Constitution of Pinellas FES

PREAMBLE

Realizing that although individual branches of engineering are confronted with problems peculiar to each, there is a common bond of unity existing among all professional engineers and technically trained persons. Therefore, recognizing that service to the Society, the State and the Profession can best be accomplished through a united group imbued with the spirit of service, the members of this Chapter pledge themselves to the promotion and protection of the engineering profession as a social and economic influence in the affairs of mankind.

ARTICLE I - NAME

Section 1. The name of this chapter shall be the Pinellas Chapter of the Florida Engineering Society, hereinafter called the Chapter.

Section 2. This Chapter shall be a non-profit, educational and fraternal organization operating under charter from the Florida Engineering Society, hereinafter called the State Society, which is affiliated with the National Society of Professional Engineers, hereinafter called the National Society, the objects of all three being in substantial agreement.

Section 3. The Pinellas Chapter area shall embrace Pinellas County; and the headquarters of the Chapter shall be located in the Chapter area.

ARTICLE II - OBJECTS

Section 1. The objects of this Chapter shall be:

1. 1. To advance the public health, safety, welfare through the establishment of high professional standards for the engineering profession;

1. 1. To advance the professional, social and economic interests of the professional engineer;
   2. To promote high standards of engineering education;

1. 1. To protect and advance the interests of the engineer intern;

1. 1. To promote and assist in the enforcement of legislation affecting the work of the professional engineer;

1. 1. To improve public relations and to cultivate appreciation of the work of the Professional engineers;

1. 1. To develop civic consciousness of the members of the engineering profession; and,

1. 1. To establish and maintain high ethical standards and practices.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Chapter membership shall be limited to members of the State Society residing or practicing in the Chapter area. State Society members become Chapter members upon payment of Chapter dues. Termination of State Society membership shall terminate Chapter membership. Membership grades shall be the same as those of the State Society.

Section 2. Only members whose Chapter and State Society dues are currently paid shall be eligible to vote in the Chapter. If the dues of any member remains unpaid after the close of the fiscal year, such member shall be suspended from the Chapter. The request of any suspended member for reinstatement must be accompanied by dues in full for the year at the close of which the member was dropped, as well as dues for the current year.

ARTICLE IV - DUES

Section 1. Chapter dues shall be determined by the Chapter. Dues shall be payable in advance, at the same time as State Society dues.

Section 2. The fiscal year of the Chapter shall be as provided in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE V - ADMINISTRATION

Section 1. Officers.

The Chapter shall have as elective officers a President, a President Elect, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer.

Section 2. State Society Director.

The Chapter shall elect one State Society Director, who shall be a corporate Member of the State Society, in accordance with Article VII of the State Society Charter.

Section 3. Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, the President Elect, the Vice President, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the State Society Director.

Section 4. The Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors shall consist of the members of the Executive committee, the immediate past President, the Practice Section representatives and the Standing Committee Chairman.

Section 5. Emoluments.

No officer, appointee, committeeman or member shall receive a salary or compensation for expenses incurred except those approved by the Executive Committee

Section 6. Vacancies.

Any vacancy of elected officers, other than the President, shall be filled by election at the next regular meeting of the Chapter to serve the unexpired term. Should the office of President be vacated, the President Elect shall automatically assume the office and duties of President.

Section 7. Term of Office.

Elected officers shall assume their duties at the beginning of the Chapter Administrative Year and shall hold office until their respective successors assume such duties. The term of office shall be: Chapter Officers ﷓ 1 year, State Director ﷓ 3 years.

Section 8 Eligibility.

Only professional engineer members registered in the State of Florida shall be eligible to hold office in the Chapter.

Section 9. Administrative Years.

The administrative year shall be as provided in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI - NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1. Nomination for officers shall be made by a Nominating Committee. This Committee shall be appointed by the President and shall consist of the three most recently available past Presidents. The most recently available past President shall serve as Chairman of the Committee.

Section 2. The Nominating Committee shall submit to the Secretary at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of the meeting for installation of officers, the name of one candidate for each office to be filled. A list of the nominations shall be sent to all individual Members or published in a FES or Chapter publication, allowing thirty (30) days in which to file additional nominations. Additional nominations may be made by letter addressed to the Secretary containing the name of the nominee and the signature of any five Chapter members in good standing.

Section 3. If there are no additional nominees, the list of nominees as submitted by the Nominating Committee shall be declared the new officers by acclamation. If there are additional nominees, letter ballots containing the names of the official nominees and the additional nominees shall then be sent by the Secretary to all qualified voters at least thirty (30) days before the date of the meeting for installation of officers.

Section 4. Each ballot shall be returned to the Secretary, before the installation meeting, enclosed in a single envelope endorsed on the back with the member’s signature. The President shall appoint not less than two tellers who shall canvass all ballots. The candidate for any office having the largest number of votes by letter ballot for each office shall be elected. In the event of a tie vote, the Board of Directors shall determine the outcome. The names of the elected officers together with vote tabulations and ballots shall be transmitted to the Secretary before the installation meeting.

Section 5. The Chapter Executive Committee shall determine and publicize the data of installation of new officers.

ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing committees and special committees shall be appointed by the President, with the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Regular meetings shall be held as stated in Bylaws, time and place to be determined by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall instruct the Secretary as to the time and place of all meetings.

ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by a majority of the Board of Directors or by petition signed by not less than 10% of the Chapter members eligible to vote. Amendments by petition must be submitted to the Board of Directors at least ten days prior to a regular meeting. The Board of Directors will make its recommendation of the submitted petition to the subsequent regular meeting. After an open discussion of the proposed amendment at the regular meeting, the petitioners may withdraw their names if they so desire. If 1070 of the eligible members still remain as signatories on the petition, the proposed amendment will be circulated for ballot.

Section 2. Proposed amendments to the Constitution, which shall be balloted in the same manner as prescribed for officers, together with a letter ballot, shall be mailed by the Secretary to each member of the Chapter within ten days after its proposal at a regular meeting. Returned ballots shall be delivered unopened by the Secretary to an appointed special tellers committee who shall canvass the ballots at the next regular meeting following the mailing of the ballots. Only ballots returned prior to this regular meeting shall be canvassed.

Section 3. An amendment shall become effective immediately upon the affirmative majority vote of the membership voting by letter ballot and approval by the State Society.

ARTICLE IX - BYLAWS

Section 1. The Bylaws of this Chapter may be adopted and/or amended by an affirmative majority vote of the eligible members voting at a regular meeting of the Chapter and approval of the State Society, provided that the text of the proposed amendment shall have been presented to the Chapter members at the preceding regular meeting, and shall have been circulated to the membership between meetings.

ARTICLE X - EFFECTIVE DATE

Section 1. This Constitution shall become effective upon approval of the Board of Directors of the State Society.