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SOCIETY OF FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERS
SAN DIEGO AND IMPERIAL COUNTIES CHAPTER
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Name
Section 1.1 The name of the organization shall be the San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, a non-profit organization.
ARTICLE II
Geographic Area
Section 2.1 The organization shall draw it’s members from individuals residing or working in areas of California south of Riverside and Orange counties.
ARTICLE III
Objectives
Section 3.1 The objectives of the Chapter shall be to advance the art and science of fire protection engineering and it’s allied fields, to maintain a high ethical standard among its members and to foster fire protection engineering education
Section 3.2 The Chapter shall not speak for the Society of Fire Protection Engineers on and local or national matter without specific written authorization of the Society.
Section 3.3 The Chapter shall abide by the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society.
ARTICLE IV
Membership
Section.4.1 Membership shall be open to individuals who hold any grade of membership in the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.
Section 4.2 In addition, a Chapter Advocate status is provided as a means of recognizing those wishing to support the local Chapter in a formal manner, but who do not maintain Society membership.
Section 4.3 The President, Vice President-Administration and Vice President-Membership of the Chapter shall be Fellows, Members or Associate Members. The Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President-Operations and Vice President-Programs may be Engineering Technicians, Engineering Technologists or Affiliate members.
Section 4.4 Except for student members and Chapter advocates all members shall have voting privileges. Each member shall be entitled to one vote in the affairs of the Chapter. Chapter advocates may work with standing committees and will receive Chapter publications.
Section 4.5 Any Chapter member or advocate who fails to pay dues when payable, or within 90 days, shall be forthwith suspended by the Vice President of Membership, but shall be automatically reinstated if within six (6) months of such suspension, he or she remedies the condition causing the suspension.
Section 4.6 All applications for Chapter membership shall be submitted to the Chapter Vice President-Membership who shall verify the applicant’s membership status in the Society. The applicant shall be notified in an appropriate manner by the Chapter membership and shall be recorded by the Treasurer and added to the roster of the Vice President-Membership.
Section 4.7 Any Chapter Advocate shall be upgraded to Chapter Member after notifying the Vice President-Membership of their Society membership status.
Section 4.8 Any Chapter Member or Chapter Advocate whose actions are detrimental to the best interests of the Chapter may be expelled. Any motion to expel a Chapter Member or Chapter Advocate shall be made first to the Executive Committee which shall decide what action should be taken. A decision for expulsion shall be by secret ballot and must be confirmed by two-thirds of the total chapter membership.
ARTICLE V
Officers and-Executive committee
Section 5.1 Officers of the Chapter shall be those of President, Vice President of Membership, Vice President of Publicity, Vice President of 0perations, Vice President of Programs, Vice President of Administration, Secretary, and Treasurer. Officers shall be elected by majority of those members present at the annual business meeting and shalI hold office for a term of one (1) year, or until their successors are duly elected and installed, Officers shall serve without remuneration.
Section 5.2 There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of eight elected officers and the most recent past President available.
Section 5.3 No officer and no member of the Executive Committee, with the exception of the Treasurer, shall serve more than two Consecutive Terms in any one (1) office, beginning with the election at the annual business meeting, or with the appointment to office. A term of office shall begin immediately at the close of the annual meeting at which officers are elected or upon appointment by the executive committee to fill an unexpired term.
Section 5.4 In the event of an elective office becoming vacant, for whatever reason, a successor shall be appointed by majority vote of the Executive Committee, and approval by a majority of the members present at the first regular meeting following such appointment.
Section 5.5 There shall be a Membership Committee consisting of a Chairman who shall be the Vice President-Membership, and at least two members who shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Committee Chairman.
Section 5.6 The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
Section 5.7 There shall be two Committee Member-at-Large positions available
to Chapter members interested in running for an elected office in
the next year’s election.
ARTICLE VI
Duties of Officers and Executive Committee
Section 6.1 It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings and to perform other duties usual to the office. The President shall call meetings of the Executive Committee as considered necessary or by request of three (3) or more members of the Committee. The President may appoint special and standing committees as occasion may require, subject to majority approval by the Executive Committee. If, for any reason the President is not available, the Vice President-Administration shall have the powers and prerogatives of the President.
Section 6.2 It shall be the duty of the Vice President-Administration to carry out the duties functions and responsibilities of the President in the absence of the President. It shall also be the specific duty of the Vice President-Administration to supervise and coordinate the activities of various Committee Chairmen to ensure timely and functional committee efforts. The Vice President-Administration shall chair the Strategic Planning Committee and shall be responsible for managing the development of Chapter goals toward realization of the strategic plan.
Section 6.3 It shall be the duty of the Vice President-Membership to carry out the duties functions and responsibilities of the Vice President-Administration in this officer’s absence. It shall be the duty of the Vice President-Membership to receive all applications for Chapter membership, verify the applicant’s membership status in the Society, and notify the applicant of the outcome in an appropriate manner. It shall also be the specific duty of the Vice President-Membership to increase the Fire Protection community awareness of the Chapter and develop specific annual membership and publicity goals.
Section 6.4 It shall be the duty of the Vice President-Programs to obtain speakers for the presentation portion of regular monthly meetings. The Vice President-Programs shall make all necessary arrangements for the speaker and shall provide for provisional speakers in the event of cancellations.
Section 6.5 It shall be the duty of the Vice President-Operations to arrange for meeting facilities and collect reservations from members and guests. The Vice President-Operations shall coordinate with the meeting facility management as well as the Vice President-Programs to ensure that the facility is properly equipped to meet the needs of the membership and guests.
Section 6.6 It shall be the duty of the Secretary to record all official actions of the Chapter and to perform the duties usual to the Office of Secretary. The Secretary shall issue all notices of meetings. The Secretary shall keep a register of the members of the Chapter. The Secretary shall submit- at least annually, a membership list, minutes of the meetings, and other pertinent information to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.
Section 6.7 It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to maintain all financial records of the Chapter, to collect dues, to deposit checks for expenses, to prepare an annual budget, to prepare a current financial statement for each regularly scheduled Chapter meeting, to maintain for the Vice President-Membership a current roster of Chapter members in good standing and to perform other duties usual to the Office of Treasurer.
Section 6.8 The President and Vice President-Administration shall be the Chairman and Vice Chairman respectively of the Executive Committee. All other Chapter officers shall be members of this committee.
Section 6.9 The Executive Committee shall meet at least quarterly, but may meet as often as necessary or desirable, at the discretion of the Chairman.
Section 6.10 The President and a majority of the Executive Committee shall hold the grade of Fellow, Honorary Member, Member or Associate Member in the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.
Section 6.11 The majority of the Committee shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Executive Committee.
Section 6.12 It shall be a specific duty of the Executive Committee to pass upon the desirability of any action submitted to the Chapter for its consideration with respect to basic policy. Negative or advisory results will he reported immediately to the Chapter for further action.
ARTICLE VII
Meetings and Business
Section 7.1 A minimum of eight monthly meetings shall be held each year. One of these meetings shall be designated by the Executive Committee as the annual business meeting for the conducting of specific Society and Chapter business. In case of a special meeting, at least ten days written notice will be given top those individuals on the Chapter mailing list.
Section 7.2 At the annual business meeting, the President shall present to the Chapter an annual report reviewing the activities of the Chapter during the past twelve months and recommending future activities. The Treasurer shall present a report showing receipts and disbursements for the past twelve months, and a statement of assets, liabilities an net worth at the close of the elected term.
Section 7.3 In order to transact business at any meeting of the Chapter, there shall be at least one-fifth of the total Chapter members present.
Section 7.4. Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the transaction of business in all meetings except where inconsistent with these articles.
Section 7.5 A nominating committee shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee, and it shall be the duty of the nominatin committee to submit to the Chapter members, at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual business meeting, a list of nominations for all officers and vacancies on the Executive Committee to be voted on. This shall not preclude additional nominations from the floor proceeding the voting at the annual meeting.
Section 7.6 The Chapter shall not incur any financial obligation for the Society.
Section 7.7 The Chapter shall not speak for the society on any local or national matters without specific authorization from the Society.
ARTICLE VIII
Dues
Section 8.1 The Chapter Membership Period shall be from January Ist through December 31st of each year.
Section 8.2 The annual Chapter dues shall be payable in advance at the December business meeting of each year.
Section 8.3 Dues for new Chapter Members shall be due and payable upon election in the Chapter. If elected during or after the December business meeting, such dues shall be prorated for the remaining membership period to the end of the calendar year.
Section 8.4 The amount of the annual dues shall be determined by the Executive Committee as it deems appropriate, subject to approval by a majority vote of the Chapter Members at the annual business meeting.
ARTICLE IX
Handling and Mailing Fees
Section 9.1 Chapter advocates are required to pay a handling and mailing fee which is equal to the annual membership dues.
Section 9.2 The handling and mailing fees are for a period from January 1st through December 31st of each year and they are payable in advance at the December business meeting each year.
Section 9.3 The handling and mailing fee for chapter advocates shall be due and payable upon acceptance into the Chapter. If accepted during or after the January business meeting, such fees shall be prorated for the remaining annual period.
ARTICLE X
Amendments
Section 10.1 These articles may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of Chapter Members present. Proposals for amendments shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary. These proposals shall be distributed in writing to the membership and read at the meeting immediately proceeding that at which the amendment is to be voted upon.
Section 10.2 The waiting period may be waived upon approval of the Executive Committee and a majority of all Chapter members.
Section 10.3 All changes to the Chapter Constitution shall be submitted to the Society Board of Directors.
This document was posted on February 1, 2007.