Chapter Bylaws
BYLAWS
OF THE
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY CHAPTER
OF THE
AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEATING, REFRIGERATING AND
AIR-CONDITIONING ENGINEERS, INC.
Approved by the Society:
Table of Contents:
ARTICLE I - GOVERNMENT
ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP
ARTICLE III - MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
ARTICLE IV - DUES AND FINANCE
ARTICLE V - BOARD OF GOVERNORS
ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS
ARTICLE VII - NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS, VACANCIES
AND REMOVAL
ARTICLE VIII - COMMITTEES
ARTICLE IX - CHAPTERS REGIONAL COMMITTEE
ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS
ARTICLE XI - ADOPTION
ARTICLE I - GOVERNMENT
1.1 Governing Instruments. The Mississippi Valley Chapter (herein "Chapter") of the American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (herein "Society") shall be governed by its Constitution and these
Bylaws, to the extent not inconsistent with the Certificate of Consolidation, Bylaws, and Rules of the Board of Directors
of the Society.
1.2 Interpretation. The Board of Governors shall resolve all questions of interpretation of the Constitution and these
Bylaws.
1.3 Rules of Order. Except as otherwise provided in the Constitution or these Bylaws, the conduct of meetings of the
members shall be governed by the rules of procedure set forth in Robert's Rules of Order Newly
Revised.
ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP
2.1 Qualification. The membership of the Chapter shall consist of all members of the Society in good standing and
residing in the geographic area of the Chapter, as prescribed by the Board of Directors of the Society, who have properly
joined the chapter.
2.2 Non-Residents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a member of the Society residing in the geographic area of a Chapter may
elect to be a member of another Chapter. A member may elect to belong to more than one Chapter.
2.3 Grade. Each member shall hold the same grade of membership in the Chapter as in the Society.
2.4 Rights and Privileges. All Chapter members shall be entitled to the same rights and privileges, except that anyone who
has not paid Chapter fees, dues, assessments or other charges within sixty (60) days of their due date shall not be
entitled to voting privileges or the right to election or appointment as an officer, governor, or committee chair of the
Chapter. All rights and privileges of a member are vested solely in the member and may not be delegated or transferred,
except as provided in Article III, paragraph 3.7 hereof.
2.5 Suspension. In the event that a member does not pay all the Chapter fees, dues, assessments or other charges within
six (6) months of their due date, all rights and privileges of membership in the Chapter shall be suspended. Such
membership rights and privileges shall be restored to the member upon full payment thereof. Delinquency in payment of
Chapter dues or other Chapter charges will not affect a member's standing in the Society.
2.6 Termination. Membership in the Chapter shall terminate upon the death of any member, the removal of a member's
principal place of residence to the geographic area of another Chapter except as provided in Article II, paragraph 2.2
hereof, or the receipt of written notice by the member of termination of membership. In the event of such termination,
neither the former member, nor his/her personal representatives, heirs or devises shall have any right, title or interest
in the Chapter or its assets.
2.7 Expulsion. A member may be expelled from the Society and the Chapter only upon action taken by the Board of Directors
of the Society. Such action may be initiated by the Board of Governors of the Chapter by the filing of written charges and
supporting evidence with the Secretary of the Society.
ARTICLE III - MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
3.l Regular Meetings. Meetings of the Chapter shall be held on at least a monthly basis from September through May at
such time and place as is prescribed by the Board of Governors.
3.2 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Chapter may be called by the President at the President's discretion, or at
the request of the Board of Governors or 15 percent of the members with voting rights.
3.3 Notice of Meetings. Timely written notice of all meetings shall be sent by the Secretary to all members setting forth
the place, date and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose thereof.
3.4 Quorum. A quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the Chapter shall consist of 15 percent of the members
having voting rights, except that no business may be transacted unless a majority of the Board of Governors is also in
attendance.
3.5 Majority Vote. A majority of the number of votes cast in person or by proxy shall be necessary for the adoption of any
matter, except as otherwise provided in the Constitution or these Bylaws.
3.6 Proxies. A member may vote on any matter by a written proxy executed and dated by the member. No proxy shall be valid
after ninety (90) days from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in the proxy.
ARTICLE IV - DUES AND FINANCE
4.1 Society Dues. The annual dues for membership in the Society, as prescribed from time to time by the Society, shall
be paid to the Society.
4.2 Chapter Dues. The Board of Governors, in its discretion and subject to the approval by a vote of members, may levy such
dues, fees, charges or other assessments as are reasonable and necessary to meet the current operating expenses of the
Chapter. The due date of such payments shall be as prescribed by the Board of Governors.
4.3 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Chapter shall end on June 30 of each year.
ARTICLE V - BOARD OF GOVERNORS
5.1 Duties. The property and affairs of the Chapter shall be managed by the Board of Governors. The Board of Governors
may execute all business of the Chapter that does not require action by the full membership of the Chapter. The presiding
officer shall report briefly on these actions at the next Chapter meeting.
5.2 Composition. The Board of Governors of the Chapter shall consist of the officers, the most recent available past
president, and a minimum of two members elected pursuant to Article VII hereof.
5.3 Meetings. The time and place of regular meetings of the Board of Governors shall be at the discretion of the Board. A
special meeting of the Board of Governors may be called by the President, at the President's discretion, or at the written
request of two (2) members of the Board.
5.4 Quorum and Majority Vote. A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of a majority of the Board present in
person, and the majority vote of the members present in person or by proxy shall be necessary for the adoption of any
matter, except as otherwise provided in the Constitution or these Bylaws. The form of proxies shall be governed by Article
III, paragraph 3.7 hereof.
5.5 Notice of Meetings. Timely written notice of all meetings shall be sent by the Secretary to all members setting forth
the place, date and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose thereof.
5.6 Appointments to Auditing Committee. The Board of Governors-elect shall appoint members to the Auditing Committee,
pursuant to paragraph 8.3.9 hereof, at a meeting of the Board of Governors-elect held prior to June 1.
ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS
6.1 Titles. The officers of the Chapter shall be a President, a President-Elect/Vice President, a Secretary, and a
Treasurer.
6.2 The President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Chapter and shall provide general direction of
the affairs of the Chapter and provide general supervision over its several officers, subject to the control of the Board
of Governors. The President shall, from time to time, report to the members and to the Board all matters within the
President's knowledge which the interest of the Chapter may require to be brought to the Chapter's notice; shall preside
at all meetings of the members and at all meetings of the Board; shall sign and execute in the name of the Chapter all
contracts, or other instruments authorized by the Board, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall
be expressly delegated or permitted by the Board or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Chapter.
6.3 The President-Elect/Vice President. The President-Elect/Vice President shall automatically succeed to the office of the
President at the conclusion of the President's term of office. In the absence of the President, the President-Elect/Vice
President shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the President. In addition, the President-Elect/Vice
President shall make the committee chair appointments sufficiently far in advance of the Chapters Regional Conference
(CRC), or in the case of the Region at Large (RAL) the Annual Regional Conference (ARC), as to permit attendance by the
appointees at CRC/ARC workshops in the period prior to appointees' active participation as chairs of the Chapter
Committees. Chair designees of such committees as Student Activities; Membership Promotion; Research Promotion; Chapter
Technology Transfer and Historical should be especially encouraged to attend CRC/ARC meetings. Prior to the annual
meeting, the President-Elect/Vice President shall complete the appointments by naming at least two (2) committee members to
each of the standing committees of the Chapter.
6.4 The Secretary. The Secretary shall send notices of meetings to the members and to the Board of Governors as prescribed
in these Bylaws, and to Committee Chairs as requested by the President. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the
meetings of the Chapter and of the Board of Governors and shall promptly file a copy of the minutes of each meeting of the
Chapter with the Regional Chair and Regional Vice Chair (RVC) for Chapter Technology Transfer, or in the case of the (RAL)
the Sub Regional Chair (SRC) for the Chapter, and shall send advance notices and minutes of meetings of the Board of
Governors to the Regional Chair. In addition, the Secretary shall send the Chapter newsletter to the Editor of the official
publication of the Society. The Secretary shall maintain a membership roster, a roll of membership attendance, and such
books, papers, and records as the Chapter or Board of Governors may direct, which shall be open to the inspection of any
member of the Board of Governors. The Secretary shall promptly notify members of their nomination, election, or
appointment to office.
6.5 The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall receive all funds, including dues, fees, charges and other assessments, and shall
deposit such funds in the name of the Chapter in banks or other depositories. The Treasurer shall disburse funds only as
authorized by the Chapter's Board of Governors and shall keep appropriate records of receipts and expenses and shall
exhibit such records at all reasonable times to any member of the Board of Governors. The Treasurer shall make a full
financial report at the annual meeting of the Chapter, a copy of which shall be forwarded to the Regional Chair. In
addition, in the absence of contrary written instructions from the Society, the Treasurer shall complete, execute and
file any statements or returns incidental to federal or local taxation.
6.6 Additional Duties. All officers shall perform all duties incident to their respective offices and such other duties as
are prescribed by these Bylaws or as are assigned by the Board of Governors.
ARTICLE VII - NOMINATIONS, ELECTIONS, VACANCIES AND REMOVAL
7.1 Eligibility for Re-election. Officers and Board members are elected for one-year terms, but may be re-elected to
consecutive terms. The president may be re-elected to the same office for one additional consecutive term. If the president
is re-elected for an additional consecutive term, the President-Elect/Vice President will also need to be re-elected in
accordance with the election procedure set forth in Section VII.
7.2 Duties of Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall select from the members eligible to hold office one
candidate for each office except President, and for each member to be elected to the Board of Governors and shall obtain
from each candidate a written statement that the candidate is a member in good standing in the Society and consents to
stand for election. Not less than thirty (30) days before the March meeting the Nominating Committee shall present to the
Secretary the names of the candidates selected, together with their statements.
7.3 Duties of Secretary. Upon receipt of these names from the Nominating Committee, the Secretary shall prepare a list of
the candidates and shall forward such list to all members with voting rights at least ten (10) days prior to such
meeting.
7.4 Nomination by Members. Additional nominations of members in good standing who consent orally or in writing to be
candidates may be made from the floor at such meeting. If at this meeting more than one such nomination from the floor is
made for any one office or membership on the Board of Governors, a vote shall be taken to select the name of the opposition
candidate to be placed on the ballot.
7.5 Voting and Election. Not less than ten (10) days prior to the next meeting, the Secretary shall send a mail ballot, in
the case of elections by mail, or a proxy statement, in the case of elections at meetings, to all members with voting
rights. In the case of elections at meetings, the President shall appoint three (3) tellers to assist in conducting the
election. The Board of Governors or the tellers, if any, shall promptly tally all votes. The candidate receiving a
majority of the votes cast for each respective office shall be declared elected. If there is a tie vote, there shall be a
run-off election.
7.6 Installation. Officers and members of the Board of Governors shall be installed at the annual meeting of the chapter
and shall assume their duties at the start of the next Society year.
7.7 Vacancies. Whenever there shall be a vacancy in any office except President-Elect/Vice President or a member of the
Board of Governors by resignation or otherwise, the Board of Governors shall have the power to fill such office until the
next annual election and installation, and such officer shall have the duties, rights, and privileges of the predecessor.
If the President dies, resigns, or is removed from office, the President-Elect/Vice President shall immediately become
President and shall serve for the remainder of the term of the immediate predecessor. If the time served by the
President-Elect/Vice President as President is less than six months, he/she shall continue to serve as President for the
next Society year; therefore the office of President-Elect/Vice President shall remain vacant until the next annual
chapter election. If the President-Elect/Vice President dies, resigns, is removed from office, or becomes President for
more than six months in accordance with the foregoing provisions, a special election shall be held to fill the vacancy.
7.8 Removal. Any officer or member of the Board of Governors may be removed by at least a 2/3 vote of voting members
present at a regular meeting, whenever in the judgment of the members, the best interests of the Chapter will be served
thereby. The notice of this Chapter meeting shall contain the statement that an urgent item of importance to the Chapter
will be presented for member vote and subsequent action.
ARTICLE VIII - COMMITTEES
8.1 General. All Chapter Committees shall be designated as Standing Committees or Special Committees. Standing
Committees are mandatory and are of a continuing nature, while Special Committees are created for a specific purpose and
may be dissolved when their functions have been completed.
8.2 Appointments. Except as noted herein, all Standing Committee members and respective Chairs thereof shall be appointed
by the President-Elect/Vice President pursuant to Article 6.4.
8.3 Standing Committees. Standing Committees primarily essential to chapter, regional and Society activities are broken
into two categories: those that are mandatory and those that are optional, but whose functions are essential to the Chapter
operation.
8.3.1 Mandatory standing committees are the Chapter Nominating; CRC/ARC Action; Student Activities; Membership Promotion;
Research Promotion; Chapter Technology Transfer and Historical.
8.3.1.1 Chapter Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of five (5) members in good standing. One
member of the Board of Governors may serve on the Nominating Committee, but not as its chair. The Committee shall be
elected by the Chapter at the January meeting. At the preceding meeting, the Board of Governors shall submit to the
members their nominations for the committee. Additional nominations may be made by members from the floor at said meeting.
Nominees receiving the five highest number of votes shall be elected. In the case of a tie, there shall be a runoff
election which shall be held at the same meeting. The Nominating Committee shall elect its own chair.
8.3.1.2 CRC/ARC Action Committee. The CRC/ARC Action Committee shall determine major items of concern to the Chapter;
obtain biographies on possible candidates for Society and regional offices, committees, and various regional and Society
honors and awards; provide direction to the delegate and alternate delegate on actions to be presented on the Chapter's
behalf at the CRC/ARC. The Chair of this Committee should be a past president of the Chapter.
8.3.1.3 Student Activities Committee. The Student Activities Committee shall assist and cooperate with other technical and
scientific organizations to influence pre-college (K-12) education in math and science; shall assist in the formation
and/or continuing operation of student branches of the chapter; and shall assist with chapter participation in continuing
education courses and related activities. The Chair of this Committee, or a designated substitute, is expected to attend
the CRC/ARC Meeting.
8.3.1.4 Membership Promotion Committee. The Membership Promotion Committee shall encourage applications by persons
qualified for membership in the Society; shall encourage increased member participation in Chapter affairs; and shall
encourage members to advance in their membership grade in the Society. The Chair of this Committee, or a designated
substitute, is expected to attend the CRC/ARC Meeting.
8.3.1.5 Research Promotion Committee. The Research Promotion Committee shall conduct an annual campaign to obtain
investments in ASHRAE Research, The ASHRAE Foundation and Education through the ASHRAE Learning Institute. The Chair of
this Committee, or a designated substitute, is expected to attend the CRC/ARC Meeting and Special Regional Committee
Meeting when called by the Regional Vice Chair for Research Promotion.
8.3.1.6 Chapter Technology Transfer Committee. The committee shall develop liaison on technical issues with local levels
of government, promote and administer the chapter technology and government activities awards programs, make arrangements
for speakers for programs and technical sessions at chapter meetings, including speaker's requirements for equipment,
accommodations and travel arrangements and act as host throughout the meetings. The committee shall coordinate the
efforts of the chapter by making arrangements with area educational institutions for continuing education courses, and
develop an active "Speakers Bureau" to present talks and seminars to chapters and regions. The committee shall submit
PAOE points related to chapter programs, and technical and government activities. The committee shall provide timely
reports to the regional vice chair. The chair of this committee, or a designated substitute, is expected to attend the
CRC/ARC meeting.
8.3.1.7 Historical Committee. The Historical Committee shall collect and safeguard facts, photographs, records and other
memorabilia pertinent to the history of the Chapter. The Chair of this committee, or a designated substitute, is expected
to attend the CRC/ARC meeting.
8.3.2 Optional Committees, whose functions are essential to the Chapter operation, are Auditing; Refrigeration; Reception;
Publicity; Attendance; Publication (or Newsletter); Honors and Awards; Special Events; and Chapter Section (if
appropriate). The duties and functions of each Optional Committee (several of which may be combined under a single chair)
are as follows:
8.3.2.1 Auditing Committee. The Auditing Committee shall consist of three (3) members, none of whom shall be members of
the Board of Governors, and shall elect its own chair.
8.3.2.2 Refrigeration Committee. The Refrigeration Committee shall promote the refrigeration activities of the Society by
promoting the interests and endeavours of those members whose primary concern is refrigeration; shall provide or arrange
technical talks on refrigeration to the members at regular chapter meetings; shall promote chapter-sponsored seminars
on refrigeration and shall arrange for continuing education in the refrigeration field. The activities of the
Refrigeration Committee shall be coordinated with the Chapter Technology Transfer Committee, and if there is no
Refrigeration Committee the activities described above shall be handled by the Chapter Technology Transfer Committee.
The Chair of this committee, or a designated substitute, is expected to attend the CRC meeting.
8.3.2.3 Reception Committee. The Reception Committee shall encourage fellowship among members and shall extend cordial
greetings to guests and new members of the Society.
8.3.2.4 Publicity Committee. The Publicity Committee shall publicize the name, purposes and activities of the Chapter in
an effort to obtain qualified members; and shall report Chapter activities of public interest to the news media.
8.3.2.5 Honors and Awards Committee. The Honors and Awards Committee shall consist of a chair and at least two (2)
additional members, preferably past chapter presidents. The Honors and Awards Committee shall promote the recognition of
outstanding chapter members within the chapter, region, Society, associated societies and the community. The committee
shall submit names of qualified chapter members to the Chapter CRC/ARC Action Committee.
8.3.2.6 Attendance Committee. The Attendance Committee shall be responsible for contacting each member of the Chapter
prior to each scheduled meeting or event to ensure that they have received notice of that meeting or event, and to
ascertain the expected attendance.
8.3.2.7 Publications or Newsletter Committee. The Publications Committee shall obtain news of interest to the Chapter
members and supervise the publishing of the Chapter newsletter.
8.3.2.8 Special Events Committee. The Special Events Committee shall handle the arrangements for any special events to be
sponsored by the Chapter, or for other events to which the Chapter membership has been invited.
8.3.2.9 Chapter Section Committee. When a chapter area is defined that is not being provided chapter services, the chapter
may form a Chapter Section Committee to start and maintain chapter sections within the chapter area. The chapter president
shall name a section representative for each section who will maintain liaison with the chapter.
8.4 Other Committees. Additional committees shall be termed as Special Committees and may be appointed at any time by the
President, with the advice and approval of the Board of Governors, and shall be announced at the next meeting of the
Chapter.
8.5 Vacancies. Whenever any member refuses an appointment to a committee or whenever there is a vacancy on any committee
by resignation or otherwise, the President shall, with the advice and approval of the Board of Governors, appoint another
member to such committee.
8.6 Removal. Any committee member appointed or elected may be removed by the person or persons authorized to appoint or
elect such member whenever, in their judgment, the best interests of the Chapter will be served thereby, except that the
President shall remove a member only with the advice and approval of the Board of Governors.
8.7 Attendance at Board Meetings. Committee Chairs shall attend the meetings of the Board of Governors when so requested
by the presiding officer, but shall not be entitled to voting rights at such meetings.
ARTICLE IX - CHAPTERS REGIONAL COMMITTEE
9.1 Election of Delegates. The Board of Governors-elect shall elect from among its members one delegate and one
alternate to the Chapters Regional Committee. At least one of said delegates shall be an officer-elect of the Chapter.
The delegates shall be announced at the annual meeting of the Chapter. The names of such delegates shall be certified in
writing by the Secretary to the Secretary of the Society and the Regional Chair by the first day of the following June.
9.2 Term. The delegate and alternate delegate shall serve for a term of one (1) year, commencing on the first day of July
following their election. No member may be elected to serve as the delegate for more than two (2) consecutive terms;
no member may be elected to serve as the alternate delegate for more than two (2) consecutive terms; and no member may be
elected to serve in either capacity for more than four (4) consecutive terms.
9.3 Duties. The duties of the delegate and alternate delegate shall be as prescribed from time to time by the Society.
They shall transmit recommendations concerning policies, procedures, and operations of the Society, its Chapter and its
Student Branches to the Regional Chair in advance of the Chapters Regional Committee Meeting; shall attend such meeting;
shall suggest candidates for the Board of Directors of the Society, Society committees, and miscellaneous Society honors
and awards; shall participate in the election of one (1) member and one (1) alternate member to serve on the Society
Nominating Committee; and shall report to the Board of Governors of the Chapter regarding the business transacted at the
Chapters Regional Committee meeting, together with any recommendations for Chapter action.
9.4 Vacancies and Removal. Whenever either delegate is unable to fulfill this office, the Board of Governors shall appoint
another delegate. Either delegate may be removed by the Board of Governors whenever, in its judgment, the best interests
of the Chapter will be served thereby.
ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS
10.1 Powers and Limitations. All Articles of these Bylaws shall be subject to alteration or repeal, consistent with the
Certificate of Consolidation, Bylaws, and Rules of the Board of Directors of the Society and applicable tax regulations
for non-profit organizations or corresponding provisions of applicable tax laws.
10.2 By Society. Amendments to these Bylaws set forth in written directives of the Secretary of the Society shall be
adopted by a majority of the Board of Governors. Written copies of said amendments shall be sent by the chapter secretary
to all members, or an officer of the Chapter shall read said amendments at the next succeeding chapter meeting.
10.3 By Chapter. Amendments to these Bylaws may also be initiated by a written resolution of a majority of the Board of
Governors or by not less than five (5) members in good standing with voting privileges and may be presented at any meeting
of the Chapter. If approved by a majority of the members present, the chapter secretary shall send copies of the proposed
amendments to all members not less than seven (7) days before the next succeeding meeting. If approved by a two-thirds
(2/3) vote at such meeting, the chapter secretary shall forward such proposed amendments to the Secretary of the Society
for approval by the Member Council of the Society and review by the Regional Chair. Any amendments shall become effective
only upon receipt of written notice of approval by the Member Council or its authorized representative of the Society.
ARTICLE XI - ADOPTION
These Bylaws shall be completed and adopted by a majority of the Board of Governors. Written copies of said Bylaws shall be sent by the Secretary to all members and shall be sent, as amended, to such persons as shall, from time to time, become members of the Chapter.
