Bylaws of the Pinellas Chapter

ARTICLE I - AFFILIATION

Section 1. The Pinellas Chapter shall operate under Charter issued by the Florida Engineering Society, which is affiliated with the National Society of Professional Engineers.

ARTICLE II - DUES

Section 1. Chapter dues shall be in addition to the National and State Society dues. The Executive Committee shall review the financial status of the Chapter each year and shall recommend necessary changes in the dues to the Chapter for approval by vote of the membership at a regular business meeting. Membership classifications as classified by the State Society shall be exempt from payment of Chapter dues if they are also exempt from payment of State Society dues.

ARTICLE III - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The duties of the elected officers shall be those normally associated with their respective offices and as specifically set forth in the Constitution and Bylaws. The government and management of the funds, properties and affairs of the Chapter shall be vested in the Executive Committee. The Board of Directors shall have power to adopt administrative and professional policies to implement the principles and provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws in accordance with the rules and policies of the State Society. The Committee shall have power to interpret the intent of the Constitution and Bylaws. Each member shall have one vote.

Section 2. The President shall be Chairman of the Executive Committee and of the Board of Directors. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.

Section 3. The President Elect shall be Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee and shall be an ex-officio member of all Committees. The President-Elect shall be responsible for securing an individual acceptable to the Board of Directors to act as Installing Officer and conduct the installation ceremony for the new Chapter officers at the regular Chapter meeting as proscribed in Section 1 of Article VII.

Section 4. The Vice President shall be responsible for programs. The Vice President shall:

(a) Develop programs, coordinate speakers and meeting places for the year and submit recommendations to the Executive Committee for approval. After approval, complete all necessary arrangements to complete engagements.

(b) Coordinate joint meetings with other societies.

(c) Provide the chapter secretary with information necessary for the monthly meeting notices and press releases where appropriate.

(d) Conduct studies to determine what types of programs and activities are desired by the membership to fulfill chapter’s goals.

Section 5. The Secretary shall:

(a) Keep an accurate record of the proceedings of the Chapter and the Executive Committee.

(b) Inform the President and the Executive Committee from time to time of duties to be performed at stated times or intervals.

(c) Issue all calls, notices, etc., as instructed by the Executive Committee and/or President.

(d) Conduct the correspondence of the Chapter and shall have custody of all books, papers and records, except those kept by the Treasurer.

(e) Maintain a complete record of Chapter members for the purpose of establishing eligibility for appointment or election.

(f) Before the appointment of the Nominating Committee each year, prepare for the President a list of members in good standing, showing their place of residence and branch of engineering practice of each who is eligible to hold office under the Constitution. The Secretary shall also provide the Nominating Committee with a list of names of members in good standing.

(g) Give timely notice of all meetings to all members.

(h) Automatically be an ex-officio member of the Membership Committee.

Section 6. The Treasurer shall:

(a) Maintain a set of books showing receipts and disbursements of the Chapter and the accounts of each member of the Chapter.

(b) Submit a financial statement of the Chapter at the last meeting of each fiscal year, which shall be audited as directed by the Executive Committee and sent to State Headquarters.

(c) Have custody of all funds of the Chapter.

(d) Be Comptroller of the accounts of the Chapter and shall make all collections and disbursements under the supervision of the President and/or as directed by the Executive Committee or by the Chapter.

(e) Render special reports as required by the President.

(f) Prepare an annual budget for approval by the Board of Directors.

Section 7. The State Director shall be a member of the Board of Directors of the State Society and shall represent the Chapter at all meetings of said Board.

ARTICLE IV - COMMITTEES

Section 1. The following standing committees shall be appointed:

(a) Awards

(b) Chapter Activities

(c) Communications Advisory

(d) Ethical Practices

(e) Legislative

(f) MATHCOUNTS

(g) Membership Development

(h) Nominating

(I) Project Create

(j) Scholarship

(k) Student Professional Development

All standing committees shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Executive Committee, unless otherwise stipulated by the Bylaws.

Section 2. The President may appoint, with the approval of the Executive Committee, special committees as necessary to support National, State and Local Programs and Chapter activities.

Section 3. It shall be the policy in the appointment of committees to endeavor to maintain among their members a balance between the various branches of engineering and between the various sections of the Chapter area, as near as practical.

Section 4. The duties of the standing committees shall be as defined by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE V - ORDER OF BUSINESS

Section 1. The order of business at all Board of Directors meetings shall be as follows:

(a) Call to order

(b) Roll Call/Quorum

(c) Review of Minutes from Previous Meetings

(d) Approval of Agenda

(e) Officers’ Reports

A. Treasurer

B. President

C. President Elect

D. Vice President

E. Secretary

(f) State Director’s Report

(g) Past President’s Report

(h) Practice Section Representatives’ Reports

A. Engineers in Government (FPEG)

B. Engineers in Construction (FECON)

C. Engineers in Education (FEE)

D. Engineers in Industry (FPEI)

E. Surveyors of Florida (PSF)

F. Florida Institute of Consulting Engineers (FICE)

(i) Standing Committee Reports

(j) Special (Temporary) Committee Reports

(k) Unfinished Business (From Previous Meetings)

(l) New Business

(m) Announcements

(n) Adjournment

Section 2. Robert’s Rules of Order shall be accepted parliamentary procedure for the Chapter.

Section 3. A quorum of at least one-third (1/3) of the Board of Directors must be present to properly conduct Chapter business at board meetings.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular meetings shall be held monthly, except for the months of July and August at a time and place to be determined by the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Special meetings may be held at the direction of the President.

Section 3. Board of Directors meetings shall be held monthly at a time and place to be determined by the Executive Committee.

Section 4. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be held at the direction of the President.

ARTICLE VII - ADMINISTRATION

Section 1. The installation of Officers shall be at the regular Chapter meeting scheduled for September or as otherwise established by the Executive Committee.

Section 2. The Chapter’s administrative year shall begin on October 1 and end on September 30 or as otherwise established by the Executive Committee.

Section 3. The Chapter’s fiscal year shall begin on October 1 and end on September 30.

Section 4. The State Director shall take office either at the time of installation at the annual meeting of the State Society or at the time of installation of Chapter Officers, whichever occurs first.

ARTICLE VIII - APPROVAL AND AMENDMENT HISTORY

Section 1. The bylaws were originally adopted on April 14, 1965.

Section 2. The First Amendment to the bylaws was approved by the general membership by letter ballot on May 8, 1980.

Section 3. The Second Amendment to the bylaws was approved by an affirmative majority vote of the eligible members voting at the regular meeting of the Chapter held on April 11, 1996.

 

Section 4. The Third Amendment to the bylaws was approved by an affirmative majority vote of the eligible members voting at the regular meeting of the Chapter held on July 13, 2000. The Third Amendment to the bylaws was also approved by the State Society at their regularly scheduled annual meeting on August 7, 2003.

Attest: _______________________________________ ______________________ 20 __ Joan M. Rice, P.E. Date

President - Pinellas Chapter FES

Attest: _______________________________________ _______________________ 20 __

Donald J. Polmann, Ph.D., P.E. Date

Secretary - Pinellas Chapter FES