1A. By-laws Amended on November 15th 1998

1. GENERAL;

A. Northeast Search & Tactical Rescue Inc. (henceforth known as the team) is a volunteer non-profit public service organization formed to help the public in time of need where one would need to be rescued by way of tactical or search rescue.

B. The team may also engage in conservation projects , emergency operations , and such other activities as are deemed fitting and proper.

C. The team operates on a professional basis under the membership body.

2. OFFICERS AND GOVERNMENT;

A. The principle officer of the team is the Chief , which will act as Chief of operations in the field and on emergency rescue activities.

B. Additional line officers and corporate officers of the team are elected by the general team membership or are appointed by the Chief in the event of a vacancy , These additional officers are,

1. Deputy Chief (LINE)

2. Assistant Chief (LINE)

3. Captain (LINE)

4. Lieutenant (LINE)

5. Training Officer (SUPPORT)

6. President (CORPORATE)

7. Vice President (CORPORATE)

8. Secretary (CORPORATE)

9. Treasurer (CORPORATE)

C. Line Officers derive their authority from the Chief and are elected by the general team membership for the purpose of assisting him/her with conduct and management of the team during search & rescue calls and other field activities.

D. An Advisory board consisting of the Chief, President, Deputy Chief, Secretary and one (1) other team member elected by the general team membership. The advisory board will act as governors for the administration of the teams business.

E. Routine business matters affecting the team will be handled during the regular team meeting which will be held once a month on the third (3rd) Sunday of each month (unless otherwise specified) in order to retain a voting status, a team member must attend seven (7) out of twelve (12) monthly meetings held each year.

1. There will be no smoking during any business meeting of the team.

2. Meeting agenda;

A. Open with the pledge to the flag.

B. Reading of last months minutes.

C. Financial report.

D. Officers report.

E. Old business.

F. New business.

G. Committee reports.

H. Good and welfare.

I. Close meeting.

3. The team meeting will be run by the President. If he/she is not present it will follow the Corporate chain of command.

4. Whoever is running the meeting will maintain order at all times.

F. Any financial ledger, books, accounts, ETC. maintained by and/or for the team will be audited no less than once each calendar year. Special audits may be requested at any time by a team member. The results of any audit will be announced at the regular scheduled meeting after the completion of the audit.

G. Only the Chief and the advisory board members may obligate the team for expenses, services or conduct activities in the name of the team. All other members must obtain permission from the Chief or the advisory board before doing so.

H. All major expenditures of team funds must be approved by a majority vote of the team members present at a regular or special team meeting. A major expenditure is defined as one which obligates the team funds in the amount of $50.00 (fifty) Dollars or more.

I. Two (2) standing committees will assist team officers in the administration of the team. These committees are;

1. Membership Committee;

This committee is comprised of the Chief, Deputy Chief and Assistant Chief. The membership committee will review and investigate membership applications and report their findings to the team at the next monthly meeting.

2. Fundraising committee;

This committee is composed of three (3) team members appointed by the team and approved by the Chief and President. This committee is to present to the team and direct fund-raiser methods. These methods must be approved by the team.

3. Duties and Responsibilities;

The duties and responsibilities of the various line and corporate officers and members of the team include, but not limited to the following;

A. Chief; The Chief is the principle field officer of the team. This office will be filled on odd numbered years by a majority vote.

1. Responsible for the overall preparedness and operational readiness of the team, it's equipment and individual members.

2. Overall supervision and administration of the team during search & rescue calls, training sessions and special events. In connection with the exercise of these duties, the chief acts in much the same manner as a police or fire chief.

3. Responsible for the selection / appointment of team officers and committees when an office is vacated prior to elections.

4. Chairperson of the advisory board.

5. Member of the membership committee.

B. Deputy Chief; The Deputy Chief is elected on Even number years to act in the Chief's place during his / her absence.

1. Will fulfill all duties as assigned by the Chief.

2. Member of the Advisory board.

3. Member of the membership committee.

C. Assistant Chief; The Assistant Chief is elected every year to act in the Chief's / Deputy Chief's place during his / her absence.

1. Will fulfill all duties as assigned by the Chief.

2. Member of the membership committee.

D. Lieutenant; The Lieutenant is elected every year and is responsible for performing duties as assigned by the senior officers.

E. Training officer; The training officer is elected every year to help in the training and education of the team.

F. Safety officer; The safety officer will be appointed on the scene of a rescue or search call by the officer in charge. The safety officer is in charge of all safety operations on and around the scene and holds absolute authority to shut down an operation for unsafe conditions.

G. Medical Specialist; The medical specialist will be appointed on the scene, as needed, by the officer in charge and be the highest qualified in medical training.

H. President; The president is the primary corporate officer. The presidents term of office is one (1) year. The president may, with the consent of the general team membership, succeed himself / herself for an indefinite number of years. The president is elected by the general team membership. The presidents duties and responsibilities are;

1. Oversee all business aspects of the team.

2. Act as Chairperson of the regular team meeting.

3. Member of the advisory board.

I. Vice President; The Vice Presidents term of office is one (1) year. With the consent of the general team membership, the Vice President may succeed himself / herself for an indefinite number of years. The Vice President is elected by the general team membership. The Vice President will assist the President in the performance of his / her duties.

J. Secretary; The Secretaries term of office is one (1) year. The Secretary may, with the consent of the general team membership, succeed himself / herself for an indefinite number of years, the secretaries duties and responsibilities are;

1. Administration assistant to the Chief and President.

2. Maintain a record of all business conducted by the team during regular meetings, advisory board meetings and special events.

3. Member of the advisory board.

4. Act as financial manager during periodic audits of the team books, fundraising activities, ETC.

5. Other duties as assigned by the Chief and President.

K. Treasurer; The treasurers term of office is one (1) year. The Treasurer may, with the consent of the general team membership succeed himself / herself for an indefinite number of years. The treasurers duties and responsibilities are;

1. Manage financial ledgers of team receipts and expenditures.

2. Receive and deposit team funds.

3. Make prompt payment of all team debts from available team funds.

4. Make ledgers, receipts, ETC. available to the secretary for periodic and special audits.

5. Other duties as assigned by the President.

4. Northeast Search & Tactical Rescue Canine Unit (N.E.S.T.R. K-9) The purpose of the K-9 unit is to function as part of N.E.S.T.R. on calls that requiring the services of K-9 teams and their handlers. The primary officer of the K-9 unit is the Captain and is held accountable to the standard operating procedures of N.E.S.T.R. K-9 All N.E.S.T.R K-9 members will adhere to the Sop's of N.E.S.T.R. and N.E.S.T.R K-9.

5. Articles;

A. Members must be citizens of the United States of America and at least sixteen (16) years of age. No member under the age of eighteen (18) can hold an elected position either field or corporate.

B. All members will conduct themselves, both publicly and privately in a manner to insure that no discredit will be reflected on the team.

C. All members must pay an annual membership fee by January 31st of each year. If this fee is not paid by January 31st all rights and privileges will be suspended until the fee is paid. The membership fee will be five (5) dollars per year.

D. Each new member must procure all items on the required equipment list within ninety (90) days after joining the team. This equipment being safety items must be worn at all practice and actual rescue calls and other team activities involving a possible risk of injury.

1A. Bylaw E. has been Amended on November 15th 1998

E. Each new member must procure a uniform within ninety (90) days after joining the team. Team patches, insignias, ETC. are provided by the team at no cost. Because of the importance of public opinion and proper public relations the team uniform must be worn in it's entirety whenever it is worn and should be worn at all team functions. Team members uniforms consist of the following; Tan uniform shirt, green pants, boots or hikers, name tag. The team patch will be applied to the left shoulder and the American flag to the right shoulder. Officers uniforms consist of a white shirt, green pants, boots or hikers, badge and name tag.

F. Each member must notify the Chief if he / she will be unavailable for rescue calls for two (2) or more days. He / She will notify the Chief when he / she is available again for calls.

G. Each member must attend at least three (3) training sessions each six (6) month period in order to retain his / her "FIRST CALL" status or have an excuse acceptable to the chief or training officer.

H. Private vehicles must be operated in a safe manner. Traffic laws applicable to the operation of private vehicles will be obeyed at all times.

1A. By-law H-1 has been Amended on November 15th 1998

1. Red lights can only be run by the Chief, Deputy Chief and Assistant Chief.

2. All personnel can run blue lights with proper authorization.

3. Anyone running a light must have the vehicle license plate, make, model and year registered with the state police. This must be done through the Chief.

4. The light must be visible for three hundred sixty (360) degrees.

5. anyone running a red light must have an audible warning device.

6. Use of the light can be revoked at any time by the Chief.

I. Training; All members are required to take part in in-house training that will be offered once a month. This training will be needed and will be recorded into membership files so personnel can run on rescue calls. All team members are required to take any courses that are required by the state. The team will attempt to hold a course in-house or see one is made available to everyone on the team. Any training approved by the Chief or training officer that an individual takes on his / her own and successfully completes the course requirements the team will reimburse one hundred (100) percent of the cost of the course after it is brought up at a regular meeting under new business. The member requesting payment of a course that is complete must work at fundraising events to receive the rights for payment out of team funds.

J. Team members are responsible for the proper use and maintenance of any equipment or supplies issued to them. The team member will reimburse the team for any equipment or supplies which are lost or damaged due to his / her negligence.

K. Team members must return all team equipment and supplies in their possession within ten (10) days after termination of membership to the team. Immediately upon termination a former member must cease using all personally acquired equipment relating to the team.

L. Under no circumstances will there be any alcohol beverages or drugs of any type served or brought to any team function and no team member may attend a team function while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. the only exception to this will be drugs prescribed by a doctor and approved by the Chief.

M. Disciplinary action required as a result of the violation of team by-laws will be determined by the advisory board. Temporary action may be taken by the officer in charge pending review by the advisory board.

N. To change any of the by-laws the following procedure must be followed;

1. All members must be notified in person, by phone or by mail of the proposed changes.

2. At a regular team meeting following the notification of the proposed changes, the team will make a motion whether or not to vote on the proposed changes.

3. At the regular team meeting following the nomination the team will vote whether or not to accept all or any part of the proposed changes. A vote to accept the change must consist of at least two thirds (2/3) of the membership present.

4. The change will take affect thirty (30) days following the vote.

O. Dissolution; Funds left standing are to be used to pay outstanding debts and equipment unpaid for. Remaining equipment and funds is to be divided between 501-C-3 Search & Rescue organizations under the assumption that all debts remaining on said equipment is to be taken over by said receiving organizations

Section E. Each new member must procure a uniform within ninety (90) days after joining the team and will also be issued a full dress uniform after ninety (90) days. Team patches, insignias and Orange field shirts are provided by the team at no cost. Because of the importance of public opinion and proper public relations the team uniform must be worn in it's entirety whenever it is worn and should be worn to all team functions with class of uniform being designated by the officer in charge. Dress team member uniforms consist of the following; Blue uniform shirt, Gray with black stripe pants, boots or hikers, name tag. The team patch will be applied to the left shoulder and the American flag to the right shoulder. Officer dress uniforms consist of a white uniform shirt, Gray with black stripe pants, boots or hikers, badge and name tag. The field uniform consists of Issued orange T-shirt, BDU olive drab pants or BDU olive drab shorts, boots or hikers.

Section H-1 Red lights can only be run by the Chief and Deputy Chief.