RBCERTAA
Hotline
(310) 217-7682

Emergency Info AM 1630

EMAIL
rbcertaa@aol.com

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The headquarters for this association is located at:
Redondo Beach Fire Department, Fire Station 1,
401 S. Broadway
Redondo Beach CA  90277

Redondo Beach CERT Alumni Association
P.O. Box 1894,
Redondo Beach CA  90278

• The purpose of this association is to organize and maintain the skill levels of CERT graduates.
• This is done by attending and supporting ongoing emergency response training.
• Members are encouraged to achieve a high level of preparedness, and provide volunteer support to the Redondo Beach Fire Department (RBFD), when a major disaster strikes, or when activated by the RBFD, in the event of an emergency.

• Members of this alumni association must be graduates of the RBFD (or other FEMA certified), CERT Training Programs.
• Members are encouraged to attend at least two training sessions (drills) per year, provided by the RBFD.
• Members are encouraged to maintain current American Red Cross/American Heart Association First Aid and CPR certificates.
• Members shall be registered with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, as a Disaster Service Worker, operating through the RBFD.
• Members agree to be guided by the Articles of these by-laws, and procedures set forth in the RBCERTAA Operations Manual.

membership meetings:

• General meetings of the association will be held three times per year, or as directed by the Board of Directors (BOD), with a two-week notice given.
• Their purpose is to inform the membership, and gain feedback on community issues.
• Members are notified of meetings with the CERTAA Newsletter, and the CERTAA phone and e-mail tree.
• Meeting agenda items shall include, but are not limited to: Call to Order, Approval of Minutes; Old Business (Treasurer’s report, Committee reports), New Business, Announcements, Open forum and Adjournment.  

BOARD meetings:

• Board of Directors’ meetings will be held monthly or as directed by the Board of Directors.
• Meeting agenda items shall include, but are not limited to: Call to Order, Approval of Minutes; Old Business (Treasurer’s report, Committee reports), New Business, Announcements, Open forum and Adjournment.

• The general membership votes for the Board of Directors (BOD).  This occurs at a membership meeting or drill, as called by the BOD. Voting for Board Members is scheduled for a June meeting each year. 
• Nominations for BOD are scheduled for a May meeting each year.  Nominations for the BOD are taken from the floor, with no second required.  Nominations are accompanied by a synopsis of the candidates’ qualifications. Proxy nominations are accepted, if qualified.
• To be eligible to be a Board Member, at the time of nomination, one must meet all of the following requirements:

o       Maintain and present verification of valid CPR and First Aid certification documentation

o       Attend at least one (2) Board Meetings within the past six (6) months.  

• The Secretary of the Board compiles the candidate’s synopses, which are mailed (or e-mailed) to each active member, two weeks prior to the election. 
• The Secretary of the Board has the RBFD Liaison draw, at random, the names of the candidates.  This order of names is put on the ballot.
• Ballots are distributed at the June meeting, and each member votes for 11 candidates.
• The RBFD Liaison collects and tallies the ballots and announces the eleven new Board Members.

• There shall be no more than eleven (11) members of the Board. 
• The term of office is one year.  Directors may be re-elected, without term limit.
• Directors shall maintain current American Red Cross/American Heart Association First Aid and CPR certificates. 
• Directors are responsible for the maintenance and well being of the Association.
• The Board of Directors meets once a month, or as voted by the BOD, but no less than four (4) meetings a year.
• A vacancy of the Board of Directors, including Officers, may be replaced between General elections with a nomination by a Board Member and a majority vote of the Board at the next scheduled Board of Directors’ Meeting. All candidates must comply not only with the eligibility requirements set forth in Article VI, but also with the Voting Requirements set forth in Article VI as it pertains to the Candidate Synopsis provisions.
• Replacement Officers are chosen from amongst the current Board of Directors.
• Board Members (and Officers) may be removed by the Board of Directors, between elections, with a motion by a Board Member to remove, and a 2/3 vote of the total membership of the Board, at the next scheduled Board Meeting.

• The officers of the Association shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and shall make up the Executive Board of the Board of Directors.
• The President serves as chairperson of the Association meetings, and is liaison between the Association and the RBFD.
• The Vice President shall serve in the absence of the President.
• The Secretary shall take minutes and keep a book of signed Board Meeting minutes, and provide written and verbal reports at all Board Meetings and General Meetings.
• The Treasurer shall receive and deposit all monies, keep and maintain accurate books of accounts and prepare and submit monthly and yearly financial reports.  The Treasurer shall be responsible for obtaining two (2) signatures on all RBCERTAA bank drafts.
• The Officers shall be chosen by the Board of Directors, at the next scheduled Board meeting following the election of the new Board of Directors.
• Officers may serve two (2) consecutive terms in a particular office.
• Officers may be removed from office through the same procedure as a member of the Board.
• The Executive Board interfaces with other organizations and speaks for the Association, when asked to do so, by the President.  The Executive Board prepares the agenda for the monthly Board of Directors meetings.
• An ex-officio representative from the RBFD shall serve as liaison and technical advisor to the Association.
• Counsel to the President is an honorary title, conferred on the immediate past president, as a recognition for his/her past service & contribution to the Alumni Association.  The Counsel to the President will provide support & advice to the current President, but only if asked to do so. There are no voting rights associated with this position. The Counsel to the President will not be a part of the Executive Board, unless the individual is elected to an Executive Office, or is invited by an Executive Officer to attend.

• The Board of Directors (BOD) shall create committees, projects and committee/project leaders, for special purposes. 
• Only members of this alumni association shall be chosen by the board to chair committees and projects.  
• The BOD shall appoint the membership of a committee, and remove committee members. 
• The Executive Board monitors the progress of committees and projects, and reports to the BOD.
• All activities, including fund raising, are proposed to the BOD, prior to any activity.
• The Board of Directors votes on all activities and projects.

• Amendments to the by-laws may be made by the Board of Directors. 
• The proposed amendment to the by-laws is presented to the Board, by a Board Member, with a motion to adopt.
• The proposed amendment to the by-laws is copied to all Board Members, within ten days of the next scheduled Board meeting.
• A vote on a motion to amend the by-laws takes place at the next scheduled Board meeting.
• A two-thirds (⅔) vote of the Board members present, at the next Scheduled Board Meeting, is required to pass the amendment.

• All funds accrued by the Association shall be used for and to the advantage of the Membership, the good of the community and in support of the purposes of RBCERTAA.  
• The Treasurer shall be responsible for the collection and disbursement of funds, at the direction of the Board of Directors.
• All disbursements in excess of $250.00 shall require a ⅔ vote of the entire Board.

• The Board of Directors (BOD) shall approve the substance and content of all electronic and printed media that is associated with or related to the Association.  Included is anything that is identified with the RBCERT logo, or the RBCERTAA name or acronym. 
• The exception is personal e-mail, or correspondence between the membership.

• All records and reports of the Association shall be maintained by the Secretary of the Board of Directors (BOD). 
• This includes meeting minutes, committee reports, and other documents and reports generated by and pertaining to the Association.  
• Records and reports shall be kept loose bound, in chronological order. 
• All records and reports are available for viewing with appropriate notice to the Secretary.

-  Refer to separate document, entitled “Officers’ Responsibilities”.  This was approved by the Board of Directors – 8 August 2002

-  Amendment Approved, to add the position of Counselor to the President, to the “Officers’ Responsibilities”.  This was approved by the Board of Directors – 6 April 2004.

-  Refer to separate document, entitled “Election Procedures”.  This was approved by the Board of Directors – 13 June 2002

-  Amendment Approved, to add the “May Training/drills” to Nominations section. This was approved by the Board of Directors – 13 February 2003

-  Amendment Approved, to add third additional requirement to Nominations section. This was approved by the Board of Directors – 10 April 2003

-Amendment Approved to change the following:  Third bullet point of Article VI of the By-Laws (Voting Eligibility Requirements), sixth bullet point of Article VIII of the By-Laws, third and fourth bullet point under the Nominations provision of Elections Procedures – These were approved by the Board of Directors – 03 May 2006

-Amendment Approved to change Article XII line 3 from "A Board Member shall chair all committees and projects" to "Only members of this alumni association shall be chosen by the board to chair committees and projects" This was approved by the Board of Directors –03 April 2007

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