The name of this organization shall be the "Maine Driver Education Association" and in abbreviated form "MEDEA"

The purpose of this organization shall be:

 

a) To promote the profession of driver education and recognize instructors who demonstrate compliance to recommended practice and principles and exemplify

a high level of conduct while in the practice of their profession.

 

b) To assist instructors in obtaining continued education in their field and thus gaining the ability to increase their knowledge and competence for the purpose of providing better training for new highway users.

 

c) To promote highway safety and defensive driving techniques in the instructors classes, and communities; thus increasing public acceptance and understanding of the driver education professional as a valued and essential member of the community.

 

d) To promote uniformity and improvement in the driver education field within the State of Maine through cooperation with each other and state and local government agencies.

 

e) To study the problems that are associated with the teaching of driver education and to attempt to solve these problems within the public and private sector.

 

Section 1 To become a member of the Maine Driver Education Association an individual must be licensed by the State of Maine as a Class A or Class B Driving Instructor. Class A or B Commercial Vehicle Instructor or an individual licensed by the State of Maine to instruct motorcycle rider education.

 

 

 

Section 2 Any licensed instructor/teacher licensed by the State of Maine and teaching or supervising shall be eligible for membership in the Association.

 

Section 3 Persons teaching may become professional members with full voting privileges upon payment of the annual dues of $30.00 and will receive a membership card.

 

Section 4 Any person active in the promotion and/or advancement or making contributions to the field of driver education shall be eligible for associate membership without voting privileges upon payment of annual dues of $20.00 and will receive an associate membership card.

 

Section 5 Retired instructors may retain membership and voting privileges and may hold office upon payment of the annual dues of $30.00 and will receive a membership card.

 

Section 6 Driver education facilities may become eligible to be patronizing members to support MEDEA. These facilities will not have voting privileges. Fees for one (1) to three (3) cars will be $30.00. Fees for four (4) or more cars will be $50.00. Membership certificates will be presented annually, and will be suitable for display.

 

Section 7 Membership dues do not include the annual conference fees.

 

 

Section 1 The officers of this organization shall be President, Vice President, Executive Secretary, Treasurer, and a Parliamentarian/Assistant Secretary, all to be elected for three years on a rotating basis, in order to eliminate a complete change of officers at any one time. No member may serve more than two (2) consecutive terms.

 

Section 2 There shall be nine (9) members of the Advisory Board elected at the annual meeting for three (3) years on a rotating basis. No member may serve more than two (2) consecutive terms.

 

Section 3 The Secretary of State and a designated representative shall be a voting member of the Advisory Board and shall be exempt from dues.

 

Section 4 In the case of resignation or termination of an Officer or Advisory Board Member, the President upon seeking advice of the other Officers and Advisory Board Members shall appoint a temporary replacement until the next annual meeting, at which time a new officer will be chosen to fill the position.

 

Section 5 Any Officer or Advisory Board Member who receives notification of meeting and chooses not to be in attendance for three (3) consecutive meetings, without notification to the Secretary of reasonable or unavoidable circumstances (with the exception of the Secretary of State) will be replaced by a temporary

member, until the next Annual Meeting, at which time a new officer will be chosen to fill the position.

 

Section 1 The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and the Advisory Board and shall provide guidance and direction to the Officers and individual members. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all standing and temporary committees and shall appoint any necessary temporary committee between Annual Meetings.

 

Section 2 The Vice President shall preside at meetings in the absence of the president and shall be responsible for the program of the annual meeting.

 

Section 3 The Administrative Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all meetings of the Association and shall notify in writing all Officers and Board Members in a timely manner of meetings and be responsible for all communications.

 

Section 4 The Treasurer shall hold all funds of the Association and disperse such funds as approved by the President, up to $500.00. Anything over that amount must include approval by the Officers and Advisory Board Members. A written report will be given to the Officers and Advisory Board at each meeting and to the Membership at the Annual Meeting.

 

Section 5 The Parliamentarian/Assistant Secretary will advise the President and Membership regarding conduct of meetings according to "Robert’s Rules of Order" and assist the Administrative Secretary.

 

Section 6 Standing committees will be headed by Board Members and will include Membership, Legislative, Training/Education, Public Relations and Resolution. A written report shall be presented to the association at the Annual Meeting by a representative of each committee.

 

a) Membership Committee will have the responsibility of recruiting new members.

 

b) Legislative Committee will be responsible to advise the membership regarding current or proposed legislation effecting the organization and to propose possible action.

 

c)  Training/Education Committee will have oversight with regard to proposing and carrying out any educational programs that would be beneficial to the Association. 

 

d)  Public Relations/Resolutions Committee will propose ways to promote the Association and use wise and prudent methods to resolve any conflict within the Association. 

 

 

Section 1.  Any MEDEA member may be suspended or expelled from membership by a two-thirds vote of the current Officers and Advisory Board Members for any of the following reasons:

 

 

A.  Failure to conform to the provisions of the MEDEA Bylaws.

 

B.  Any unethical or unlawful conduct unbecoming a member of MEDEA or calculated to bring MEDEA into disrepute.

 

C.  Failure to continue to meet membership or eligibility requirements. 

 

Section 2.  The MEDEA President may suspend or expel a member for failure to pay membership dues or assessments that are sixty (60) days past due.

 

Section 3.  Any member suspended from MEDEA shall have no claim against MEDEA or vote in MEDEA.  Any member expelled from MEDEA shall have no further interest in the property of, or claim against MEDEA and shall be entitled to re-apply only through reconsideration by the Officers and Advisory Board as set forth in these Bylaws and upon payment in full of all obligations to MEDEA outstanding at the time of expulsion. 

 

 

Section 1.  Appeals to the MEDEA Officers and Advisory Board shall be considered if the basis of the complaint is an action or lack of action, on the part of the MEDEA Officers and Advisory Board or a MEDEA Standards Board Appeals Panel. 

 

Section 2.  In the event of an appeal and at the annual meeting, the President shall appoint, subject to ratification by the MEDEA Officers and Advisory Board, one of its voting members to serve as Vice-Chair for Appeals.  The Vice-Chair for Appeals shall form appeals panels to hear specific appeals. 

 

 

Section 1.  The rules of parliamentary practice, as set forth in Robert’s Rules of Order, shall govern procedures of all meetings. 

 

 

Section 1.  At the Annual meeting a majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum for conducting the business of the Association.

 

 

Section 1.  An affirmative vote of two thirds of the membership at the Annual Meeting shall be required for the ratification of, or an amendment to the Constitution of the Association. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 1.  The officers and Advisory Board Member shall meet at least quarterly and may rotate their meetings throughout the state for the convenience of its members.  Any standing committees or temporary committees shall meet whenever necessary to conduct Association business. 

 

Section 2.  The location and date of the Annual Meeting of the Maine Driver Education Association (MEDEA) shall be decided by the Officers and the Advisory Board after giving consideration to travel distances for its membership.

 

Section 3.  The Membership must receive first notification of the Annual Meeting 60 days in advance of the specified date. 

 

 

SECTION 1.  This association may become affiliated with the American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association, New England Traffic Safety Education Association, Driving School Association of the Americas, National Highway Safety Association, Association of the Disabled, and Maine Transportation Safety Coalition.

 

 

Section 1.  All courses for continuing education for the purpose of meeting the licensing requirements will need the approval of the Office of the Secretary of State.  Certification of attendance will be issued upon proof of attendance. 

 

 

It shall be the purpose and duty of each member to carry out the following principles to: 

 

RECOGNIZE your profession which holds the highest public trust, that the lives of others are dependent upon you and the wisdom you impart to your students.

 

BE a model of excellence in your driving behavior. 

 

SERVE the public with courtesy, promptness and fairness. 

 

TREAT all persons seeking instruction with the same consideration regardless of age, infirmity, race, color, creed or gender.

 

CONVEY correct information as stated by law being careful not to mislead or cause misunderstanding. Always seek out the answer when uncertain.

 

MAINTAIN proper professional appearance by your demeanor and speech, keeping within professional guidelines. 

 

PROVIDE a clean, neat and well-lighted facility in which to teach and a clean well maintained automobile. 

 

KEEP up with new ideas and developments in the field of driver education so that you may better assist others. 

 

BROADEN your outlook, increase your education and listen to views of others especially regarding change. 

 

GIVE the best service for the payment rendered.  Never skimp on quality of workmanship. 

 

 

If a person or a school has a membership in MEDEA, they are exempt from additional fees for advertising any required educational courses for instructors in the newsletter or on the website.