ARTICLE I - NAME OF
THE CORPORATION
The name of the
corporation shall be the “Maryland Society of Surveyors
Incorporated,” (hereinafter, the “Society”).
ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVES OF THE CORPORATION
The objectives of this corporation shall be:
A) To operate a nonprofit, benevolent organization
for the advancement of the science of Surveying and mapping in the furtherance
of the public welfare and in the interests of both those who use maps and
surveys and those who make them.
B) To promulgate the education of the public as to
the necessity and importance of our profession.
C) To develop standards for the accomplishments of
land surveying tasks which represent the minimum acceptable level of effort to
perform the work in a professional manner and to communicate these standards to
all Society members.
D) To promote the general welfare, efficiency and
service of its members and the higher ethical standards of surveyors.
E) To promote and encourage more professional
responsibility of surveyors.
F) To advocate and foster better relations between
surveyors, the public, City, County, State and Federal governing agencies.
G) To enforce a code of ethics as prescribed by the Maryland
Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) and adopted by the Society
for all members
H) To promote other nonprofit and benevolent
purposes beneficial to its membership.
I) To
operate without profit and that no part of the income of this organization
shall inure to the benefit of any individual member.
ARTICLE III - LOCATION OF THE OFFICE
The location of the principal office shall be the
address of the Executive Director or Executive Secretary or in the event there
is no Executive Director or Executive Secretary the principal address will be
the address of the Secretary holding office, both subject to the approval of
the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV - CORPORATE
SEAL
The corporate
seal shall have inscribed on the border the name of the Corporation and in the
center the words: INCORPORATED 1948 MARYLAND,
an impression of which appears on the margin thereof.
ARTICLE V - BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
SECTION 1 – DIRECTORS
A) The corporation shall be managed and controlled
by a Board of Directors.
B) The Board of Directors shall consist of the
following members:
1. Immediate Past President
2. President
3. President-Elect
4. Vice President
5. Treasurer
6. Secretary
7. National Society of Professional Surveyors
Governor
8. Chairperson of each Chapter or designee,
if the Maryland Society of Surveyors is
subdivided into chapters
9. Four Area Directors
C) The Board of Directors, by a vote of a two-thirds
majority of the entire Board, may increase or decrease the number of Directors
to a number not greater than twenty-three or less than seven and by a like vote
fill the vacancies created by any such increase in the number of Directors.
D) The presiding officer of the board of directors
shall be the president or a member of the board appointed by the president.
SECTION 2 - GENERAL POWERS OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors, in addition to the powers
expressly conferred upon it by these bylaws and by the laws of Maryland, may exercise
all such powers and do all such acts and things exercised or done by membership
corporations.
ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 1 - TERMS OF OFFICE
A) The officers of the Corporation shall consist of
an Immediate Past President, President, a President-elect, a Vice President, a
Secretary, a Treasurer, four (4) Area Directors, National Society of Professional Surveyors Governor, and such
other officers as may from time to time be elected.
B) The terms of office of the Immediate Past
President, President, President-elect and Vice President shall be one year or
until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The terms of office
shall begin on October 1st of each year.
C) The terms of office of the Secretary and the
Treasurer shall be elected in even numbered years and shall hold offices for
two years or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. The terms
of office shall begin on October 1st of even numbered years.
D) Area Directors and the National Society of
Professional Surveyors Governor shall be elected in odd numbered years and
shall hold offices for two years or until their successors are duly elected and
qualified. The terms of office shall begin on October 1st of odd
numbered years.
SECTION 2 - DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT
The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer
of the Society; shall appoint all committee members and designate the
chairpersons except the Nominations/Tellers Committee and Strategic Planning
Committee, Ethics and Practice Committee, Survey Standards and Practice
Committee, and Conference Committee; shall have general supervision over all
matters pertaining to the Corporation; shall see that harmony is preserved and
the Bylaws enforced; and shall perform other such duties as may be required of
him in the Bylaws. In general, the President shall have such powers as are
incident to the office of a President of such a corporation. The President or
his or her delegate, shall, when possible, represent the Society at meetings of
regional, national or international organizations which are of interest to the
Society.
SECTION 3 - DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT
A) The President-elect shall assist the President in
the performance of the duties as above stated; Shall act for him in his or her
absence; and shall be invested at such time with the full powers and prerogatives
of the President and subject to the prescribed duties.
B) The President-Elect or his/her designee shall
attend all meetings of the Maryland Board for Professional Land Surveyors and
report back to the Board of Directors.
C) The President-Elect shall chair the Fall Conference
Committee.
D) The President-elect shall serve on the strategic
planning committee.
SECTION 4 - DUTIES OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
A) The Vice President shall assist both the
President and the President-Elect in the performance of their duties as above
stated, and shall act for them in their absence; he or she shall be invested at
such time with full powers and prerogatives of the President or President-Elect
and subject to his or her duties.
B) The Vice President shall chair the Strategic
Planning Committee, Ethics and Practice Committee and Survey Standards and
Practice Committee.
SECTION 5 - DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY
A) The Secretary shall keep minutes of all regular
and special meetings of the Society membership and of the Board of Directors.
He or she shall be responsible for keeping a record of all correspondence
concerning the Society activities (excluding any inter-committee
correspondence); shall be responsible for all notices of meetings, elections
and other business of the Society being sent as outlined in these Bylaws or as
directed by the Board of Directors, however, the Executive Director may assist
the Secretary in his or her duties, but in no way relieve the elected Secretary
of his or her responsibilities. In the absence of the secretary from a meeting,
the presiding officer shall appoint a substitute.
B) The Secretary shall serve as chairman for at least
one Standing Committee.
SECTION 6 - DUTIES OF THE TREASURER
The Treasurer shall keep all the financial records
of the Society, disburse all funds, collect all dues, contributions,
assessments and other income and file a report at the Board of Directors and
General Membership meetings. He or she also shall file any annual reports
required by law. The Executive Director or Executive Secretary may assist the
Treasurer in his or her duties, but in no way relieve the elected Treasurer of
his or her responsibilities.
SECTION 7 - DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OR OTHER AGENTS
A) An Executive Director, Executive Secretary, or
other agents may be employed by the Board of Directors at such rate of
compensation as it deems fair and proper.
B) The Executive Director or Executive Secretary
shall serve as the Administrative Officer of the Society. He or she shall
perform the duties and responsibilities delegated to him or her by the Board of
Directors and all other functions usual to such office.
SECTION 8 - DUTIES OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY
OF PROFESSIONAL SURVEYORS
GOVERNOR
The National Society of Professional Surveyors
Governor or his or her designee shall represent the Maryland Society of
Surveyors on a national level and in return keeps the Society informed by
reports from each national or regional meeting.
SECTION 9 – DUTIES OF THE IMMEDIATE
PAST PRESIDENT
The Immediate Past President shall chair the Nominations/Tellers
Committee.
SECTION 10 –
DUTIES OF THE AREA DIRECTORS
A) The Area
Directors shall represent the Maryland Society of Surveyors on a statewide
level, promoting the ideas and pursuits of the Society, and in return, keep the
Society informed by reports from the membership as well as non-members in the
surveying community. They shall represent the Society by attending local
chapter functions, and assisting local chapters, within the State of Maryland in the
following areas and including the following chapters:
Area 1 -
Western, Appalachian, Carroll
Area 2
– Potomac, Southern, Chesapeake
Area 3
– Howard, Baltimore, Susquehanna,
Area 4 -
Upper Eastern Shore, Lower Eastern Shore
B) Each Director shall be
responsible for serving on, or serving as chairman, for at least one standing
committee.
C) Each Director shall
ensure that their Area is host to at least one (1) seminar, and one (1) General
Membership Meeting, within the calendar year beginning on October 1.
D) The Area 1 Director will
serve as the West Virginia Society of Professional Surveyors liaison
The Area 2 Director will
serve as the Virginia Association of Surveyors liaison and as the District of
Columbia Association of Land Surveyors liaison.
The Area 3 Director will
serve as the Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors liaison.
The Area 4 Director will
serve as the Delaware Association of Surveyors liaison.
ARTICLE VII - ELECTION OF OFFICERS & DIRECTORS
A) The President-elect and the Vice President shall
be elected by ballot from a list of qualified members submitted by the
Nominations/Tellers Committee or nominated from the floor at the
Society’s May meeting.
B) A candidate for President-elect must have
previously served in a statewide elected office of the Society, including
director-at-large, or area director.
C) The President-elect shall automatically become
President at the end of his or her term as President-elect.
D) The Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected by
ballot from a list of qualified members submitted by the Nominations/Tellers
Committee or nominated from the floor at the Society’s May meeting in
even numbered years.
E) An officer or director must be a regular member in
good standing.
F) Election shall be by a plurality vote of the
regular members in good standing, voting by written ballot furnished by the
Secretary, Executive Director or Executive Secretary. The election shall be
conducted by mail. The ballots shall be mailed by June 15th of each year to all members
in good standing. All properly marked ballots received prior to July 15th of each year shall be
counted.
G) The election of Area Directors shall be conducted
by mail from a list prepared by the Nominations/Tellers Committee and
consisting of a minimum of four (4) members in good standing, or nominated from
the floor at the Society’s May meeting, in odd numbered years.
H) The National Society of Professional Surveyors
Governor shall be elected from a list prepared by the Nominations/Tellers
Committee and consisting of not more than three (3) members in good standing,
or nominated from the floor at the
Society’s May meeting, in odd numbered years.
I) These lists shall be read at the Society’s
May general membership meeting with any nominations from the floor added and
mailed to all members in good standing by June 15th of each odd year. All properly marked ballots will
be counted.
J) Election shall be by a plurality vote of regular
members of the Society whose ballots shall have been received by the date
specified.
K) Chapter Chairpersons shall be elected by the
Chapter Membership by July 15th of
each even year. The Chapter Chairperson shall serve on the Board of Directors
of the Society for a term of two years, beginning on October 1 of each
even-numbered year.
L) Vacancies on the Board of Directors or the
Officers of the Society shall be by election or appointment by the Board.
ARTICLE VIII – MEMBERS
SECTION 1 - CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP
There shall be six classes of membership:
A) REGULAR MEMBER
Any person licensed by the Maryland State Board for
Professional Land Surveyors.
B) HONORARY MEMBER
Any person who has attained 65 years of age and has
retired from active practice as a Professional Land Surveyor or Property Line
Surveyor and has been a regular member in good standing for each of the nine
years preceding and also in the year in which such age is attained, or has
retired from active practice, whichever is later, may be elected an honorary
member. Each nomination for honorary membership shall be made by a regular
member in good standing. Each member of the Board of Directors shall be given
notice of any such nomination. A vote on the election shall be taken within 60
days of said notification.
C) SUSTAINING MEMBER Individuals, corporations,
companies and firms having a professional interest or concern in the activities
of the Society and its members, shall be eligible for the classification of a
Sustaining member, subject to the verification of such interest by the Board of
Directors. Sustaining members shall have all the rights of full membership
excepting the right to vote or hold office. Sustaining members shall also be
entitled to sustaining member discounts on advertising in the Society’s
publication and exhibit space and Society’s functions, and shall have
access to Society membership lists for promotional purposes.
D) ASSOCIATE/STUDENT MEMBER
Any person not meeting the qualifications of the
regular or affiliate membership class, and being employed in land surveying
and/or a student enrolled in curriculum approved by the Board of Directors. .
If said person attains registration as a Professional Land Surveyor, said
individual must be reclassified as a regular member. The Associate/Student
member is not entitled to vote on Society business and cannot hold office at
the State level.
E) CORRESPONDING MEMBER
Any person who does not work in the State of
Maryland and who resides outside of the State of Maryland and who is not
licensed as a Professional Land Surveyor or a Property Line Surveyor in the
State of Maryland and who is desirous of receiving copies of the Maryland
Society of Surveyors newsletters and notices. A Corresponding Member is not
entitled to vote on Society business and cannot hold office. A corresponding
member is qualified for the published member rates for any Society function.
F) AFFILIATE MEMBER
An individual involved in a profession or business,
which is allied with the profession of land surveying. Affiliate members shall
have the same rights and privileges as those of an Associate Member.
G) RETIRED
MEMBER
Any person who has a Retired Status License issued
by the Maryland State Board for Professional Land Surveyors and/or is 65 years
of age and has surrendered their license.
SECTION 2 - ADMISSION AND EXPULSION
A) Membership shall be by application.
Applicants must be sponsored by a
regular member and shall be of good character and reputation and agree to abide
by the provisions of the Bylaws of this Society, its Code of Ethics, subscribe
to the objectives of this Society, meet with the approval of the Board of
Directors and pay the appropriate membership fee.
B) Charges against any member violating the Charter,
Bylaws, Code of Ethics or rules of this Corporation shall be presented to the
Board of Directors for consideration of disciplinary action of said member. The
Board of Directors, upon recommendation from the Ethics Committee and/or any
other appropriate committee shall notify the member of said disciplinary action
which could result in expulsion
ARTICLE IX –
CHAPTERS
A) The Board of Directors, at their discretion,
shall establish chapters throughout the State of Maryland to meet the needs of the general
membership. Membership in any chapter shall conform to Article VIII of these
Bylaws.
B) Each chapter shall elect a Chairman and a Vice
Chairman to preside at all meetings. Election shall be by a majority of those
members present. A notice of said election shall be distributed to each regular
member of the chapter at least two weeks before the election.
C) The Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be a regular
member of the Society. In addition, the chapter membership, at their
discretion, may elect, by a majority of those members present, any other
officer they deem necessary.
D) The Chairman of the chapter, upon election, shall
become a member of the Board of Directors and shall serve on the Board in
accordance with Article VII, Section K.
E) In the event that the Chairman should resign, the
Vice Chairman shall take his or her place and a new Vice Chairman shall be
elected. Furthermore, in the event that the Vice Chairman should resign, a new
Vice Chairman shall be elected.
F) Chapters shall meet at least quarterly and submit
the minutes of the meeting to the Secretary at the following meeting of the
Board of Directors.
ARTICLE X – COMMITTEES
SECTION 1 - APPOINTMENTS
The President shall appoint the standing committees
hereinafter designated, and such other committees as may, from time to time, be
necessary. The President shall have the power to designate the chairman of each
committee and to make changes in any committee at any time. The Board of
Directors shall authorize and define the duties and powers of the standing
committees.
SECTION 2 - STANDING COMMITTEES AND DUTIES
The standing committees and their duties shall be as
follows:
A) MEMBERSHIP;
This committee shall actively recruit new members
and shall attempt to maintain all current members in good standing and shall
seek to expand the membership of the Society.
B) ETHICS AND
PRACTICE;
This committee shall periodically review and submit
to the Board of Directors any recommended revisions or additions to the code of
ethics for the members and shall recommend methods and means for maintaining
them. The committee shall study the cases of all persons who are reported to
the Society to be operating in violation of State laws, or ethics and
practices, for possible recommendation to the Board of Directors for action.
C) SURVEY
STANDARDS AND PRACTICE;
This committee shall periodically review the Minimum
Standards of Practice and shall recommend any revisions or additions to the
Board of Directors for possible recommendation to the Maryland Board for
Professional Land Surveyors for action.
D) GOVERNMENTAL
AFFAIRS;
This committee shall recommend actions on all
legislation and regulations affecting surveyors and all other related
professions.
E) PUBLIC
RELATIONS;
This committee shall recommend to the Board of
Directors various methods of obtaining better understanding and mutual interest
between this Society and other related professional organizations. It shall be
the duty of this committee to bring before the members and the public, the
aims, activities, services and objectives of the Maryland Society of Surveyors,
Incorporated.
F) EDUCATION;
This committee is to actively provide ongoing
educational programs for both professional and para-professional persons
engaged in surveying. This committee will also plan the Spring conference.
G) SUSTAINING;
This committee, consisting of sustaining members of
this Society shall elect its own chairman each year during the annual
Convention of the Society. The said committee shall
work cooperatively with and in conjunction with the
Society with regard to all mutual interests. The chairman of the said committee
shall be invited to attend the Board of Directors meetings in advisory
capacity. Each valid application for sustaining membership shall be referred to
the said Sustaining Committee for advisory action, which action shall make its
recommendation regarding such applications to the Maryland Society of Surveyors
Board of Directors within 30 days. Whether or not such recommendation is
submitted, or is favorable, the Maryland Society of Surveyors Board of
Directors shall consider and take action on the said application at its next
meeting following receipt of the Sustaining Committee recommendation or its meeting
next following the lapse of the 30 day screening period.
H)
NOMINATIONS/TELLERS;
This committee shall have as its Chairman the
Immediate Past President and its duty shall be to select the slate of
candidates for the next year’s elections and count the official ballots
and report the results to the Board of Directors and Membership. The Chairman
may select as many committee members as he or she shall see fit to assist him
or her in this selection process.
I) BYLAWS;
This committee shall have the responsibility for
examining the Bylaws from time to time at the direction of the Board of
Directors for the purposes of changing the Bylaws to benefit the Society.
J) STRATEGIC
PLANNING;
This committee shall have as its Chairman the
current Vice President and its duty shall be to develop and update a strategic
plan to assist the Society in long range goals.
K) NEW
TECHNOLOGIES;
This committee shall have the responsibility for
investigating and reporting on new technologies which might prove beneficial to
the members of the Society.
L) FALL CONFERENCE
COMMITTEE;
This committee shall have the responsibility for
planning the Fall conference of the Society. This committee shall be chaired by
the President Elect.
ARTICLE XI – MEETINGS
SECTION 1 - MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS
A) Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at
least bimonthly, and at such other times as adopted by the Board or requested
by the President. Notice of special meetings of the Board shall be given to
each Director at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the time set for such
meetings either by notifying him or her personally or by writing or
telegraphing such notice to him or her, addressed to the Director, as his or
her address as may appear on the books of the Corporation.
B) Nine (9) Members of the Board of Directors shall
constitute a quorum at all meetings of the Board of Directors but the members
present, though less than nine (9), may adjourn the meeting from time to time.
Use of proxies for absentees will not be permitted.
C) A Chapter Chair unable to attend the Board
meeting shall notify, in writing, the President or the Executive Director of
the name of, his or her authorized representative who shall be the Chapter Vice
Chairman or other regular member officer of that Chapter.
SECTION 2 - MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
A General membership meeting shall be held at least
quarterly or as directed by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XII – FINANCES
SECTION 1 DUES:
The annual dues, payable on October 1st of each
year, shall be set by the Board of Directors for each class of membership. If
not paid within 90 days of October 1st, the member shall forfeit his or her
membership in this Society. Honorary members shall not pay dues.
SECTION 2 SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS:
Special fund raising projects or assessments may be
utilized to provide additional needed revenue. The Board of Directors shall
have the power to enact special assessments based on a three-fourths vote of
said Board. However, Special assessments shall be subject to approval by the
general membership.
SECTION 3 OFFICER EXPENSES:
A) The officers shall be reimbursed for expenses for
travel and other items related to the affairs of the Society as approved by the
Board of Directors.
B) The National Society of Professional Surveyors
Governor or delegate shall be reimbursed for expenses for travel and other
items related to the affairs of the Society as approved by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 4 - LENDING MONEY:
This Corporation shall not have the power to lend
its funds.
SECTION 5 - COMMITTEE EXPENSES:
Members of this Society whether serving upon
committees or in their private capacity; shall not have the power to incur any
expense in the name of, or for the account of the Corporation without first
obtaining the consent of the Board of Directors. When bills against the
Corporation shall result from the transaction of a committee, either standing
or special, the items thereof shall, before being accepted by the Board of
Directors, be approved by said committee and endorsed as correct.
SECTION 6 - CHECKS, DRAFTS, NOTES AND
OBLIGATIONS:
All written instruments for the payment of money,
negotiable notes, drafts or other obligations of the Corporation may be signed
by any officer or officers designated by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation; provided, however, that none such shall be signed by anyone in
more than one official capacity No check shall be signed in blank. The Board of
Directors shall have the power by resolution to authorize such other person or
persons as may be named in the resolution to sign any of the above-mentioned
instruments.
SECTION 7 - APPROVAL OF DIRECTORS FOR
PAYMENTS OF BILLS:
Payment of Corporation bills less than $100.00 and
all bills for expenses included within the approved budget may be paid by the
officers of the Corporation. However, all invoices more than 100.00, if not in
the budget, must be approved by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XIII - ALTERATION OF BYLAWS
These Bylaws may be repealed or amended, or new
Bylaws may be adopted by a three-fourths vote of the members voting, providing
that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing at a prior general
membership meeting, and that notice of the proposed change, containing at least
a general statement of its nature, shall be distributed by the Secretary to each
member not less than two weeks prior to the date of the meeting at which action
thereon shall be taken.
ARTICLE XIV - ORDER OF BUSINESS AND RULES OF ORDER
The
rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern
the Society in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are
not inconsistent with the by-laws or the special rules of order of this
society.
ARTICLE XV - MARYLAND
STATE BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL LAND SURVEYORS
In nominating a member to the Maryland State Board
for Professional Land Surveyors, the Board of Directors of the Society will
conform to the nominating procedure as outlined in the “State Board for Professional
Land Surveyors,” Title 15 of the Business Occupations and Professions
Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, effective July 1, 1989, or as it may
be amended from time to time.
ARTICLE XVI - TERMINATION OF THE CORPORATION
In the event that the activities of the Corporation
are terminated, the accrued funds in the treasury after all outstanding
obligations have been paid, shall not be returned to the members of the
Corporation but shall be given to a nonprofit organization established for the
benefit of the surveying profession, selected by the Board of Directors for the
purpose of establishing a surveying scholarship or foundation.
