By Laws
President - Richmond Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association
Chief Edward "Loy" Senter
Vice President - Richmond Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association
RICHMOND METRO FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION
BY-LAWS
(RMFCA)
I. Mission
To promote and foster effective communications and positive relationships between the leadership of the fire & emergency medical services (EMS) departments in the greater Richmond area
To discuss and share ideas, policies and procedures that will be mutually beneficial to the organization members
To collectively voice concerns regarding fire and emergency services issues that affect the fire departments in the greater Richmond area and the fire services as a whole.
To promote fire & EMS in a positive manner, specifically directing our attention to the prevention of fires, protection of lives, accident prevention and the protection of the environment
To develop mutually beneficial programs that are responsive to the needs of the citizens we serve and the firefighters and officers we represent.
To collaborate in the development of model procedures and implementation of mutual aid agreements to enhance services provided by fire & EMS departments throughout the region, while at the same time recognizing the unique service demands and differing resource limitations of individual localities.
II. Organization
The Richmond Metro Fire Chiefs Association is comprised of members from the following Richmond Metropolitan and Central Virginia area fire departments:
Capital Region Airport Commission
Chesterfield Fire and EMS
Colonial Heights Fire and EMS
Defense Supply Center Richmond Fire and EMS
Fort Lee Fire and EMS
Goochland Fire - Rescue
Hanover Fire and EMS
Henrico Division of Fire
Hopewell Fire Department
New Kent Fire and Rescue
Petersburg Fire Department
Prince George Fire, EMS and Emergency Management
Richmond Fire and Emergency Services
The following agencies are accepted and approved as affiliated member organizations but may not vote in RMFCA business:
Virginia Department of Fire Programs
Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services
Richmond Ambulance Authority
Membership categories shall consist of the following:
A. Voting Member – Chief of the department and up to four (4) senior officers approved by the chief of each jurisdiction. The Chief of the department shall update this list at the February meeting each year.
B. Non-voting Member – Senior department officers approved by the Chief of the department.
Note – Any jurisdiction may bring other fire officers or guests to organization meetings.
III. Officers
The Richmond Metro Fire Chiefs Association consists of the following officers who are elected by majority vote and serve one-year terms:
A. President
B. Vice-President
C. Secretary
Officers will be selected from the voting members. Officers will be nominated from the floor during the August meeting. The election of officers will be held during the October meeting. A secret ballot will be used if there is more than one candidate for any officer. A simple majority of the voting members present will determine the officers of the organization. The term of office is a regular calendar year, from January 1 through December 31. There is no limit to the number of terms an individual may serve as an elected officer. Only one member of any jurisdiction may be able to hold an officers position in the organization at the same time.
IV. Meetings
The Association will hold a minimum of four meetings per year, with two additional joint meetings to be held with The Hampton Roads Fire Chiefs Association and/or The Northern Virginia Fire Chiefs Association.
Regularly scheduled meetings have been established in the first week of even months with joint meetings to be held in June and December.
The President may cancel or reschedule the day, week, or month of a meeting with cause and appropriate notification in advance where possible.
The President or a majority of the voting members of the organization may call additional meetings.
The President will determine the location of the next meeting and will notify the membership of the scheduled meeting.
V. Standing Committees
In order to maintain better coordination between the Association members and their departments, the following standing committees are in place:
Executive Committee – Comprised of the President, Vice President, and Secretary and all Chiefs of departments (or equivalent agency head) from each jurisdiction. The committee is responsible for providing direction, guidance and support to all other committees.
Operations Committee – Generally comprised of those members who are responsible for or engaged in fire and EMS emergency operations in their respective departments, including firefighter health and safety functions.
Training and Professional Development Committee – Generally comprised of those members who are responsible for training and professional development or serve as instructors in their respective departments.
Fire Prevention Committee – Generally comprised of those members who are responsible for or engaged in fire code enforcement, fire & arson investigations, public education and other fire prevention and life safety activities in their respective departments.
Recruitment Committee – Generally comprised of those members who are responsible for or engaged in the recruitment and hiring processes in their respective departments.
Administration Committee – Generally comprised of those members who are responsible for or engaged in the administrative, budgeting or planning functions, or in the procurement, disbursement and maintenance of vehicles, equipment and supplies in their respective departments.
The chairperson of each committee will be a regular voting member of the Association. Each committee should have one representative from each member department who shall be selected by the Chief of the department. Committees will meet on a schedule suitable to the members. The chairperson of each committee should be prepared to make a report of any business at a regular meeting of the Association.
VI. Policies
The Richmond Metro Fire Chiefs Association is a professional organization that does not discriminate against anyone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, political affiliation, disability, sex or age.
Members of the association will conduct themselves as professionals when representing the Association or attending Association meetings.
The Association requires that its members conduct all Association business in a professional manner in accordance with standard practices and organizational guidelines.
Roberts Rules of Order will govern any disagreement on procedure not covered in the by-laws.
Meetings will be facilitated by the President and, in the President’s absence, the Vice-President. In the event the President and Vice-President are absent, the Secretary will have the authority to conduct the meeting.
The Association will attempt to maintain a roster of the Association. The information will be disseminated to active members for their use.
These by-laws may be altered by a majority vote of the membership after proposed changes have been advertised to the membership and a period of at least one regular meeting has passed. A motion may then be made to change these by-laws and a majority vote of the members present will carry the issue.
These by-laws were accepted by a majority of the voting members present at a regular meeting on August 5, 2010 to reflect certain scheduling and administrative changes to the established Association by-laws last revised on February 4, 2010.
