BY-LAWS OF ACADIANA BRANCH

 

ARTICLE I.  NAME AND OBJECTIVE

SECTION 1.               The name of this organization shall be the Acadiana Branch, Louisiana Section, American Society of Civil Engineers.

SECTION 2.                The objective of the Acadiana Branch shall be the advancement of the science and profession of engineering, in a manner consistent with the objective of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

 

ARTICLE II.   AREA AND MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1.                The area of the Acadiana Branch shall be the Parishes of Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Rapides, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Vermilion and Vernon in the State of Louisiana.

SECTION 2.                All members of the American Society of Civil Engineers of all grades, who subscribe to the Bylaws of the Acadiana Branch and who have paid the current dues to the Section and Branch and who are resident in the branch area, shall be Subscribing Members of the Branch.  All other members of the American Society of Civil Engineers of all grades, whose addresses are within the boundaries of the Branch as defined by the Society, shall be Assigned Members of the Branch.

 

ARTICLE III.  DUES AND FINANCES

SECTION 1.                The Branch activities shall be financed by an annual allocation of moneys from the Section based on a budget proposed by the Branch and approved by the Section.

SECTION 2.                There shall be no entrance fee.

SECTION 3.                There shall be no annual Branch dues.

ARTICLE IV.  OFFICERS

SECTION 1.                The officers of this Branch shall be a President, a President‑Elect, a Vice‑President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, who with the latest resident Past‑President shall constitute a Board of Directors in which the government of the Branch shall be vested.

SECTION 2.                All officers, except for the President, shall be elected at the Annual Meeting for terms of one year, which terms shall begin on September 1 of each year.

SECTION 3.                The term of office for the President shall be one year.  The President‑Elect shall succeed to the office of President on September 1.

SECTION 4.                Only subscribing members of the Branch shall be eligible for election to office.

SECTION 5.                The duties of officers shall be those usual for such officers.

SECTION 6.                A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the President‑Elect.  A vacancy in the office of President‑Elect shall be filled by the Vice‑President.  Other vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired term by appointment by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 7.                At meetings of the Board of Directors, three (3) members shall constitute a quorum.

 

ARTICLE V.  NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS

SECTION 1.                The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee of three members at a regular meeting preceding the Annual Meeting, generally, the March meeting.

SECTION 2.                The Nominating Committee shall choose one or more candidates for election to each office, except the office of President, and obtain the consent of each nominee to serve if elected.

SECTION 3.                The Nominating Committee shall make their report at the meeting just prior to the Annual Meeting, generally the April meeting.  Nominations from the floor may be made at this meeting.  Ballots shall be distributed and collected by the Nominating Committee.  For each office, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes cast shall be declared elected.

 

ARTICLE VI.  MEETINGS

SECTION 1.                The Annual Meeting shall be held in May on such date and at such place as the Board of Directors designate.  Other meetings shall be called at the discretion of the Board of Directors; or by the President upon the written request of at least ten subscribing members.

SECTION 2.                In addition to the Annual Meeting, monthly meetings shall be held each year, except during June, July and August. 

SECTION 3.                At all meetings ten (10) subscribing members shall constitute a quorum.

SECTION 4.                Notice of call for a Branch meeting shall be mailed to all subscribing members of the Branch not less than one week in advance of the meeting date.

SECTION 5.                All business meetings of the Branch and the Branch Board of Directors shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, except as provided in these Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE VII.  COMMITTEES

SECTION 1.                The President each year shall appoint the following committees: program, membership, hospitality, and public information.

SECTION 2.                The President shall appoint such committees as are from time to time deemed necessary.

 

                                                ARTICLE VIII.  AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1.                By‑Laws may be adopted or amended only by the following procedure:

(a)      The proposed Bylaw or amendment shall be voted upon by a majority of the subscribing members of the Branch.

(b)      To become effective it shall receive an affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the subscribing members voting, and the approval of the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Section.