CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF
BEXAR CHAPTER
TEXAS SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS
(Reflecting all Amendments through April 1, 2011)
PREAMBLE
The Bexar Chapter subscribes to the aims and purposes as set forth in the Preamble, Constitution and Bylaws of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE).
In order to aid in advancing these ideals, Bexar Chapter herewith sets forth its Constitution and Bylaws of which this Preamble is a part.
ARTICLE I
NAME
Section 1. This Chapter shall be known as the Bexar Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers.
ARTICLE II
HEADQUARTERS
Section 1. The place of meeting shall be located in Bexar County, Texas, and shall be selected by the Executive Board.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership qualifications, grades, obligations and privileges shall be as provided in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. EIT Members shall be eligible to vote at the Chapter level and may hold any Chapter office except the office of President, President-Elect or State Director.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICES, DIRECTORS, STATE
DIRECTOR AND EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The Officers of the Chapter shall consist of a President, President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 2. There shall be Chapter Directors elected by the Chapter, all of whom shall be an EIT or PE member of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers.
Section 3. There shall be one State Director elected by the Chapter.
Section 4. There shall be an Executive Board of the Chapter consisting of the Officers of the Chapter, the immediate Past-President, the Chapter Directors, the State Director and the Chairmen of all active local Practice Divisions as outlined in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. The President shall act as Chairman of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
Section 1. Chapter Directors are responsible for Standing Committees. The standing Committees shall be as follows:
Nominating Committee (reports directly to President)
Special Committees (as appointed)
Chapter Director 1
Newsletter/Advertising
Website
Legislation/Government Affairs
Chapter Director 2
Scholarship
MATHCOUNTS
Education
Chapter Director 3
Membership
Engineer’s Week
Young Engineer of the Year
Engineer of the Year
Practice Director 1
PEPP
Practice Director 2
PEG
Practice Director 3
PEC
Practice Director 4
PEI
Practice Director 5
PEE
Section 2. Each standing Committee shall consist of not less than one member.
Section 3. The Chairman of each Committee shall be appointed by the respective Chapter or Practice Director, respectively, with the advice and consent of the majority of the Executive Board. The Chairman and members of the standing Committees shall be designated as early as practical after the annual installation of new Officers and Directors.
Section 4. A Nominating Committee of three members shall consist of the Past President and the previous two Past Presidents. If the Past President or previous two Past Presidents are unwilling or unable to serve, then the most recent Past President who is willing and able to serve should seek to fill the remaining two vacancies of the Nominating Committee from other Past Presidents. No Officer or Director shall be eligible for membership on the Nominating Committee; however, the Nominating Committee should seek the advice of the President and President-Elect in recommending nominees for the various offices.
Section 5. Special Committees shall be appointed by the President as required, or as directed by action of the Chapter or the Executive Board.
Section 6. An Engineer-of-the-Year Nominating Committee shall consist of the three most recent previous Engineers-of-the-Year. The chairman shall be the Engineer-of-the-Year of the most distant date.
Section 7. A Young Engineer-of-the-Year Nominating Committee shall consist of the three most recent previous Young Engineers-of-the-Year. The Chairman shall be the Young Engineer-of-the-Year of the most distant date.
Section 8. Actions of the Committees shall be submitted to the Executive Board for their consideration and approval.
ARTICLE VI
PRACTICE DIVISIONS
Section 1. Practice Divisions shall be as provided in the TSPE Constitution and Bylaws.
Section 2. The Chairman of local active Practice Divisions shall serve on the Executive Board as a Practice Director of the Chapter.
Section 3. Each Practice Director may authorize an Executive Director or other representative to attend and vote by proxy at Executive Board meetings. Each authorized representative must provide proxy documentation to the Secretary prior to voting at a meeting of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE VII
CODES OF ETHICAL CONDUCT
Section 1. The Professional conduct of Chapter Members of all grades shall be governed by the Code of Ethics subscribed to by all applicants for Texas Board of Professional Engineers and to those adopted by the Texas Society of Professional Engineers.
Section 2. The ethical conduct of Chapter Members shall also be governed by other canons, rules and policies adopted by the Texas Society of Professional Engineers.
ARTICLE VIII
ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 1. All Officers shall be elected annually and shall hold office for one year or until their successors are installed.
Section 2. Chapter Directors shall be elected annually and shall hold office for one year or until their successors are installed.
Section 3. The State Director shall be elected for a term of two years and shall serve such term or until his successor is installed.
Section 4. All elections shall be by secret letter ballot. Ballots shall be mailed or emailed to the membership at least three weeks prior to the April meeting, and must be returned so as to be received by the Secretary before or at the April meeting in order to be counted. The Secretary shall verify the eligibility of the Voting Members and certify the results to the May meeting of the Executive Board.
Section 5. A majority of all votes cast by ballot shall be necessary to elect to any office.
Section 6. Upon the death, resignation or removal of the President, the President-Elect shall fill the unexpired term. If the President-Elect is unable to serve, then the Executive Board may fill the vacancy for the unexpired term from among their own elected members who are qualified for the office.
Section 7. Upon the death, resignation or removal of any Officer or Director other than the President, the Executive Board may fill an Officer vacancy for the unexpired term from among their own elected members who are qualified for the office and may fill a Chapter Director vacancy by selecting a member in good standing.
Section 8. Any Officer, Chapter Director, Practice Director, or State Director may be removed from office by a two-thirds affirmative vote with not less than 30% of the membership voting.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. This Constitution may be amended by official ballot provided that such amendment shall have first been approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board. Notice of such amendment shall be mailed or emailed to all members of the Chapter not less than two weeks prior to the date set for close of Ballots. A two-thirds affirmative vote of the members voting shall be required to amend the Constitution for any part thereof.
Section 2. Amendments to the Constitution shall be submitted to the Board of Directors of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers and shall become effective immediately after approval of said Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X
DISSOLUTION
Section 1. Upon the dissolution of the Chapter the assets remaining after the payment of the debts of the Chapter shall be turned over to the Texas Engineering Foundation for its exclusive use in carrying out its objectives and purposes.
BYLAWS
BYLAW I
FISCAL YEAR
Section 1. The fiscal year of the Chapter shall be from July 1st through June 30th.
BYLAW II
MEETINGS
Section 1. REGULAR MEETING. The Chapter shall regularly convene monthly, on a date selected by the Executive Board. At the discretion of the Executive Board, any or all of the three summer meetings (June, July and August) may be omitted. Notices of each meeting shall be mailed in advance thereof.
Section 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special Chapter Meetings shall be called at the discretion of the President, upon request of the Executive Board, or upon written request of ten members of the Chapter. The purpose of such meetings shall be set forth in a notice sent to the members, said notice shall be mailed or emailed at least five days prior to date of meeting. No business, other than that for which the meeting was called, shall be transacted.
Section 3. ANNUAL MEETING. The last meeting of the Fiscal year shall be designated as the Annual Meeting.
Section 4. BUSINESS. For the purpose of transacting business of the Chapter requiring membership participation, a simple majority of those casting votes and responding in the affirmative shall be required.
Section 5. ORDER OF BUSINESS. The order of business for Regular Meetings shall be determined by the President with consideration of any special program scheduled by the Vice President.
The order of business for the Annual Meeting shall be:
- Presentation of Report of Executive Board
- Unfinished business
- New business
- Installation of New Officers and Directors (whose official term of office begins July 1st)
- Adjournment
BYLAW III
DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 1. PRESIDENT. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Chapter and of the Executive Board. The President shall be, ex-officio, a member of all Committees, except the Nominating Committee. Subject to approval of the Executive Board, the President shall have general direction of the business of the Chapter.
Section 2. PRESIDENT-ELECT. In the absence of the President or in the case of the President's inability to act, the President-Elect shall perform all the duties of the President. The President-Elect shall automatically succeed to the office of President at the beginning of each administrative year. The President-Elect shall be a member of the Engineers Week Committee and shall serve as a liaison with the Executive Board.
Section 3. VICE PRESIDENT. The Vice President shall serve as Program Director. In the absence of the President or President-Elect or in case of inability of the President or President-Elect to act, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President. In the absence of the President, President-Elect and Vice President from a meeting, the Chairman for that meeting shall be elected from the floor.
Section 4. SECRETARY. The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all proceedings of the Chapter and shall have custody of all official papers and records. At the end of the fiscal year the Secretary shall submit a written report covering the activities of the office and shall turn over to his/her successor all books, documents and other property in his/her custody. The Secretary shall transmit to TSPE notices of all meetings and elections, and the names, addresses and telephone numbers of newly elected, expelled, suspended or deceased members promptly.
Section 5. TREASURER. The Treasurer shall keep an accurate record of monies and financial transactions and shall submit financial reports and pay all bills as ordered by the Executive Board. At the end of the fiscal year the Treasurer shall submit a written report covering the activities of the office, including a complete financial statement of all monies received and disbursed, and an inventory of property owned by the chapter. At the expiration of his term of office, he/she shall turn over to his/her successor all books, documents and other property of the Chapter, which are in his/her custody, and shall obtain a receipt thereof. The Treasurer shall submit a year-end financial statement to TSPE. The outgoing Treasurer shall obtain an audit of the year-end financial statement from his/her successor who shall report results of the audit to the Executive Committee.
The Executive Board may require the Treasurer to be bonded, and shall fix the amount of the bond. The fee for the bond shall be paid out of funds of the Chapter.
Section 6. CHAPTER DIRECTORS. It shall be the duty of each Chapter Director to regularly attend the Executive Board Meetings, and to contribute to its deliberations. Each Director shall have coordinating responsibilities with committees assigned to him/her by the President.
Section 7. STATE DIRECTOR. The State Director shall serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the State Society and of the Chapter and shall represent the Chapter at State level. The State Director shall report to the Chapter on actions of the State Society and the State Board of Directors and whenever practical shall obtain the consensus of the Chapter on matters to be brought before the State Board of Directors.
BYLAW IV
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1. The Regular Meetings of the Executive Board shall be held each month from August to May. Special Meetings shall be at the call of the President or upon written request of three of its members. A simple majority shall constitute a quorum of any Executive Board Meeting.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall have general supervision of all matters pertaining to the Chapter. It shall act in any emergency demanding the immediate attention of the Chapter and shall attend to the transaction of all matters, which usually devolve upon a body of this kind.
Section 3. The order of Business for Executive Board Meetings shall be:
- Reading of Minutes of previous Board meeting
- Report of Treasurer
- Reading of Communications
- Reports of Officers
- Report of State Director
- Reports of Committees
- Unfinished business
- New business
- Adjournment
Section 4. The action of the Executive Board shall be reported to the Membership not later than the next regular meeting of the Chapter.
BYLAW V
COMMITTEES
Section 1. THE NEWSLETTER AND ADVERTISING COMMITTEE shall prepare a newsletter documenting activities of the Bexar Chapter and other activities related to the Engineering Profession, and prepare advertisements and applicable invoices. The committee shall provide copies of invoices to the Treasurer, digital copies of the newsletter to the Membership Committee Chair and to the Website Committee. The committee shall also provide printed copies of the newsletter to members as requested.
Section 2. THE WEBSITE COMMITTEE shall post routine meeting notices and newsletters to the Bexar Chapter website as requested by any member of the Executive Board. Alterations to format or content are subject to Executive Board approval. Website contents shall be consistent with goals and purposes of TSPE and NSPE. The Website Committee Chair may be a paid position subject to approval by the Executive Board.
Section 3. THE LEGISLATION AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE shall inform members of critical legislative issues as determined by TSPE and facilitate communication between members and elected officials with guidance from TSPE.
Section 4. THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE shall coordinate efforts necessary to review applications, conduct interviews, and award scholarships from the Professional Engineers Scholarship Fund.
Section 5. THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE shall confer and cooperate with the faculties of local high schools and colleges and take part in as many counseling activities as practical so that students will be introduced to the Engineering Profession. It shall sponsor or cooperate in awards for prospective engineering students; and sponsor or cooperate in all activities calculated to bring the Engineering profession to the attention of high schools and colleges and their students (i.e. Science Fair, Engineering Technology Challenge, US First Robotics).
Section 6. THE MATHCOUNTS COMMITTEE shall sponsor and implement the MATHCOUNTS program with local area middle schools.
Section 7. THE MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE shall bring the purposes and program of the Society before the Profession in order to enlist support, endorsement and affiliation and shall seek to expand the membership of the Chapter. The committee shall encourage the payment of dues by those members who become delinquent, greet and welcome new members and visitors at Chapter Meetings, and manage distribution of digital media to members who provide an email address.
Section 8. THE ENGINEER'S WEEK COMMITTEE shall have complete charge of the activities accompanying the celebration of Engineer's Week, subject to Board oversight and approval.
Section 9. THE YOUNG ENGINEER OF THE YEAR NOMINATING COMMITTEE shall nominate for Executive Board consideration, a member who will not be thirty-six years of age by the end of the calendar year in which such nomination takes place to be selected as Young Engineer of the Year. Such nomination should be made to the Executive Board for their action at the its January meeting so that the award can be made during Engineer’s Week.
Section 10. THE ENGINEER OF THE YEAR NOMINATING COMMITTEE shall nominate for Executive Board consideration a member 35 years or older to be selected as Engineer of the Year. Such nomination should be made to the Executive Board for their action at its January meeting so that the award can be made during Engineer's Week.
Section 11. THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE shall have its report in the hands of the President in time to be read at the February meeting of the Chapter. The membership shall receive notice that nominations other than those of the committee will be in order at the February meeting of the Chapter. Previous to nomination, the nominee's agreement to serve shall have been obtained. Nominations submitted and approved by a majority of the members present at the Chapter Meeting or supported by a written request of not less than 5% of the members shall be placed on the official ballot, with no designation being made to distinguish them from nominations made by the Nominating Committee.
Section 12. SPECIAL COMMITTEES shall meet at the earliest possible date after appointment, study their special assignment thoroughly, and report promptly to the Executive Board.
BYLAW VI
ELECTION OF MEMBERS
Membership in the Chapter is through assignment of its members to the Chapters nearest their residence by TSPE.
BYLAW VII
DISCIPLINE OF MEMBERS
Section 1. Discipline of members shall follow the guidelines, procedures and provisions of Article XVI of the Constitution of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. The initial authority to discipline members is vested solely in the chapter.
BYLAW VIII
DUES AND ASSESSMENTS
Section 1. Dues shall be payable in accordance with the schedule established by TSPE.
Section 2. Assessments to be collected and retained for use by the Chapter shall be entirely discretional with members, shall be voted upon by letter ballot, and shall be considered only upon written recommendations of the Executive Board or of 25 members. The details of such assessments shall be determined at the time the matter is presented for consideration and shall be set forth in the letter ballot. A two-thirds affirmative vote of the members voting shall be necessary to authorize levying of Assessments. Billing and collection of discretionary assessments is the sole responsibility of the Chapter.
Section 3. A member who has not paid his dues shall be dropped from the Chapter Roster by the secretary in accordance with the practice of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers.
Section 4. A member who has been dropped for non-payment of dues shall be reinstated only by meeting the requirements of TSPE for reinstatement.
BYLAW IX
OPERATING BUDGET
Section 1. No expenses, other than budgeted operating or incidental expenses, shall be incurred and no continuing expenses entered into except by a majority affirmative vote of the Executive Board.
Section 2. All expenses included in the operating budget as approved by the Executive Board shall be paid by the Treasurer.
Section 3. All expenses not specifically included or included as a miscellaneous expense in the operating budget as approved by the Executive Board shall be approved by the Executive Board.
Section 4. The Treasurer and the immediate past Treasurer shall cooperate as required to ensure the proper tax documents are filed with the Internal Revenue Service by the tax filing deadline.
Section 5. All checks or vouchers shall be signed by the Treasurer, President, Vice President, Secretary or other Bexar Chapter member designated by the Executive Board.
BYLAW X
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Chapter, provided official notice of the proposed amendment shall have been mailed or emailed to each member of the Chapter and posted on the Chapter website at least one week in advance of the meeting date. A two-thirds favorable majority vote of those assembled shall be necessary to amend.
Section 2. A particular section of these Bylaws may be suspended for a single stated purpose by unanimous consent of the members present at any meeting.
Section 3. Any amendment to these Bylaws, complying with Section I of this ARTICLE, shall become effective immediately after approval of the Board of Directors of TSPE.
BYLAW XI
RULES OF ORDER
Section 1. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, except as herein otherwise stipulated.
