ARTICLE I
NAME
SECTION 1. The name of the association shall be the Bluegrass Claims Association, Inc. (hereinafter “Association”).
ARTICLE II
OBJECTIVES
SECTION 1. To promote the administration of claims and losses for prompt and just settlement of meritorious claims.
SECTION 2. To promote vigorously resisting collusion, deception, and false or fraudulent claims and to promptly discourage and expose dishonest, unscrupulous, or unethical practices.
SECTION 3. To promote education and professionalism in the insurance industry.
SECTION 4. To promote the general welfare of companies represented. To promote harmony and cordial business relations between members. To exchange information concerning matters of interest. To discuss common problems.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. Any person primarily employed in the insurance field whose principal responsibility is the handling of claims for insurance or self-insured organizations including licensed independent and staff adjusters, SIU investigators and appraisers. Membership eligibility is also extended to those who work in industries which support, assist and work in conjunction with the companies and self-insurers represented in this organization in the investigation, evaluation, negotiation and resolution of claims.
SECTION 2. Any person who is a member at the time of their retirement will continue to be eligible for membership for life. Questions of eligibility shall be resolved by the Executive Committee.
SECTION 3. The association may award honorary membership to outstanding members of the community or to others in related fields. The membership shall have no voting privileges. Such awards shall be determined by majority vote of the membership. Honorary members will be charged no annual dues.
SECTION 4. A member in good standing shall be:
- A member who has met the eligibility requirements or who has been awarded Honorary Membership, and
- A member whose dues are paid no later than April 1 of each year.
SECTION 5. Members in good standing, as defined in Article III, Section 4 shall be eligible to receive awards, scholarships and other benefits of the Association.
SECTION 6. Any eligible person may be enrolled as a member upon filing written application with the Secretary bearing recommendations by one member. The application will be proposed at a regular meeting at which the applicant is in attendance. The applicant will then be voted upon at the next regular meeting, following proposal, at which the applicant is in attendance, with acceptance or rejection being determined by a majority vote of those members present. Upon acceptance, the new member must pay annual dues.
SECTION 7. Any member may be expelled from membership for just and due cause by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present and voting at a regular meeting following the preceding regular meeting where it has been announced by the presiding Officer that it was the intention to take such a vote. Just and due cause shall be determined by the Officers, which shall conduct a hearing and offer the offending member an opportunity to be heard.
SECTION 8. Any member three months in arrears with their dues shall be automatically dropped from membership.
SECTION 9. Annual membership dues shall be waived for past presidents and retired members of the association who have been a member in good standing for a minimum of five years.
SECTION 10. Any person holding a public adjuster license is excluded from membership regardless of whether he or she meets any other requirements of membership.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
SECTION 1. The Officers of the Association shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. At least three of these Officers must be licensed independent or staff adjusters, SIU investigators or appraisers. One Officer may be any member and all Officers must be in good standing with the Association.
SECTION 2. The election of Officers shall be conducted at the October meeting of the Association. They shall be elected by the majority of votes cast by the members in attendance at the meeting. Notarized absentee ballots will be accepted until such time as the polls are announced closed by the election official.
SECTION 3. Each Officer shall take office on the first day of January and shall continue until his or her elected successor takes office.
SECTION 4. In the event the President cannot complete the term of office the Vice-President shall assume the office of President and shall appoint a Vice President to fill the term with the approval of the Executive Committee. In the event any other Officer cannot complete their term the President shall appoint a person to fill the term with the approval of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 1. Annual Claims Person of the Year must be a member in good standing and a licensed independent or staff adjuster, SIU investigator or appraiser.
SECTION 2. Delegates to the Kentucky Claims Association on behalf of the Association must be members in good standing and licensed independent or staff adjusters, SIU investigators or appraisers.
ARTICLE VI
COMMITTEES
SECTION 1. It shall be the duty of the President upon taking office to appoint such committees as are necessary to achieve the objectives of the Association.
SECTION 2. A Parliamentarian may be appointed by the President and his or her duties will consist of overseeing all conduct and procedures of all regular monthly meetings, per Roberts’ Rules of Order, Newly Revised. He or she shall also serve as the Election Officer.
ARTICLE VII
INTERPRETATION
SECTION 1. The interpretation or meaning of any provision of the Constitution shall be determined by the Executive Committee of the Association.
ARTICLE VIII
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
SECTION 1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association.
SECTION 2. The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President when the latter is absent or incapacitated.
SECTION 3. The Secretary shall notify the membership of the time and place of all meetings, take minutes of all business meetings, and handle correspondence for and on behalf of the Association.
SECTION 4. The Treasurer shall collect, and be the custodian of, the dues, assessments, and all other funds of the Association and disburse funds in accordance with the majority of the membership and shall perform all other duties ordinarily incidental to the Office of Treasurer.
SECTION 5. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Association consisting of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Immediate Past President and any others the President shall so appoint. The President will serve as Chairman.
SECTION 6. The Executive Committee shall have general control of the Association affairs.
ARTICLE IX
MEETINGS
SECTION 1. Regular meetings of the Association shall be held monthly.
SECTION 2. Special meetings of the Association may be held subject to the call of the President, with the requirement of written notification to all members as to the date, time and place of the special meeting.
SECTION 3. Attendance of members present, after timely notice, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting. No official business will be conducted in the absence of a quorum, with the exception of voting conducted on new members. New members will be accepted by the affirmative vote of the majority of members present.
SECTION 4. The conduct of the meetings of the Association shall be governed by the President under rules not in conflict with this Constitution.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
SECTION 1. The Constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the members present at the regular meeting following the meeting at which an amendment is proposed.
SECTION 2. This revision of the 1966 Constitution is hereby approved and adopted by a majority of the membership present at the March 7, 1987 meeting, it having been ascertained and recorded in the minutes of the Secretary that a quorum was in attendance.
SECTION 3. This revision of the 1987 Constitution is hereby approved and adopted by a majority of the membership present at the January 21, 1993 meeting, it having been ascertained and recorded in the minutes of the Secretary that a quorum was in attendance.
SECTION 4. This revision of the 1993 Constitution is hereby approved and adopted by a majority of the membership present at the November 16, 1995 meeting, it having been ascertained and recorded in the minutes of the Secretary that a quorum was in attendance.
SECTION 5. This revision of the 1995 Constitution is hereby approved and adopted by a majority of the membership present at the April 18, 1996 meeting, it having been ascertained and recorded in the minutes of the Secretary that a quorum was in attendance.
SECTION 6. This revision of the 1996 Constitution is hereby approved and adopted by a majority of the membership present at the April 16, 1999 meeting, it having been ascertained and recorded in the minutes of the Secretary that a quorum was in attendance.
SECTION 7. This revision of the 2010 Constitution is hereby approved and adopted by a majority of the membership present at the September 15, 2011 meeting, it having been ascertained and recorded in the minutes of the Secretary that a quorum was in attendance.
SECTION 8. This revision of the 2018 Constitution is hereby approved and adopted by a majority of the membership present at the September 20, 2018 meeting, it having been ascertained and recorded in the minutes of the Secretary that a quorum was in attendance.
Bluegrass Claims Association 