ARTICLE I

Name

The name of the organization shall be: Muskegon County Sheriff Dive Team and it is sometimes referred to in these By-Laws as the MCSDT.

ARTICLE II

Purposes

The MCSDT is set up as a search and recovery unit only. Due to the limitations placed upon it by the geography of its widely spread members, the ability to function as a rescue unit are minimal at best. The MCSDT is to provide guidelines for training and the safe utilization of divers, to Muskegon County and other agencies, for the underwater search and recovery of drowning victims and criminal evidence, not for recovery of personal or private property. All team members shall maintain both a professional and organized demeanor at all times, allowing for a "low profile" and highly effective service to be provided. Both current and prospective members should realize that membership on the dive team requires a serious commitment and all must assess their willingness to take the time necessary to acquire and maintain a high level of proficiency.

ARTICLE III

Basic Policies

The following are basic policies of the MCSDT:

1. The MCSDT shall be noncommercial, nonsectarian, nonpartisan, and nonprofit.

2. The name of the MCSDT or the names of any members in their official capacities shall not be used in any connection with a commercial concern or with any partisan interest or for any purpose not appropriately related to promotion of the articles of the MCSDT.

3. The MCSDT shall cooperate with the incumbent sheriff of Muskegon County, whoever it may be, on all projects falling within the defined purpose of the MCSDT and shall not campaign, promote, or lend its support for the election of any individual to the office of sheriff.

4. The MCSDT may cooperate with other organizations and agencies concerning matters within the scope of the MCSDT's defined purpose but persons representing the MCSDT in such matters shall make no commitments that bind the MCSDT without the prior approval of a majority of the members.

5. No information of the proceedings or happenings of the MCSDT shall be published or be made available for publication by printing, pictorial reproduction or otherwise, except by permission of the sheriff.

ARTICLE IV

Membership

1. The MCSDT will consist of not more than twelve (12) members.

2. Candidates for membership shall be at least 18 years of age, citizens of the United States, and residents of Muskegon County or contiguous counties.

3. New team members will not be appointed without the Chief divers recommendation, and approved by the majority of members on the Recruitment Committee.

4. New "probationary" team members must be trained and certified in search and recovery, rescue, and ice diving techniques. They must also have made/logged at least fifty (50) dives. Probationary members will dive on operations, however they must be assigned to experienced team members and log five (5) dives, with the team, before they are qualified as full MCSDT members.

5. An applicant may be appointed to the team as a "conditional" member with only Advanced open water certification. They will be trained as surface support and will have twelve (12) months from the time they are appointed to acquire the remaining required certifications.

6. Each member shall supply the Muskegon County Sheriff Marine Division Officer and the Chief diver with a current phone number(s).

7. Each member shall have a valid CPR and First aid card.

ARTICLE V

Officers

1. The Sheriff shall have final say over all administrative affairs as necessary, and is authorized to call a meeting at any time.

2. The Marine Division Officer shall be the liaison between the MCSDT and the sheriff's department, and is authorized to call a meeting at any time. The Marine Division Officer shall call out the team as necessary, provide on scene information and department equipment during operations.

 3. The Chief diver shall work together with the Marine Division Officer on dive operations. The Chief diver has control of the diving operations and will control all actions of the divers while in the water. The Chief diver shall have custody of all records, and documents of the MCSDT as may be required for its efficient administration. They shall enter into and sign all documents for the MCSDT. They shall control all financial aspects and shall report at each business meeting the account of the MCSDT.

4. The Assistant Chief diver shall assume all duties of the Chief diver in the event that the Chief diver is absent or incapacitated in any way. They shall assist in the planning and implementation of training and actual dive operations.

5. The Chief diver or Assistant Chief diver may be removed from office by a vote of the majority of the members when it appears that such action is required for the best interests of the team. Inefficiency or offensiveness in the conduct of their duties shall be deemed contrary to the best interest of the MCSDT.

6. The Recruitment Committee shall consist of no more than three (3) status members with two (2) alternates. They shall assist the Chief diver with the selection of new applicants.

ARTICLE VII

Parliamentary Procedures

1. Business meetings will be held on the second Tuesday of May, September, & January at 7:30 P.M. The Chief diver will be responsible for setting up all business meetings.

2. Members must attend a minimum of two (2) meetings per year. The dive roster will be reviewed and updated at each business meeting.

3. On the last business meeting of the year (September) the By-Laws will be reviewed, and the nominations for the Chief diver and Assistant Chief diver election will be submitted.

4. On the first business meeting of each year (January) the General Operating Guidelines will be reviewed and the election for Chief diver and Assistant Chief diver will be held.

5. The General Operating Guidelines can be changed, added to or deleted only by a majority vote of the current dive team members. All other routine business matters will be handled by a majority vote of the team members present at a regular business meeting.

 6. There will be a minimum of six (6) training sessions per year. The training will be held on the first Sunday of the following months: February, April, May, July, September, November. However if the training falls on a holiday weekend it will be the second Sunday of the month. Members will be notified of the time and place by pager.

7. Team members must participate in three (3) trainings per year, two (2) of which shall be dives.

8. Any team member not meeting the minimum of two (2) business meetings and participation in three (3) training sessions in a calendar year, will be placed on probation. They must be present for the next two (2) business meetings and trainings in order to end the probationary period. As of the time that these requirements are not met, the Chief diver will recommend removal from the team. After all things are considered, removal from the team must be voted on and approved by the majority of team members in good standing that are present at the regular business meeting.

ARTICLE VIII

Property and Functions

1. Any equipment and assets that is issued to a member is the property and assets of the MCSDT and therefore Muskegon County. Any person ceasing for any reason to be a member shall forfeit all rights and title to the equipment, funds, and assets and return same to the MCSDT.

2. The disposal of any real property owned by the MCSDT shall be handled in the following manner:

a. All members will be notified by registered United States mail not less than fourteen (14) days prior to any special or regular membership meeting in which a vote is to be taken concerning disposal of the real property. It is required that a majority vote of the members present shall prevail.

b. Sales of all real property will be handled by the Chief and Assistant Chief diver. The sale of any real property will be for cash only.

c. Proceeds of the sale will be deposited in the General Fund.

d. In the event of dissolution of the MCSDT the General Fund will be turned over to the Muskegon County Sheriff.

ARTICLE IX

Uniforms and Equipment

1. The initial issue of a uniform (one piece jumpsuit, turtleneck shirt, coat, and hat), personal floatation device AGA – FFM, trailer key, and chest harness shall be provided to the member by the MCSDT. As such they should be considered part of their dive gear and stowed appropriately. Members shall purchase/rent their own pager that is compatible with the paging system that the team and central dispatch uses.

2. All members will be appointed as special deputies. As such they will be issued an Identification Card. The member must make an appointment with the Marine Division secretary to get an I.D. It is the members responsibility to have a current I.D.

3. Members will provide their own diving equipment in accordance with good diving practices. Any personal equipment that is damaged or lost shall be replaced/repaired and paid for by the Marine Division.

4. Any member who resigns from the MCSDT shall return all issued equipment.

ARTICLE X

Order of Business

1. The Order of Business relative to Regular meetings shall be as follows:

a. Call to order.

b. Reading of the minutes of the last meeting.

c. General Fund report.

d. New and unfinished business.

e. Nomination and Election of officers (as appropriate)

f. Review of G.O.G.'s and By-Laws.

g. Consideration of new members.

h. Adjournment.

Effective:__________________________ Chief Diver:__________________________ Date Signature