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BYLAWS

SOUTH CAROLINA HISPANIC/LATINO HEALTH COALITION

ADOPTED AT HHC GENERAL MEETING ON JANUARY 11, 2002

Revised October 3, 2006
Revised November 9, 2007

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be the South Carolina Hispanic/Latino Health Coalition, hereafter referred to as the Coalition.

ARTICLE II. MISSION

Section 1
The mission of the Coalition shall be to provide coordinated leadership to advocate for equal access to quality health care for Hispanics/Latinos residing in South Carolina.  Priorities for action will be in keeping with the guidelines set forth by the National Health Care Standards Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS).

Section 2
The core objectives of the Coalition shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. To improve communications among providers, agencies, and the Hispanic/Latino community. 
2. To reduce organizational, systemic, and cultural barriers to health care.
3. To promote “best practices” and cultural competency by agencies and organizations across South Carolina.
4. To foster collaborative efforts and partnerships around specific issues of concern to the Hispanic/Latino population in South Carolina.
5. To serve as a liaison and advisor to public and private agencies and organizations.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1
Types of Membership.

1. Individual Membership: Individuals may become members of the Coalition by application and approval by the Board of Directors.  Membership will be renewed annually.
2. Organization/Agency Membership: Organizations/agencies and sponsors may become members of the Coalition by application and approval by the Board of Directors. Organization/Agency members shall designate up to two (2) voting representatives who shall vote on behalf of that organization or agency in the conduct of business.  Membership will be renewed annually.
3. Corporate Membership: Corporations may become members of the Coalition by application and approval by the Board of Directors. Corporate members shall designate up to one (1) voting representative who shall vote on behalf of that corporation in the conduct of business. Membership will be renewed annually.

Section 2
Voting privileges: Individual and corporate members have one (1) vote; organizations/agencies are entitled to a maximum of two (2) votes.  Each representative with voting privileges may exercise only one (1) vote; a member may vote by proxy in the event the member cannot attend a meeting.  The proxy vote must be made prior to the date of the meeting. 

Section 3
The term of membership is one (1) year. The membership year of the Coalition shall be for one calendar year, from the date of membership dues payment.

Section 4
Members of the Coalition shall neither solicit nor accept, either directly or indirectly, gratuities, favors, or other valuable consideration from persons doing business with the coalition or persons who may benefit from Coalition actions.  No members shall have any personal or transferable interest in any property of the Coalition.

Section 5
Coalition membership may be withdrawn by the individual, organization/agency or corporation upon written notification to the Board of Directors. 

ARTICLE IV. ORGANIZATION

Section 1 The South Carolina Hispanic/Latino Health Coalition shall exist as a voluntary alliance with an elected Board of Directors.

Section 2
The governing body of the Coalition shall be a Board of Directors (herein referred to as the Board) composed of the following: Elected Officers of the Coalition, the immediate past chairperson and four (4) standing committee chairpersons.  The Board shall assume office on July 1st, following the election, and shall direct the activities of the Coalition from July 1st through June 30th of the following calendar year.  Members of the Board shall serve a two (2) year term with the option of a second consecutive term. Initial election of Board members will determine one (1) year and two (2) year terms.  Board members are required to attend at least 50% of all Board meetings.  Any absence must be appropriately excused. 

Section 3
The Officers of the Coalition shall be elected from within the general membership of the Coalition and shall include a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and a Community representative (see ARTICLE V for the duties of the Officers). The only requirements for nomination include active membership in the Coalition for at least one year (e.g., paid dues and attend majority of Coalition Meetings). There is an additional requirement for the nomination and election as a community representative.  The Community representative must be gainfully employed or be actively engaged in voluntary work having direct access with the Hispanic/Latino community on a regular basis (Representative cannot consider information or contact of third parties as “direct access”). The Officers shall be elected at the annual meeting.  These Officers shall perform the duties as prescribed by these Bylaws under ARTICLE V 1 and by accepting parliamentary authority, not in conflict with these Bylaws, beginning July 1st and ending June 30th of the following calendar year.

Section 4

Elected officers of the Board and Coalition may serve for no more than two (2) consecutive two (2) year terms and no Officer of the Board or Coalition may hold more than one elected office at any time.  Outgoing Chair of the Board will serve as ex-officio member of the Board for one year following the end of their two- year term. As an ex-officio member they will serve in an advisory capacity and not as a voting member.

Section 5
Vacancies in any office may be filled for the unexpired term by action of the Board.

ARTICLE V. DUTIES OF COALITION AND BOARD OFFICERS

Section 1
Duties of Coalition officers shall be as follows:

1. The Chair of the Coalition shall be a member of the Coalition and he/she shall preside at meetings of the Coalition.  He/she shall perform other such duties as are provided by these Bylaws, or as may be required by the Coalition, including serving as a coalition spokesperson. The Chair of the Board shall appoint the chairperson of ad hoc committees.  The Chair will be empowered to make ad hoc appointment(s) to committees to fill special need(s) at the discretion of the Chair and with the consent of the Board.
2. The Vice-Chair of the Coalition shall: perform all the duties of the Chair, in the absence of the Chair or in the event of his/her inability or refusal to act.  In doing so the Vice-Chair shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions on the Chair.  The Vice-chair shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as are provided by these Bylaws, or as may be required by the Coalition.
3. The Secretary of the Coalition shall: (1) record all minutes of regular and special meetings of the Coalition and Board; (2) report and correspond on behalf of the Coalition; (3) certify and keep the original and a copy of these Bylaws as amended to date; (4) serve as custodian of all records and historical documents of the Coalition; (5) maintain a Directorship book that contains the name and address of each board member, and, in any case where a Board member has been removed, record such fact in the book together with the date on which the Directorship ceased.
4. The Treasurer of the Coalition shall: (1) collect and receive monies for deposit account; (2) keep full and accurate account of all receipts and disbursements in a ledger belonging to the SCHHC; (3) give financial report to SCHHC Board of Directors at all meetings and to the general membership at Annual meetings; and (4) maintain an updated list of all Coalition members.
5. The Community Representative shall represent the interest and concerns of the Hispanic/Latino community by (1) staying informed of all events, programs and motions that the Coalition is overseeing, promoting or studying (2) collecting community agenda items (3) work directly with the Outreach Committee, and (5) provide a community report at meetings of the Coalition. The Community representative will accumulate, organize and deliver to the Board positive and/or negative feedback from health programs being delivered by health organizations, both public and private, every six months (or more frequently under special circumstances).

Section 2
The Officers of the Board shall conduct the business of the Coalition through regular meetings of the Board.

 ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES

Section 1 The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the Board of Directors and Chairs of standing committees.

Section 2 Other committees of the Coalition shall consist of Standing Committees and ad hoc / Special Projects Committees.  The Chairpersons of all Standing and ad hoc / Special Projects Committees shall be selected from within the membership of the Coalition and shall perform the duties as prescribed by these Bylaws and by accepted parliamentary authority, not in conflict with these Bylaws.

Section 3 The Chairperson of a Standing or ad hoc / Special Projects Committee may serve in that capacity for no more than two (2) consecutive terms.  The term of office shall begin July 1st and end June 30th of the following year.

Section 4
The duties of a Standing or ad hoc / Special Projects Committees Chairperson shall be to: (1) provide direction for implementation of committee goals (2) preside at all meetings of the Standing or ad hoc / Special Projects Committee; (3) call regular meetings as needed and in accordance with these Bylaws; and (4) provide minutes of all committee meetings to members of the Board and Coalition.

Section 5
The Standing Committees of the Coalition shall include, but not be limited to the following:        

1. Communications Committee
2. Development Committee
3. Outreach and Advocacy Committee
4. Nominating Committee

Section 6
Ad hoc / Special Projects committees may be appointed as needed by the Chairperson, may have as members any member of the Coalition, and shall serve for the duration of need.

Section 7
Each committee shall develop objectives to guide its work in implementing the goals of the Coalition.

Section 8
The Nominating Committee shall prepare and present at the Coalition annual meeting a ballot of names of members in good standing for election to the Board.  All nominees must consent to serve before being placed on the ballot.  The list of nominees shall be mailed to the full Coalition membership prior to the annual meeting of the Coalition.  The Nominating Committee shall also prepare and present to the annual meeting a slate of officers for the Board and for the Coalition.

ARTICLE VII.  MEETINGS

Section 1
The annual meeting of the Coalition shall be held annually in the spring.  Special meetings of the Coalition shall be called by the Chairperson or upon written request of one-fourth of Coalition membership.

Section 2
The regular meetings of the Board shall be held at least quarterly.  Special meetings of the board shall be called by the Chairperson, or upon written request of a simple majority of the Board members.

Section 3
The regular meeting of the Standing Committees shall be held at least quarterly.  Special meetings of standing committees shall be called by the committee Chairperson, or upon written request of a simple majority of the Board.   Ad hoc / Special Projects committee meetings shall be held upon call of the committee Chairperson.

Section 4
The purpose of any special meeting shall be specified in the written notice to the members.

Section 5
A quorum for regular meetings of the Coalition, the Board, or any standing or ad hoc / Special Projects committee shall be those members present and voting.  Regular meetings require ten (10) days written, electronic or telephone notice.

Section 6
A quorum for special meetings of the Coalition, the Board, or any standing or ad hoc committee shall be those members present and voting.  Special meetings require five (5) days written, electronic or telephone notice.

ARTICLE VIII. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Section 1
All business of the Coalition shall be governed according to the rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order in all cases to which they are applicable and where they are not in conflict with these Bylaws or any special rules of order of the Coalition or its Board.

ARTICLE IX. IDENTIFICATION

Section 1
The activities of the SC Hispanic/Latino Health Coalition shall in no way encumber or cause liability of the officers and/or members.

ARTICLE X. BYLAWS: ENACTMENT AND AMENDMENT

Section 1
These Bylaws were enacted by vote of the Coalition at its annual meeting.

Section 2
These Bylaws may be amended at any regular or special meeting of the Coalition by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting, if the amendment or amendments have been submitted to the membership at a previously held meeting of the Coalition or in writing to the membership at least thirty (30) days before the meeting of record.  These Bylaws can also be amended by a mail ballot with a two-thirds vote of the membership.

PO BOX 722 | Columbia, SC 29202-0722
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