The Bylaws of the Texas Gulf Coast Alumni Chapter
of the Tau Beta Pi Association, Inc.
Bylaw I
General
Section 1.01.Name.The name of this organization shall be the Texas Gulf Coast (TGC) Alumni Chapter of The Tau Beta Pi Association, Inc., hereafter referred to as the “Chapter.”
Section 1.02.Purpose. The purpose of the Chapter shall be:
(a)to uphold the principles, esprit de corps, and ideals of the Tau Beta Pi Association;
(b)to advance the causes of the engineering profession;
(c)to stimulate better student chapter and alumni relations;
(d)to assist collegiate chapters in the Texas Gulf Coast area with their programs;
(e)to aid the Texas Gulf Coast collegiate chapters with the selection of suitable alumni and eminent engineers for election to membership in the Association; and
(f)to provide opportunities for alumni members to meet and discuss common interests.
Section 1.03.Governance. These Bylaws shall govern the proceedings of this Chapter in all matters not specifically provided for in “The Constitution and Bylaws and Eligibility Code” and the Convention Acts of the Tau Beta Pi Association, Inc.
Section 1.04.Definitions.
a)Herein, the Tau Beta Pi Association, Inc. shall be referred to as the “Association.”
b) “Active member” – shall be an individual member of the Chapter who has attended at least one Chapter meeting, Chapter event, or Chapter project within the last 12 months.
Section 1.05.Parliamentary Authority. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern this Chapter in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Society may adopt.
Section 1.06.References. Abbreviated references herein to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association and to the various Bylaws of this document shall be made in the form illustrated by the following examples:
(a)C-VII, 2(a) – National Constitution Article VII, Section 2, Subsection a
(b)B-IX, 9.04 – National Bylaw IX, Section 9.04
(c)D-III, 3.01 – Chapter Bylaw III, Section 3.01
Bylaw II
Membership
Section 2.0.1Eligibility. Any member of Tau Beta Pi, who is not an undergraduate student and having residence in District 10, is eligible for membership in this Chapter.
Section 2.02.Requirements. Anyone eligible for membership may become a member by expressing his or her willingness to become affiliated with the Chapter and his or her willingness to comply with these Bylaws.
Bylaw III
Officers
Section 3.01.Officer List. The officers of the Chapter shall be a President, a Vice President/Treasurer, a Secretary, a Webmaster, and Chairs of all active Committees.
Section 3.02.Nominations. A nominating committee composed of the officers shall contact possible nominees, and (with the nominees' permission) nominate them. The names of those persons nominated are to be communicated with the notice of the election meeting by the Secretary. Further nominations may then be made from the floor at the election meeting.
Section 3.03.Election of Officers. An election of officers shall be held at the election meeting each year. Elected officers shall hold offices for a term of two years from January 1 to December 31 of the year following their election or until their successors are elected. Elected officersmay be reelected and committeechairs may be reappointed. Elected officers shall serve no more than four consecutive years in the same office. An individual may be elected to only one office per term.
Section 3.04.Resignation of Officers. In the event of the resignation of an officer, the nominating committee shall nominate a replacement from the membership (with the member's approval) to fill the office for the remainder of the term, except that the office of President shall automatically be filled by the Vice President, and a new Vice President shall be elected at the next meeting of the Chapter.
Section 3.05.Committees. The President shall appoint members to serve on committees, as deemed necessary by the officers.
Section 3.06.Duties of the President. It shall be the duty of the President to:
(a)Perform the normal duties of that office, including leading chapter meetings.
(b)Make certain that the other officers perform their duties in accordance with these Bylaws.
(c)Act as alternate signature authority for the Chapter finances.
Section 3.07.Duties of the Vice President/Treasurer. It shall be the duty of the Vice President/Treasurer to:
(a)Assist the President.
(b)Be responsible for Chapter programs.
(c)Send promptly in January of each year to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Association the annual Chapter dues, as mentioned in C-VII, 1(c).
(d)Preside at Chapter meetings in the absence of the President.
(e)Maintain the chapter bank account.
(f)File the correct tax documentsand report changes in name and address of the Vice President/Treasurer with the IRS.
(g)Monitor the PayPal donation account.
Section 3.08.Duties of the Secretary. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to:
(a)Maintain records of the Chapter's membership, and to keep the roll and take the minutes of the Chapter meetings and to keep them current.
(b)Preside at Chapter meetings in the absence of the President and Vice President, in which instance the Secretary shall appoint another member to take the minutes.
(c)Send notices of the time, date and place of the meetings to members at least ten days prior to a meeting.
(d)Send to the Secretary of the Association such items of news and interest as honors received, election to office, and similar events with regard to members of the Chapter.
(e)Send to the Secretary of the Association a copy of the Chapter's Bylaws within two weeks of their adoption or amendment.
(f)Send to the Secretary of the Association the names and addresses of the Chapter's official Convention delegate and alternate delegate on the official credentials form.
(g)Carry on such other correspondence of the Chapter as the President of officers may direct.
Section 3.09.Duties of the Webmaster. It shall be the duty of the Webmaster to develop and maintain the Chapter website, Facebook account, LinkedIn account, and other Internet accounts.
Section 3.10.Duties of the Committee Chairs. In addition to conducting their committee business, it shall be the duty of the Committee Chairs to serve with the other officers as an executive committee to administer the affairs of the Chapter between meetings.
Section 3.11.Convention Representation. An official delegate shall represent the Chapter at the annual Convention of the Association, if possible. It shall be the duty of the delegate to represent the best interests of the Chapter and the Association. The delegate shall be the President of the Chapter. The other officers shall be alternates in the order given in D-III, 3.01. If none of the officers are able to attend, they shall name a delegate from the membership.
Section 3.12.Advisory Committee. The Chapter shall have an Advisory Committee to raise funds and support for various events and activities.
Bylaw IV
Chapter Finances
Section 4.01.Membership Dues. No Annual dues.
Section 4.02.Projects. The Chapter may sponsor various projects provided any proceeds from said projects would be used to finance scholarships, fellowships, or similar awards.
Section 4.03.Donations. The Chapter may accept private donations, which have been designated for the purpose of providing scholarships, fellowships, or similar awards, or for defraying the expense of Chapter operations.
Section 4.04.Solicitations. No member, nor individual, nor organization may solicit any support (including moral or financial) without prior knowledge and approval by a majority of the Chapter Officers.
Section 4.05.Chapter Dues. The Vice President/Treasurer, in accordance with C-VII, 1(c), shall pay the annual chapter dues to the Association.
Section 4.06.Distribution of Net Earnings. No part of the net earnings of the Chapter will inure to the benefit of, or be distributed to, members, officers, or Chapter Chair or to any other individual. Officers or any member are not allowed to pledge debt or buy property on behalf of the Chapter.
Section 4.07.Liability. The Chapter or any member will not be held financially responsible for any type of damages incurred in conduct of the Chapter business.
Section 4.08.Dissolution. Upon the dissolution of the Chapter, the Chapter Officers shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all of the liability of the organization, distribute all assets of the organization to the Tau Beta Pi Association, Inc.
Bylaw V
Meetings
Section 5.01.Officers’ Meetings. The President, as deemed necessary, or upon receiving, in writing, a petition signed by three officers, will call within ten days a meeting of Chapter Officers to plan Chapter activities or to act upon urgent business.
Section 5.02.Chapter Meetings. The regular meeting of the Chapter shall be the election of officers during the fourth quarter of the second calendar year of the Officers term. The Secretary shall be responsible for sending notices of the time, date, and place of the meeting to the members. If a quorum is not present at the time of the regular meeting, the appropriate election will be handled by mail ballot. The time limit is specified in D-VI, 3. Other meetings shall be held at the discretion of the officers, as they deem necessary. The chapter should hold at least two Chapter meetings per year.
Section 5.03.Quorum. At least 20% of the Active Members must be present at a meeting of the Chapter before any business may be transacted.
Section 5.04Time Limit of Vote. Any member who fails to return his or her ballot to the Secretary within two weeks of the time the ballot was mailed to him or her shall forfeit his or her vote.
Bylaw VI
Amendments
Section 6.01Proposed Amendments. Amendments to these Bylaws shall be proposed in the following manner:
(a)by an Active Member of the Chapter at a regular meeting; or
(b)by a majority of the officers at any time
Section 6.02Adoption. Any amendment proposed in the manner specified in Bylaw 6.01 will be adopted if approved by the affirmative vote of at least 50% of the Chapter Active Membership entitled to vote thereon or 75% of the members voting, whichever is less. Ballots will be mailed to all members eligible to vote, if the matter cannot be handled at a regular Chapter meeting.
Section 6.03Enactment. These Bylaws shall be in force when signed by at least ten alumni members of The Tau Beta Pi Association.
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