Bylaws

BYLAWS

Chinese Institute of Engineers/USA - Seattle

(August 28, 2018)

I. ORGANIZATION

The name for this organization shall be “Chinese Institute of Engineers/USA –Seattle” (CIE/USA-SEA).

The organization is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purpose. It consists of voting members, the Executive Officers, the Committees, the Board of Directors, and the Advisory Board. The Executive Officers and Committee Chairperson shall propose, lead to plan and execute activities for the Organization. The Board of Directors shall provide guidance and audit functions to the Organization.


II. MISSIONS

  1. To promote technical and professional excellence in engineering, science and technologies for Asian Americans.
  2. To provide technical, professional and culture services and education to the communities.
  3. To serve as a conduit to similar engineering and scientific organizations at the national and international levels.


III. MEMBERSHIP

Individuals supporting organizational missions may apply as members of the Organization. Member may elect for lifetime membership by paying lifetime membership dues. Membership may be terminated by 1/2 of the Board of Directors due to the member's unethical conduct or violation of Bylaws of the Organization.

Annual dues, based on calendar year, are required for all regular members. The amount of the dues, for regular members and lifetime members, shall be recommended by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. Regular and lifetime members are active members. Only active members can be nominated as Board of Directors and exercise membership-voting rights.


IV. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

  1. There shall be a President and one to four Vice-President(s).
  2. Treasurer and Secretary shall be member of the Board.
  3. Treasure shall be nominated by member of the Board and approved by the Board of Directors. The term is two years.
  4. The President shall appoint a Secretary.
  5. President, Vice President(s), Treasurer and Secretary together are the Executive Officers.
  6. The Executive Officers and the Committee Chairs shall plan and execute all activities for the Organization. As the situation required, the Chairperson of the Board shall be consulted.


V. COMMITTEES

  1. Based on the mission of CIE USA-Seattle, Committees are assembled and formed under the guidance and supervision of CIE USA-Seattle Board. Each Committee shall be led by a Committee Chair. All Chairs shall solicit volunteers to staff various functions or programs, share the fund raising responsibilities, and coordinate with the President for all local community activities.
  2. A Membership/Communication Committee to organize/maintain membership data, publish/maintain the Organization web site, publish/distribute the Newsletter, and to disseminate related news and activities in the Organization to members. This committee shall also carry the historian function by archiving multi years data as determined by the Board.
  3. An Education Committee to promote education and to develop programs in the technical, leadership, mentorship, scholarship and career development areas.
  4. A National council communication committee to coordinate AAEOY, SATEC, METS, HKTEC and other matters with National Council.
  5. An Advisory committee to manage Advisory Board.
  6. A Professional Development Committee to form Professional Interest Groups and to promote their activities among our members.


VI. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  1. There shall be up to twenty-one (21) Directors of the Board including the President, and the Vice-President(s). Each year there shall be up to seven (7) openings for election.
  2. The Board of Directors shall elect a Chairperson of the Board.
  3. Functions of the Board are to provide guidance and auditing activities of the Organization and to provide advice to the Executive Officers and the Committee Chairs of the Society.
  4. The Board shall hold meetings quarterly. Special meetings shall be held upon request by the Chairperson or upon request to the Chairperson by two members of the Board.
  5. In all Board meetings, at least one-third (1/3) of the board members present shall constitute a quorum. A majority vote shall constitute a resolution.
  6. The Board shall determine the Organization representatives to participate in meetings of affiliated associations.
  7. For a Bylaws offending Executive Officer, Committee Chairs or Board Director, associated title can be removed by a two-thirds vote from the Board of Directors. Board Director who has unexcused absence from two consecutive Board meetings shall constitute a cause for removal.


VII. ADVISORY BOARD

An Advisory board consists of up to nine (9) non-voting Advising Directors. Any person with distinguished achievement or contributions to the Organization can be nominated by the active members and elected as a non-voting Advising Director.


VIII. ELECTIONS

  1. The President and Vice President(s) shall be nominated by the Board of Directors and elected among the organization active members in an annual election with a quorum (30% of active members) in attendance or by proxy. The term of President and Vice-President shall be one year.
  2. Board Directors shall be nominated among the Organization members by at least six active members and elected among the Organization active members in an annual election with a quorum (30% of active members) in attendance or by proxy. The term of the directorship shall be three years and can be reelected for a maximum of two (2) consecutive terms. A term limit exception can be granted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Directors.
  3. Advising Directors will be nominated by a minimum of two (2) Directors or the President and elected by a two-thirds (2/3) vote from the Directors. The term of the Advising directorship shall be three (3) year and can be extended by a (2/3) vote from the Directors. Each year there shall be up to three (3）openings for election.
  4. The Chairperson of the Board shall have a term of one (1) year.
  5. All Committee Chairs are nominated by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. Term of the Committee Chairs shall be at least two (2) years and consecutive terms can be determined by the Board of Directors as situation dictates. Committee Chairs shall be nominated in alternate years if feasible.
  6. Unless specified otherwise, “year” means a calendar year from January 1st to December 31st.


IX. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE

  1. The organization should operate according to the operational guideline (exhibit A).
  2. The operational guideline can be updated through a quorum of exceeding 2/3 and a vote exceeding 2/3 of the board of directors.


X. AMENDMENTS

Amendment proposals of the Bylaws may be submitted to the Board in writing by two board members. Upon approval by the Board with a majority vote, the final version shall be approved by a majority vote with a quorum (30% of active members) in attendance or by proxy.


EXIHIBIT A

  1. Annual election for President, Vice President(s), Board Directors, and Advisors shall be completed in November. New leadership term starts January 1st of the following year. The President and committee chairpersons shall propose annual work plan and budget by the end of January. The Board of Directors shall approve the budget and work plan with a quorum of exceeding 1/2 and a vote exceeding 2/3 of the Board of Directors attending.
  2. The President and committee chairpersons can include discretionary fund in the proposed budget.
  3. Discretionary spending shall not exceed either 20% of respective budget or Two hundred dollar (US$200) per month for President or One hundred dollar (US$100) per month for Committee Chairperson.
  4. Budget or budget revision requires a quorum of exceeding 1/2 and a vote exceeding 2/3 of the Board of Directors.

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