The affairs and activities of CNYHIMA shall be carried out at all times for the purposes and in accordance with the terms set forth in these Bylaws. The primary purpose of CNYHIMA as a member association is to commit to excellence in the management of health information for the benefit of patients and providers. Its mission is to promote the art and science of health information administration in the Central New York areas through education; to encourage health information professionals in the Central New York area to attain the highest degree of competence possible through continuing education; to sponsor continuing education programs for the purpose of promoting optimal health care and containment of health care costs in the Central New York area to the extent that health information professions may contribute toward this goal; to provide an educational medium for the sharing of experiences, problems and their solutions in the health information field; to educate health information professionals concerning current and impending legislation, issues of confidentiality in health information practice, and medicolegal aspects of health information practice; to maintain contact with educational institutions in the Central New York area offering health information programs for the purpose of continuing professional and educational support for their students; to foster communication with all health care institutions in the Central New York area to keep them informed of educational programs and the experienced professional assistance available to their health information personnel; to promote the health information professional through educational concepts and good interpersonal and public relations; and to maintain and encourage adherence to a stated code of ethics through education. Central New York shall be and is a nonprofit corporation under the laws of the State of New York.