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Constitution

Article I - Name

• Section I-1:  The name of the organization is the “Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers” and is herein referred to as “Chapter”. The Chapter is chartered by the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, a not-for-profit corporation, herein referred to as “Society”.

Article II - Location

• Section II-1: The location of the principal office of the Chapter shall be in the Seattle Metropolitan Area, State of Washington.

Article III - Objectives

• Section III-1: The objectives of the Chapter shall be to advance the science and practice of fire protection engineering and its allied fields, to maintain a high ethical standard among its members, and to foster fire protection engineering education. 
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• Section III-2: In accomplishing these objectives, the Chapter shall not engage in any activity which is not educational, scientific or charitable. No substantial part of the activities of the Chapter shall be attempting to influence legislation beyond the scope of Section III-1 (above) and the Chapter shall not participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
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• Seciion III-3: The Chapter shall abide by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society.

Article IV - Membership and Dues

• Section IV-1 For the purposes of Chapter business and operations the Chapter year shall be from January 1 through December 31 of the same year.
• Section IV-2: Chapter Membership shall be limited to persons holding a membership grade in SFPE or those who belong to the Allied Professional Group.
• Section IV-3:  Voting Members: Only Chapter Members, as defined in Section IV-2, shall have voting privileges for issues involving election of Chapter officers, or for any issue submitted by or involving the Society.  Supporting Colleagues who’s Chapter dues are current shall be entitled to one vote in all other Chapter affairs.

• Section IV-4: The Chapter recognizes the need to maintain a liaison with individuals in related fields of endeavor and interest who are not members of the Society. The Chapter encourages and accepts the support and participation of these individuals in Chapter activities.

• Section IV-5: Supporting Colleagues: Individuals who are not members of the Society, but who subscribe to the tenants of the Society, may participate in the Chapter as non-voting Supporting Colleagues.  Except as limited by the Constitution and the Bylaws of the Society and the Chapter, Supporting Colleagues shall be afforded the rights and privileges of Chapter membership, including distribution of regular Chapter publications and participation in Chapter meetings and other events.

• Section IV-6: Supporting Colleagues may not be referred to as members of the Chapter or the Society and shall not refer to an affiliation with SFPE or its chapters in any advertising, letterheads, business cards or similar published material.

• Section IV-7:  The Chapter annual dues shall be as specified in the Bylaws for the Chapter year payable upon application to membership, and on or before January 31 of each calendar year thereafter.  Members who fail to pay dues by the third monthly meeting of the Chapter year shall be suspended after due notice by the Secretary to the said member of his or her delinquency.  

• Section IV-8:  Chapter Members who become ineligible due to loss of membership in the Society shall forfeit their voting privileges of Chapter officers, or for any issue submitted by or involving the Society.  Full voting privileges will be restored upon their reinstatement in the Society.

• Section IV-9:  Membership may be terminated by action of the Executive Committee if, after due notice, and hearing if requested by the member, the Executive Committee finds the member guilty of unethical professional conduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the Chapter or Society, or of falsification of membership application. Any individual whose Chapter membership has been suspended or terminated may apply for reinstatement and the Executive Committee shall in any case specify the procedure to be followed.

Article V - Officers and Executive Committee

• Section V-1:  Chapter Officers shall include the following: President, First Vice President, Second Vice President, Immediate Past President, Secretary and Treasurer.  With the exception of the Immediate Past President, Officers shall be elected by the Chapter Members and hold office for one year or until their successors are elected and qualified.  All officers shall serve without salary.  The offices of the Secretary and Treasurer may be combined into one office.

• Section V-2:  The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chapter’s elected officers, the most recent past president and at least two members elected by the Chapter Members at the annual meeting.  

• Section V-3:  The President and a majority of the Executive Committee shall hold the grade of Fellow, Member or Associate Member, or Honorary Member of the Society.

• Section V-4:  No officer or member of the Executive Committee shall serve more than two consecutive terms in any one elective office, beginning with election by an annual meeting of the Chapter.

• Section V-5:  Vacancies in officers may be filled until the next election by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

Article VI - Administration

• Section VI-1:  Bylaws shall be established to guide the Executive Committee in governing the operations and activities of the Chapter.

• Section VI-2:  The duties of the respective officers shall be those usually incident to such offices, or as set forth in the Bylaws.  The administrative and financial functions of the Chapter shall be managed by the Executive Committee, provided that no action contrary to the Constitution or Bylaws shall be adopted except by prior amendment of these documents.

• Section VI-3:  The Chapter shall not speak for the Society on any local or national matter without specific authorization of the Society, nor shall the Chapter incur any financial or contractual obligations for which The Society may be responsible without full written approval of the Society Board of Directors.

• Section VI-4:  All amendments to the Bylaws shall be reported to the membership as soon as possible through publication of general distribution to the membership.

Article VII - Meetings

• Section VII-1:  Meetings shall be held at least quarterly, one meeting being designated as the annual business meeting.  In the case of a special meeting, notice shall be sent to the membership at least 10 days in advance, stating the business to be transacted.  Business not on the agenda shall not be considered.

• Section VII-2:  Quorum: In order to transact business at any meeting of the Chapter, there shall be at least ten Voting Members present, or twenty-five percent of the total Voting Membership of the Chapter present (whichever is greater).

• Section VII-3:  Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the transaction of business in all meetings unless inconsistent with these articles.

Article VIII - Amendments

• Section VIII-1:  These Articles may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds vote of the Voting Members present; provided that (a) the proposal for amendment shall have been recommended by the Executive Committee or by the written endorsement of at least five Voting Members, and (b) a copy of the proposal shall have been sent to all Chapter Members at least 10 days prior to the day of the meeting at which the proposed amendment is to be voted on.

• Section VIII-2:  The requirements as to notice shall not apply to the amendment of a proposed amendment when being acted upon by the Chapter.

• Section VIII-3:  All changes in the Chapter Constitution shall be submitted to the Society Board or Directors.

• Adopted June 16, 1987, by the Pacific Northwest Chapter, Society of Fire Protection Engineers.

• Revision to article IV, Section IV-1 adopted June 20, 1989.

• Revisions to Article I, Section I-1; Article III-3; Article IV, Sections IV-1, IV-3, and IV-5; Article V, Sections V-1, V-2, and V-3; Article VI, Section VI-3; and Article VII, Section VII-1 adopted February 20, 1990.
• Revisions to Article IV, Sections IV-1, IV-2, IV-3, IV-4, IV-5; Article V, Section V-3; and Article VI, Section VI-3 adopted May 14, 1991.

• Revisions to Article IV, Sections IV-1, IV-2, IV-3, IV-4, IV-5; Article VI, Section VI-1; Article V, Sections V-1, V-2, V-3, V-4; Article VI, Section VI-1; Article VII, Sections VII-1, VII-2; and Article VIII, Section VIII-1 adopted Jan 17, 2006

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