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American Association of Colombian Engineers
THE BYLAWS
Approval Date: October 19, 2000. Amended November 2000, Art. IV, Sect. 1e; Art. V, Sect. 1; Art. VI, Sec. 2; Art. XI.
ARTICLE I: ORGANIZATION NAME AND MAILING ADDRESS
The name of this organization shall be the American Association of Colombian Engineers, Inc., hereafter called the Association. The mailing address is 20542 S.W. 1 Street, Pembroke Pines, Fl, 33029.
ARTICLE II: FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year for the Association shall be from January 1 to December 31 inclusive. Membership dues may be paid to the Treasure as early as October for the upcoming fiscal year membership. Membership for past due members who have not paid dues by January 20, for the current fiscal year, shall be discontinued.
ARTICLE III: VISION, MISSION AND GOALS
SECTION 1. Vision: Colombian Engineers building the right path for their professional integration plus promoting cultural and technological exchange, between the United States and Colombia.
SECTION 2. Mission:
(a) To promote the union among Colombian Engineers to work in common causes for the benefit of the society, the engineering profession, and the Association.
(b) To promote the cultural and technological exchange at the professional level among engineers working in the private sector, government agencies, and educational institutions from the United States and Colombia.
SECTION 3. Goals:
(a) Pursue the integration of our members to increase professional and business growth.
(b) Develop and improve communication between our members and their organizations.
(c) Provide recognition for individuals with successful professional accomplishments.
(d) Support community leaders on the improvement of regulations related to the engineering profession.
(e) Encourage participation of our members in community events.
(f) Develop and implement action plans each year to accomplish the Association goals.
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. Membership shall be held by individuals residing in the United States or Overseas, who support the vision, mission and goals of the Association, have been accepted by the Board of Directors and have paid the membership fees. Membership in the Association is available to engineers, architects and other persons similarly qualified in an allied profession. Membership is also available to students from Engineering and Architectural schools.
Membership shall be:
(a) Engineer Member: A Professional Engineer as defined by the holding of a valid license or certificate of engineering registration issued under the laws of any state, territory, possession or district of the United States and Colombia or a graduate engineer holding a bachelor's, master's or doctorate degree in engineering from an accredited engineering school.
(b) Architect Member: A Registered Architect as defined by the holding of a valid license or certificate of architectural registration issued under the laws of any state, territory, possession or district of the United States and Colombia or a graduate architect holding a bachelor's, master's or doctorate degree in architecture from an accredited architectural school.
(c) Affiliate Member: Requires association with the engineering profession, including surveyors, contractors, manufacturers, and other in business, law, accounting, etc.. The Affiliate status includes individuals with a bachelor's, masters or doctorate degree from a school of recognized standing in any branch of surveying, planning, construction, mathematics, or other physical, life, social or behavioral science.
(d) Honorary Member: A Member may be elected to honorary membership by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. Honorary members will be entitled to all of the privileges of membership except they will not be entitled to vote at meetings of the members or written ballot of the members, or hold elective or appointed office. No membership fees are required of honorary members of the Association.
(e) Student Member: Requires registration in engineering or architectural school of recognized standing in the Unites States territory.
ARTICLE V: OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. The officers of the Association shall be a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer and a Secretary. Other officers may be elected as deemed necessary by the Association. All officers must reside in South Florida and be active members in good standing.
(a) The officers shall be elected by the following process: The President of the Association shall appoint a Nominations Committee. It shall be the duty of the Nominations Committee to develop nomination forms to be used by the candidates for office. The Nominations Committee will send a blank nominations form to each voting member of the Association and to the members of the Board of Directors to enter their vote or to write in other eligible members' names as their choice of candidates. Voting members shall reside in the United States. Elections for President, Vice President, Treasure and Secretary must be completed so the announcement of incoming officers may be made by the February Board meeting.
(b) The Board of Directors is composed of the officers, the Immediate Past President, and the current committee chairpersons as have been appointed by the President and approved by the officers. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for the supervision, control and direction of the Association.
(c) The Immediate Past President need not be elected for the term he or she serves in capacity of Immediate Past President since he or she has served as President in the immediate previous term.
SECTION 2. A majority of votes cast received by a candidate for a particular office shall constitute an election for that candidate to that office.
SECTION 3. All vacancies in elective offices, except the office of president, shall be filled by appointment of the President, with the approval of the remaining officers, for the unexpired part of the term. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the president, the vice president shall become president for the unexpired term.
SECTION 4. The term of office shall be the calendar year following their election or until their successors are elected. The President shall serve no more than two consecutive full terms in the Office of President.
SECTION 5. In the event it becomes necessary to remove an officer from office, the President (or the Vice President if the President is the subject of removal) shall advise the Officers on all matters related to the removal of the officer in question. An officer can be removed for the following reasons:
(a) Non - performance of duties.
(b) Actions contrary to the purposes of the Association or injurious to the members of the Association..
(c) Conviction of or adjudication withheld for a felony or misdemeanor involving dishonesty or moral turpitude.
To remove any officer(s) from office, majority of the remaining officers shall be required. This vote shall be written ballot and shall be tallied by the Immediate Past President.
ARTICLE VI: DUTIES OF OFFICERS
SECTION 1. The duties of the officers shall be such as are implied by their respective titles and as specified in these Bylaws.
SECTION 2. The President shall be the principal officer of the Association and shall: (a) Preside at the meetings of the Board of Directors, officers, and of the Association.
(b) Appoint Special Committee Chairs and Members to all Committees as needed. Special Committee Chairs shall reside in South Florida. All appointments are subject to the approval of the majority of the officers.
(c) Fill vacancies in elected or appointed offices, subject to the approval of the majority of the officers.
(d) Be a member ex-officio, without vote, on all committees.
(e) Cause to be sent to each Board of Directors member the written call for all Board and Association meetings prior to the meeting. A written agenda for the meeting shall be include with the call for the meeting. Each member of the Board shall be notified of regular Board or Association meetings.
(f) Approve all disbursements of funds from the Association before such disbursements are made by the Treasurer. The President shall be authorized to countersign checks.
(g) At the discretion and at the direction of the incoming President, be responsible for the completion of unfinished business through January 31 following their term of office.
(h) Keep the Vice President inform of all Association activities.
(i) Determine the location of the Board Meetings with the approval of the majority of the Board Members.
(j) Deliver to the incoming President all files, papers and other property belonging to the Association immediately upon retiring from office.
SECTION 3. The Vice President shall:
(a) Perform the duties of the President in the President's absence or inability to serve.
(b) Serve as liaison to the Special Committees; serve as ex-officio without a vote on all committees.
(c) Become President for the unexpired term in the event of death, resignation or removal of the President.
(d) Countersign (approve) President's expense vouchers.
(e) Assist in such other capacities, as the President or Board of Directors shall direct.
(f) Deliver all files, papers, and other property belonging to the Association immediately upon retiring from office.
SECTION 4. The Treasure shall:
(a) Be responsible and account for all moneys of the Association. All moneys shall be deposited in depositories selected by the Officers with the agreement of the Board of Directors.
(b) Keep complete and accurate account of all receipts and disbursements, which shall be subject at all times to examination by officers and the Association members.
(c) Distribute written Treasurer's reports at all meetings of the Association, the Board of directors, and the Officers as required by these bylaws.
(d) Prepare a budget report on June 30 and November 30 of each year for the officers.
(e) Disburse funds only upon receipt of original bills and properly execute vouchers which have been approved by the President.
(f) Be authorized to countersign checks.
(g) Have the books audited annually, no later than January 31st by a certified public accountant or an auditing committee approved by the officers. The audit expend is to be paid by the Association. The audit report shall be presented to the Association, at the next meeting following the completion of the audit, for adoption.
(h) Deliver to the successor all funds, securities and records of the Association immediately after resignation from office.
SECTION 5. The Secretary shall:
(a) Keep the minutes of all meetings of the Officers, the Board of Directors, and the Association.
(b) Furnish the Officers and the Board of directors with copies of the minutes of all their meetings within (30) days of the meeting.
(c) Maintain official copy of all correspondence generated by or received any member of the Board of Directors.
(d) Deliver to successor all files, papers and other property belonging to the Association immediately upon retiring from office.
ARTICLE VII: DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS COLLECTIVELY
SECTION 1. The Officers collectively shall:
(a) Designate the depository in which all Association funds shall be deposited.
(b) Each Board member shall conduct his or her duties as implied by the title or as specified elsewhere in these bylaws.
(c) Establish membership fees except for honorary membership whom there shall be no fee.
ARTICLE VIII: DUTIES OF THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
The Immediate Past President is responsible for attending all Officers and Board meetings. The Immediate Past President is to advise the officers and the Board on all matters requiring ratification by the officers and/or the Board. The Immediate Past President shall tally the votes of the officers for the removal of an officer.
ARTICLE IX: MEMBERSHIP DUES AND FEES
A schedule of annual dues and fees shall be established by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be amended, altered or repealed by a two-thirds vote of the responding member ballots within the term predetermined by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XI: DISSOLUTION
Upon dissolution of the American Association of Colombian Engineers all of the organization assets shall be turned over a local Non-For-Profit Colombian organization qualified by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service laws.
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