Constitution and Bylaws
Article I
Section I - Name
The name of this association shall be known as the "Allegheny Plateau Association of Professional Land Surveyors."
Section II - Purpose and Objectives
The association has for its purposes and objectives:
1. To maintain the practice of land surveying as a profession.
2. To promote the economic welfare of the members of the land surveying profession by maintaining an active public relations program and by other related means.
3. To foster the establishment and maintenance of uniform high professional standards of work and ethics in the practice of the profession of land surveying for the greater protection of the public interest throughout the state.
4. To secure common representation and guidance of laws, regulations or any other problems which may affect the members' practice of their profession.
5. To collect and disseminate information of value to the members and to the general public regarding the profession of land surveying.
6. To interpret any laws or regulations and guiding interpretation of the same which affect the practice of land surveying.
7. To promote a spirit of friendship and cooperation among the members of the association.
Article II
Section I - Membership
There shall be five classes of membership
1. Regular Member - Registered Land Surveyor in the State of New York.
2. Associate Member - Any unlicensed person who is sponsored by a regular member.
3. Honorary Member - An individual who by reason of outstanding devotion and contribution to the profession of land surveying is found deserving by the Board of Directors of the Association.
4. Affiliate Member - Registered Land Surveyor not registered in New York State.
5. Life Member - Registered Land Surveyor in the State of New York who is over 65 years of age and retired from at least 25 years of professional practice.
All members of this Association will hold membership of corresponding type in the New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors.
Section II
1. Election of Members
A person may be elected a member of the association upon being proposed for membership by a regular member subject to the following terms and conditions: The applicant shall submit to the President or Secretary a written application in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors, which application shall be thereupon forwarded by the President or Secretary to the Board of Directors at its next regularly held meeting following receipt of same. The Board of Directors shall submit the application to the membership committee for investigation, comment and recommendation. The membership committee shall complete its review of such application and report to the Board of Directors within thirty (30) days from the date of referral of such application to it. Upon receipt of the report of the membership committee, or in the event the membership committee shall not make its report within the aforesaid thirty (30) day period, the Board of Directors shall act upon such application with or without its recommendation. A person shall be elected by an affirmative vote of at least sixty (60%) percent of the membership of the Board of Directors.
2. Resignation
Any member may withdraw from the association after fulfilling all obligation to it by giving written notice of such intention to the Secretary, which notice shall be presented to the Board of Directors by the Secretary at the first meeting after its receipt.
3. Suspension and Expulsion
A member may be suspended for a period or expelled for cause such as a violation of any of the by-laws or rules of the Association. Suspension or expulsion shall be by three fifths vote of the membership of the Board of Directors, provided that a statement of the charges shall have been mailed by registered mail to the member under charges at his last recorded address at least ninety (90) days before final action is taken, thereon. This statement shall be accompanied by a notice of the time and place where the Board of Directors is to take action. The member shall be given an opportunity to present a defense at the time and place mentioned in such notice. If such time and place is not one that can be met by the member, he may appeal to the Board of Directors for an adjournment.
4. Voting
The voting privilege of this Association shall be exercised only by regular members and life members.
Article III
Dues and Assessments
Section 1 - Amount
1. Regular Licensed Surveyors shall pay local annual dues of $35.00
2. Associates shall pay local annual dues of $20.00
3. Affiliates shall pay local annual dues of $15.00
4. Honorary and Students shall pay no local dues.
The above members shall pay New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors dues in accordance with the current state schedule. Dues can be modified by recommendation of the Board of Directors to the general membership. This process will require an amendment to the constitution and by-laws.
Section 2 - Payment
1. Billings will be made by the central office of the New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors in January of the fiscal year. The Association will receive the local assessment from central office as the membership submits payment.
Section 3 - Assessments
1. Regular members may be subject to special assessments. However, assessments may not be voted by the Board of Directors unless the proposed assessment and its objectives shall have been first noticed in writing to the concerned regular members by not less than ten days mail advance notice.
Article IV
Directors
1. The property, affairs, business, and concerns of the Association shall be vested in a Board of Directors, consisting of five (5) members including the Chairman of the Board. The members of the Board shall, upon election, take office at the close of the meeting at which they were duly elected. The annual meeting shall be the first meeting within the calendar year.
2. Election of Directors and Term. At the first annual membership meeting there shall be elected one Director for a term of one year who will automatically assume the chairmanship of the Board. One Director shall be elected to a term of two years, one for a term of three years, one for a term of four years, and one for a term of five years. At each subsequent annual meeting, a number of Directors equal to that of those terms that have expired, shall be elected to a term of five years except during Officer Election years when the retiring President shall fill the vacant position. The senior member will succeed as chairman of the Board each year.
3. Meeting of Directors. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at a place designated by the Chairman and may be called by:
A. The Chairman
B. Three members of the Board, upon five (5) days written notice.
4. Quorum. Three (3) members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All business conducted by the Board shall be decided by a majority vote of those present, except as otherwise provided herein.
5. Absence. Should any member of the Board of Directors absent himself from three consecutive meetings of the Board, his seat on the Board may be declared vacant by the other members or the Board of Directors.
6. Vacancy. Whenever any vacancy occurs in the Board of Directors, the remaining members of the Board shall elect a successor until the next annual membership meeting, at which time the vacancy will be filled by election for the remainder of the unexpired term.
7. The Association will elect two (2) regular members as representatives to the New York State Board of Directors for a two (2) year term. These representatives shall be entitled to a total of $125.00 per meeting, reimbursement for expenses incurred at the five (5) regular yearly meetings. This reimbursement will be reviewed by the Board of Directors on a yearly basis with recommendations for changes submitted to the President for vote by the membership.
8. An alternate may be appointed at any time to represent this Association at the New York State Board of Directors meeting by a two thirds vote of the Board of Directors. This alternate shall have the same voting power as the duly elected Directors.
Article V
Officers
1. The officers of this Association shall be President, Vice-president, Secretary, and Treasurer, elected every two (2) years. The positions of President and Vice-president must be filled by a regular member. The positions of Secretary and Treasurer may be filled by a regular or associate member.
2. Duties of Officers. The duties and powers of the officers of the Association shall be as follows:
President. The President shall preside at the meetings of the Association and shall be a member ex officio, with right to vote, of all committees except the nominating committee. He shall also, at the annual meeting of the Association of the Board as he deems proper, communicate to the Association as may in his opinion, tend to promote and advance the objectives of the Association and shall perform such other duties as are necessarily incidental to the Office of the President of the Association.
Vice-President. In case of the death or absence of the President, or if he is unable for any cause to act, the Vice-president shall perform the duties of his office. The Vice-president shall assist the President as required by the President.
Secretary. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to give notice of and attend all meetings of the Association and its several divisions; to conduct all correspondence and to carry into execution all orders, votes and resolutions not otherwise committed; to keep a list of the members of the Association; to have charge of the office and/or other property of the Association and generally devote his best efforts to forwarding the business and advancing the objectives of the Association. In the case of absence or disability of the Secretary, the President may appoint a Secretary Pro Tem. The Secretary shall be the keeper of the Seal of the Association, and the current constitution and by-laws.
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall receive and have charge of all funds collected by the Association. He shall pay any funds owed by the Association. He shall pay funds owed by the Association up to One Hundred ($100) Dollars if approved by the President. Any other funds to be disbursed shall be approved by the Board of Directors. The funds of the Association shall be deposited in any bank or other financial institution insured by the U.S. Government. The Board of Directors will audit the accounts. The Treasurer shall present a written financial statement to the President quarterly, at a minimum.
Article VI
Meetings
Section 1 - Monthly Meetings
The meetings of the Association shall be held the second Thursday of each month at a place designated by the President.
Special meetings may be called by petition of one third of the voting members.
One third of the regular members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the Association. Business transacted at all meetings of the Association shall be decided by a majority vote of the regular members present there at.
Robert's rules of order shall prevail at all meetings of the Association.
The order of business at meetings shall be:
1. Reading and approval of minutes;
2. Report of officers;
3. Report of committees;
4. Report of counsel;
5. Old business;
6. New business.
ARTICLE VII
Committees
Members of standing committees and special committees shall be appointed by the President. The following shall be standing committees:
1. Education
2. Constitution and By-laws
3. Ethical Practices
4. Public Relations
5. Code of Practice
6. Membership
ARTICLE VIII
Amendments
Amendments to the by-laws may be made by submission to the Secretary, at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the next regular meeting, a petition signed by at least fifteen percent of the regular members, and shall become effective upon approval by two thirds of the votes cast at the meeting of the Association. The Secretary shall publish the proposed amendments with the meeting notice prior to said vote.
Adopted: January 1996
The name of this association shall be known as the "Allegheny Plateau Association of Professional Land Surveyors."
Section II - Purpose and Objectives
The association has for its purposes and objectives:
1. To maintain the practice of land surveying as a profession.
2. To promote the economic welfare of the members of the land surveying profession by maintaining an active public relations program and by other related means.
3. To foster the establishment and maintenance of uniform high professional standards of work and ethics in the practice of the profession of land surveying for the greater protection of the public interest throughout the state.
4. To secure common representation and guidance of laws, regulations or any other problems which may affect the members' practice of their profession.
5. To collect and disseminate information of value to the members and to the general public regarding the profession of land surveying.
6. To interpret any laws or regulations and guiding interpretation of the same which affect the practice of land surveying.
7. To promote a spirit of friendship and cooperation among the members of the association.
Article II
Section I - Membership
There shall be five classes of membership
1. Regular Member - Registered Land Surveyor in the State of New York.
2. Associate Member - Any unlicensed person who is sponsored by a regular member.
3. Honorary Member - An individual who by reason of outstanding devotion and contribution to the profession of land surveying is found deserving by the Board of Directors of the Association.
4. Affiliate Member - Registered Land Surveyor not registered in New York State.
5. Life Member - Registered Land Surveyor in the State of New York who is over 65 years of age and retired from at least 25 years of professional practice.
All members of this Association will hold membership of corresponding type in the New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors.
Section II
1. Election of Members
A person may be elected a member of the association upon being proposed for membership by a regular member subject to the following terms and conditions: The applicant shall submit to the President or Secretary a written application in such form as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors, which application shall be thereupon forwarded by the President or Secretary to the Board of Directors at its next regularly held meeting following receipt of same. The Board of Directors shall submit the application to the membership committee for investigation, comment and recommendation. The membership committee shall complete its review of such application and report to the Board of Directors within thirty (30) days from the date of referral of such application to it. Upon receipt of the report of the membership committee, or in the event the membership committee shall not make its report within the aforesaid thirty (30) day period, the Board of Directors shall act upon such application with or without its recommendation. A person shall be elected by an affirmative vote of at least sixty (60%) percent of the membership of the Board of Directors.
2. Resignation
Any member may withdraw from the association after fulfilling all obligation to it by giving written notice of such intention to the Secretary, which notice shall be presented to the Board of Directors by the Secretary at the first meeting after its receipt.
3. Suspension and Expulsion
A member may be suspended for a period or expelled for cause such as a violation of any of the by-laws or rules of the Association. Suspension or expulsion shall be by three fifths vote of the membership of the Board of Directors, provided that a statement of the charges shall have been mailed by registered mail to the member under charges at his last recorded address at least ninety (90) days before final action is taken, thereon. This statement shall be accompanied by a notice of the time and place where the Board of Directors is to take action. The member shall be given an opportunity to present a defense at the time and place mentioned in such notice. If such time and place is not one that can be met by the member, he may appeal to the Board of Directors for an adjournment.
4. Voting
The voting privilege of this Association shall be exercised only by regular members and life members.
Article III
Dues and Assessments
Section 1 - Amount
1. Regular Licensed Surveyors shall pay local annual dues of $35.00
2. Associates shall pay local annual dues of $20.00
3. Affiliates shall pay local annual dues of $15.00
4. Honorary and Students shall pay no local dues.
The above members shall pay New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors dues in accordance with the current state schedule. Dues can be modified by recommendation of the Board of Directors to the general membership. This process will require an amendment to the constitution and by-laws.
Section 2 - Payment
1. Billings will be made by the central office of the New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors in January of the fiscal year. The Association will receive the local assessment from central office as the membership submits payment.
Section 3 - Assessments
1. Regular members may be subject to special assessments. However, assessments may not be voted by the Board of Directors unless the proposed assessment and its objectives shall have been first noticed in writing to the concerned regular members by not less than ten days mail advance notice.
Article IV
Directors
1. The property, affairs, business, and concerns of the Association shall be vested in a Board of Directors, consisting of five (5) members including the Chairman of the Board. The members of the Board shall, upon election, take office at the close of the meeting at which they were duly elected. The annual meeting shall be the first meeting within the calendar year.
2. Election of Directors and Term. At the first annual membership meeting there shall be elected one Director for a term of one year who will automatically assume the chairmanship of the Board. One Director shall be elected to a term of two years, one for a term of three years, one for a term of four years, and one for a term of five years. At each subsequent annual meeting, a number of Directors equal to that of those terms that have expired, shall be elected to a term of five years except during Officer Election years when the retiring President shall fill the vacant position. The senior member will succeed as chairman of the Board each year.
3. Meeting of Directors. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at a place designated by the Chairman and may be called by:
A. The Chairman
B. Three members of the Board, upon five (5) days written notice.
4. Quorum. Three (3) members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All business conducted by the Board shall be decided by a majority vote of those present, except as otherwise provided herein.
5. Absence. Should any member of the Board of Directors absent himself from three consecutive meetings of the Board, his seat on the Board may be declared vacant by the other members or the Board of Directors.
6. Vacancy. Whenever any vacancy occurs in the Board of Directors, the remaining members of the Board shall elect a successor until the next annual membership meeting, at which time the vacancy will be filled by election for the remainder of the unexpired term.
7. The Association will elect two (2) regular members as representatives to the New York State Board of Directors for a two (2) year term. These representatives shall be entitled to a total of $125.00 per meeting, reimbursement for expenses incurred at the five (5) regular yearly meetings. This reimbursement will be reviewed by the Board of Directors on a yearly basis with recommendations for changes submitted to the President for vote by the membership.
8. An alternate may be appointed at any time to represent this Association at the New York State Board of Directors meeting by a two thirds vote of the Board of Directors. This alternate shall have the same voting power as the duly elected Directors.
Article V
Officers
1. The officers of this Association shall be President, Vice-president, Secretary, and Treasurer, elected every two (2) years. The positions of President and Vice-president must be filled by a regular member. The positions of Secretary and Treasurer may be filled by a regular or associate member.
2. Duties of Officers. The duties and powers of the officers of the Association shall be as follows:
President. The President shall preside at the meetings of the Association and shall be a member ex officio, with right to vote, of all committees except the nominating committee. He shall also, at the annual meeting of the Association of the Board as he deems proper, communicate to the Association as may in his opinion, tend to promote and advance the objectives of the Association and shall perform such other duties as are necessarily incidental to the Office of the President of the Association.
Vice-President. In case of the death or absence of the President, or if he is unable for any cause to act, the Vice-president shall perform the duties of his office. The Vice-president shall assist the President as required by the President.
Secretary. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to give notice of and attend all meetings of the Association and its several divisions; to conduct all correspondence and to carry into execution all orders, votes and resolutions not otherwise committed; to keep a list of the members of the Association; to have charge of the office and/or other property of the Association and generally devote his best efforts to forwarding the business and advancing the objectives of the Association. In the case of absence or disability of the Secretary, the President may appoint a Secretary Pro Tem. The Secretary shall be the keeper of the Seal of the Association, and the current constitution and by-laws.
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall receive and have charge of all funds collected by the Association. He shall pay any funds owed by the Association. He shall pay funds owed by the Association up to One Hundred ($100) Dollars if approved by the President. Any other funds to be disbursed shall be approved by the Board of Directors. The funds of the Association shall be deposited in any bank or other financial institution insured by the U.S. Government. The Board of Directors will audit the accounts. The Treasurer shall present a written financial statement to the President quarterly, at a minimum.
Article VI
Meetings
Section 1 - Monthly Meetings
The meetings of the Association shall be held the second Thursday of each month at a place designated by the President.
Special meetings may be called by petition of one third of the voting members.
One third of the regular members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of the Association. Business transacted at all meetings of the Association shall be decided by a majority vote of the regular members present there at.
Robert's rules of order shall prevail at all meetings of the Association.
The order of business at meetings shall be:
1. Reading and approval of minutes;
2. Report of officers;
3. Report of committees;
4. Report of counsel;
5. Old business;
6. New business.
ARTICLE VII
Committees
Members of standing committees and special committees shall be appointed by the President. The following shall be standing committees:
1. Education
2. Constitution and By-laws
3. Ethical Practices
4. Public Relations
5. Code of Practice
6. Membership
ARTICLE VIII
Amendments
Amendments to the by-laws may be made by submission to the Secretary, at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the next regular meeting, a petition signed by at least fifteen percent of the regular members, and shall become effective upon approval by two thirds of the votes cast at the meeting of the Association. The Secretary shall publish the proposed amendments with the meeting notice prior to said vote.
Adopted: January 1996
