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CONSTITUTION

For the Referees Association of Michigan (RAM)

As amended May 26, 2006

ARTICLE I

The name of this association shall be the Referees Association of Michigan (hereinafter referred to as RAM).

ARTICLE II

The Purpose of RAM shall be:
    1. To provide a representative organization for all family division referees in the State of Michigan;
    2. To ensure that procedures adopted by referees will protect the best interests of children and the public in family division matters;
    3. To encourage and assist parties to resolve contested domestic relations matters by agreements;
    4. To utilize procedures that will ensure that persons legally responsible for the care and support of children will assume their legal obligations;
    5. To promote education for referees and attorneys as well as the general community;
    6. To promote positive changes in the family division in the interest of children and families through programming, legislation and communication.
ARTICLE III

      Section 1. Upon payment of dues, all Friends of the Court who also serve as referees of any judicial circuit of the State of Michigan shall be members of this association.

      Section 2. Upon payment of dues, an individual who is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and who is designated as a referee in the family division of any judicial circuit of the State of Michigan shall be a member of this section.

      Section 3. Honorary membership shall be made available to all judges and former referees upon recommendation by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IV (GOVERNMENT)

      Section 1. The Executive Board of RAM shall be comprised of the President, the Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Executive Secretary, and five members-at-large.

      Section 2. The President, Vice President, Treasurer, Recoding Secretary, Executive Secretary and five members-at-large shall be elected by the membership-at-large for two-year terms by written ballot. The President shall not serve more than two consecutive terms in that office. Executive Board member terms will begin on July 1 of even-numbered years.

      Section 3. The administration of the affairs of the association is vested in the Executive Board.

ARTICLE V (LIMITATIONS)

      Section 1. RAM is non-partisan.

      Section 2. Neither the general membership, Executive Board, committees or officers shall take any action which is incompatible with the objectives of RAM.

      Section 3. No debt shall be incurred in excess of the funds in the treasury of RAM.

      Section 4. Any proposal to merge with any other association or organization must be approved by two thirds of the general membership. This vote may be by mail ballot.

ARTICLE VI (AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION)

An amendment to this Constitution may be made: by proposal at the annual meeting adopted by two-thirds vote of the membership present and voting.


BY-LAWS

FOR THE REFEREES ASSOCIATION OF MICHIGAN
(AS AMENDED MAY 21, 2004)

ARTICLE I - MEETINGS

Section 1. Annual and Special Meetings.
  1. The annual conference shall be held each year on dates fixed by the Executive board.

    1. The meeting site shall be determined by the Executive Board. Provided further that, in the event conditions arise subsequently to the selection of the site, which render it unfit or unsuitable, the Executive Board by 2/3 vote may select another site for the annual meeting.

  2. Annual meetings may be cancelled by the Executive Board provided notification and agenda of such meeting is mailed 21 days prior to said meeting. Electronic notification is acceptable.

  3. The Executive Board upon receipt of a request of petition signed by 20 percent of the general membership shall call a special meeting within 30 days. Such request or petition shall contain reasons for requesting special meeting. Electronic notification is acceptable.

  4. The Executive Board meetings are open to the general membership.
Section 2. A quorum for any meeting of the general membership of RAM shall consist of 12 percent of the membership or not fewer than 8 members.
Section 3. The order of business shall be decided upon by the Executive Board and included in the notice given to the general membership prior to that meeting. All meetings shall be conducted by Robert’s Rules of Order, newly revised.
Section 4. Resolutions.
  1. Resolutions for the consideration of the general membership may be submitted by the Executive Board, committees of RAM and/or any member of RAM.

  2. A resolution intended for consideration at a business meeting of the general membership may be submitted in writing to the Executive Board prior to the meeting or may be submitted at the meeting.
ARTICLE II – ELECTIONS OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS-AT-LARGE

Section 1. President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, Executive Secretary, members-at large.
  1. Nominations for the officers and members-at-large to serve a two-year term shall be made by posting contemporaneously with the February board meeting minutes a request that nominations be submitted at or before the April board meeting; then a written ballot shall be made available to the general membership within seven (7) days after the April board meeting. Ballots are to be returned to the Executive Secretary, postmarked no later than seven days prior to the first day of the annual conference or hand-delivered to the ballot box at the conference no later than the day before the annual/Executive Board meeting.

  2. The membership may elect fewer than three people to serve as members- at-large to the Executive Board, if fewer than three run for the position.
Section 2. Whenever feasible it is the stated intent of RAM to promote representation on the Executive Board from across the State of Michigan by domestic relations and juvenile referees.

ARTICLE III – VOTING

Section 1. Officers and members-at-large.
  1. The election of the officers and members-at-large shall be by a majority vote of all members present by written ballot at the annual meeting in even numbered years. If no candidate receives a majority of the votes, another ballot shall be held immediately thereafter.

  2. In case no candidate gets a majority of the votes, the second ballot shall be a run-off election between the top two candidates and shall follow immediately after the first ballot.
Section 2. All resolutions and all other business considered by the general membership shall be approved by a majority vote of those members present and voting except as otherwise expressly provided in the Constitution or in the By-Laws of RAM.

ARTICLE IV – EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of at least nine (9) members, including the immediate past president, and up to five (5) members-at-large if elected and shall not exceed eleven (11) members.
Section 2. Duties.
  1. Executive Board.

    1. The Executive Board shall direct and conduct the affairs of the association consistent with the authorities and powers conferred by the Constitution and By-Laws, and the general membership.

    2. The Executive Board may replace board members who do not function in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws.

  2. President.

    1. The President shall call and preside over all meetings.

    2. The President shall call and preside over all the Executive Board meetings which may include cyber meetings if exigent circumstances arise.

    3. The President shall appoint all committee members, and appoint special committees to study and/or act on special issues of concern to the association.

    4. The President shall be an ex-officio member on all committees.

    5. The newly elected board shall audit the financial account of RAM by December 31 following the election.

  3. Vice-President.

    1. The Vice-President shall fill the office of the President if the President is not attending a session or has resigned for any reason.

    2. The Vice-President shall assist the President in the duties as instructed.

  4. Treasurer.

    1. The treasurer shall receive, deposit, and disburse funds as directed by the Executive Board.

    2. The Treasurer shall present a written financial statement at all board meetings. The statement shall list the total resources of the organization, as well as all debits and deposits since the previous board meeting.

    3. The Treasurer shall submit the books for an audit as directed by the President.

    4. The Treasurer shall see that all checks in excess of $300.00 must be co-signed by the President.

    5. The Treasurer is responsible for maintaining a membership roster.

  5. Recording Secretary.

    1. The recording Secretary is responsible for recording the minutes of all general membership meetings and executive board meetings.

  6. Executive Secretary.

    1. The Executive Secretary shall handle all correspondence of RAM.

    2. The Executive Secretary is responsible for gathering pertinent information, editing, and disseminating any publication RAM may have.

    3. The Executive Secretary is responsible for ensuring that election ballots are posted, distributed and counted.

  7. Members-At-Large.

    1. The members-at-large shall assist the President in duties as instructed.

    2. The members-at-large may be appointed by the President as committee chairpersons.
Section 4. The officers may be reimbursed by the association for the necessary expenses incurred in the performance of duties, approved by the Executive Board.
Section 5. A member of the Executive Board may be removed by a 2/3 vote of the Executive Board.
Section 6. Removal of the President may be instituted by a 2/3 vote of the Executive Board to be approved by 2/3 of the general membership by mail ballot. The reason of said removal is to be stated on the ballot.
Section 7. The President shall make an interim appointment to fill a vacancy that exists on the Executive Board. Said appointment can be overturned by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
Section 8. A quorum for any meeting of the Executive Board of RAM shall consist of the number of members present, but not fewer than three (3) and all matters considered by the Board, except as otherwise specifically provided for in the Constitution or By-Laws of RAM, shall be approved by a majority vote of a properly constituted quorum.

ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing committees shall be appointed by the President. The standing committees shall be: Membership Committee; Legislative Committee; Annual Conference Committee; Wage, Benefits, Standards and Goals Committee; Professional Relations Committee; and Law and Court Rule Revision and Advancement Committee.
  1. Membership Committee.

    2. The Membership Committee shall aid as needed in the recruitment and registering of new members.

    3. The committee chairperson shall report in writing to the annual conference each year.

  2. Legislative Committee.

    2. The Legislative Committee shall advise the President, the Executive Board and the membership regarding legislative matters pending before the State Legislature.

    3. The Legislative Committee shall support and campaign for legislation as directed by the Executive Board.

    4. The Legislative Committee shall meet at least two times a year and shall submit written reports to the Executives Secretary.

    5. The Legislative Committee shall report in writing at the annual conference each year.

  3. Conference Committee.

    2. The Conference Committee shall prepare and advise members regarding an annual conference.

    3. The Conference Committee shall plan and organize the annual conference.

    4. The Conference Committee shall recommend a site for the annual conference.

  4. Wage, Benefit, Standards, and Goals Committee.

    2. The Wage, Benefits, Standards, and Goals Committee shall work to improve salaries and benefits of referees of the State of Michigan.

    3. The Wage, Benefits, Standards, and goals Committee shall advise the Board from time to time as to appropriate standards for the establishment of uniform procedures, operational goals, and other applicable standards for referees throughout the State of Michigan.

  5. Law and Court Rule Revision and Advancement Committee.

    2. The Committee of Law and Court Rule Revision and Advancement shall examine the existing laws and court rules so as to make them more effective and productive in accomplishing the purposes of the family division of any judicial circuit, and to propose to the Legislature and to the Supreme Court action which may be translated into new laws or new court rules to implement and perfect the work of the referees of the family division of any judicial circuit.

    3. The President may appoint such other committees as deemed necessary.
ARTICLE VI – DUES

Section 1. The dues of RAM shall be determined by the membership. There shall be no dues for honorary members.
Section 2. The annual membership dues shall be charged and payable January 1st, and shall be effective from January 1st of each year through the last day of December of each year.
Section 3. The dues may be changed by the membership at a general membership meeting. Any request for a change in dues must be presented to the Executive Board at least ninety (90) days prior to a general membership meeting. Thirty (30) days notice shall be provided to the membership of any proposed changes in dues. The Executive Board must provide a recommendation concerning the change in dues at the general membership meeting.

ARTICLE VII

An amendment to these By-Laws my be made:
By proposal made at a general membership meeting adopted by 2/3 vote of the membership present and voting, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Constitution or in the By-Laws of RAM. Thirty (30) days notice shall be given to the membership of any proposed new by-law or any change in an existing by-law.