Florida Association of Resident Registered Nurse Anesthetists (FARRNA) Bylaws
(Adopted February 2003; Amended February 2010; Amended February 2013; Amended October 2018; Amended August 2024)
Article I – NAME
The FARRNA organization shall be known as the Florida Association of Resident Registered Nurse Anesthetists hereinafter referred to as FARRNA. FARRNA is an affiliate of the Florida Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, hereinafter referred to as FANA.
Article II – PURPOSE
It shall be the purpose of FARRNA to create a structure for Registered Nurses studying the science and art of nurse anesthesiology within the state of Florida to assemble, collaborate, and build a foundation for career development and professional collegiality.
Article III – MEMBERSHIP
Membership: Residents currently enrolled in an accredited program of nurse anesthesia within the state of Florida shall be voting members of the Florida Association of Resident Registered Anesthetists (FARRNA). Voting FARRNA members are eligible to attend board of director meetings, speak, voice concerns and hold office as Chair and Co-Chair. Active membership shall consist of any resident enrolled in a Florida Nurse Anesthesia Program or attending their clinical rotations in the state of Florida and a member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. Residents attending their clinical rotations in the state of Florida must establish permanent residence within the state and claim FANA as their state association in order to be eligible for FARRNA membership.
Article IV – GOVERNANCE
Section 1. Structure: The organization shall be governed by one representative from each program. A Chair and Co-Chair shall be named each year at the Annual Meeting in a manner determined by the FARRNA representatives and FARRNA CRNA Liaison. ** Only voting members of FARRNA, residents currently enrolled in an accredited program of nurse anesthesia within the state of Florida, are eligible to run for FARRNA Chair of FARRNA Co-Chair positions.
Section 2. Eligibility for Office: Only FARRNA members are eligible for office; active status shall be based on the most currently available active resident enrollment list from each participating program.
Section 3. Duties of FARRNA Representatives:
- Implement a means of communication for the FARRNA membership.
- Collect and convey student concerns involving professional and educational matters to the FANA Board.
- Identify through its membership unique learning opportunities/resources that will further members education in anesthesiology.
- Communicate practice opportunities in the state of Florida to its members and members of other resident registered nurse anesthetist organizations.
- Represent member concerns to the Florida legislature and Governor.
- Plan and organize social and networking opportunities at each general meeting.
- Oversee daily operations of the FARRNA Organization.
Section 5. Duties of the Chair and Co-Chair: The Chair shall supervise and direct the affairs of FARRNA and act as its chief spokesperson. The Chair shall represent the organization by serving as a non-voting member of the Board of FANA.
The Co-Chair serves to assist and/or stand in for the FARRNA Chair as needed. If the FARRNA Chair graduates prior to the end of the term, the Co-Chair will automatically assume the role of Chair.
Section 6. Terms of Office:
- Representatives shall serve until completion of their academic program, unless removed for failure to maintain membership qualifications, by being a member of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology and satisfactory academic standing in their nurse anesthesia program.
- The Chair shall serve for a period of one year. Should the Chair graduate from his/her academic program prior to completion of the year, the Co-Chair will automatically assume the role of Chair.
Article V – PARTICIPATION IN FANA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS
The Chair shall represent the organization by serving as a non-voting member of the Board of FANA.
Article VI – MEETINGS
General membership meetings may be held in conjunction with each general FANA meeting at the discretion of the FARRNA Chair and representatives. The Chair of the Board shall preside. General information concerning the organizations activities shall be reported to the membership. Announcement of new representatives from each Program shall occur at the fall meeting each year. Minutes shall be at each meeting.
Article VII – INDEMNIFICATION
To the full extent permitted by, and in accordance with Florida law, the organization shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he/she is or was an officer, agent or representative of the organization, or performs or has performed volunteer services for or on behalf of the organization, or is or was serving at the request of the organization as an officer, agent or representative of another organization or other enterprise, against expenses (including but not limited to attorney’s fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding.
Article VIII – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern FARRNA in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws or any special rules of order FARRNA may adopt.
Article IX – AMENDMENTS
Proposed amendments to the Bylaws of FARRNA must be submitted in writing to the Chair not less than thirty days prior to the next general meeting. The proposed amendments shall be referred to the FARRNA CRNA Liaison for review, revision and recommendation. At the general meeting, the proposed amendments to the Bylaws shall be submitted to the FANA BOD for a vote of those in attendance. Amendments to these Bylaws of FARRNA may be adopted by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of those board members present and voting.
Article X – DISSOLUTION
FARRNA is not an organization for profit and no finances inures to the benefit of any private individual. In the event of the dissolution of FARRNA, any funds remaining after payment of any outstanding debts shall be returned to the FANA or in the event the FANA does not exist then to a non-profit organization with qualifies under Section 501(6) of the Internal Revenue Code.
As amended August 2024
