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Puget Sound Chapter Bylaws (doc) Approved by the Executive Committee, 02/20/2013 |
ARTICLE I |
NAME |
| Section 1. | The name of this organization is the Puget Sound Chapter of the American Society of Safety Engineers. |
| Section 2. | Hereinafter, the Puget Sound Chapter will be referred to as "Chapter" and the American Society of Safety Engineers will be referred to as "Society.". |
ARTICLE II | PURPOSE |
| Section 1. | The purpose of this Chapter is to promote the advancement of the Safety Profession and Safety Professionals, and to foster the professional development and well-being of its membership within the geographical area served. |
| Section 2. | In fulfilling this purpose, the Chapter has the following objectives within the geographical area served.
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ARTICLE III | MEMBERSHIP |
| Section 1. | Membership in the Chapter is open to all individuals who are members of the Society in good standing and who are located within the Chapter's geographical area or request membership in it. All members of the Chapter shall be members of the Society. |
| Section 2. | Membership is personal and not transferable. |
| Section 3. | All Chapter members are eligible to vote on all matters submitted to the Chapter membership. |
ARTICLE IV |
ORGANIZATION |
| Section 1. | The Chapter is a not-for-profit organization, chartered by the Society for the purpose of carrying out Society objectives within its geographical area. It shall operate in accordance with Society Bylaws. |
| Section 2. | This Chapter must have a minimum of 25 active members to maintain its Charter. |
| Section 3. | The Chapter is located within Society Region I and the Chapter's geographical area is defined as follows: Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, and Whatcom Counties in the State of Washington.
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| Section 4. | There shall be an Executive Committee responsible for the management and operation of the Chapter. It shall be responsible for the supervision and care of all property, have full authority to commit the Chapter to action in consonance with resolutions adopted at Chapter meetings, and may cooperate with other organizations on such basis that will not impair Chapter ability to pursue its goals independently. |
| Section 5. | The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected Chapter Officers, six Members-at-Large, House of Delegates (HOD), and the immediate Past President of the Chapter. |
| Section 6. | Each major objective as listed in Article II, Section 2 of these Bylaws shall be under the supervision of either a Chapter officer or an appointed Committee Chairperson. |
| Section 7. | The Executive Committee may use e-mail ballots on measures that come before the Executive Committee, according to provisions Operating Committee Section 8. |
| Section 8. | Executive Committee members may appoint proxies to represent themselves at a regular or special meeting of the Executive Committee providing:
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| Section 9. | The Chapter President is the voting representative for the Chapter at the Regional Operating Committee meetings. A Professional Member or a Member who is an elected officer of the Chapter may serve instead of the President if so designated in writing (including e-mail) to the Regional Vice President. |
| Section 10. | The Chapter activity year shall be from July I to June 30. |
| Section 11. | Chapter Operating Procedures
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| Section 12. | Standing Committees may be formed by the Chapter Executive Committee for the purpose of carrying out its responsibilities. Standing committees shall be listed in and operate under rules adopted in the Chapter Operating Procedures. The standing committees are listed on the Puget Sound Chapter website. | Section 13. | Chapter officers shall be elected by members of the Chapter |
ARTICLE V |
OFFICERS |
| Section 1. | Elected officers of the Chapter shall be:
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| Section 2. | Each elected Chapter officer shall be a Society and Chapter member for one year prior to taking office. However, only a Professional Member or Member may hold the offices of President, Vice President or Delegate to the House of Delegates. Note: Exceptions must be approved by the Region 1 Vice President. |
| Section 3. | The President shall:
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| Section 4. | The Vice-President shall:
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| Section 5. | The Treasurer shall:
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| Section 6. | The Secretary shall:
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| Section 7. | The Delegate(s) to the Society House of Delegates shall:
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| Section 8. | The Executive Committee shall:
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| Section 9. | Executive Committee meetings shall be open to all members. Voting on Executive Committee business shall be limited to Committee members specified in Article IV, Section 5, of these Bylaws. |
| Section 10. | The Chapter President shall serve as Chairperson of the Executive Committee. |
| Section 11. | Sub-Committees of the Executive Committee shall consist of one or more members. |
ARTICLE VI |
NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE |
| Section 1. | A Nominating Committee shall be appointed no later than August of each year by the Chapter President. Names of Nominating Committee members shall be published in the meeting minutes which shall be distributed to all Chapter members and/or published in the Chapter Newsletter. The Chairman of the Nominating Committee shall be the immediate Past President. |
| Section 2. | The Nominating Committee shall select qualified candidates for all elective offices, House of Delegates and the Executive Committee Member at large Positions. Candidates’ names and qualifications shall be published and distributed to the Chapter membership at least 60 days in advance of the election, on or before February 1. |
| Section 3. | Any 15 Chapter Professional Members and/or Members in good standing may submit a signed petition nominating one or more individuals for elective office. The petition shall be accompanied by a written acceptance by the nominee(s) and shall be submitted to the Chair of the Nominating Committee 30 days in advance of the election. The names and qualifications of such nominees shall be published and distributed to the membership at least 15 days prior to the election. |
| Section 4. | The term of elected Chapter officers shall be for one year beginning July 1. |
| Section 5. | Election for the ensuing year shall be completed by May 1, two months prior to the end of the Chapter year. If there is more than one candidate for any office, election shall be by written ballot, submitted per ballot instructions. Ballots received after the designated due date will not be counted. If there is only one candidate for an office, elections may be by voice vote at a Chapter meeting. |
| Section 6. | When a written ballot is used, a Tellers Committee shall be appointed, by the Chairperson of the Nominating Committee, to count the ballots and report the election results to the Nominating Committee. The Tellers Committee shall consist of at least two (2) persons. |
| Section 7. | The nominee receiving the greatest number of votes for each elective office shall be considered elected. A tie vote for an elective office shall be resolved by a mail ballot of the members. |
| Section 8. | The results of the election shall be published in the Chapter Newsletter and website. |
| Section 9. | Removal of elected Executive Committee members shall be by majority vote of Chapter members at any regular or special meeting, upon presentation of a signed petition by the majority of the Chapter Executive Committee, or by 15 voting members of the Chapter. Notification of such meetings shall be mailed to each member at least 30 days in advance of meeting date. Appointed Committee Chairpersons may be removed by the same authority which appointed them. |
| Section 10. | Delegates to the Society HOD may be re-elected; however, they shall not serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms as provided in the Society Bylaws. |
| Section 11. | Vacancies which occur in elected offices or Executive Committee Member-at-Large positions during the year shall be filled by the successor designated for the various offices in these Bylaws. If no successor is designated, or the designated person cannot serve, the Chapter President or his successor shall:
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ARTICLE VII |
SECTIONS |
| Section 1. | Sections may be formed by this Chapter to serve ten or more dues paying members whose geographical location, within the Chapter area, renders participation in Chapter affairs inconvenient and whose number is insufficient to permit formation of a new Chapter. The Section shall operate in accordance with Society and Chapter Bylaws. |
| Section 2. | The group must petition the Chapter Executive Committee, in writing, to form a Section, subject to approval by the Chapter Executive Committee and the Regional Operating Committee.
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ARTICLE VIII |
FEES AND DUES |
| Section 1. | Each member (except those who have been awarded Emeritus status, elected as Honorary Members, or are Student Members) shall be assessed dues in the amount of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per year in addition to the Society dues. |
| Section 2. | All Society and Chapter dues are payable by the anniversary of each member's election date. |
| Section 3. | Chapter dues shall be determined by majority vote of the Chapter membership at any regular or special meeting, where a quorum is present. All Chapter members shall be notified at least 30 days in advance of meeting regarding dues proposals. |
ARTICLE IX |
MEETINGS |
| Section 1. | Chapter shall meet at least six times per year and four of the meetings shall be technical meetings. Technical meetings are those that define or discuss methods, procedures, systems, devices and/or standards toward the reduction, control or elimination of hazardous exposures to people, property or the environment, and which foster the technical, scientific, and managerial knowledge and skills of attendees. |
| Section 2. | Special meetings of members may be called by the Executive Committee. The notice calling such a meeting shall state the purpose of the meeting; such notice to be sent to each member at least 2 weeks in advance. |
| Section 3. | A majority (7) of the Executive Committee present at a board meeting shall constitute a quorum. Twenty-five (25) active members in good standing and at least one elected member of the Chapter Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting. In the event the Chapter does not attain a quorum at the next Chapter meeting, an e-mail ballot may be sent to the Chapter to approve Bylaw amendments. |
| Section 4. | The latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the transaction of business at all meetings of the Chapter unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws. |
| Section 5. | Executive Committee meetings shall be conducted at least six times per year and the Chapter President will preside over the meeting. These meetings are necessary for managing the Chapter including finance reports, strategic plans, governmental affairs, membership growth and other business items needed to manage the Chapter successfully. |
ARTICLE X |
MISCELLANEOUS |
| Section 1. | The Chapter may be dissolved by the Chapter Executive Committee in the following manner:
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| Section 2. | The Chapter shall be dissolved when the Charter has been rescinded by the Society Board of Directors because of Chapter failure to confirm to minimum Society requirements for activities, or upon performance of actions contrary or detrimental to the Society and after a reasonable probation period. Upon notice, the officers shall carry out the dissolution of the Chapter. |
| Section 3. | The Society symbol may be used by the Chapter on correspondence, publications, and other official documents, in accordance with the provisions for use in the Society Bylaws. |
| Section 4. | Any fund raising projects or activities shall be limited to those which are consistent with the purpose of the Society, the Chapter and Washington State laws. |
| Section 5. | Chapter officers shall assure retention of needed Chapter and membership records by adhering to the following records retention periods. Officers having charge of these records are authorized to dispose of those records at the end of the required retention period.
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| Section 6. | Standing Committees may be formed by the Chapter for the purpose of carrying out its responsibilities. Such committees shall operate under procedures approved by the Executive Committee. |
ARTICLE XI |
AMENDMENTS |
| Section 1. | Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by the Chapter Executive Committee or by an "Ad Hoc" committee of the Chapter. Twenty-five Professional Members and Members may submit amendments to these Bylaws. Such proposals shall be submitted by letter to the Chapter Executive Committee. |
| Section 2. | The Chapter Executive Committee shall publish any proposed amendments to the membership at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which action will be taken. |
| Section 3. | Amendments shall be voted on at regular or special meetings of the Chapter where a quorum is present. A two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote is required for approval of amendments, except Chapter dues revisions may be approved by a majority vote, as specified in Article VIII, Section 3. |
| Section 4. | All amendments to these Bylaws will become effective after approval by the Regional Vice President, except for amendments to Section 1, Article VIII, which will become effective June 1 of the year following approval. |
