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FLORIDA MARINE INTELLIGENCE UNIT
Constitution and By-Laws

ARTICLE I           NAME & OBJECTIVES

SECTION 1:  NAME: This organization shall be known as the "Florida Marine Intelligence Unit" and is hereafter referred to as the "Unit".  The name of the Unit shall not be used publicly by any member without the express written permission of the Executive Board.  This shall not restrict the officers, agents or appointees of the Unit from using the Unit name in performance of the duties of their office or assignments.

SECTION 2:  HISTORY: The Unit began as the Stolen Boat Committee of the Florida Auto Theft Intelligence Unit (FATIU) on January 6, 1986, by providing training on marine theft in conjunction with the quarterly meetings of FATIU.  The Committee was dissolved August 16, 1987, due to the FATIU by-laws restricting the quarterly meetings to only one day of training.  Subsequently, the Central Florida Marine Intelligence Unit was formed to provide a monthly exchange of intelligence and training relating to all aspects of marine enforcement.

On April 26, 1989, at the monthly meeting held in Treasure Island, the membership voted to change the name to Florida Marine Intelligence Unit, expand to a statewide organization, and to meet on a quarterly basis.  On May 31, 1989, an organizational meeting was held in Mount Dora, at which time a constitution and by-laws were approved and the election of officers was held.  The first quarterly meeting was held in Orlando on Wednesday, August 16, 1989 and hosted by the Orange County Sheriff's Office.

The Unit was incorporated in the State of Florida on April 1, 1995.

SECTION 3:        OBJECTIVES:

• Provide marine enforcement training.

• Provide a forum for the discussion of marine related law enforcement activities within the state.

• Unit for the mutual benefit of those persons who are eligible for membership as specified under Article II of these by-laws.

• Accumulate and disseminate information of interest to all members.

•  Focus on the needs of the marine community.

• Operate as a non-profit organization.

• Appropriate no funding for political lobbying.
   
• Study trends in boating accidents and fatalities in Boating Safety statewide.  Present training in this area.
   
• Study trends and present training regarding Resource Protection statewide.

ARTICLE II                   MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1:  LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMBERSHIP: Those representative of municipal. County, state or federal law enforcement agencies who are full time salaried employees with peace officer powers or are engaged in intelligence gathering, Unites States Coast Guard officials, special agents of the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and administrative officials of vessel registering or titling authorities shall be eligible for Law Enforcement Membership provided an application is approved and signed by a Member in good standing and is received by the secretary/treasurer.  The annual dues for a Law Enforcement Member are $20.00.  A $5.00 late fee shall be assessed on dues received after December 31 of each year.

SECTION 2:  NON LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMBERSHIP: Those persons not covered under Section 1 (Law Enforcement Membership), including Reserve, Auxiliary, Marine Industry, Marine Surveyors or Retired law enforcement officers shall be eligible for Non Law Enforcement Membership provided an application is sponsored by a Member in good standing, received by the Secretary/Treasurer and approved by the membership committee.  The annual dues for a Non Law Enforcement Member are $20.00.  A $5.00 late fee shall be assessed on dues received after December 31 of each year.

Non Law Enforcement Members shall have all the privileges of a Law Enforcement Member including voting and may serve as an officer as provided by the by-laws.  At the discretion of the President, a Non Law Enforcement Member may be excluded from any training session or business meeting when the subject matter is of confidential nature and it is deemed for the good of the Unit.

SECTION 3: HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP: By a majority vote of those present at a regular meeting, the Unit may confer a Honorary Life Membership upon any person qualified for membership who has rendered distinctive service to the Unit or its purpose.  Nominations must be made in writing to the Executive Board at least 60 days prior to the voting thereon, and the letter shall specify the reasons for the nomination.  All past presidents of the Unit shall become life members at the conclusion of their term of office as president.  Any life member shall have privileges without payment of annual dues.

SECTION 5:  APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP: All applications for membership must be submitted to the Secretary/Treasurer with the signed recommendation of a Member in good standing.

SECTION 6: DUES: Payable at time of application and on January 1 for renewals. Amount of dues shall be fixed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of members present at any regular meeting and shall be so reflected on the application. Members who have paid the dues are considered "current" members in good standing. Members who are delinquent in their dues are placed in "inactive" status. When any Member is in arrears with dues or other financial obligation to the Unit for more than 12 months, the membership shall be considered terminated by voluntary withdrawal.                

ARTICLE III SECTION 1:OFFICERS: The officers of the Unit shall consist of a President, a First Vice President, a Second Vice President, a Secretary/Treasurer and six (6) Directors.  The President, First and Second Vice President and three (3) of the Directors shall be Law Enforcement Members.  The Secretary/Treasurer and three (3) of the Directors may be Non Law Enforcement Members.

 SECTION 2:  FIRST VICE PRESIDENT: In absence of the President, the First Vice President shall carry out the duties of the President or any other duties so designed by the President.  In addition, as Program Chairman, the First Vice President is responsible for developing the quarterly training program, selection of the training sites and appointing and coordinating the activities of the On-site Coordinator with the host agency.  The First Vice President maintains the Standards and Operations Procedures Manual and provides all new members of the Executive Board with an up to date copy. 

SECTION 3: SECOND VICE PRESIDENT: The Second Vice President is the Membership Chairman and is responsible for the review and approval of all Non Law Enforcement Membership applications; appointment and coordination of Regional Representatives to promote the activities of the Unit and increase membership.  The Second Vice President works with the Secretary/Treasurer to insure that an up to date membership roster is published and distributed by March 1 of each year.

SECTION 4: SECRETARY/TREASURER: The Secretary/Treasurer is the custodian of the Unit's records, including the Constitution and By-laws, financial and tax records and other documents; receive and processes all membership applications; provides copies of applications for Non Law Enforcement Membership to the Second Vice President's records the minutes of each meeting; maintains a current computerized roster of members; publishes the announcement of each regular meeting; maintains a current computerized roster of members; publishes the announcement of each regular meeting; provides membership applications upon request; furnishes each new member a copy of the Constitution and By-laws, membership roster and the names of the officers on the Executive Board; be the custodian and depositor of the Unit's funds disperse such funds as authorized by the President for those purposes which promote the welfare and objectives of the Unit; render a complete summary of all income, disbursements and balances at each regular meeting.

SECTION 5: DIRECTORS: Each Director may be assigned by the President to chair a standing or ad hoc committee and shall actively pursue the fulfillment of these committee responsibilities.

1.    PROGRAM COMMITTEE: determines the location for each regular meeting, contacts a host agency and works with the On-site Coordinator to select a hotel/motel ensuring that a meeting room is available for committee meetings and a room large enough to accommodate the general meeting; having available audio visual equipment as needed for those persons providing training and for the speakers; informing the Chief of Police and the County Sheriff that the Unit is meeting in their jurisdiction.

 2.    MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: makes known to all Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs of the Unit and its objectives; compiles and maintains a current list of all law enforcement agencies and organizations which have an interest in marine enforcement by providing to the Secretary/Treasurer the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of a contact person for each agency or organization and the responsibilities and manpower of those listed; encourage persons working in marine law enforcement to become members of the Unit.

3.    INSURANCE COMMITTEE: develops projects and coordinates communication between the Unit and the insurance industry to encourage a better understanding of the industry's problems relating to marine theft and boating accidents; informs the insurance industry of pending legislative actions which may enhance law enforcement's ability to combat marine theft.

4.    MARINE INDUSTRY COMMITTEE: communicates with the marine industry to develop a better understanding of the industry's problems.

5.    LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE: obtains copies of legislation, both federal and state, relating to marine theft and boating issues; generates model acts for proposed legislation and distributes upon request; makes the President aware of issues which should be of interest to the membership; develops recommendations for changes to the Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC) stolen boat file.

6.    TRAINING COMMITTEE: maintains records of instructors and topics for each seminar; provides seminar evaluations from the membership to be considered by the Program Committee in developing the agenda; assist at each quarterly meeting.

7.    RESOLUTION COMMITTEE: receives proposed resolutions from the membership, determines if a resolution is the most appropriate means of communicating the Unit's concerns regarding issues with the marine and insurance industries, legislation, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) or the United States Coast Guard; prepares those resolutions passed at the quarterly business meeting for the President's signature to be mailed within thirty (30) days.

8.    CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS COMMITTEE: causes any proposed changes to be published to the membership in a timely manner; presents all proposed changes to the membership at any quarterly business meeting; provides the Secretary/Treasurer with an up to date copy of the By-laws to be published and distributed in conjunction with the membership roster.

1.    FINANCE COMMITTEE: conducts an audit of the financial records of the Secretary/Treasurer, renders a complete summary of all income, disbursements, and balances at August business meeting and is responsible for developing the operating budget to be approved by the Executive Board.

2.    NOMINATING COMMITTEE: is chaired by a Past President of the Unit, and co-chaired by all other attending Past Presidents with one Law Enforcement and one Non Law Enforcement member appointed by the current President; interviews those interested in holding an office in the Unit and presents a slate of officers for consideration to the membership at the May business meeting. 

SECTION 2:  COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Meetings of the Executive Board and any Committees shall be on the day preceding the regular meeting at a time as requested by the President.

SECTION 3:  LOCATION: The regular meetings shall be held within the boundaries State of Florida including the Florida Keys.

SECTION 4:  GOVERNING PROCEDURES: The presiding officer shall be governed by the rules laid down in "Roberts Rules of Order" as revised.

SECTION 5:  VOTING: Only Members in good standing may vote at the quarterly meeting on any issue before the Unit and only one vote per Member will be allowed with no proxies or absentee votes permitted.

SECTION 1:  REQUIREMENTS: This Constitution may be amended at a regular meeting of the Unit by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present.  

ARTICLE 1: ASSETS: In the event of the dissolution of the Unit, whether voluntary or involuntary, no member shall be entitled to any distribution or division of the remaining assets.  Instead, after payment of all debts and obligations of the Unit, in lieu of a court order otherwise, the remaining assets shall be donated to a not for profit organization with similar cause as agreed upon by two-thirds (2/3) of those Members attending the disillusionment meeting.