Bylaws

The IACME Bylaws can be viewed here in PDF format.

Revised July 24, 2024

ARTICLES OF ORGANIZATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CORONERS AND MEDICAL EXAMINERS

We, the undersigned, hereby affirm and agree to the following amended Articles of Organization, originally promulgated on July 10, 1927.

The undersigned have associated and do hereby associate themselves together for the purpose of forming an association.

Mission Statement: Dedicated to the promotion of excellence in medicolegal death investigation through collaboration, education, and accreditation.

The purpose of such association shall be:

• To form an association consisting of Coroners, Deputy Coroners, Medicolegal Death Investigators, Forensic Pathologists, Medical Examiners, or members of their respective staffs and/or employed in and/or specializing in the field of medicolegal death investigation and/or the adjunctive disciplines.

The Executive Committee, or their designee, in accordance with the By-Laws of the Association, shall approve memberships for the following purposes:

• To bring about a fraternal, cooperative, and social spirit to achieve the best standard of uniform practice developed in the field of medicolegal death investigation.

• For the purpose of conducting annual and other meetings.

• For the purpose of maintaining the organization in carrying on all discussions of pertinent interest to themselves and particularly medicolegal death investigation.

• To maintain a central office through which aid, assistance and expert advice, scientific or otherwise, that pertains to the efficient operation of the Coroner or Medical Examiner offices to issue, edit, publish and circulate a manual or digest of opinions, statute laws, common law or investigations and general information that may be of interest to the Coroner or Medical Examiner.

• To maintain offices, employ clerks, statisticians, attorneys, physicians, chemists, and experts with respect to carrying out the principles of the organization.

• To rent, lease buildings and offices pertaining to the maintaining and the conducting of the business of the organization.

• To levy assessments, dues, fees and charges upon its members. To render assistance to its members.

• To support and encourage enactment of legislation which is deemed by the organization to be in its best interest.

• To represent medicolegal death investigators on national and international committees and scientific working groups.

The name of such an organization shall be THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CORONERS AND MEDICAL EXAMINERS (IACME), and its principle office shall be maintained at a location determined by the Executive Committee, all financial records and accounts will be kept at the central office, unless otherwise approved by the Executive Committee or their designee.

This organization shall be a non-stock organization being engaged solely and entirely for charitable, educational, and philosophical purposes, and no dividends or pecuniary profits shall be declared to the members thereof.

There are three levels of individual membership: IACME Member, IACME Associate Member, and IACME Honorary Member.

IACME Members have voting privileges and are able to hold office. Any person eighteen years of age or older will be eligible for membership in said organization provided that such persons are or have been Coroners, Deputy Coroners, Medicolegal Death Investigators, Forensic Pathologists, Medical Examiners or members of their respective staffs and/or employed in and/or specializing in the field of medicolegal death investigation and/or the adjunctive disciplines.

IACME Associate Members are those members who are eighteen years of age or older, who do not meet the status for IACME Membership but are involved with medicolegal death investigation by some professional/education means (e.g. students, faculty, retirees, and other individuals associated with medicolegal death investigations). IACME Associate Members shall not have the privilege to vote or hold office.

IACME Honorary Members are those members have been a member in good standing for a minimum of 10 years and are no longer active in the field of medicolegal death investigation or have retired from government services (minimum of 10 years) in the field of medicolegal death investigation and served on the Board of Directors or have served the IACME in a capacity that benefited the organization. IACME Honorary Members will pay no dues and will not be eligible to hold office. They must request the status of IACME Honorary Member in writing to the Executive Committee. IACME Honorary memberships will be approved at the discretion of the Executive Committee or their designee.

Additional classifications of membership may be authorized at the discretion of the Executive Committee or their designee.

The Association may offer other types of membership such as: Office and Vendor memberships.

Office memberships cover those medicolegal death investigation offices who have legal authority to investigate deaths within a specific jurisdiction (i.e. County Coroner’s Office, Medical Examiner’s Office). Office memberships will be provided one IACME membership and entitle the office to register their staff as IACME Associate Members. Office membership fees will be based on the population of the jurisdiction and will be classified as follows:

Vendor membership is available to vendors associated with medicolegal death investigation. Vendor Members will not have voting privileges.

The general officers of the association shall be a President, President-Elect, Secretary and a Treasurer. There shall be an Executive Committee as directed in Article XI. The immediate Past President shall become a member of the Executive Committee and be titled as the Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

The President shall be elected by the full membership at an annual meeting for a term of two years or until a successor is duly elected and may not be re-elected without a hiatus of at least one year. The principal duties of the President shall be to preside over the annual meeting of the Association and all meetings of the Executive Committee and to have general supervision over the officers of the Association and perform such additional duties as may be required by the bylaws. The President shall be the representative or spokesperson for the Association.

At the end of the President’s term, they shall become a member of the Executive Committee for two years as the Immediate Past President in order to provide history and consistency to the Executive Committee. Should the President not complete their full term or remain a member of the Association in good standing, they shall be removed from the Executive Committee.

The President-Elect shall be elected by the full membership for a term of two years or until a successor is duly elected and may be re-elected at any time. The President-Elect shall preside at all meetings of the Association and Executive Committee in the absence of the President. Should the President no longer be able to fulfill his/her duties of the office, the President-Elect shall become acting President. The President-Elect shall assume the position of President after being elected for a 2-year term.

The Secretary shall be elected by the full membership every other year on even years, for a term of two years and may be re-elected an unlimited number of times. He/she may be removed from office for just cause by the Executive Committee or the general membership. In such event or in the event the Secretary is not re-elected it is his/her duty to turn over all records to his/her successor. In the event the Secretary is unable to fulfill his/her duties of office, the Treasurer shall assume all the duties of the Secretary until a successor is duly elected.

The Secretary, or their designee, as approved by the Executive Committee, shall establish an office and office address for the Association with the approval of the Executive Committee. The Secretary, or their designee, shall keep all the records of the Association including membership records; keep a record of all proceedings of the Association, Executive Committee and the Board of Directors; handle all correspondence of the Association - both incoming and outgoing; send out all membership via mailings and/or electronic communication; carry out all reasonable instructions of the officers; and handle all other duties generally associated with such an office. The Secretary shall cooperate fully with the Treasurer and with the host of each annual meeting to ensure the orderly functioning of their duties. The Secretary shall report annually at the general membership meeting.

The Secretary may receive an annual stipend - the amount shall be determined at the annual meeting at the beginning of each term.

The Treasurer shall be elected by the full membership every other year, on the odd years, for a term of two years and may not serve more than two consecutive terms. After leaving office that individual may not serve in the role of Treasurer again for two more consecutive terms. He/she may be removed from office for just cause by the Executive Committee or the general membership. In such event or in the event the Treasurer is not re-elected, it is his/her duty to turn over all records to his/her successor. In the event the Treasurer cannot fulfill his/her duties of office, the Secretary shall assume all the duties of the Treasurer until a successor is duly elected.

The Treasurer, or their designee, shall receive all monies paid into the Association. The Secretary will forward the monies after recording and updating the membership. The Treasurer will keep a record of same and pay all bills authorized by the Executive Committee retaining a receipt for same. All monies paid to the Association shall be paid in currency of the United States of America. The Treasurer, or their designee, shall maintain a proper accounting system and keep all funds in a federally insured banking institution or insurance brokerage account.

The Treasurer shall be properly bonded at the expense of the Association. The Treasurer shall cooperate fully with the Secretary and with the host of each annual meeting to insure the orderly functioning of his/her duties.

The Treasurer shall report annually to the membership and the financial records shall be audited either by a committee of the Association and/or by an independent outside auditor. Audits shall be completed at regular intervals as directed by the Executive Committee and in accordance to the financial polices approved by the Association.

The Treasurer shall provide quarterly financial reports to the Board of Directors.

The Treasurer may receive an annual stipend - the amount shall be determined at the annual meeting at the beginning of each term.

Two Members at Large shall be elected to serve on the Executive Committee for a term of two years or until a successor is duly elected and may be re-elected at any time. The term for each shall be on opposite years as one member shall be elected every odd year and the other member elected every even year.

The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers; President, President-elect, Secretary, Treasurer and two Members at Large along with the Immediate Past President.

Section 1: The Executive Committee and/or their designee shall conduct the business of the Association between annual meetings.

Section 2: The Executive Committee and/or their designee shall handle personnel issues and make final financial decisions.

The number of voting Directors of the Association shall be up to twenty (20). The Board of Directors shall be comprised of the Executive Committee elected pursuant to Article XI, of these By-Laws, who shall serve ex officio with full voting privileges and thirteen (13) IACME Members.

All members of the Board of Directors shall be entitled to one vote for each matter presented for consideration. The Immediate Past President of the association will serve as the Chairperson of the Board. Should the Immediate Past President be unable to fulfill the duties of Chairperson, the Executive Committee will appoint a replacement for the remainder of that term from the current Board of Directors.

Section 1. The purpose of the Board of Directors shall be to formulate the broad plans and provide oversite of the Association.

Section 2: The Board of Directors shall consult with the Executive Committee with regard to any major problems, questions, concerns or suggestions that may arise in connection with the

Association’s program or activities, or any significant issues that may confront the medicolegal death investigation professionals as a whole.

Nominations to the Board of Directors will be accepted by the Executive Committee or their designee, throughout the year. Board of Director terms will begin January 1st of each year. The Executive Committee may authorize the term to begin during the calendar year if necessary.

The names of the original incorporations of this Association were: P.J. Zisch, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. W.F. Kosow, Racine, Wisconsin., Clemens Reinders, Kewaskum, Wisconsin., and John Schaeffel, Waukesha, Wisconsin., on the 10th day of July, 1927 at room 334-335, Merchants & Manufacturing Bldg., 216 Water St., Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

These Articles of Organization may be amended at any annual meeting of the Association by a two-thirds majority vote of members in attendance in accordance with the by-laws of the Association. However, the general membership must be advised at least thirty (30) days before the meeting that Articles of Organization change will be voted on at the annual meeting.

Electronic communication is an approved method for advisement of proposed changes.

The duration of this organization shall be in perpetuity unless sooner dissolved by a majority of the members at an annual meeting of the Association in accordance with the By-Laws.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary within the Articles of Organization or By-Laws, the current edition of Roberts Rules of order will apply to all matters of the Association.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereto set our hands and seal this twenty-fourth day of July 2024 at the annual meeting of the Association in Las Vegas, Nevada and this document supersedes all other by-laws of this Association.

BY-LAWS OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CORONERS AND

MEDICAL EXAMINERS

ARTICLE I

Section 1.      The annual meeting of this Association and the election of officers and the transaction of such other business, as may be properly brought before an annual meeting of the members shall be held at such a time and place as determined by the Executive Committee or their designee.

Section 2.      There shall be a winter meeting of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors lasting no longer than three (3) days consisting of official business matters and training. This meeting will be held at a date and location as directed by the Executive Committee or their designee. Notice of such meeting shall be made to the full membership at least ninety (90) days prior to the meeting. The meeting shall be arranged by the Secretary, and all reasonable costs borne by the Association if the Association has the necessary funds. All members in good standing will be permitted to attend the Winter Meeting at their own expense.

Section 3.   Notice of any annual or other regular meeting/conference of the Association shall be deemed to be well and sufficiently given if such notice is sent by electronic communication to each member at his/her email address listed on the records of the Association and electronically sent at least 90 days prior to the date fixed for holding such meeting.

Section 4.  A quorum for the annual general membership meeting shall consist of a simple majority of the voting members in attendance.

Section 5.      At the request of 35 (Thirty-Five) IACME members in good standing, the President shall call a special meeting of the Association. Due notice of this meeting including date, time, location and subject of the meeting shall be delivered via electronic communication at least thirty (30) days before the meeting. The quorum at a special meeting shall consist of 50% of the number of persons requesting that special meeting. A majority of those present at the called meeting shall be legally empowered to transact business at that meeting. However, business is limited to the announced subject.

Section 6.      The annual general membership meetings of the Association shall be open to the public. Only IACME Members in good standing may vote. The Executive Committee at any time may decide to go into an Executive Session by majority vote of those present, for any number of meetings or during any portion of any meeting.

Section 1.      The election of officers for this Association shall be held at the annual general membership meeting. All officers and members-at-large of the Executive Committee shall be elected from IACME Members of the organization. IACME Members may self-nominate or be nominated by another IACME Member.

Nominees shall submit in writing their intention to run for Office and provide documentation of their qualifications to the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall review applications and make a recommendation to the Board of Directors for approval. The slate of approved nominees shall be submitted to the membership at the annual meeting and will require a simple majority to be elected. Nominations may also come from the floor at the annual general meeting.

Section 2.  Each officer elected at an annual general membership meeting shall assume office at the close of the annual general membership meeting and continue in office until his/her successor has been duly elected and takes office.

Section 1.      The Board of Directors shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and initially assigned two or three year terms to ensure continuity of the Board. Once the Board of Directors is established, the terms shall be two years.

Section 2.      A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the Board of Directors, and the act of the majority of the members of the Board of Directors then present shall be the act of the Board of Directors unless the Articles or another provision of these By-Laws require a greater proportion.

If a quorum shall not be present at any such meeting, the Chairperson of the Board, President or Vice President, successively, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting, without notice other than announcement at such meeting, to another specified date. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall then be present, any business may be transacted which could have been transacted at the original session of such meeting.

Section 3.       Meetings.

Section 1.  Except as provided in the Articles of Organization, the Executive Committee by majority vote, shall have the authority to fill any office that becomes vacant due to the death, resignation or inability to perform the duties of the office holder.

Section 1.   The Association shall have individual and organizational classes of membership. The description of each membership class is defined in Article IV of the Articles of Organization.

Section 2.      It is the duty of the Secretary, or their designee, to confirm the eligibility of an applicant. In cases of dispute, the individual application shall be referred promptly to the Executive Committee who must render a decision by majority vote within ninety (90) days. Their decision is final.

Section 1.      An active member may be removed from membership in this Association by resolution passed by a majority vote of the Executive Committee at a meeting duly called for that purpose, not later than 30 days before the date set for the annual meeting of the Association, provided such member shall have been given written notice of the intended removal and an opportunity to appear before said Executive Committee for a hearing in accordance with the principles of natural justice. A removed member may appeal the decision to the general membership at the annual meeting.

Section 2.      If, at any time, an active member who is formally accused of malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance shall be placed on a leave of absence and inactive status until the situation has been resolved.

Section 3.      An active member may be removed for a felony criminal conviction. The Executive Committee will review the circumstances of conviction and render a decision regarding the removal of the member. The action of the Executive Committee shall be final.

Section 1.      No member shall speak for more than ten minutes on any motion or resolution before the Association. The leaders in debate shall be permitted to speak twenty minutes. The President shall strictly enforce this article.

Section 2.      Dues notices shall be sent by the Secretary or their designee, by the first of November of each year. If not paid by January 1, a second notice shall be sent. Late fees may be assessed by the Executive Committee or their designee.

Section 3.      Non-payment of annual dues shall be reason for removal or suspension from membership. Should any member be in arrears for payment of dues, that member shall not be privileged to vote upon any matters concerning the Association nor hold an elective or appointive office. Any member in arrears for two years shall be removed from the membership roster. Written notice of removal may be sent within 30 days following removal to the last known address of the member.

Section 1.      The Treasurer shall set up a checking account for disbursement of funds. Any check for over $1,000 or payable to the signer shall require written permission from the president, which may be in electronic form and shall follow the financial policies established and approved by the Association. In the President’s absence, the President-Elect shall have the authority to grant such permission.

Section 1.      These By-Laws and/or Article of Organization may be amended at any Annual General Membership Meeting of the Association by a two-thirds majority vote of members in attendance. However, the general membership must be advised at least thirty (30) days before the meeting that proposed By-Law changes will be voted at the annual general membership meeting. Notification to members will be electronically sent.

BUSINESS TO BE CONDUCTED AT THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

1. ELECTIONS
2. DUES AND STIPENDS
3. OTHER BUSINESS
4. ADJOURNMENT

ARTICLE XII

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

Section 1.      Standing committees for the Association shall include a Finance Committee, Nominating Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Ethics Committee and Accreditation Committee. Ad-hoc committees may be established at the discretion of the President. A member of the Board of Directors shall be a member of each committee but participation from the membership at large shall be encouraged. The President may appoint any other committees he/she deems appropriate for the orderly functioning of the annual meeting or for the organization.

The President and President-elect shall serve as ex-officio members of the Strategic Planning Committee and the President shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Finance Committee.

Section 2.   At the Winter Board meeting, the President shall appoint a nominating committee to create a slate of nominees for the election at the next annual meeting to fill any vacancies that have or will become available.

Section 3.  The Chair of each committee, or their designee shall provide a report at the annual meeting, winter meeting and at other meetings as indicated.

Section 4.  Each committee shall have the power, and have referred to it from time to time, questions and recommendations pertinent to that committee for proper action, and pass upon such matters for recommendation or rejection by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE XIII

COMMUNICATION

Electronic communication is the preferred method of contact between the Association and its Members. All communication, unless otherwise directed by the Executive Committee or their designee, will be in electronic form. Members shall update the Association regarding any changes to their contact information to ensure they are able to receive electronic communication.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have hereto set our hands and seals this twenty fourth day of July, 2024 at the Annual general membership meeting of the Association in Las Vegas, NV and this document supersedes all other By-Laws of this Association.