Bylaws:

Preamble

In meeting its objectives, the Society shall undertake programs:

1. To strive throughout the profession to make registration more meaningful in terms of acknowledgement to individual achievement in engineering as reflected by education and practice, and to urge all engineers to seek legal status through registration at the earliest possible point in their careers.

2. To attract to the profession well qualified and properly motivate young people by publicizing the achievements of engineers and the contributions of the profession to the welfare of mankind.

3. To advance engineering education to the end that engineering competence will be developed within a framework of culture, integrity, and dedication to the public good.

4. To advance self-education and self-improvement, motivation practicing engineers to up grade and expand their competency by continuing study during their entire career.

5. To provide the forum for the effective exchange and advancement of knowledge of matters of concern to the profession and to its relations with delegates, and joint activities.

6. To encourage the individual engineer as a citizen to participate in civic activities and take leadership in helping to solve problems for the improvement of industry and commerce, defense, health and welfare, culture and recreation at all levels of society and government.

7. To conduct liaison and communications with government bodies at all levels and through various media with the general public, to report, advise and interpret the effect of technology on matters of national policy and acts of public agencies, to advance the common welfare.

8. To advance and to implement a Code of Ethics to guide the behavior of members of the profession, and to provide means for disclosure or correction of unethical practices.

BYLAW 1 - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership applications should be forwarded to the National Society of Professional Engineers.

Section 2. Membership in the Society imposes the obligation to uphold the honor and dignity of the engineering profession. It is therefore required of members to be familiar with ethical and legal standards, to observe them, to aid in preventing violations by others and to be familiar with the Society's policies and procedures relating to handling of alleged violations.

Section 3. Violation of the Society Constitution and Bylaws, the Code of Ethics or conviction of a felony shall be considered as just cause for discipline as hereinafter provided.

BYLAW 2 - DISCIPLINE

Section 1. Inquiries and complaints of alleged violations of the NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers or of laws and regulations governing the profession shall be brought forth and resolved in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Rules of Operations of the WSPE Board of Engineers Professional Responsibility (See Bylaw 15 and Rules of Operations approved by the Board of Directors.)

Section 2. The Board of Directors shall take final disciplinary action including dismissal of the complaint or inquiry, expulsion, suspension, reprimand, or other sanction they deem appropriate.

BYLAW 3 - CHAPTERS

Section 1. A chapter may organize within the provisions of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society, may, upon application, receive a charter from the Society, and then be known as a chapter of the Society.

Section 2. A charter may be issued upon approval of an application by the Board and shall be signed by the president and the secretary of the society.

Section 3. In advance of the Society's Annual Meeting, each chapter shall elect officers and directors as required. The secretary of each chapter shall send a report of such election results to the secretary of the Society at least 30 days prior to the date fixed for the Annual Meeting.

Section 4. The board may authorize and issue charters for student chapters at approved engineering colleges or institutes of technology. Rules and regulations for the organization and operation of student chapters shall be determined by the Board and shall be designated according to the policies of the National Society. Each student chapter shall have a faculty advisor who shall wherever possible be a member of the Society. The student chapter advisor should be appointed by the Society, through the local chapter concerned, on the recommendation of the dean of the college of the school involved. Each student chapter shall have a liaison officer from the sponsoring chapter. The sponsoring chapter shall appoint the liaison officer.

BYLAW 4 – AFFILIATED GROUPS

Section 1. Local chapter auxiliaries may be established with approval of the chapter membership. The purpose of an auxiliary shall be to assist in promoting the best interests of the professional engineer and the Society. The auxiliary shall be responsible to the chapter for its policies including ratification of bylaws.

BYLAW 5 - FISCAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE YEARS

Section 1. The fiscal and administrative year of the Society shall be from July 1 through June 30.

BYLAW 6 - DUES AND FEES

Section 1. Dues and fees become due and payable on the member’s anniversary date each year.

Section 2. Dues and fees for new members for their initial year in the Society shall be as stated in Appendix A.

Section 3. Dues and fees for persons continuing their membership in the Society shall be as stated in Appendix A.

Section 4. Dues and fees include an annual subscription fee for all official publications of the Society.

Section 5. The dues and fees are collected by the National Society and shall transmit each month to the State Society the dues collected.

Section 6. Upon receipt of a bachelor's degree in engineering, student members in good standing shall be automatically advanced to the next higher membership grade for which qualified, except that graduate students may retain Student membership by written request to the Society.

BYLAW 7 - GOOD STANDING

Section 1. A member shall be considered in good standing if dues are remitted prior to the anniversary date of the year for which such remittance is due.

Section 2. A member failing to remit dues by the anniversary date of the year in which said dues are payable, shall become delinquent. The name of such delinquent member shall be dropped from the membership rolls of the Society at the same time it is dropped from the membership rolls of the National Society.

Section 3. Only members in good standing shall be carried on the mailing list of the Society's official periodical and publications.

Section 4. A member dropped from the rolls of the Society for nonpayment of dues cannot be reinstated prior to anniversary date of the following year except by payment of current year's dues.

BYLAW 8 - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The board of Directors shall have the direction and general supervision of all matters pertaining to the Society. It shall adopt and monitor a budget and cause the accounts of the treasurer to be audited not less than once a year.

Section 2. The Board shall consist of the Executive Committee, Young Engineer Representative, State Directors, Practice Division Chairs, and Standing Board Chairs.

Section 3. The Board shall provide for and superintend the publication and distribution of all proceedings and transactions of the Society and shall have authority to appoint an editor and publish and official periodical for the Society.

Section 4. The Board shall create a reserve fund and be empowered to invest and reinvest such funds as may be available. The reserve fund should be kept at a level not less than, 25 percent of the total annual budget or $25,000 which ever is smaller. The transfer of funds to or from the reserve fund is to be approved by the Board. Short-term loans from the reserve fund are to be approved by the Executive Committee.

Section 5. Each state director shall attend chapter meetings for the purpose of inquiring into the condition of the profession and to improve the communication between the chapter membership and the Society.

Section 6. The Board shall hold a regular meeting at the time of the Annual Meeting and at least three meetings thereafter. It shall hold special meetings at the call of the president or on the petition of 25 percent of the directors.

Section 7. A notice of each meeting of the Board shall be mailed to each member of the Board at least ten days prior to the scheduled date thereof. An agenda and copy of each report and resolution, which are to be considered at such meetings, shall accompany the notice of the meeting and no other matters shall be considered at such meetings without the consent of the majority of the members of the Board in attendance.

Section 8. A quorum of the Board for the conduct of business shall be one-half of the members entitled to cast votes.

BYLAW 9 - LETTER BALLOTS OF THE BOARD

Section 1. The president may at any time direct the secretary to submit any question to the members of the Board by means of a letter ballot, either by paper or electronic.

Section 2. Upon direction of the majority of the members of the Board present at any meeting, where less than all members of the Board are present, the secretary shall submit any question to the members of the Board by means of a letter ballot, either by paper or electronic.

Section 3. In the event of any meeting at which less than all members of the Board are present and the majority vote on any question constitutes less that a majority of all members of the Board, any member of the Board may direct the secretary to submit the question to all members of the Board by means of a letter ballot, either paper or electronic.

Section 4. A majority of all votes received within 15 days of the mailing of the ballots shall decide the question, provided votes are received from at least two-thirds of the total membership of the Board.

Section 5. The secretary shall record, as a part of the minutes of the appropriate meeting, the data concerning each ballot, including the dates of the mailing and return of the ballots, and the names and votes of all members voting. The secretary shall notify all members of the Board of the results within three weeks of the date of the original action.

BYLAW 10 - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. As provided in the Constitution, the Executive Committee shall conduct the business of the Society between Board meetings.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, President Elect, Past President, Vice Presidents, Treasurer, Secretary, and National Delegate.

Section 3. The Executive Committee shall meet regularly at the Society's Headquarters or at locations selected by the president.

Section 4. Special meetings of the Executive Committee will be held at the call of the president or at the request of three members of the committee. Business at such meetings may be conducted at the Society's Headquarters, via telephone or by electronic ballot.

Section 5. An agenda and a notice of each meeting shall be mailed to each member of the Executive Committee at least one week before the date of the scheduled meeting except in the case of special meeting(s).

Section 6. For the purpose of transacting business by the Executive Committee, a quorum shall consist of at least one-third of the voting members.

BYLAW 11 - ELECTIONS

Section 1. The Nominating Committee shall canvas each chapter for suggested nominees for the slates of officers to be elected by directing a written request therefore to each chapter president on or before December 1. A biographical sketch containing information about the proposed candidate’s past and current activities in the Society shall accompany each nominee submitted by the chapter. Such nominations shall be delivered to the Nominating Committee on or before January 1.

Section 2. The Nominating Committee shall meet and nominate a candidate for each position to be filled. The committee should endeavor to maintain a balance among the practice divisions and geographical areas of the state, but these considerations shall be subordinate to the basic qualifications of the nominees.

Section 3. The Nominating Committee shall file a report of its nominations, including a brief biographical sketch of each nominee, with the secretary on or before February 1.

Section 4. Nominations by petition must be delivered to the secretary on or before February 15 in order to be placed on the ballot.

Section 5. Immediately after March 1, the secretary shall prepare and mail, by means of a letter ballot, either by paper or electronic, an official ballot to each member having voting privileges. The ballot should list all candidates for each position to be filled by the election and the method by which nominated. The ballot shall also provide space for members desiring to write in the name of their choice for any position if other than a person nominated. The ballot shall provide space for the signature, or facsimile thereof, and address of each member voting to be affixed thereon.

Section 6. The ballot shall specify a return date, which shall be between March 15 and April 1 following, and only those ballots returned by the specified date shall be counted. The unopened ballots so returned shall be delivered to a tellers committee of three members who shall be members of or appointed by the Nominating Committee. The teller's committee shall canvas the ballots and report the number of eligible votes cast for each nominee to the secretary on or before April 8. The secretary shall transmit the teller’s committee report to the officers, officers-elect and chapters prior to the annual business meeting of the Society and arrange for publication of the same in the next issue of the Society's official periodical.

Section 7. The nominee for each office receiving a plurality of eligible votes cast for such office shall be declared elected to such office. The elected officers shall be known by the title of the office to which elected with the suffix "-elect" until they assume the duties of their respective office.

Section 8. The election of chapter officers and the selection of the chapter representatives on the Board shall be completed at least 30 days prior to the date fixed for the annual meeting. They shall assume their duties on the first day of the administrative year and shall hold office until their respective successors assume such duties.

Section 9. Each practice division shall elect a chairperson and chairman-elect. The chairperson serves as a member of the Board during the term of office. The procedures for nomination and election to these positions shall be as contained in Bylaw 16.

BYLAW 12 - OFFICERS

Section 1. President. The president shall preside at all meetings of the Society and of the Board of Directors; shall be an ex-officio member of all committees; and have general direction of the business of the Society.

Section 2. President-Elect. The president-elect shall act as president in the president's absence, and shall undertake assignments at the request of the president, the Executive Committee, or the Board. The principle activity of the president-elect shall be an examination of the Society and the development of plans for the following year.

Section 3. Vice Presidents. In the absence of, or in the case of the inability of the president and president-elect, it shall be the duty of one of the three vice presidents, in order of precedence, to perform all the duties of president. Each vice president shall serve as chair of a portfolio and liaison to a group of chapters as determined by the president.

Section 4. Treasurer. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to protect all funds and records of accounts of the Society, making an annual report of receipts and disbursements to the Society; give such bond, to secure the faithful discharge of duties as may be determined from time to time by the Board. The fee for this bond shall be paid by the Society. At the expiration of the term of office, all books, papers, and money belonging to the Society shall be turned over to the successor treasurer, who shall give the preceding treasurer a receipt therefore.

Section 5. Secretary. The secretary shall perform such duties as are required by law, or assigned by the Board, and keep the Board appraised concerning that office.

Section 6. National Delegate. The Delegate shall be the governing link between the State Society and the National Society; shall perfom such duties as are required by the National Society; and will be responsible to the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors.

BYLAW 13 - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Section 1. Executive Director. The executive director shall keep an accurate record, and have custody, of all official papers and records; call the meeting to order in the absence of the president, president-elect and vice presidents, and call for a motion for the election of a President Pro Tempore; issue all calls and notices ordered by the president or the Board; submit at the Annual Meeting a written report covering the duties and activities of the position, including a statement of the membership of the Society; give such bond, to be paid by the Society, to secure the faithful discharge of assigned duties; receive such salary as the Board shall determine; and have such other duties and prerogatives as the Board may assign. At the expiration of services, the executive director shall turn over to designated successor all books, documents and other property of the Society in the custody of the executive director receiving a receipt therefore.

BYLAW 14 - COMMITTEES

Section 1. The president shall establish special and standing committees of the Society, which may include:

State and Chapter Functions

1. Awards/Nominations 9. Newsletter

2. Conference Planning 10. Operations

3. Community Action 11. Programs/Program Arrangements

4. Constitution & By-Laws 12. Public Relations

5. Engineers Week 13. Speakers Bureau

6. High School Activities 14. Seminars

7. MATHCOUNTS 15. Student Activities

8. Membership 16. Sustaining Organizations

State-Only Functions Governed by Committees

1. Continuing Professional Engineering Development

2. Governor's New Product Awards

3. Government Relations

4. Past Presidents Advisory Council

Additional "State-Only" Committees

1. Conference Steering Committee

2. Energy Committee

3. Exhibitors Committee

4. History Committee

5. Long Range Planning Committee

6. Long Range Finance Committee

7. Office Administration Committee

8. Public Works/Infrastructure

9. Registration Task Force

10. Standing Finance Committee

11. State Government Liaison: DOT, DILHR, DOD, DNR, DSFM, PSC

Section 2. The President shall assign each Committee to a portfolio to be chaired by one of the following five officers: past-president, president-elect or vice-presidents.

Section 3. The respictice portfolio officer will appoint committee chairs or co-chairs.

Section 4. Committee chairs or co-chairs shall appoint committee members striving to maintain continuity in committee membership, as will as balance between the branches of engineering and the geographic section of the state.

Section 5. Each committee shall inform the Board of its activities at least once a year, or as otherwise indicated by prevailing policy or directed by the president.

Section 6. The president shall appoint such other special committees as may be desirable for the conduct of the business of the Society.

Section 7. No committee shall commit the Society without specific authorization from the Board.

BYLAW 15 – STANDING BOARDS

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall establish standing Boards of the Society which may include:

1. Board of Engineers Professional Responsibility (BEPR).

Section 2. The standing boards of the Society shall propose Rules of Operations which shall be approved by the Board of Directors and include provisions for the following: Name, Purpose and Objectives, Membership, Officers and Governing Body, Meetings, Duties of the Officers, Election of Officers, Committees, Operational procedures, and Amendments.

Section 3. The Board of Directors shall approve amendments to standing board Rules of Operation.

Section 4. The president shall appoint members of standing boards for fixed staggered terms.

Section 5. Annually, the standing board shall furnish the Board of Directors a report outlining the activities of the past year and a plan of action for the coming year.

Section 6. No standing board shall commit the Society without specific authorization from the Board.

BYLAW 16 - PRACTICE DIVISIONS

Section 1. Practice divisions, comprised of members having common professional concerns and interest, shall operate under the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society. The American Council of Engineering Companies of Wisconsin (ACEC WI) shall be the designated practice division for professional engineers in private practice (PEPP). Operating rules of the practice divisions, and any changes thereto, must have the approval of the Board before becoming effective. The Board may dissolve a practice division after conducting a hearing on the need for such action.

Practice divisions serving the Society shall be as follows:

Professional Engineers in Construction

Professional Engineers in Education

Professional Engineers in Government

Professional Engineers in Industry

Professional Engineers in Private Practice

Section 2. The practice divisions shall be conducted to provide effective forums for discussion and united action on the part of members grouped according to type of employment. The improvement of professional recognition, conditions of employment and other matters of mutual welfare shall be the goal.

Section 3. Membership in each practice division shall be limited to members of the Society, except as specifically provided for in the rules of the division.

Section 4. The offices of each practice division shall include a chairperson, the immediate past chairperson, and such other officers as determined by the division and approved by the Board. The ACEC WI president, or a designate from the ACEC WI board, shall be a member of the WSPE Board to represent the interest of the professional engineers in private practice. This representative, if other than the ACEC WI president, shall be the elected NSPE/PEPP delegate of the ACEC WI board and shall be called the PEPP delegate. The PEPP delegate shall serve as the Wisconsin representative to the NSPE/PEPP Board of Governors.

Section 5. Officers shall assume the duties usually performed by officers like positions, subject to rules that may be adopted by the division and approved by the Board.

Section 6. The officers shall constitute the practice division executive board.

Section 7. When considered necessary for promoting or forwarding its special objectives, any practice division may establish a fund for that purpose. Such funds may be obtained through dues and/or assessment of its own members, or by other means, which are authorized by the Board. With the exception of ACEC WI, the treasurer of the Society shall be the custodian of all practice division funds, the expenditure of which shall be subject to the approval of the officers of the division.

Section 8. Minutes shall be kept and filed for all meetings of practice divisions and the division executive board. An annual report outlining the division’s activities for the year, including financial statement and officers, shall be made to the Board.

Section 9. All actions by practice divisions shall be consistent with the policies of the Society.

BYLAW 17 - ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Meeting of the Society shall be held between April 1 and July 31.

BYLAW 18 – MEETING FORMAT

Section 1. The President, subject to approval of the Board, shall determine the order of business at meetings of the Board.

Section 2. Robert’s Rules of Order (revised) shall govern matters of parliamentary procedure of the Society.

BYLAW 19 – EFFECTIVE DATE

Section 1. The Bylaws shall be come effective upon their adoption in the manner proscribed in Article XIV of the Constitution for voting on amendments and thereupon the previous Bylaws and prior amendments thereto are repealed.

Adopted: May 10, 2003 Last Amended: March 24, 2001