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ARTICLE I

 Name
Section 1.
The name of this association shall be: The Florida Surety Association
ARTICLE II Purpose
Section 1.
With the purpose of improving the service rendered to the community by the underwriters of corporate suretyship, the Association shall promote understanding among its members through the study and discussion of local surety problems and matters relating thereto; provide a central facility for correspondence with other organizations and with public bodies; disseminate useful and interesting information and perform such other functions as may be incidental to the foregoing.
ARTICLE III Membership
Section 1.
Members are defined as an employee vested with authority as a representative of a company transacting any class of fidelity, surety and forgery business and shall in his individual capacity be eligible to membership in the Association; provided that two or more members representing the same company shall be entitled collectively to only one vote, and that a member representing more than one company shall have only one vote.
Section 2.
The Florida Surety Association will also accept duly licensed independent insurance agents as Associate Members. Such Associate Members will have all of the rights and the privileges of a member except that they will not be eligible to be an officer as defined in Article 4, Section 1, of the By-Laws, or vote on any administrative question or election.
Section 3.
Members as defined in Article III, Sections 1 & 2, will be accepted for membership in the following manner:
A. They will submit a written application to the President.
B. Associate member candidates only must also submit two letters of recommendation for membership from two separate companies with the written application.
C. Membership committee recommends acceptance to the general membership at the next regular scheduled meeting;
D. Acceptance by majority of membership present at such meeting.
Section 4.
In order to regulate, in accordance with the By-Laws of this Association, the acceptance of and continuance of membership In this Association, a membership committee will be appointed by the executive committee; and the membership committee will consist of no less than five members representing different companies including in all cases the current President, and immediate past President. Membership committee will vote on recommendations and this vote will be a majority allowing but one dissenting vote. The immediate past President will chair this committee with the current President acting in his absence.
Section 5.
Any Member or Associate Member of the Association may at any time withdraw from the Association by filing his resignation with an officer of the Association.
Section 6.
The Association shall be the judge of the qualifications of its members and associate members, but no such member shall be expelled except for reasonable cause by vote of two-thirds of all members of the Association qualified to vote.
Section 7.
Upon termination of any member or Associate Member of the Association for any reason or cause whatsoever, such member shall have no rights whatsoever, to any of the assets of the Association.
ARTICLE IV Officers
Section 1.
The Officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The Officers shall be elected by a majority vote at the Annual Meeting of the Association, candidates to be selected per Article VI, Section 5. Each Officer shall serve for one year from the date of his election or until successor is elected.
Section 2.
In the event of transfer or resignation of an Officer, the Executive Committee will appoint a replacement to fill the unexpired term, appointment to be ratified by the Association at the next State Meeting.
ARTICLE V Duties of Officers
Section 1.
The President shall preside at all State Meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee. He may call Special Meetings of the Association whenever Special Meetings seem to him necessary of advisable and he shall call such meetings at any time upon written request of three Members.
Section 2.
The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President when the later is absent or incapacitated.
Section 3.
The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping the Minutes of State Meetings of the Association, shall be custodian of its records, shall be responsible for compiling the agenda for State Meeting, and shall conduct the correspondence of the Association except in cases where the President may desire, of may be requested by the Association to conduct it.
Section 4.
The Treasurer shall collect, hold, disburse and account for the funds of the Association in such a manner as the Association may prescribe.
Section 5.
The Officers of the Association shall also perform such other duties as commonly pertain to their respective officers.
Section 6.
Any Officer who is unable to attend a State Meeting will be responsible for arranging for a member of the Association to represent him.
ARTICLE VI Executive Committee
Section 1.
There shall be an Executive Committee of the Association consisting of the President, the Vice President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. The President of the Association and the Secretary thereof shall be, respectively, the Chairman and the Secretary of the Executive Committee.
Section 2.
Not more than one person connected with any one surety company, or its associated or affiliated companies shall serve on the Executive Committee at the same time.
Section 3.
The Executive Committee, subject to the supervision and approval of the Association, shall have general control of the Association's affairs.
Section 4.
A member of the Executive Committee shall be disqualified for service thereon in connection with any matter in which he, or any other person connected with the same surety company as himself, is a party to a complaint under Article IX hereof. The Executive Committee, in each case, may appoint a substitute for any member thus disqualified.
Section 5.
Fifteen days prior to the Annual State Meeting, the Executive Committee shall submit, by mail, to the membership of the Association a list of officer candidates to be considered for election to be held at the Annual State Meeting. At the Annual State Meeting, any other nominations may be made from the floor.
ARTICLE VII Meetings
Section 1.
Regular State Meeting of the Association shall be held quarterly on the Second Tuesday of February, May, August, and November. Any changes shall be at the discretion of the President.
Section 2.
The Regular State Meetings in May of each year shall be deemed the Annual State Meeting.
Section 3.
Special meetings of the Association shall be held as herein before provided.
Section 4.
A majority of the voting members of the Association shall constitute a quorum at any of its Regular or Special State Meetings.
Section 5.
Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held upon a call of its Chairman or a majority of its members.
Section 6.
A Majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum at any of its meetings.
Section 7.
Unless otherwise provided by the Constitution or By-Laws, any matter presented for a vote at any meeting of the Association, or any committee, shall be adopted only on two-thirds vote of those present at such meeting.
Section 8.
Minutes of all State Meetings of the Association shall be sent to all Members, and Associate Members.
ARTICLE VIII By-Laws
Section 1.
The Association may adopt, amend or rescind such By-Laws as it may deem advisable; provided , however, that no By-Law shall conflict with this Constitution, or with the laws of any State having jurisdiction over any of the activities of the Association, or of the United States.
ARTICLE IX Complaints
Section 1.
Any Member may make a complaint against any other member for an alleged violation of the Constitution of By-Laws of the Association. Such complaints shall be treated in accordance with the rules to be adopted by the Association.
ARTICLE X Expenses
Section 1.
No expense that cannot be met by the annual dues shall be incurred by the Association except with the majority consent of the members. Additional funds may be collected by assessment of the members with the approval of a majority of the members present at any State Meeting.
Section 2.
Each Member of Associate Member Company shall pay an annual membership fee of Four Hundred Dollars ($400.00) or as amended per Article XI Section 1 for each branch office of that Company that receives direct Association mailings. All fees will be fully earned by the Association. The full fee will be charged for mid-term membership applications that are approved.

Dues billings will be sent out prior to the Winter Quarterly Meeting. Any Member who has not paid their annual membership fee by the Winter Meeting will be dropped from the membership roster.
ARTICLE XI Standing Rules
Section 1.
This instrument may be changed only:
A. At a Regular State Meeting of the Association.
B. By two-thirds vote of all members of the Association qualified to vote.
C. If notice of the proposed action, together with a copy of the desired change, shall have been filed with the Secretary thirty (30) days prior to a State Meeting, and shall have been transmitted by him to each Member of the Association.
Eligibility for active membership is limited to persons employed in or whose primary function is in the Surety Industry as defined in Article III of the by-laws. Employees of other organizations, who might seek membership as a means of financial betterment, are not eligible as members, except as Affiliate Members as defined herein:

An Affiliate Membership is open to companies or associations as defined in this Membership Eligibility Policy. Affiliate Members are not entitled to vote, make recommendations, hold elected office, or appointed position at any level of the association.

Executive Committee shall have sole power over Affiliate Membership application, requirements, and annual fees due from new and renewal membership. The initial dues will be $400 per year. All Affiliate Members need to have approval for membership by receiving a majority of the votes from those voting members present at the time voting occurs at one of the quarterly meetings. In no way shall the privileges due Company Members or Associate Members as defined in Article III of the by-laws extend to Affiliate Members.