This document establishes the basis under which Tri - County REACT functions. These Bylaws were drafted April 1999 and voted into existence May 1999.

Last Revision: January 2005

Section 1.1. Purposes: The purposes for which Tri - County REACT is organized are charitable and educational and include the following:

• To furnish radio communications for emergencies, disasters, and as an emergency aid to individuals;
• To establish volunteer monitoring of emergency calls on CB channel 9 & GMRS 462.675MHz;
• To promote transportation safety by developing programs that provide help, information and communications assistance to motorists ;
• To coordinate efforts with and provide help (in the form of communications or otherwise specified) to other groups, (i.e.), Red Cross, Emergency Management, local, state, and federal authorities, whenever needed;
• To develop programs that teach the proper use of CB channel 9;
• To participate in citizens crime prevention programs where established by appropriate law enforcement agencies;

Section 3.1. Membership: Tri - County REACT shall have two classes of membership, 1. Team membership, which includes the members of the team; and 2. Non-team membership, which includes the families of team members.

Section 3.2. Team Membership: Any individual wishing to become a team member will first go before the Board of Directors for an evaluation. The Directors will vote on whether or not to accept the individual as a new member. To become a member, the individual needs a majority yes vote.

Section 3.3. Tie Votes: In the event of a Board of Directors tie vote, a randomly selected team member will make the deciding vote.

Section 3.4. Board of Directors Voting Rights: The Board of Directors has the right to vote on the acceptance of new members and new bylaws.

Section 3.5. Members Voting Rights: Any team member has the right to vote for anyone running for a Director or an Executive Officer position.

Section 3.6. Denial or Termination of Membership: The Board of Directors by an affirmation vote of a majority may deny application or revoke membership for any team member or life member for cause that is deemed prejudicial to the best interest of the team. Such action taken will be either in writing and mailed to the applicant or existing member or conveyed verbally. The applicant or member will have 45 days to appeal the Board of Directors decision and state why the action should not be taken. The Board of Directors will then have 60 days to make a decision by a majority vote and their decision shall be final.

Section 3.7. Resignation: Any member , Director, or Executive Officer may resign by filing a written resignation with the Secretary, which will then be presented to the Board of Directors.

Section 3.8. Reinstatement: Upon written request signed by the former member and filed with the Secretary, the Board of Directors may by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors reinstate such former member to membership upon such terms as the Board of Directors may deem appropriate.

Section 3.9. Membership Dues: Any member of Tri - County REACT must pay his or her annual dues to REACT International. Failure to do so could result in termination of membership (see section 3.6.)

Section 3.10. Non Discrimination: Membership in Tri - County REACT shall be without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, status as handicapped individual or disabled veteran, or other veteran status.

Section 4.1. Monthly Meetings: Tri - County REACT members shall hold a monthly meeting to discuss affairs the second Monday of the month (unless otherwise specified by the President).

Section 4.2. Special Meetings: The President or any Director may call a special meeting of the Board of Directors outside the monthly meeting to discuss whatever is relevant at the time.

Section 4.3. Place of Meetings: All monthly meetings shall be held at a location agreed upon by a majority yes vote of the Board of Directors. All team members will then be informed of the location.

Section 5.1. General Powers and Duties: The property, business, and affairs of Tri - County REACT shall be managed by its Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors may exercise all such powers of Tri - County REACT as are not by law, or by these Bylaws, directed or required to be executed by the members.

Section 5.2. Number and Term of Office: The number of Directors of Tri - County REACT shall be four (4), but this number may be changed by amendment of the Bylaws. Each Director shall hold office for two (2) years (except for the Executive Director, he or she will hold office for one year unless he or she is elected president again) subsequent to election or until his or her successor shall have been elected or until his or her death, resignation, or removal.

Section 5.3. Election of Directors: Each Director shall be elected by secret ballot casted by every member present. The election shall be held in December of every odd year.

Section 5.4. Removal of Directors:
(a) Any Director may be removed by the Directors, whenever in their judgment, in the best interest of Tri - County REACT. This will be carried out by a majority vote of the total number of Directors.
(b) Should a Director fail to attend two consecutive monthly meetings, it shall be considered grounds for removal unless the absence is excusable.

Section 5.5. Vacancies: Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors shall be filled by the Board of Directors at the monthly meeting or at a special meeting. Each Director so elected or appointed to fill a vacancy shall hold office for the duration of the meeting.

Section 5.6. Informal Action: Any action required to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing setting forth the action so taken shall be signed by all Directors.

Section 5.7. Conduct and Business: Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be conducted under the leadership of the President or in his or her absence, the Vice-President.

Section 6.1. Executive Officers: The executive officers of Tri - County REACT shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

Section 6.2. Election and Term of Office: The executive officers of Tri - County REACT shall be elected every other year by a majority vote of all members. Each officer shall hold office until the next election of officers or until his or her death, resignation or removal. The elections for Tri - County REACT shall be held in December of every odd year.

Section 6.3. Removal: Any officer may be removed at any time, either with or without cause, but only by the affirmative vote of the majority of the total number of Directors.

Section 6.4. President: The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tri - County REACT and the Executive Director, a voting member of the Board of Directors. The President shall :
(a) Sign checks for expenditures as provided in these Bylaws.
(b) Countersign all minutes of meetings.
(c) Coordinate with and assist each member of the Board of Directors.
(d) Provide the Secretary with copies of all Team correspondence sent or received, to become a part of the official Team records.
(e) Perform all other duties incident to the office and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to this office by the Board of Directors.

Section 6.5. Vice-President: The Vice-President shall serve in the absence of the President. The Vice-President cannot hold a Directors position since, in the absence of the President, the Vice-President becomes the Executive Director, voting member of the Board of Directors. The Vice-President shall:
(a) Perform the duties of the Team President in the President's absence.
(b) Assist the President at all times and maintain a working knowledge of all team activities.
(c) Perform all other duties incident to the office and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to this office by the Board of Directors.

Section 6.6. Secretary: The Secretary shall:
(a) Be responsible for the minutes of any meeting;
(b) See that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws;
(c) Be responsible for the records and charter of Tri - County REACT;
(d) In general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary, and such other duties as are provided by these Bylaws and as from time to time are assigned by the Board of Directors or by the President;

Section 6.7. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall:
(a) Receive and be responsible for all funds and securities owned or held by Tri - County REACT;
(b) Provide a financial report on the condition of Tri - County REACT at every monthly meeting;
(c) Render to the Board of Directors at any meeting thereof, or as required, financial and other appropriate reports on the condition of the Team. Render verbal or written reports to the membership as deemed appropriate by the Board, including Bank balances, expenditures, and deposits.
(d) Present all bills for payment to the Board of Directors and/or membership for approval.
(e) In general, perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer, and such other duties as are provided by these Bylaws and as from time to time are assigned by the Board of Directors or by the President;

Section 6.8. Sergeant at Arms: The Sergeant at Arms shall:
(a) Keep order at all meetings.
(b) Work with the Treasurer or other designated officer to keep an inventory of all Team owned or controlled properties and equipment. To keep such items in good operating condition.
(c) Perform all other duties incident to the office and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to this office by the Board of Directors.

Section 7.1. Individual Directors: The individual Directors shall be the Executive Director, Director of Operations, Director of Finance, and Director of Foreign Affairs.

Section 7.2. Executive Director: Anyone elected President will automatically become the Executive Director. The Executive Director shall work with the Secretary and the Treasurer to conduct such routine business of Tri-County REACT that requires Board action but does not require, in the opinion of the Directors, participation by the entire Board. Examples include such duties as:
(a) Convening all meetings of the Board of Directors;
(b) Signing checks and approving payment that exceeds the level of authority delegated to the Treasurer;
(c) Be responsible for the development and long-range planning of Tri-County REACT.

Section 7.3. Director of Operations: The Director of Operations shall work with the Executive Director and he or she shall be responsible for developing a plan of action with the Executive Director for any event or disaster worked by Tri-County REACT.

Section 7.4. Director of Finance: The Director of Finance shall work with the Executive Director and the Treasurer to provide rules and procedures for the authorization of expenditures and the approval of vouchers for the payment of money, review and recommend a budget for the ensuing fiscal year, and conduct periodic audits of the financial records of Tri-County REACT.

Section 7.5 Director of Public Information: The Public Information Director shall work with the Executive Director and be responsible for generating public awareness of Tri-County REACT. He or she will be the spokesperson for Tri-County REACT for the press, general public, and other REACT team.

Section 8.1. Location: The books and records of Tri-County REACT shall be located at the Secretary’s residence.

Section 8.2. Inspection: The books and records of Tri-County REACT shall be open to inspection by any member of the Board of Directors at all times; and open to inspection by the members at such times, and subject to such regulations as the Board of Directors may prescribe.

Section 9.1. Compensation of Directors: Directors shall not receive any compensation from Tri-County REACT for their services as Directors.

Section 9.2. Fiscal Year: The fiscal year of Tri-County REACT shall be the calendar year ending on the 31st day of December each year.

Section 9.3. Budget: With recommendations from the Director of Finance and the Treasurer, the Board of Directors shall adopt in advance of the next fiscal year, an annual operating budget covering all activities of Tri-County REACT.

Section 9.4. Amendment of Bylaws: These Bylaws may be added to, altered, amended, or repealed by publishing such proposed changes along with the reason for the recommended change by the Board of Directors and sent to every team member for a vote of approval for such change.