INDIANA DIVISION OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR IDENTIFICATION
CONSTITUTION

Originally adopted at the organizational meeting on 29 October 1993 and ratified at the initial business meeting on 14 June 1994.  Amended by Resolution 95-1, passed 16 October 1996; and Resolution 96-1, passed 22 October 1997.

ARTICLE I. AIM AND OBJECT

This organization shall be known as the Indiana Division of the International Association for Identification, a chartered division of the International Association for Identification, and is established as a not-for-profit organization to associate persons working in the fields of forensic investigation, examination, and identification for the following purposes:
(a) to encourage communication and the sharing of ideas and information among the forensic science and criminal justice communities.
(b) to keep members advised of the latest developments in the forensic and identification sciences.
(c) To encourage research into new methods and techniques of forensic investigation, examination and identification.
(d) To encourage professionalism and high standards in the fields of forensic investigation, examination and identification.
 

ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 Membership of this Division shall consist of Active and Associate Members.
(a) Active Members. Any reputable persons who are actively engaged in forensic investigation, examination and/or identification and who are receiving salaries from a governmental agency are eligible to become Active Members of the Division. Active Members shall not lose their status because of retirement or change of position, so long as they remain in good standing, and they may hold office.
(b) Associate Members. Any reputable persons, wholly or partially engaged in any of the various phases of forensic investigation,
examination and/or identification who are not qualified for Active Membership, are eligible to become Associate members of the Division.  They shall in all respects be subject to the same rights and privileges as Active Members, except they shall not be entitled to hold elective offices.

Section 2. Once granted, membership in this Division shall continue so long as the person continues to meet all requirements for membership and pays annual dues as specified in the Bylaws.
 

ARTICLE III. OFFICERS

Section 1. The Division shall have the following officers: (a)President; (b) Vice President; (c) Secretary-Treasurer; and (d) Editor. The President and Vice President shall be elected at the annual business meeting of the Division. The secretary-Treasurer and the Editor shall be appointed annually by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. The terms of all the initial officers of the Division shall commence after the elections at the initial business meeting of the Division and continue through the remaining and the next calendar year. Thereafter, the terms of all offices
shall commence on January 1 of the year following the annual business meeting at which they were elected or appointed and extend until December 31 of that year.

Section 3. Office and duties of the President.
(a)The President shall be elected annually and may not be elected to more than one term in succession.
(b)The President shall preside at all meetings of the Division and will supervise its affairs with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors.
(c)The President shall appoint all committees.
(d)The President shall coordinate the programs of any educational conferences or seminars occurring during his/her term of office.

Section 4. Office and Duties of the Vice President.
(a)The Vice President shall be elected annually and may not be elected to more than one term in succession. If the office of Vice President becomes vacant, the Board of Directors shall appoint an Active Member to serve out the remaining term of office.
(b)The Vice President shall act as presiding officer of the Division during the absence or temporary disability of the President. The Vice President will succeed to the office of the President in the event of the death, resignation, or removal of office of the President, and will serve the un-expired term thereof.
(c)The Vice President shall examine and audit the financial records of the Division and shall report the results of the audit to the Board of Directors and members of the Division.

Section 5. Office and Duties of the Secretary-Treasurer.
(a)The Secretary-Treasurer shall be appointed annually by the Board of Directors, and may be reappointed or removed at any time at the discretion of the Board.
(b)The Secretary-Treasurer shall record the minutes of the annual business meetings of the Division and shall report each year on the proceedings of the previous year’s meeting. He or she shall also record or receive records of the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors.
(c)The Secretary-Treasurer shall receive all funds due the Division; shall pay expenses of the Division as directed by the Board of Directors, Constitution, and Bylaws; and shall maintain accurate records of all receipts and expenditures.
(d)The Secretary-Treasurer shall maintain membership records of the Division.
(e)The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep all other official records of the Division.

Section 6. Office and Duties of the Editor.
(a)The Editor shall be appointed annually by the Board of Directors, and may be reappointed or removed at any time at the discretion of the Board.
(b)The Editor shall prepare and publish annually, or more frequently, an official publication of the Division, containing such scientific and technical material of interest to the membership as is available to the editor and news of the business and finances of the Division.

ARTICLE IV. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of six members: five who shall be elected annually for one-year terms, and the immediate past President of the Division who shall serve as Chair. Elected members of the Board may be re-elected. If there is no immediate past President, a sixth member shall be elected to the Board, and the Board members shall elect a Chair from among themselves.

Section 2. The Board of Directors shall meet at least once annually. At the discretion of the Chair of the Board, any Division member may be included in the meeting; however, only Board members are empowered to vote on any action. The Chair of the Board of Directors shall appoint a member of the Board to record any actions taken by the Board. All meetings of the Board of Directors shall
be considered legal and binding for the transaction of any and all Division business.

Section 3. The Board of Directors shall have full and total control of the affairs of the Division. Actions of the Board shall be by a majority vote of the members. The chair of the Board shall not vote except when a tie is recorded. The Board of Directors shall have final authority over any and all expenditures of Division funds.

Section 4. The Board of Directors shall have the power to try any member or officer of the Division upon any charge affecting his/her honor or conduct unbecoming to a member or an officer, provided the charges are made in writing and signed by the member making the charges. Any such written charges against any officer or member shall first be placed in the hands of the President and Chair of the Board, who shall, within ten days, lay the matter before the Board of Directors for consideration and the Board shall thereupon send a copy of said charges to the accused by certified mail, and the accused shall have thirty days in which to answer in writing to said charges. After a hearing on said charges, the Board shall have the power, if the accused is found guilty by a majority vote, to expel, censure, or admonish said member or officer. Such decision may be appealed to the general membership of the Division at the next annual business meeting, and the finding and order of the Board shall become final unless the Board is overruled by a vote of two-thirds or more of the membership present and voting.

Section 5. In the event any member of the Board of Directors is involved in the actions as described in Section 4 of this Article, either as the accused or as the accuser, or as a witness for either party, that member of the Board shall be considered immediately disqualified and barred from any and all Board deliberations on this issue. Such disqualification of deliberation shall require the President to appoint a Division Active Member, in good standing, to serve as a Board Member Pro Tem. The Board Member Pro Tem shall participate and vote as a member of the Board only for the purpose of resolving the charges filed in accordance with Section 4 of this Article.

Section 6. In the event of the death, resignation, or removal from office of any member of the Board of Directors, the remaining members shall appoint an Active Member to sere the un-expired term thereof.

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS

Section 1. A business meeting will be held annually at a time and place to be selected by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. Such meeting shall be legal for the transaction of any and all business of the Division.

Section 2. The election of officers shall take place during the annual business meeting and the newly elected officers shall take office on January 1 of the following year. The election shall be by written ballot, and the majority of all votes cast shall be necessary to elect any officer. If more than two candidates are nominated, the name of the candidate receiving the lowest number of votes shall be dropped on each succeeding ballot until two names remain, unless on any ballot one candidate shall receive a majority of votes cast, in which case he or she shall be declared elected. Election by written ballot concerning any candidate running unopposed may be suspended.

Section 3. All members are entitled to the floor of the annual business meeting or other deliberative assemblies of said annual business meetings, or committee meetings. However, the Board of Directors reserves the right to exclude any member from the deliberations, testimony or voting concerning charges against an officer or member.

Section 4. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep an account of the proceedings of the annual business meeting. At the President’s discretion, a member in good standing may be appointed to assist the Secretary-Treasurer in this accounting.

Section 5. At the annual business meeting, the Secretary-Treasurer shall present a report of the finances of the Division, audited by the Vice President as per Article III Section 4(c). The records of the Secretary-Treasurer shall be open to inspection by the membership at the annual business meeting.

Section 6. At least once annually, the Division shall sponsor an educational conference or seminar for the benefit of its members and other interested parties in the forensic science and criminal justice communities, at which information regarding forensic investigation, examination and/or identification shall be presented and discussed.
(a)Such educational conference or seminar may be held in conjunction with the annual business meeting.
(b)The Division President shall coordinate the educational conference or seminar.
(c)The Division may charge a fee to conference attendees to defray costs of the conference. If the revenue from these fees is not sufficient to pay expenses, general funds of the Division may be used to make up the difference. Any excess of revenues over expenses shall be placed in the general funds of the Division.

ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENTS

Any motion to amend the Division Constitution must be read and passed by majority vote at two consecutive annual business meetings, then approved by the International body, before the amendment can take effect.

ARTICLE VII. DISSOLUTION

In the event that this Division should be dissolved or otherwise terminated, the assets and income thereof, after payment of all outstanding expenses, shall be transferred to the International body for use consistent with its aim and object.