BY-LAWS

 

REGION I EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL INC.

 

ARTICLE I

 

Name:

 

The name of this Council shall be “Region I Emergency Medical Services Development Council Inc.”, hereinafter known as the Council.

 

Region I:

 

The Region I area shall be deemed to include the following eighteen (18) counties:

 

              Cheyenne                                  Norton                                  Russell

              Decatur                                     Ness                                     Sherman

              Ellis                                           Phillips                                 Sheridan

              Gove                                         Rawlins                                Thomas           

              Graham                                     Rooks                                   Trego  

              Logan                                       Rush                                     Wallace

                                                                                                              

 

 

Organization:

 

1. Regional Representation - The Council shall consist of two (2) individuals to be appointed by the local Governing Authority of each participating county.  Representatives may serve a two-year term commencing January one (1) of even years. At that time, a formal appointment/reappointment must occur, and the appropriate documentation submitted and recorded at the office of the Region I Coordinator.  

 

2.  The Region I Coordinator shall be appointed and serve at the discretion of the Council. The             duties and responsibilities of the Region I Coordinator are outlined in Article V.

 

3.  Executive Committee - This body shall consist of five (5) members and is comprised of the               Council’s three (3) elected officers and two (2) elected members at large.

 

     The Executive Committee shall make policy, direct staff activities, and otherwise act on behalf         of the Council when time period and/or situational factors do not permit a meeting of the full         Council.

 

     Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by either the Council Chair or the Region I       Coordinator. 

 

4.   Place of Business – Shall be the office address of the Region I Coordinator.

 

      Place of Registered Office - Shall be the office address of the Region I Coordinator.

 

5.       Attendance of the Council meetings shall be open to organizations, agencies, institutions,

          services, professions, and individuals having an interest in the planning, establishment,

          usage, and coordination of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Attendees must be

          recognized by the Chair for comment and shall have no voting privileges.

 

Authority:

           

The Council operates in compliance and cooperation with the Kansas Board of EMS, local government, organizations, agencies, and individuals. In addition, the Council is incorporated, under the laws of the State of Kansas, as a 501(c) (3) Corporation.

 

Restrictions:

 

No part of the assets of the Corporation shall insure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, its members, officers, or other private persons, except that the Corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in this document.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the Corporation  shall not execute any other activities not permitted by a corporation exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

 

Limits of Liability:

 

The Council hereby expressly agrees to save harmless the officers of the Council, the members of the Council, its employees and agents from all claims, suits, actions, damages, and costs of every name and description arising out of or resulting from performances of their duties in accordance with the Council’s policies and its By-laws.  In the absence of fraud, bad faith, or malfeasance, said members, officers, committee members, employees, or agents shall not be personally liable for any obligation or claim arising out of the various activities of the Council.

 

Mission Statement:

 

It is our mission to assist, support, and promote Regional Emergency Medical Services, to enhance their ability in providing optimum patient care to the people in their local communities, and maintain progressive Regional systems and training programs.

 

We accomplish our Mission in the following ways:

 

• Holding meetings of Council members throughout the year for the purpose of sharing ideas, identifying concerns, making plans for activities, conducting council business and sharing current information regarding Kansas EMS.

• Make available to local EMS or other local health care agencies a variety of training equipment (Basic or Advanced), for the initial or recertification training programs.

• Make available a variety of printed materials concerning Kansas EMS.

• Serve as a contact/resource/referral agency to assist local EMS agencies with questions or concerns regarding EMS issues.

• Actively participate in the Kansas Board of EMS meetings.  Regional representatives carry the ideas, suggestions and concerns of local EMS agencies to those meetings.  Upon returning to our Region, information from those meetings and activities is shared with EMS organizations from our areas.

• Work with the Kansas Board of EMS and various other agencies to provide local training programs.

• Regional representatives serve on statewide committees, task forces and training program development projects in conjunction with the Kansas Board of EMS.

• We have established and maintain a communications network through regular mailings, by phone, e-mail, and a web page. 

• Manage, utilize, and distribute funds received in a fair and equitable manner throughout the region.  

 

Goals:

 

The goal of the Council is to enhance the delivery of emergency medical services through regional collaboration, shared challenges, provider education, quality improvement, operational efficiency discussions, and member support.  The Council presents regional concerns to the Kansas Board of EMS and other state or federal partners, advocating for funding, staffing, and equipment needs.

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

Membership Committees:

 

Ad Hoc Committees may be formed with the approval of the Council or at the chair’s discretion.  Non-Council member resource persons may serve on Ad Hoc Committees as the Council so determines.  Such individuals shall have committee voting privileges only.

 

 

Regional Representation:

 

Each county appointee shall have one vote in Council meetings.  A majority vote of

those present shall constitute the decision of the body in the conduct of the affairs of the Council.

 

Individual county appointees shall be permitted to designate a temporary replacement as their substitute to attend Council meetings and to exercise the voting rights of the individual member.

 

Individuals given proxy voting privileges by absent Council members shall present written documentation of such status to the Secretary prior to conduction of the business meeting.  

 

The Council Chair shall rule on any objections, or challenges relative to proxy voting.

 

The Secretary shall enter the proxy's name beside that of the absent Council member's on the roll call sheet.  This will serve as a permanent record of proxy voting.

           

At all business meetings of the Council, those members of the Council present shall constitute a quorum.

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ARTICLE IV

 

Officers:

 

The Council shall annually elect, from within its membership, a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and two members at large.  Election shall occur annually at the third (3rd) business meeting of the calendar year with those elected taking office July 1.

 

Any vacancy of the Executive Committee prior to the annual elections shall be filled at the next scheduled Council meeting.

 

Vacancies:

 

Resignations / terminations of county appointees shall be submitted to the applicable County Commissions, and notifications shall be submitted to the Region I Coordinator.

 

Attendance Accountability:

 

In order to ensure maximum regional representation, the Council shall request replacement of official county appointees whose County has not been represented at three (3) or more consecutive meetings and have failed to send an official proxy in their place. The Region I Coordinator shall make this request to the County Commission designating those appointees.

 

Members may also attend and participate in meetings by teleconference, videoconference, or other internet-based communication platforms.  Such remote participation shall constitute presence in person for purposes of quorum, deliberation, and voting.

 

Voting:

 

Meeting attendees with current appointment forms on file with the Region 1 Coordinator retain voting privileges.

 

Meetings:

           

The Council shall meet bi-monthly, as established by the Council.  Meetings may be canceled or postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.  Special meetings may be called at the discretion of the Chair, Council, or Executive Committee.  Council meetings shall be in open session and minutes shall be maintained.  Seven (7) days notice shall be given prior to the convening of a meeting.

 

Meeting procedure:

 

Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the official guide for the conduct of business at any Committee or Council meeting unless addressed herein.

 

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ARTICLE V

 

Chair:

 

The Chair shall be the chief executive officer of the Council.  The Chair shall be responsible for calling all meetings of the appropriate bodies and shall preside over those meetings. The Chair or the Chair’s designate shall sign contracts when so authorized by a majority vote of the Council or Executive Committee.

 

Vice Chair:

 

In the absence of the Chair or in the Chair's inability to act, the Vice Chair shall exercise all powers and duties of the Chair.  The Vice Chair may have other duties and powers as assigned by the Council.

 

Secretary:

 

The Secretary shall record and maintain the minutes of the Council meetings and shall perform the usual duties assigned to a Secretary.  The Secretary may delegate staff to perform the tasks outlined above; but has final oversight responsibility for their performance.

 

Region I Coordinator:

 

The Region I Coordinator shall maintain a roster of Council members and applicable Committee members.  Applications for council membership shall be processed through the office of the Region I Coordinator.  The Region I Coordinator shall have general supervision of all funds of the Council.   The Region I Coordinator shall deposit all such funds in the name of the Council in such bank or other depositories as the Council may designate.  The Region I Coordinator shall disburse the funds at the discretion of the Council.  The Region I Coordinator shall keep a full and accurate account of all receipts and disbursements of the Council. The Region I Coordinator shall render to the Council upon request, a complete report of the financial transactions of the Council.  He/she shall perform such duties as outlined in the job description and other duties as may be assigned by the Council or Chair.  The Region I Coordinator may delegate staff to perform the tasks outlined above; but has final oversight responsibility for their performance.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

 

Fiscal Year:

 

The fiscal year of the Council shall be from the first day of July to the last day of June, inclusive.

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Conflict of Interest:

 

No member of the Council shall vote on the allocation of funds for any activity if such member has a direct interest in the activity being discussed.  The Council Chair shall rule on any objections or challenges relative to conflict of interest.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

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Amendments:

 

These By-Laws may be amended, altered, or repealed by a two-thirds vote of the Council present at any regular or special meeting duly convened after written notice of any proposed  amendment, alteration, or repeal shall have been provided to the members at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting.

 

Adoption:

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These By-Laws are adopted by the Council and the adoption duly noted this 29th day of March, 1979 and amended by the Council on July16, 2003, July 7, 2004, June 18, 2025, August 13, 2025, September 4, 2025.