About Us: Constitution

BASED ON THE CONSTITUTIONS OF:

v The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
v The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
v The Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

PERPARED AT THE INSTANCE OF THE TASK FORCE FOR THE FORMATION OF THE BAHAMAS SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS.

DATE: January 10, 1998 (Revised: April 3, 1998) Draft No. 4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE C1.1 - IDENTIFICATION

C1.1.1 The name of this Society if The Bahamas Society of Engineers.

C1 1.2 The Society is a corporation, organized February 11, 2002 and charted under the laws of the COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS.

ARTICLE C2.1 - PURPOSES

C2.1.1 The Proposes of this Society are to:

Promote the art, science , and practice of engineering and the allied arts and sciences;

• Encourage original research;
• Forster engineering education and professional training;
• Advance the standards of engineering;
• Promote the exchange of information among engineers and others;
• Broaden the awareness and value of the engineering profession in cooperation with other professional technical societies.
• Promote a high level of ethical practice. And enhance the practice of engineering for the public good. In all professional and business relations the members of Society shall be governed by the Code of Ethics as stated in the Society Policies.
• Advance the welfare of its members, and the profession in general.

C2.1.2 The Society may approve or adopt any report, standard, code, formula, or recommended practice, but shall forbid and oppose the use its name and proprietary symbols in any commercial work of business, except to indicate conformity with its standards of recommended practice.

ARITCLE C3.1 - MEMBERSHIP

C3.1.1 The overall membership of the society shall consist of Fellows, Members Associate Members, Honorary Members, Affiliates and Student Members The voting members shall consist of Fellows, Members and Associate Members.

C3.1.2 Honorary Members shall be elected by the Board of Directors. The election for all other grades of membership may be delegated to the Membership Committee, provided that Board of Directors shall make the final decision, after considering the recommendations of the Membership committee.

C3.1.3 An Honorary Member shall be a person having distinctive accomplishment in engineering or science or industry of research or public service and those allied pursuits beneficial to the engineering profession.

C3.1.4 A fellow, a membership grade of distinction, at the time of advancement shall have attained the grade of member, have had not less that 10 years of continuous Membership in BSE, at the level of Member, and have been responsible for significant engineering achievements.

C3.1.5 A Member, at the time of admission or advisement, shall have attainments amounting to the equivalent of at least twelve years of active practice in the profession of engineering or engineering teaching, four years of which shall be relevant engineering experience, during which time he has demonstrated responsible charge of engineering work. The Member shall be qualified to direct such work or to carry on important research or design in the field of engineering.

Attainment of a degree in an approved engineering curriculum shall be accepted as equivalent to eight years of active practice. Attainment of a baccalaureate degree in an approved engineering technology curriculum shall be acceptable as equivalent to five years of active practice. Furthermore, appropriate credit will be given for the following as determined by the bye-laws: graduation from an unapproved engineering or engineer technology curriculum, completion of portions of such curricula, completion of a course of study in a technical institute of other recognized educational programs.

The experience of one who has not graduated from an approved curriculum should show variety, progress and promotion in the performance of engineering functions.

C3.1.6 An associate Members, at the time of admission or advancement to the grade, shall have attainments amounting to the equivalent of least eight years of engineering experience of a character satisfactory to the Membership Committee.

C3.1.7 An Affiliate should be a person who is capable of and interested in rendering services to the field of engineering; and whose work should be so related to applications of engineering that admission to this grade will contribute to the welfare of the Society.

C3.1.8 A Student Member shall be a student regularly enrolled in and working towards a recognized engineering or technological curriculum.

C3.1.9 A license to practice as a Professional Engineer or Chartered Engineer issued by a legally authorized body whose requirements for licensing are considered adequate by the Board of Directors shall be considered equivalent to twelve years of active practice towards any grade of Society membership.

ARTICLE C4.1 - GOVERNMENT

C4.1.1 The Affairs of the Society shall be managed by a Board of Directors chosen from its membership, which shall have full control of the activities of the Society subject to the limitations of the Constitution and By-laws, Society Policies and the laws of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. The voting members of the Board of Directors shall consist of the President, the most recent available Past President and eight members-at-large, and one Associate Member.

The President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and seven other members-at-large of the Board, including one Associate Member-At-Large, shall be elected from the voting members of the Society of Member grade or higher. The term of each Member-at-large shall be two years, beginning and ending during the Annual Meeting of the Society at a time designated annually by the Board of Directors, or the end of two calendar years, whichever is earlier.

Members-at-large of Board of Directors shall be limited to two full terms of service. Additional service as a member-at-large may occur after interruption of two or more years or as a consecutive partial term.

C4.1.2 The officers of the Society shall consist of the President, Vice-President, the Past President who is serving on the Board of Directors, the Secretary and the Members-At-Large of the Board of Directors, and such others as the Board of Directors may appoint, as specified in the By-Laws.

C4.1.3 The President shall be a Member of the Society who has reached at least the grade of Member. He or she shall be elected for a term of two years. The President may not serve more than two terms except if he or she is appointed to fill a vacancy.

C4.1.4 The Vice-President shall be a voting member of the Society who has reached at least the grade of Member. He or she shall be elected for a term of two years. Additional service as Vice-President may occur after an interruption of one or more years or following a partial term.

C4.1.5 Successor members of the Board of Directors shall be elected annually by the members present in person, or represented by proxy at the Business Session of the Annual General Meeting.

C4.1.6 The Board of Directors may also appoint an Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer who shall be Officers of the Society.

C4.1.7 Omitted.

C4.1.8 Omitted.

C4.1.9. The incoming Board of Directors shall meet during the Annual General Meeting of the Society, at such other times as the Board of Directors may select, and at the call of the President shall constitute a quorum.

C4.1.10 The deposit, investment, and disbursement of all funds shall be subject to the direction of the Board of Directors.

C4.1.11 The Society shall indemnify each person (heirs, executors and administrators) made, and the Society may in the discretion of the Board of Directors indemnify each person (or heirs, executors and administrators) threatened to be made, a party to an action or proceeding (other than one by or in the right of Society to procure a judgement in its favor), whether criminal or civil, by reason of serving or having served as a member of the Board of Directors or member of a council, board or committee, or an Officer, or employee of the Society, or of another corporation or organization with which such person may serve or have served as such or as a trustee, at the request of the Society, or by reason of otherwise serving or having served as a nominee, the Society, against judgement fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses (including attorney’s fees actually and necessarily incurred as a result of such action or proceeding or any appeal therein provided that such person acted in good faith for a purpose which is no reasonable cause to believe that conduct was unlawful. Such expenses shall include the cost of reasonable settlement made with a view to curtailment of litigation. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of other rights to which any such person may be entitled as a matter of law.

ARTICLE C5.1 - BY-LAWS

C5.1.1 By –laws shall be established as hereinafter set forth, for the purposes of governing the operations and administration of the BSE. The term “by –laws” as used in this Constitution refers only to the BSE by-laws.

Proposed by-laws changes and reasons therefore shall be mailed to all BSE Board of Directors at least twenty days before the stipulated meeting of the Board of Directors at which the vote shall be taken. Two-thirds of all votes cast at the meeting shall be required to approve any new by-law, amendment or revocation.

ARTICLE C6.1 - DUES AND FEES

C6.1.1 Dues and fees shall be specified in the by-laws. Under exceptional circumstances, the payment of dues and fees may be deferred or waived in whole or in part by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE C7.1 - VACANCIES

C7.1.1 The existence of a vacancy in the Board of Directors or among the appointed officers shall be determined by the Board of Directors or in accordance with the by-laws.

C7.2 Vacancies on the Board of Directors or among the appointed officers shall be filled accordance the by-laws.

ARTICLE C8.1.1 - MANAGEMENT

C8.1.1 The President shall be the principal Officer of the BSE and shall preside at meetings of the Assembly, all the meetings of the Board of Directors and at meetings of any other bodies as may be specified in the By-laws, at which the President may be present. The President shall be an ex-officio member of every committee. The President may visit groups of BSE members and promote the objectives of the BSE.

C8.1.2 The past President shall perform such tasks as may be specified in the by-laws.

C8.1.3 In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall preside and shall perform such tasks as are delegated by the President or as may specified in the by-laws

C8.1.4 The Secretary, under the direction of the Board of Directors, shall have general supervision of the keeping of records of meetings, activities, membership and any other records required by –law, and shall be responsible for arrangements for all meetings of the Board of Directors, the Assembly, and all other principal; meeting of the BSE.

C8.1.5 The Treasurer, under the direction of the Board of Directors, shall have general supervision of the fiscal affairs of the BSE, and shall be responsible for the keeping of the records thereof.

C8.1.6 All funds received by the BSE shall be deposited in the depository approved by the Board of Directors in an account requiring the signature of at least two of three of either the President, Secretary or Treasurer for withdrawal, who shall be bonded. The Board or Directors shall designate those Corporate Officers authorized to execute such withdrawals.

C8.1.7 The number of Delegates required to constitute a quorum at meetings of the Assembly shall stated in the by-laws.

C8.1.8 The President shall have no vote on the Board unless the votes of the other Directors present are equally divided.

C8.1.9 The fiscal year of the BSE shall be defined in the By-laws.

ARTICLE C9.1 - AMENDMENTS

C9.1.1 Amendments to this Constitution shall be made by ballot of the voting Membership. They may be proposed by the Board of Directors or the petition. A resolution adopted by vote of at two-thirds of those present at a regularly constituted meeting of the Board of Directors is necessary to place a proposed amendment on the ballot. A petition must be signed by at least five percent of the total number of voting members as listed in the official membership records of BSE at the end of the previous year, but in no case shall the number be less than twenty. A copy of such proposed amendment or amendments, if lawful, shall be mailed with a ballot to each voting member at least sixty days before the date designated for counting the ballots. Balloting shall be in accordance with the By-laws.

C9.1.2 A vote of at least two-thirds of all ballots cast, provided the total number of those voting is not less than thirty-five percent of the total number of the voting membership, in favor of an amendment is necessary for adoption. Voting members shall be notified as soon as practicable by notice in a publication going to all voting members.

C9.1.3 Amendments to this Constitution shall take effect thirty days after adoption, but if by amendment Officers and Officers-elect are changed in status or the number of Directors is reduced, each Officer and each Director shall continue to serve until their term expires.

C9.1.4 This Constitution shall supersede all previous rules of the Society, and shall go into effect upon the adjournment of the Business Meeting of the Society at which the Presiding Officer announces its adoption.

ARTICLE C10.1 - SOCETY STRUCTURE

C10.1 The Society membership may be divided into small units for administrative and technical activities.

C10.1.2 The provisions of the Constitution and by-laws and Society Policies established by the Board of Directors of the Society shall govern the procedure of all units of the Society by no action or obligation of such units shall be considered an action or obligation of the Society as a whole.

ARTICLES C11.1 - MEETINGS ON THE SOCIETY

C11.1.1 The Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held at such time and place as the Board of Director shall designate.

C11.1.2 General Meetings of the Society, primarily for the presentation and discussion of technical papers, may be held at such time and place as the Board of Directors shall designate.

C11.1.3 An action of a Business Meeting of the Society shall be deemed an action of the Society as a whole but any question considered by the Board of Directors to be of a major Importance shall be submitted to the voting membership.

C11.1.4 A special Business Meeting of the Society may be called any time and place at the discretion of the Board of Directors, upon the written request of at least fifteen voting members.

The call for the special meeting shall be issued as required by the by-law and shall state the business to be considered. No other business shall be transacted at the meeting.

ARTICLE C12.1.1 - PUBLICATION AND PAPERS

C12.1.1 The papers and publications of the Society shall be issued in such manner as the Board of Directors may direct.

ARTICLE C13.1 - RECALL OF OFFICERS

(To be written on legal advise)