We are a private, professional, non-profit organization open only to San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, Coroner’s Office, Public Safety Communications employees, along with San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office Inspectors and Investigators. Established May 9, 1951, with the intention of providing support for certain San Mateo County employees and their survivors, the organization continues to operate today after more than 65 years of dedicated service to the membership. We are now a 501 (c)(4) non-profit organization. Primary benefits include group insurance, a springtime dinner / dance, a winter holiday dinner and other social activities throughout the year. Our families and children play a special role in planning our activities.

The Sheriff’s Office Association was established on May 9, 1951 with James Moudakas as the first President. The purpose of the Association was and continues to be to aid a distressed member, his or her dependent, a member’s widow or widower or his or her orphaned children. Officers of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Association are elected by majority and secret ballot.

2022 BOARD MEMBERS.

PRESIDENT – Jorge Ramirez

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT – Lisandro Lopez

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT – Vacant

SECRETARY – Jennifer “Jen-Jen” Valdez

PARLIAMENTARIAN – Brian Moore

TREASURER – Veronica Ruiz

SERGEANT AT ARMS – Mike Baron

BOARD MEMBER – Jesse Myers

BOARD MEMBER – Hector Acosta

BOARD MEMBER – Bob Cassetta

BOARD MEMBER – Vacant

PAST PRESIDENT [2019 -2021] – Lisandro Lopez

EX-OFFICIO – Sheriff Christina Corpus

ARTICLE 1 – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.

Membership in this Association shall consist of regularly employed and salaried employees of the Sheriff’s Office and Inspectors and Investigators of the District Attorney’s Office of San Mateo County. Any member in good standing of this Association may retain his membership in the event of an involuntary transfer to another department. (This section shall have retroactive application.)

Section 2.

Any person who is eligible for membership and who does not apply for membership to this Association within thirty (30) days, after becoming eligible for membership, must, if so required by the Board of Directors, accompany his application with a certificate of sound health from a physician named by this Association. Physician fees and any medical examination fees are to be paid by member making said application.

Section 3.

All applicants must have their application sponsored by two (2) members of this Association who are in good standing, then submit said application to the Board of Directors for their approval. If the Board of Directors approves the application, the applicant becomes a member of the Association upon payment of admission fees.

Section 4.

All applicants on becoming members of this Association shall have their names and addresses entered in a book or books provided for that purpose. The Board of Directors shall make available copies of the Association’s By-law on request of a member, through the Association Secretary and Association web site. Each Association member shall be issued an Association membership card that shall bear the signature of the President and Secretary.

Section 5.

Delinquent members shall in no case be admitted as new members, but may be restored to membership in the manner hereinafter provided.

ARTICLE 2 – FEES, DUES, FINES, ASSESSMENTS

Section 1.

The regular dues of the Association shall be set by the Board and approved by the membership subject to annual review.

Per the voting membership election, membership due will be five dollars ($5.00) per pay period or bi-weekly, as of January 1, 2002. All funds will go to the Association general fund.

ARTICLE 3 – DELINQUENCIES

Section 1.

Any member in arrears two (2) months in dues shall be reported as delinquent and shall be notified by the Treasurer of the fact in writing, stating that failure to pay all dues and fees owed to the Association within thirty (30) days after receipt of said notice will result in having his name dropped from the membership roll of the Association and non-entitlement to any benefits.

ARTICLE 4 – REINSTATEMENT

Section 1.

Any member whose name has been dropped from the roll for non-payments of dues or fees may be reinstated to membership upon payment of all delinquent dues or fees, and other expenses incurred for this reinstatement, and must provide a certificate of sound health from a physician if so required by the Board of Directors. Any such applicant for reinstatement, at the time of reapplication, must still be a member of the Sheriff’s Office, or an Inspector or Investigator of the District Attorney’s Office of San Mateo County, or other member previously designated in our Constitution and By-Laws. The physician’s fee and any medical examination expenses are to be paid by the delinquent member.

Section 2.

A member who voluntarily leaves the employ of this department shall have his/her name dropped from the roll as of the date he/her leaves. Any member who returns as an employee and wishes to be reinstated as an active member of the Association shall apply for membership in the manner heretofore stated in Articles 1 and 2 of these By-Laws except: any member on official leave of absence from this department shall be carried on the roll provided that said member remain in good standing by the payment of dues and any fees incurred while said member is on official leave of absence.

ARTICLE 5 – BENEFITS

Section 1.

The Association shall maintain a group insurance plan. This plan must be approved by a majority of the members of the Association present at a meeting called for such purpose. The members shall be entitled to the benefits of this said plan as hereinafter provided.

Section 2.

All members in good standing shall participate in all of the said benefits of this Association. Death benefits will be as specified in the “insurance policy.”

Section 3.

Upon dismissal or voluntary severance of any member from active duty with his/her department, he/she shall no longer be entitled to participate in any benefits of this Association.

Section 4.

Any active member who has been retired from his/her department shall be eligible for life membership in this Association. A life member, under this section , shall have all the rights and privileges of an active member, and shall be exempt from payment of dues, only if on service or disability retirement. Those on deferred retirement shall continue to pay dues.

Section 5.

The Secretary shall keep a book in which each member may designate in writing by his/her signature, the person or persons to whom he desires the benefits of the Insurance Policy issued, through he group insurance of this Association to be paid upon his death.

Section 6.

The Secretary shall keep a record of the member’s designated beneficiary for Insurance purposes. If the member fails to designate a beneficiary to his or her policy, the Insurance benefit will be paid into the member’s estate.

ARTICLE 6 – OFFICERS

Section 1.

The elective officers of this Association shall consist of a President, a First Vice-President, a Second Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Sergeant-at-Arms, a Parliamentarian, and a Board of Directors consisting of four (4) members. Two (2) members of the Board and all other are to be nominated at the annual meeting in November and elected by secret ballot within thirty (30) days following the nomination of candidates.

The President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant-at-Arms, Parliamentarian, and the Board of Directors shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified and installed in their respective offices at the Installation Meeting in January, at which time the retiring officers shall turn over to their legally elected and qualified successors all effects belonging to the Association in their possession.

Section 2.

The Officers of the Association shall act without remuneration for such services as they may render, except the Secretary and Treasurer who shall receive dues free during their term of office.

Section 3.

The elective officers of this Association shall be ex-officio members of the Board of Directors.

Section 4.

The outgoing President shall be ex-officio member of the Board of Directors for one year following his term of office.

Section 5.

The members of the board of Directors shall have staggered terms of office in that two (2) shall be elected annually for a period of two (2) years.

Section 6.

The Board may appoint a non-member legal advisor annually to attend all meetings and will serve without compensation.

ARTICLE 7 – DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1.

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, and members, and shall have general charge of and control over the affairs of the Association subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. He shall have such other duties as may be conferred upon him by these By-Laws and the Board of Directors.

Section 2.

The Vice-President in the absence or inability of the President to act, shall be vested with all the powers and shall perform all the duties of the President. If there be more than one Vice-President, they shall be numbered and each shall act in the absence or inability of the President and all Vice-Presidents preceding him in number to act.

Section 3.

The Secretary shall be the secretary and clerk of the Board of Directors and Secretary of all membership meetings and of all committees. He shall attend all their sessions and shall record all votes and minutes of their proceedings in a book or books kept for that purpose. He shall keep all notes required of him by law or the order of the President and all notes required of all meetings of the members, directors, and committees, when not otherwise regularly kept, and shall perform all other duties required of him by the President, Board of Directors, and Committees. He shall have custody of all books, records, papers, and the seal of the Association, except such as shall be in the charge of the Treasurer, or of such other person authorized to have custody and possession thereof by a resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 4.

The Treasurer shall keep accounts of all monies of this Association, received or disbursed and shall deposit all monies and valuables in the name of and to the credit of the Association in such bank or banks and depositaries as the Board of Directors may designate. The President shall countersign all checks for the payment of monies. The funds of the Association shall be disbursed upon the checks or drafts of the Association, signed by authorized officers in pursuance of the approval of the members. When required by the President or the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall render an account of the financial condition of the Association and shall perform all other duties required of him by the President. Board of Directors and committees pertaining to his office or incident to the position of Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be bonded by a surety company in the amount of five thousand ($5,000) dollars and such bond is to be paid by the Association. The books of the Treasurer shall be audited by a qualified accountant during the month of December and a report submitted to the Association by the Treasurer at the January meeting. The cost of auditing shall be paid by the Association.

Section 5.

The Sergeant-at-Arms shall prepare rooms for a general meeting or Directors meeting; post all notices of an official nature; ascertain all present are bona-fide members, maintain law and order in the assembly of members and upon the President’s opening of the meeting, conduct an official roll call, entering same in a suitable official ledger, in order to ascertain whether a quorum is present; whereupon, he will convey such information to the President and upon the request of the President perform any other duties.

Section 6.

The Parliamentarian shall act as the legal advisor to the President and the membership and perform other duties as required by the President.

Section 7.

The Board of Directors shall have then general management and control of the business affairs of the Association and shall exercise all the powers that my be exercised or performed by the Association under the statutes, the Articles of Incorporation and the By-Laws. A regular meeting of the Board of Directors and Officers shall be held each month or at the call of the President. A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. It shall be the duty of the Board of Directors to provide a suitable corporate seal for the Association.

ARTICLE 8 – MEETINGS

Section 1.

The annual meeting of the members entitled to vote shall be held in November, time, date and location to be named by the Board of Directors. This is for the nomination of all Officers and/or Directors. Election of all Officers and Board of Directors shall be by secret ballot within thirty (30) days following the nomination of the candidates. Installation of Officers/Directors shall be held during the month of January following their election.

Section 2.

General meetings of the Association shall be held at a time, place, and date set by the President.

Section 3.

Special meetings of the members entitled to vote may be called at any time by the President or by a majority of the Board of Directors or by a written petition of the majority of the members entitled to vote, directed to the President. All such calls shall state the purpose of the meeting and such meeting shall have no power to transact any business not stated in the call.

Section 4.

All meetings shall be held at the principal office or place of business of the Association, or at such place as may be designated by the President.

Section 5.

A written notice of each annual meeting an of each special meeting of members entitled to vote shall be mailed to each of the members at such address as appears on the records of the Association at least five (5) days prior to such meeting. Such notice shall specify the time and place of the meeting and in case of a special meeting, the nature of the business to be transacted.

Section 6.

Those members in good standing, including Officers of this Association, who are in attendance at a meeting, at the time and place designated, after the required written notice has been mailed as required in Section 5 of this Article will constitute a quorum no matter what their number.

ARTICLE 9 – NOMINATION AND ELECTION

Section 1.

Nomination of candidates for the various officers of the Association shall be made by the members of this Association at the regular meeting in November of each year.

Section 2.

The members of the Association shall nominate the name or names of the members of this Association who desire to be candidates for the office of President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant-at-Arms, Parliamentarian, and two (2) Board of Directors.

Section 3.

The election shall be held within thirty (30) days following the nomination of the candidates, and shall be by secret ballot. The ballots shall be of uniform size and shall be printed prior to the election date, providing space for each of the various offices and the nominees for that office.

Section 4.

The Secretary of the Association shall prepare and furnish ballots and tally sheets and the names of the candidates to be voted on to the membership of this Association.

Section 5.

It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Association to canvass the votes for each candidate or amendment, tallying the same on tally sheets provided for this purpose. The Secretary shall, as soon as possible, and without delay certify to the President the number of votes case for each candidate. The President shall announce the results of the election as certified to him by the Secretary, and the candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for any office shall be declared elected thereto.

Section 6.

The President shall be empowered to appoint a member of the Association Pro Tem to perform the duties of a sick, disabled, or disqualified Officer until such time as he is able to resume his duties or an election is held, at which time an active member shall be elected to fill the office.

ARTICLE 10 – AMENDMENTS

Section 1.

All proposed amendments to these By-Laws must be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors for recommendation to the membership. After reading the proposed amendment at two (2) meetings, it shall be voted upon by secret ballot as provided by these By-Laws and must pass a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast to become effective. The By-Laws as amended shall become effective immediately upon it being determined it was adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote.

ARTICLE 11 – SPHERE OF ACTIVITY

Section 1.

The Association as such is forbidden from engaging in any political activity furthering the candidacy of any person or persons.

Section 2.

This Association shall not be availed of by any person to air or question any rule or regulation of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, as adopted by the Sheriff’s Office, County of San Mateo, or any rule or regulation that shall be adopted by the Sheriff’s Office, County of San Mateo at any time, or by any competent authority.

Section 3.

The President shall annually appoint a Committee of members of this Association, which Committee may send gifts to person so designated by this Committee shall prepare a set standard, including the maximum amount to be expended, by which they will determine what classes of persons shall be with any extraordinary expenditure to be approved by a two-third (2/3) majority vote of the membership. Such gifts to be paid in conflict with Article 5 Section 5 of these By-Laws.

ARTICLE 12 – EFFECTIVE DATE OF BY-LAWS

Section 1.

These By-Laws of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Association shall be in effect, as amended, immediately after tally of the votes cast show that each an every amendment has been passed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority, and no preceding By-Laws will be binding on this Association.

ALL MEETINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE “Robert’s Rules of Order.”

Adopted in March, 1977

Revised in November 2002.

Copyright ©2017, SMCSOA