Membership

Section 1.

A. Qualifications for Full Member:
1. Equipped properly to render such services as testing, fitting, providing and servicing of hearing aids on a retail level.
2. Must sign a pledge to abide by the Code of Ethics of the Hearing Healthcare Alliance of Ohio.
3. Can be reached or make satisfactory arrangements for clients to obtain service.
4. Derives a major or substantial part of his/her income from selecting, providing, fitting and servicing of hearing aids and is available for such at regular hours of business.
5. Must hold a valid license to dispense hearing aids in the state of Ohio.

B. Qualifications for a Associate Member
1. A person having met the requirements of the State of Ohio hearing aid dealers and fitters licensing board as a trainee, or an audiology student having met the requirements of the Ohio Board of Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology. Office staff and support personel are welcome to the alliance as an associate member.

C. Qualifications for Sustaining Member:
1. A Sustaining Member must be an individual or company with good character who wishes to support the Hearing Healthcare Alliance of Ohio.

Section 2.

A person meeting the requirements for Full Membership or Associate Membership or Sustaining Membership may apply for membership - Full or Associate - in this Alliance by submitting a request for same to the Secretary in writing.

Section 3.

Any Member whose dues and/or assessment are in arrears for more than three months may be expelled from The Alliance upon the order of the Board of Trustees.

Section 4.

In addition to the pledge in Article 1 Section A2, all Members of The Alliance shall agree to abide by all Rules and Regulations of The Alliance.

Section 5.

The Board of Trustees shall have full authority to suspend or to expel any Member from Membership in The Alliance for cause. Cause may be, but not limited to, loss of State License. Such suspended or expelled Member may appeal to The Alliance for the action taken by the Board of Trustees and have it voted on by the Membership in a regular meeting.

Section 6.

To implement Article lll, Section 5 of the Constitution, the following categories of “Honorary Membership” shall be established:
A. “Honorary Member” to be awarded to persons other than Hearing Health Care Providers whom the Board of Trustees may deem worthy to receive such honor for outstanding service benefiting the hearing impaired or for such services, accomplishments or actions advancing the stature or the objectives of The Alliance. Such “Honorary Member” shall pay no dues or assessments and shall have no voting privileges, but shall receive the mailings of The Alliance.
B. “Honored Member” or “Honored Life Member” to be awarded to Members of this Alliance the Board of Trustees deems worthy to honor for outstanding service to the hearing impaired or exemplary advancement of the stature of the Hearing Health Care Providers or for the eminent and exceptional service to this Alliance. Persons so honored shall retain all rights and obligations of regular membership so long as they qualify for such. Upon retirement or separation from practice, persons so honored shall retain such titles. They shall then pay no dues or assessments and shall have no voting privileges, but shall receive the mailings of The Alliance.
C. “Member of Merit” to be awarded to Members or former Members of this Alliance who through long years have shown loyal support, exemplary devotion or meritorious service to The Alliance and whom the Board of Trustees deems worthy to so honor upon retirement from practice or upon leave of absence for worthy cause. Persons so honored shall pay no dues or assessments, shall have no voting privileges, but shall receive the mailings of The Alliance and shall have the privilege to reactivate their voting membership without payment of retroactive dues provided they qualify otherwise under Article 1, Section 1 of the By-laws.

Dues

Section 1.

The annual dues for this Alliance shall be an amount approved by the majority vote of the Alliance Board of Trustees. The dues shall be payable for the calendar year beginning January 1 and ending December 31.

Section 2

. The annual dues for Associate Members shall be an amount approved by the majority vote of the Alliance Board of Trustees.

Section 3.

An annual donation from Sustaining Members shall be at the discretion of the individual or company.

Section 4.

The Board of Trustees, by majority vote, shall have the authority to reduce the dues, for a period not to exceed 90 days, for the purpose of increasing membership in The Alliance.

Section 5.

The dues shall be payable for the calendar year beginning January 1 and ending December 31. A late fee, an amount approved by the Alliance Board of Trustees shall apply to Full Members and Associate Members in arrears as of March 1.

Nomination, Election, and Removal of Officers and Trustees

Section 1.

At the Annual Meeting held in the Spring of each year, the election of the appropriate Officers and Trustees shall be held.

Section 2.

At the Annual Meeting, the President shall appoint a nominating chairperson and/or committee to make nominations for the appropriate Officers and Trustees to be elected at the following annual Meeting. Nominations for such office and the Trustees may be made from the floor by the Members. The nominator may give a brief statement of the nominee's qualifications.

Section 3.

The voting for Officers and Trustees shall be by the secret ballot in the order of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Trustee. Defeated candidates for each office may be nominated for any office not yet voted upon.

Section 4.

The candidate receiving the highest vote for each office shall be declared elected to that office.

Section 5.

Any Officer or Trustee may be removed, with cause, by the persons authorized to elect or appoint, without prejudice to the rights of such Officer or Trustee.
A. The election or appointment of an Officer or Trustee for a given term shall not be deemed to create contract rights.
B. Such removed Officer of Trustee may appeal to The Alliance for the action taken.

Quorum

Section 1.

A quorum for The Alliance to conduct a business meeting shall be twenty Members.

Section 2.

A quorum for the Board of Trustees to conduct business shall be five Members.

Order of Business

Section 1.

All business meetings of The Alliance shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, except when Robert's Rules of Order conflict with the Constitution.

Voting

Section 1.

Membership cards; A. Each Full Member shall be issued a Membership card. B. Each Associate Member shall be issued a Membership card.

Section 2.

Any Full or Associate Member casting the vote of an absent Full Member shall present the proxy to the Secretary prior to the business meeting.
A. Proxy cards will be mailed to all Members of The Alliance with the notice of regular business meetings.

Section 3.

All voting or elections shall be by a show of hands, unless a Full Member calls for a secret ballot.

Notice of Meetings

Section 1.

Notice of all Alliance meetings shall be sent to all Members by the Secretary thirty days in advance of the meeting.

Section 2.

Notice of all special meetings of The Alliance shall be sent to all Members by the Secretary ten days in advance of the meeting.

Section 3.

The Board of Trustees shall be notified at least five days in advance of the meeting except when, in the judgment of the President, an emergency is at hand and time is of the essence. In such an event, the President shall arrange a meeting of the Board of Trustees as soon as possible.

Committee

Section 1.

The various activities of The Alliance may be handled from time to time by standing or special committee. The chairperson or the entire committee shall be appointed by the President, with approval of the Board of Trustees. In the event the President does not appoint the entire committee, the chairperson shall appoint the additional Members of the committee as he/she deems necessary with the approval of the Board of Trustees.

Grievances

Section 1.

The Board of Trustees shall hear any complaints concerning members of The Alliance which may be referred to it.

Section 2.

All complaints addressed to The Alliance shall be in writing. Each complaint must be signed by the party making it. After receipt of a complaint, a preliminary determination shall be made as to whether there is reason to believe the acts and omissions complained about did occur and as to whether such acts and omissions constitute an actionable grievance.

Section 3.

If such determination is affirmative, the individual against whom the complaint was made shall be notified about the nature of the complaint by certified, return receipt mail to the member's last known address and the complaint shall be referred to the Grievance Committee.

Section 4.

The Grievance Committee, composed of three Full Members appointed by the Board of Trustees:
A. Shall examine and investigate the charges and request and compile information, evidence and explanation from the parties involved.
B. May request the complainant and respondent, or afford the opportunity to either, to appear before it to facilitate its duties under Section 4. A.
C. May work out a satisfactory resolution to the problem among the parties involved.
D. May request the respondent to cease and desist from further acts of the nature specified in the complaint and accept a written statement of compliance to that effect.
E. Shall present to the Board of Trustees the findings of its investigation together with its recommendations.

Section 5.

The individual complained against shall have the right to a hearing-if one was not already so ordered-before the Board of Trustees, upon request, to contend the charges against him/her.

Section 6.

The Board of Trustees may order a hearing on the complaint and request the complainant, the respondent or both to appear before it to present further testimony or information to enable it to decide the matter.

Section 7.

If the Board of Trustees shall find the complaint justified, it shall take such action against the Member found guilty of an infraction of the Rules, Regulations, or the National Code of Ethics as they may feel fitting and proper in view of the gravity of the offense. In its decision the Board of Trustees may:
A. Reprimand the Member.
B. Suspend the Member for a period not exceeding one year.
C. Expel the Member.

Section 8

. Failure by Member to appear before the Board of Trustees, if so ordered in connection with a complaint, may constitute grounds for reprimand, suspension or expulsion.

Section 9.

A Member has the right to appeal the decision of the Board of Trustees as set forth in Article 1. Section 5 of the By-laws.

Exclusive Remedy

Section 10.

All Members shall be deemed to have agreed to the decisions of the Grievance Committee, or in the case of an appeal, The Alliance's Membership, as being final for all purposes and not to bring any action or seek recourse before any other administrative or judicial forum or body on account of any action taken by the Grievance Committee or Alliance Membership. If a member does not wish to participate in a hearing as established in Section 5 herein, written notice of such election must be sent to the Secretary before the scheduled date of the hearing, in which case the hearing will not be held and the recommendation of the Board of Trustees shall stand and be implemented without a right of appeal.

Section 11.

If a Member wishes to resign prior to a hearing, it is the member's right.

Non-Liability

Section 12.

Neither the Board of Trustees, the Grievance Committee nor any of the Alliance Members, Officers or employees of the Alliance shall be liable for decisions rendered or put into effect as provided for in these By-laws, nor for any action pertaining to the same.