Woodward Volunteer
Fire Department Inc.
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
PREAMBLE
Be it resolved, that we solemnly pledge to sustain the officer's in the discharge of their duties and hold ourselves bound in honor to conform to and abide by; in every respect; the following Constitution and Bylaws.
ARTICLE 1
Name and Purpose
Section 1: This organization shall be known as the Woodward Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
Section 2: Its purpose shall be to preserve life and property in the Woodward Community Fire Department boundaries in the case of fire and other emergency; and to promote through fire safety education the prevention of such fire or other emergencies.
Section 3: Be it amended to allow for the formation of and the sponsorship of separate but all inclusive body within the department of “Trained Medical Personnel”.
Section 4: To allow for the formation of and the sponsorship of a Ladies Auxiliary to fall within the constitution and Bylaws of this department.
ARTICLE 2
Membership
Section 1: The membership of this organization shall be composed of probationary, active honorary members and the initial Auxiliary membership will consist of the wives of the firemen and girlfriends of single firemen.
Section 1A: All members of the Rescue arm of the department must have advanced medical training and will function under our bylaws but with the control of one of the junior designated officers.
Section 1B: The membership of the Auxiliary will be under its own control with its own officers and bylaws and the department will cooperate on a mutual basis thus allowing it to be a charter organization of the department.
Section 2: Any citizen of the Woodward Community Fire district in sound mind and body; who has attained the age of eighteen (18); who is in good repute in the community, shall be eligible to probationary membership in this organization.
Section 3: All applications for membership shall be in writing and on forms provided by the department. Note: It is important that the department know whether or not the physique of the applicant is such that he will prove as an asset rather than a liability to the department under the rigors of fire fighting.
The applications will be referred to an investigation committee whose duty it will be to investigate the character and standing of the applicant and report the same at the next regular meeting. After the report, a ballot will be taken: when if two (2) or more negative votes appear, the applicant shall be declared rejected. If on the first ballot the applicant is rejected, the Chief may order a second ballot. The second ballot will be final and conclusive. If accepted he shall be admitted as a probationary member.
Section 4: As a probationary member he shall attend all fires and meetings that he is able. During the one (1) year probation, he shall not operate any equipment (trucks & pumps) until he has been trained by the officers of the department. After probationary members has been trained to operate the equipment properly and tested and approved, he may operate the equipment.
Probationary members will be dropped from the department if he misses more than three (3) meetings in a year’s time, unless he has a legitimate excuse for not being there and calls the Chief to inform him as to his excuse. A legitimate excuse will be voted on by the members present each time a probationary member missed the previous meeting.
Section 5: After a period of one (1) year a probationary member may become eligible for election to active membership by passing to the satisfaction of the department at a regular meeting, an oral examination of then (10) questions covering the Constitution and Bylaws of the department. The examination will be given by the Chief.
Section 6: After probationary members has been on the department for twelve (12) months and passed as an active member, the department will purchase a flashing blue light for him to use while on the department. The department shall maintain and pay all maintenance on the flashing blue light unless the fireman is proven negligent. Also, the department shall purchase for the fireman to keep a fireman’s shirt and coat.
Section 7: If there is a vacancy on the active membership list, the Chief or the officers may nominate an eligible probationary member for election to active membership. The election shall be by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the eligible voters present.
Section 8: Any person who has rendered more than five (5) years of distinguished service to the organization shall be eligible to honorary membership in this organization by the members request at a regular scheduled meeting by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the eligible voters present.
The honorary member is eligible to attend all fires and meetings but he does not have to call the Chief for an excuse for not attending meetings. A member at that time of his approval for honorary membership must turn in his flashing blue light (if owned by the department) and all fire fighting equipment. If the honorary member has fire phone, the phone will be removed and given to the next eligible active member.
Section 9: The number of active members shall not be less than fifteen (15) or more than thirty (30). Applications will be accepted after thirty, but a waiting list will be made up and applications will be called in order as they are received in the department.
ARTICLE 3
Officers, Officers and their duties
Section 1: The Officers of this organization shall consist of the Fire Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain, Secretary-Treasurer and Fire Marshall.
Section 1A: The Chief of the department will appoint the following Officers after his election: Communications Officers, Deputy Communications Officers, Photographer and two (2) Fire Police.
Section 1B: In addition to the line officers elected by the department and the ones appointed by the Chief, a Rescue Captain shall be elected from among the ranks of the Rescue arm and confirmed by the members of this department.
Section 2: The Chief shall preside at all regular and special- meetings of this department. He shall preserve order and shall conduct all meetings in conformity with the Constitution and Bylaws. He shall order all disbursement of funds in the hands of the Treasurer by countersigning all checks; he shall appoint all committees and perform all other duties commonly belonging to the office.
The Chief shall have full charge of all apparatus and equipment and building in which it is housed. He shall be in sole charge of this department at fires or drills and no member of this department shall take orders from any other than the Chief or his delegated representatives. The Chief shall be responsible for the efficiency of any and all apparatus used by this department and he shall satisfy himself by personal inspection at least once each week that all means of combating fire are at their highest efficiency. He shall at meetings and at activities communicate such information, facts and remarks as the interest of the department may require. At each regular meeting and special meetings called for this purpose, the Chief shall conduct or have conducted practice drills or training classes covering the handling of hose, ladders, ropes, hookups and those manipulations usually termed fire department evolutions and salvage, ventilations, rescue, inspections, fire preventions and other informal subjects that are of value to a fireman.
The Chief shall have authority by the approval of the trustees or the governing body of the local fire department to make mutual aid agreements with other departments in surrounding communities and take a part of his apparatus and department to their aid when requested. In the event that the fire department and or apparatus responds to a call from another town or community it shall be the duty of the Chief to make arrangements or provisions for suitable temporary protection for his own community.
Section 3: The Assistant Chief shall assist the Chief. In the absence of the Chief the Assistant Chief shall perform all duties of that office. If the office of the Chief is at any time declared vacant, the Assistant Chief shall become the Chief for the remainder of the term of office or until his successor is elected. It shall be the duty of the Assistant Chief to see that all meetings and drills and other department business are conducted in conformity with the Constitution and Bylaws of this organization.
Section 4: The Assistant Chief shall report to the Chief at fires or drills and shall assist him in his duties. In the absence of the Chief he shall be in charge at fires or drills.
Section 5: The Captain shall report to the officer in charge at fires or drills and shall assist them in their duties. In the absence of the Chief and Assistant Chief he shall assume the duties of the Chief. It shall further be the duty of the Captain to act as librarian of the department.
Section 6: The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep a true and accurate account of the proceedings of every meeting in the book provided for that purpose which shall be open for inspection by every member. He shall keep a book containing the correct account of all money received and expended, subject to inspection at any time and give an account of all money on hand at each regular monthly meeting. He shall pay no bill that has not been approved by the department and signed by the Chief.
Section 7: The Fire Marshall at a fire shall fill out a report of each fire in a book provided for this purpose immediately after returning to the station. The report shall state date, time, address, owner, occupant, extent of damage, cause of fire, how extinguished, number of firemen present and their names, and other equipment used. He shall when necessary fill out and send State Fire Reports.
ARTICLE 4
Installation of Officers
Section 1: The election of officers of this organization shall be annual. They shall assume their office at 12:01 a.m. the first day of January. The election shall be by ballot with the selection of Chief first, second ballot will be for the Assistant Chief, third ballot will be for Captain, fourth ballot will be for Secretary-Treasurer and fifth ballot is for Fire Marshall. It shall be held the first meeting in November.
Section 2: All active members in good standing shall be eligible voters.
Section 2A: Members in good standing shall be members who have met the following qualifications:
1. Attended at least 50% of all regular meetings (6) or has been excused by an officer of this department.
2. Attended at least 50% of all training meetings (work nights or other designated training by the line officers) or has been excused by an officer of this department.
Section 3: The offices of Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain, Secretary-Treasurer and Fire Marshall shall be elected with the following qualifications.
Section 3A: All members seeking elective office must have the following qualifications:
1. Attend at least 60% of all regular meetings the past year.
2. Attend at least 60% of all regular training sessions the past year.
3. Any active member who by the records of the secretary shows that he has been excused for the reasons that appear elsewhere in these bylaws will be deemed qualified.
4. A further show of interest in the department maybe required by the membership if requested.
Section 4: On the meeting night set for installation of officers, the head of the governing body shall be requested to be present and administer the oath, affirmation of pledge of office.
ARTICLE 5
Section 1: One third (1/3) of the active members of the department at the time and place of the regular meeting shall constitute a quorum and in all transactions not otherwise provide for a majority of votes cast shall govern.
Section 2: The Constitution and Bylaws may be amended by vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the active members present at any regular meeting provided the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing at a preceding regular meeting. Such amendments shall however, not be considered final until they have been submitted to approved by the governing body.
THE BYLAWS
Section 1: Every member, probationary, active and honorary, at the alarm of fire, shall promptly report to the fire station and assist in getting the apparatus and equipment to the fire and into operation. Every member shall wear all protective clothing provided by the department to all fires. Should the apparatus have departed, he shall go to once to the fire after getting his protective clothing from the fire station. Upon arrival at the fire every member shall serve at his assigned task and assist in any work assigned by his commanding officer. He shall not leave the fire grounds without permission from the officer in charge.
Section 2: On orders to pick up at fires, all participating members shall assist in breaking, draining and loading the lines and replacing the equipment on the apparatus. All participating members shall report back to the fire station, answer the roll call unless otherwise excused by the officer in command. They shall help put the apparatus in condition for the next run before leaving the station.
Section 3: The Fire Department shall meet regularly on the last Tuesday of each month, work night on the second Tuesday of each month, and in special session on order of the Chief.
Section 4: All active and probationary members shall be required to attend all meetings, work nights and drills unless he personally or by written communications to the Chief, a reasonable excuse for his absence. A reasonable excuse is defined by the department as sickness, working, business, out of town or unexpected visitors in the home.
Section 5: Any person responding to a fire emergency or drill in an intoxicated condition may be suspended or expelled from the department.
Section 6: Any member being disorderly towards any officer while on duty at a fire, meeting or any organized function of the fire department may be suspended or expelled from the department.
Section 7: Any member bringing any person into the fire station shall be held responsible for any act that person may commit.
Section 8: Every member of the department shall be provided with a copy of the Constitution and Bylaws.
Section 9: In order to assure that there will be an officer in command at fires, the following shall be the chain of command: Chief, Assistant Chief, Captain, Secretary-Treasurer and Fire Marshall.
Section 10: It shall be the duty of the truck driver to operate the pump unless the officer in charge directs him to another post.
Section 11: Each time the trucks leave the station for a fire, firemen going out will be paid regardless if any water is used or not.
Section 12: Two (2) trucks always go to any fire.
Section 13: An inventory of the equipment of the fire department shall be conducted twice a year.
Section 14: Every month, two (2) members are assigned to check trucks. Each week they shall fill out a check list and turn it to the Chief to be signed.
Section 15: The fire siren located on the fire station shall be blown only for emergencies. Emergencies being defined as fire calls, rescue, tornados and mutual aid calls when emergency conditions exist.
Section 16: Any member of the department off of their prospective job on insurance shall immediately notify the Chief. Any member off on insurance will not participate in any active firemen’s training or fires. Failure to comply may be suspension or expelled from the department.
Section 17: Any member of the department while his drivers license in under suspension, revoked or denied shall immediately notify the Chief. He will not drive any vehicle of the department or any vehicle using a flashing blue light. At the time that his license is reinstated, and all requirements of the state are adhered too, he may than operate the equipment. Anyone driving on SR 21 must prove to the Chief that his insurance covers the driving of fire equipment. Any member who violated this section may be expelled or suspended from the department.
Section 18: Any member of the department whose name comes up to any officer for disciplinary action shall be called forth to the next scheduled officers meeting. The officers’ decision and recommendations will be acted on at the next scheduled regular meeting night.