment of the recognized professional designations befitting the individual effort of the adjusters and their professional growth.

                                                   ARTICLE III         

                                                   (Membership)

Section 1.

A. Those eligible for Active membership are defined as company adjusters, licensed    

      adjusters, licensed appraisers, the management of each, those who assist in the

      management of insurance claims for insurance carriers, agents, brokers, independent

      adjusting firms, and self-insurers, and attorneys a law, the majority of whose work is the

      business of insurance defense.  It shall also include those who have honorably retired

      from the profession and who wish to maintain contact with their former peers.  It shall   

      specifically exclude public adjusters and those who adjust claims without legal standing   

      to do so. Active members in good standing shall be eligible to vote in elections and on matters    

      pertaining to the operation of the Association

B.  Those eligible for Associate membership are defined as Contractors, Engineers, 

      Architects, Medical Service Practitioners, Accountants, Accident Reconstructionist,  

      Investigators, Cause and Origin Experts, and those other Service Providers whose

       Occupations support the Active members in the investigation, evaluation and resolution

       of Insurance claims.  Associate members shall not have voting privileges in this Association.

Section 2.

The Insurance Commissioner of the State of Washington and any Deputy, upon application for approval of membership, may become a member without payment of dues and without privilege to vote.

Section 3.

Any eligible person shall be enrolled as a member upon filing with the Treasurer an annual membership application accompanied by the first year’s dues, upon the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 4.

Any member may be expelled from membership for just and due cause by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present and voting at a regular business meeting following any proceeding

regular meeting where it was announced by the presiding officer that it was the intention to take such a vote. 

Section 5.

Any member whose dues are ninety days in arrears is automatically dropped from membership and to reinstate must apply as a new member.

Section 6.

All retired adjusters will be considered “lifetime” members, not subject to payment of dues, providing they were in current membership with the Association preceding their retirement.

                                                       ARTICLE IV

                                                          (Officers)

Section 1.

The officers of the Association shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Past President.

Section 2.

At each election of Officers, each Officer shall be considered a nominee of the next higher office.  The Secretary and Treasurer may declare they desire to stay at their current position or want to move up to the next position. 

Section 3.

Each Officer shall take office on the first of September and shall continue in office until their successor is elected and takes office for the next yearly term.

Section 4.

When a vacancy occurs during a term of an Officer, the executive committee will select an individual from the membership to complete the term.

Section 5.

Only Active members with voting privilege shall be eligible to nomination and election to office.

                                                      ARTICLE V

                                       (Duties of Officers)

Section 1.

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association.  The President may call special meetings whenever such meetings seem necessary or advisable.

Section 2.

The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President when the latter is absent or incapacitated; is responsible for arranging a qualified speaker for an Association meeting, if one is desired, and shall be done no later than the first day of the month proceeding the monthly meeting.  

Section 3.

The Secretary shall take minutes of all business meetings, handle correspondence for an on behalf of the Association; arrange for cards, flowers, etc., for member of the Association who are ill, hospitalized, etc.; keep an active register of the membership showing name, addresses and companies represented; collect mail for the Association, and perform all other duties ordinarily incidental to the office of Secretary.

Section 4.

The Treasurer shall collect and be the custodian of the dues and any assessments voted by the membership and disperse these funds in accordance with the direction of the vote of membership; and perform all other duties ordinarily incidental to the office of Treasurer.

Section 5.

The immediate Past President acts as an advisor to the President and will perform duties at the request of the President.

                                                     ARTICLE VI

                                  (The Executive Committee)

Section 1.

There shall be an Executive Committee of the Association comprised of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and immediate Past President.

Section 2.

The Executive Committee, subject to the supervision and approval of the Association, shall have the general control of the Association’s affairs.  All matters requiring deliberation and investigation may be referred to the Executive Committee for its consideration and recommendation.  It may be given full power to act by the Association in all matters so referred.  

                                                      ARTICLE VII

                                                         (Meetings)

Section 1.                                                       

It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee upon accession to office to appoint the standing committees.  They will also appoint such special committees as they shall deem necessary during their terms of office.

Section 2.

A chairperson will be selected for each committee.  He/She must be a member with voting privileges.  The committee chair will be selected by the Executive Committee.

Section 3.

The standing committees and their duties shall be:

(A)  Steering Committee – The committee consists of the Past President and a minimum of three members selected by the Executive Committee to assist the Executive Committee in operations, planning and direction of the organization.

(B)   Seminar Committee – The chairperson will report directly to the Vice President.  The chairperson shall select a committee of interested members to participate in program and site selection.  The seminar will be held during the month of October each year unless restrictions prevail.  The chairperson will make a written report to the Executive Committee within sixty (60) days of the event.  This report should be a brief overview of procedures, deadlines, difficulties, etc.  The chairperson will make arrangements for site location for the following year due to difficulty in obtaining a site on short notice.

(C)  Continuing Education Committee – The chairperson will report directly to the President.  The chairperson shall select a committee of interested members to participate in the selection of courses of study (i.e. CPCU, AIC, SCLA, etc.) that are of interest to the membership, and assist members with direction on the available continuing educational opportunities.

(D)  Membership Committee – The chairperson will report directly to the Secretary.  The chairperson shall select a committee of interested members to participate in recruiting and maintaining a thriving membership.

(E)   Golf Committee – The chairperson shall report to the Treasurer.  The chairperson shall select a committee of interested members to arrange a site location and dinner.  The tournament shall be held in the month of June unless restrictions prevail.  The chairperson will make a written report to the Executive Committee within sixty (60) days of the event.  This report should be a brief overview of procedures, time limits, deadlines, expenses, difficulties, etc.

(F)   Holiday Event - The chairperson shall report to the Secretary.  The chairperson shall select a

committee of interest members to participate in the format and site selection.  The Holiday     

function will be held in the month of December.  The chairperson will report in written form

within sixty (60) days following the event.  The report should be a brief overview of

procedures, time limits, deadlines, expenses, difficulties, etc. from this function.

NOTE:  Site selection for Seminar, Golf Tournament and Holiday Event for the following year should be arranged and secured by the acting committee chairperson.  This should be confirmed in written form from the facility chosen.

ARTICLE VIII

(Elections and voting)

Section I

1. Active members may vote in elections and participate in the business of the organization.

2. Associate members have no voting rights in this organization.

Section II

1. Motions concerning the day to day operations of the organization may be made and voted on during the same business meeting.  All motions must be seconded in order for the membership to consider them for vote.

2. A simple majority of the active members present at any regular business meeting shall be adequate to pass a motion concerning day to day operations of the organization.

Section III

1. Motions for adoption of Amendments must be made and seconded prior to any discussion by the membership at a regular Association meeting.

2. The vote to adopt an Amendment to the Constitution and Bylaws will be conducted among the Active members present at the next meeting following its publication in the organization’s monthly newsletter.

3. A majority of the Active members present at a regular business meeting shall be sufficient to pass a motion to adopt an Amendment to change the Constitution and Bylaws.

Section IV.

1. Nominations of Officers shall be conducted at the April and May meetings of the Association. Only Active members in good standing may be elected as an officer of the Spokane Adjusters Association. The nominee must agree in advance to accept the nomination.

2. Any nominee must be seconded in order for that candidate to be placed on the ballot.

3. The right to vote in the Annual Election is reserved for those Active members in good standing with the organization.

4. After the nominations have ceased, the Secretary shall prepare ballots to be mailed to the mailing address of each Active member of this Association whose membership is in good standing. This mailing shall include a self-addressed Stamped envelope for the ballot to be returned to the Association’s Post Office Box.

5. In Order for a Ballot to be considered, it must be postmarked and received in the Association’s Post Office Box by the day before the Association’s Annual Golf Tournament.

6. The results of the Ballot for the Election of Officers shall be announced at the Association’s Annual Golf Tournament.

                                                         ARTICLE IX

                                                              (Dues)

Section 1.

Association dues are for one (1) year beginning in September and ending in August.  Each member of the Association shall pay yearly dues in advance of or at the September meeting.

Section 2.

Membership to the Association is non-transferable, not pro-rated and dues are non-refundable without prior written approval from the Executive Committee.  Each year’s dues are set by the Executive Committee and approved by membership based upon the annual objectives and needs of the Association.  Any changes will be proposed in the April meeting for discussion, and voted upon in the May meeting.

                                                           ARTICLE X

                                                  (Procedure of Meetings)

The order of Business shall be:

A-    Call to Order

B-     Minutes of previous meeting

C-     Report of the Treasurer

D-    Report of the Committees

E-     Unfinished Business

F-      New Business

G-    Old Business

H-    Luncheon

I-       Program Speaker/Educational meeting

J-       Adjournment

                                                        ARTICLE XI

                                             (Amendments)

Proposed amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws must be submitted in writing to the President or Secretary. Any proposed amendments shall be published and shared with the members and discussed at the next meeting following the publication.  The proposals will be voted upon at the next scheduled monthly meeting.

These Spokane Adjusters Association Bylaws were amended and ratified this 19^th day of April, 2007. 

Let the record show that I, Robert Carr, President of the Spokane Adjusters Association for the membership year of September 2006 through August 2007 state the above Constitution and Bylaws were distributed to the Executive Committee and all interested Association members.

Officers of Record 2006-2007

Robert Carr, President

Mark Schafer  – Vice President

John Scribner  – Secretary