Chapter By-Laws

  Erie Niagara Chapter

New York State Society of Professional Engineers

By-Laws

ARTICLE I - ORGANIZATION AND FISCAL YEAR

Section 1.  The organization year of this Chapter for the purpose of terms of its officers, directors and committees shall be from July 1st  until  June 30th of the year following.  The fiscal year also shall be the period from July 1st until June 30th of the year following.

Section 2.  The calendar year for the purposes of dues and membership shall be from January 1 to December 31 inclusive.

ARTICLE II - ORDER OF BUSINESS

Section 1.  The order of Business for the Annual Meeting of the Chapter shall be:

a.         Introduction of guests.

b.         Historian's brief summary.

c.         Unfinished business.

d.         Installation  of  newly  elected  officers  and directors, preparatory to their taking office on July 1st.

e.         New business.

f.          Presentation of Awards (if any) and Special Program (if any).

g.         Adjournment of business meeting.

Section 2.  The order of business for the regular meetings shall be:

a.         Introduction of guests.

b.         Reading of minutes of previous meeting.

c.         Reading of communications.

d.         Reports of Officers.

e.         Reports of Committees.

f.          Unfinished business,

g.         New business.

h.         Special program (if any).

i.          Adjournment.

Provided that at the April meeting the tellers shall be appointed and the polls shall be closed before the reading of communications  and  the  tellers  shall  report  prior  to  the consideration of other new business.

Section 3.  The order of business for meetings of the Board of Directors or any Committee shall be determined by the Chairman of such Board or Committee.

Section 4.  For the purpose of transacting business at any regular or special meeting of the Chapter, a quorum shall consist of thirty-five members.

ARTICLE III - COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION AND DUTIES

Section 1.  The Standing Committees shall be organized with various constituent committees.  Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors the designations and assignments of the constituent committees shall be as follows:

CHAPTER MANAGEMENT                              SOCIETY PROMOTION "A"

Ways and Means                                            Engineers Week

Ethical Practices                                             Publicity

Constitution and By-Laws                                 Long Range Planning

Nominating                                                      Public Relations

Roster

Handbook

CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT "A"                      SOCIETY PROMOTION "B"

Program - Meetings                                        Legislation Review

Bulletin Publications                                        Registration Promotion

Annual Outing                                                 Building Codes

CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT "B"                     PUBLIC SERVICE

Education Assistance                                    Civic Affairs

Review Course                                               Safety and Defense

Membership Promotion                                  T.S.C. Delegate

Fellowship - Meetings

Junior Member - Aid

FUNCTIONAL COMMITTEES

Engineers in Industry

Engineers in Government

Engineers in Private Practices

Land Surveyors

Special Committee of Past Presidents

Section 2.  The Board of Directors shall adopt and from time to time may amend a detailed statement of the duties and functions  of  each constituent committee.  Committees may be combined or subdivided,  and new committees may be formed,  as determined by the Board of Directors from time to time.   In general, the constituent committees shall report to the Board of Directors  through  the  chairmen  of  their  respective  standing committees.  The Board of Directors shall maintain direct contact with constituent committees to the extent necessary to assure mutual understanding of committee functions and board policies.

Section 3.  The Standing Committee on Chapter Management shall supervise and coordinate the activities of the following constituent committees:  (a) The Ways and Means Committee, which shall assist the Board of Directors by preparing the Chapter budget for the forthcoming fiscal year for review and action by the Board and advising on other budgetary matters;  (b) The Ethical Practices Committees, which shall study and advise on matters concerning the ethical practice of Professional Engineering and Land Surveying and perform the duties hereinafter required of it under Article VI of these By-Laws;   (c)  The Nominating Committee provided for in Article V of the Chapter Constitution;  (d) a Constitution and By- Laws Committee, which shall advise on changes needed in the Chapter Constitution and By-Laws and to provide revisions thereof as directed by the Board of Directors; and (e) a Roster Committee, which shall be responsible for the preparation of the material needed for maintaining an up-to-date Chapter Roster and providing such material for publication and distribution as directed by the Board of Directors and which also shall provide the necessary material and assist in other ways in the publication of a new edition of the Roster from time to time when and as directed by the Board of Directors; (f) a Handbook Committee which shall prepare and maintain a handbook describing the functions of the Chapter committees, as directed by the Board of Directors.

Section  4.    The  Standing  Committees  on  Chapter Development  "A"  and  "B"  shall  supervise  and  coordinate  the activities of the following constituent committees:

• (a) A Program Committee, which shall plan and arrange for the programs at the Regular Meetings of the Chapter;
• (b) A Bulletin Publication Committee, which shall obtain and provide the material on meeting notices, chapter and State and National Society news, Officers messages and membership changes, timely publications in the Chapter Bulletin;
• (c) A Publicity Committee, which shall arrange to inform the general public as to the aims, functions, accomplishments and activities of the Engineering profession, this Chapter, and its members;
• (d) An Annual Outing Committee, which shall arrange for and conduct an informal outdoor or picnic meeting of the Chapter during July or August;
• (e) An Education Committee, which shall endeavor to promote any additional needed facilities for the study of engineering and land surveying subjects in Erie and Niagara Counties, lend assistance to educational institutions in these counties, and assist school guidance counselors and prospective engineering and/or land surveying students by providing information on the nature of these professions, colleges teaching such subjects, preparatory and entrance requirements, and availability of scholarships or other financial assistance;
• (f) A Review Course Committee, which shall plan and conduct courses in which the theory, practice and data involved in the practice of professional engineering or land surveying are reviewed for the assistance of course registrants in preparation for the licensing examinations of the New York State Education Department;
• (g) A Membership Committee, which shall seek, encourage, and assist qualified prospective members in applications for membership in the Chapter and the State and National Societies, and shall investigate and report to the Board of Directors on the character and eligibility of all applicants for Chapter membership, and shall investigate and report on any applicant for a license as requested by the State Education Department;
• (h) A Junior Member Committee which shall, in coordination with the Membership Committee, seek to enroll all qualified Engineer-in-Training, intern engineer, and intern land surveyor licensees as members of this Chapter and the State and National Societies, assist them in career and additional training questions and problems, and encourage them to become full members as soon as they are eligible;
• (i) A Fellowship Committee which shall assist guests and new chapter members at Chapter meetings and other functions in becoming acquainted with Chapter members procedures and activities and shall work with the Program Committee in arranging and conducting Chapter meetings.

Section 5.  The Standing Committees on Society Promotion "A" and "B" shall supervise and coordinate the activities of the following constituent committees:

• (a) an Engineer's Week Committee, which shall plan and conduct all chapter sponsored activities in celebration of National Engineer's Week, coordinating its actions with the Chapter Treasurer and Chapter Program, Publicity, Bulletin Publication and Education Committees where appropriate;
• (b) a Long Range Planning Committee, which shall include several experienced members and past officers of the Chapter and shall, with guidance from the Chapter President and Executive Committee, examine trends in technological developments, in community problems of a technical nature, and in the practice of professional engineering, land surveying and the associated professions to determine and report on their probable influence on needed future change in Chapter functions, activities or operation;
• (c) a Legislation Review Committee, which shall continually determine and review actual, pending, and potential changes in local, state and national legislation which may influence the operation, activities, liability or welfare of the Chapter or of its members in the practice of Professional Engineering or Land Surveying, shall report periodically as necessary to the Chapter President, Board or Membership on noteworthy findings, and shall coordinate with the Registration Promotion Committee on any pending or proposed changes in the New York State or National laws concerned with Registration or Licensing of Professional Engineers or Land Surveyors;
• (d) a Registration Promotion Committee, which shall encourage and assist engineers and land surveyors to register and obtain licenses from the New York State Education Department, shall investigate and participate with State and National Society Committees, and other groups as appropriate, in recommending needed changes in laws and governmental administrative practices regarding registration or licensing of Professional Engineers or Land Surveyors, shall coordinate such recommendations with the Legislative Review Committee, and shall work with the Publicity Committee in disseminating to the public and other interested groups information on the needs for and effects of such changes in respect to the public welfare and safety;
• (e) a Special Codes Committee, activated from time to time as appropriate, which shall study and recommend, in cooperation with appropriate local government authorities, any needs for, or effects of, proposed changes in codes for the design and construction of buildings or other structures or facilities insofar as these changes affect public safety or welfare in areas in which professional engineering or land surveying practice is involved.

Section 6.   The Standing Committee on Public Service shall supervise and coordinate the activities of the following constituent committees:  (a) a Civic Affairs Committee, which shall undertake such studies or assignments as the Board of Directors may approve  toward  the  objective  of  Chapter  participation  in identification with and assistance to meritorious civic projects or the determination of public policy;  (b)  a special Safety and Defense Committee, from time to time as appropriate which shall then assist county Civil Defense Offices in areas in which they require volunteer efforts involving skills possessed primarily by Professional Engineers or Land Surveyors, or shall assist other local governmental agencies concerned with other Safety problems in areas which similarly qualified volunteer efforts are needed; and (c) the Chapter Delegates to the Technical Societies Council of the Niagara Frontier, who also shall serve under the general direction of the Standing Committee on Public Service.

Section 7. The Standing Committee on Functional Sections shall supervise and coordinate the activities of the following constituent committees:

(a)        an Engineers in Industry, Functional Committee;

(b)        an Engineers in Government, Functional Committee;

(c)        an  Engineers  in  Private  Practice,  Functional Committee;

(d)        a Land Surveyors Functional Committee.

These committees shall perform for the Chapter those activities  specified  in  the  State  and  National  Society Constitutions for the corresponding Functional Sections.   They shall coordinate and cooperate with State and National Functional Sections and may participate in their activities.  Subject to Board approval, these committees will conduct investigations and award certificates  to Erie  and Niagara County Companies  and other organizations as appropriate under the State and National Societies programs of Certification for organizations complying with the Engineering Employment Practices Standards of those programs.

Section 8.   The Special Committee of Past Presidents shall act in an Advisory capacity to support Chapter Committee works and to perform special assignments as requested by the President.

ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS

Section 1.  The Annual Meeting of the Chapter shall be held during the month of May.

Section 2.  A Regular Meeting of the Chapter shall be held during September, October, November, January, February, March and April of each year, unless at a regular meeting the majority of the members present shall vote to eliminate a certain meeting.

Section 3.  At the call of the Board of Directors or upon the written request of at least ten members, the President shall call a Special Meeting, the purpose of which shall be set forth in a notice mailed to each member at least five days prior to the time of such meeting.  No business other than that for which the special meeting was called shall be transacted.

Section 4.  All meetings of this Chapter shall be at such time and place as the Board of Directors may select within the limits provided in Sections 1, 2 and 3 of this Article.

Section 5.  The parliamentary procedure at all meetings of this Chapter, its Board of Directors and Committees shall be according to Robert's Rules of Order, Revised.

ARTICLE V - ELECTION OF MEMBERS

Section 1.  An application for membership shall be in such form as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.  Such application shall be accompanied by the proper dues.

Section 2.  All applicants for membership shall be investigated by the Membership Committee.   It shall report on character and eligibility to the Board of Directors.

Section 3.  The Board of Directors shall accept or reject the application, by majority vote, and the applicant shall be immediately notified of such action by the Corresponding Secretary.

ARTICLE VI - EXPULSION

Section  1.    The Board of Directors  shall consider expulsion proceedings against a member on recommendation of the Ethical Practices Committee.   If the circumstances appear to warrant further action, it shall advise the accused of the charges made against him.  The accused may, if he so desires, present a defense in person or in writing, or both, which shall be considered at a meeting of the Board of Directors, of which meeting he shall receive due notice.  Final action of the Board shall be by ballot and at least eight affirmative votes shall be required to recommend expulsion.

Section 2.  Expulsion, if such is decreed, shall not take effect and notice thereof shall not be published until the Board of Directors of the State Society shall have approved this Chapter's action.

ARTICLE VII - SUSPENSION OF BY-LAWS