CHAPTER CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I. Name 

The name of this organization shall be the Western Michigan Chapter, Healthcare Financial Management Association. For the purpose of identification and brevity, the Healthcare Financial Management Association hereinafter shall be referred to as "HFMA".

ARTICLE II. Objectives 

The objectives of the Western Michigan Chapter, HFMA, shall be identical with those of HFMA. The HFMA is an Association of individuals who are organized to improve financial management of hospitals and allied patient care institutions and:

1. To foster and increase knowledge of and proficiency in financial management;
2. To conduct and participate in educational programs and activities concerning financial management;
3. To provide media for the interchange of ideas and dissemination of material relative to financial management;
4. To bring about closer cooperation among individuals of varying disciplines in financial management;
5. To develop curricula and supporting material for use b- educational institutions relative to areas of financial management;
6. To cooperate with hospitals and allied patient care institutions and agencies, and their related associations, governmental agencies, and other interested groups in matters pertaining to financial management;
7. To establish and promulgate principles relative to financial management;
8. To establish standards of performance for individuals and institutions in the various areas of financial management;
9. To do research in areas of financial management to help achieve these objectives.

ARTICLE III. Membership 

Membership in the Chapter shall be open to all members of HFMA who live or work in the area set forth in the Chapter's Charter. Classes of membership within the Chapter and qualifications for membership in those classes shall be the same as those specified in the Bylaws of HFMA.

ARTICLE IV. Activities

1. The activities of the Western Michigan Chapter, HFMA, shall be subject to such regulations as to activities, membership, organization, procedures, and financial relationship as the Board of Directors of HFMA may prescribe.
2. No dividends or pecuniary profits shall ever be declared or paid to the membership of the Western Michigan Chapter, HFMA, or to any other person(s) or entities.

ARTICLE V. Management 

The affairs of the Western Michigan Chapter, HFMA, shall be managed by the duly elected Chapter Officers and Directors. The powers and duties of the Officers and of the Board of Directors are defined in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI. Meetings 

Meetings of the Chapter membership and of the Board of Directors shall be held in accordance with the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VII. Termination of Chapter's Existence 

If, for any reason, the Chapter ceases to function, as for example in the event of its liquidation or dissolution, or the revocation of its Charter for due cause by HFMA, all funds in the Chapter Treasury and all Chapter records shall automatically become the property of HFMA and shall be forwarded to the HFMA office in Oak Brook, Illinois.

ARTICLE VIII. Voting 

Unless otherwise provided in the Chapter's Bylaws, all members of the Chapter, regardless of membership classification, shall have a vote in all matters submitted to a vote of the members.

ARTICLE IX. Bylaws

1. The Bylaws of the Chapter shall be admitted and taken to be its laws subject to this Constitution.
2. The Bylaws may be amended in the following manner:
   1. A Resolution to Amend the Bylaws, setting forth the full text of the proposed amendment, shall be adopted by the Board of Directors of the Chapter, and shall then be submitted to the Board of Directors of HFMA for its approval.
   2. The Board of Directors of HFMA shall approve or disapprove the proposed amendment, shall be adopted by the Board of Directors of the Chapter, and shall then be submitted to the Board of Directors of HFMA for its approval.
   3. Upon receipt of the Resolution by the Board of Directors of the Chapter with the approval of the Board of Directors of HFMA, or upon adoption of a Resolution to Amend the Bylaws embodying the revisions suggested by the Board of Directors of HFMA, in the event that the Board of
   4. Directors of HFMA conditioned its approval upon the revision of the Resolution in stated particulars, the Secretary of the Chapter shall mail a copy of the Resolution to the members of the Chapter entitled to vote on the question, together with a ballot on which can be indicated approval or disapproval of the Resolution.
   5. The ballot shall clearly indicate that it is to be returned to the Secretary of the Chapter at the address shown on the ballot within thirty (30) days after the date shown on the ballot.
   6. The replies shall be opened and tallied by or under the supervision of the Secretary of the Chapter, and the results shall be made known to the membership. The Resolution shall be adopted if it receives the affirmative vote of two-thirds of those Chapter members who constitute a quorum as established by the Bylaws.

1. Amendments to the Constitution shall be made by a two-thirds vote of the Chapter membership voting, provided:
   1. A copy of the Resolution to Amend the Constitution, heretofore approved by the Board of Directors, is mailed to all Chapter members by the Secretary of the Chapter, HFMA, together with a ballot on which can be indicated approval or disapproval of the Resolution; and provided that
   2. The ballot clearly indicates it is to be returned to the Secretary of the Chapter, HFMA at the address shown within thirty (30) days after the date shown on the ballot, at which time the replies shall be opened and tallied and results made known to the membership.

Before becoming effective, any such amendment must be submitted to, and approved by, the Board of Directors, HFMA.