Bylaws and Constitution

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WESTERN NEW YORK CHAPTER
ACADEMY OF CERTIFIED
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
MANAGERS

ARTICLE I - NAME AND CHARTER

The name of this organization shall be the WESTERN NEW YORK CHAPTER OF THE ACADEMY OF CERTIFIED HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGERS (herein called the Chapter). The Chapter is a nonprofit organization and a formal area chapter of the Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers.

ARTICLE II - PREAMBLE & OBJECTIVES

The mission of the chapter is to provide a balanced program for Certified Hazardous Materials Managers in the following four areas:

Environmental Health and Safety
Regulatory Compliance and Policy
Science and Technology
Materials Handling, Emergency Response and Remediation

The objectives of the Chapter shall be:

To develop professional recognition for Certified Hazardous Materials Managers
To Provide, promote and encourage continuing education for maintaining certification status and to document related training as recognized by the Chapter
To provide a forum for information exchange among peers in order to promote qualified environmental decision making
To broaden our scope and understanding of prudent hazardous materials management, in the interest of protecting human health and the environment.
To increase the transfer of knowledge and experience with new technologies, government regulations and community awareness related to hazardous materials management
To sponsor training courses and educational opportunities to assist interested professionals in becoming Certified Hazardous Materials Managers

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Voting Member: Any Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) residing in Western New York shall become a voting member of the Chapter upon payment of chapter dues. These voting members may also serve as officers of the Chapter.

Voting Member/Non-Officer: Any CHMM residing outside of the chartered area may become a member of the Chapter following written notification to and approval from the Secretary of the Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers and payment of Chapter dues. These members may note vote or serve as officers of the Chapter.

Affiliate Member: Any person may become a member of the Chapter upon consent of the Executive Committee and payment of Chapter dues. These members may not vote or serve as officers of the Chapter.

Student Member: Any full time student at an accredited college, university or institution, within the chartered area, may become a member of the Chapter upon payment of Chapter dues. These members may not vote or serve as officers of the chapter.

Sustaining Member: Any organization interested in promoting the principles of the Academy of Hazardous Materials Managers may become a member of the Chapter upon consent of the Executive Committee and payment of Chapter dues.

Revocation: Any person may have their membership revoked following approval of the Executive Committee and written notification to the Secretary of the Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

The elected officers of the Chapter shall be the President, President- Elect, Immediate Past-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
All officers must be CHMMs residing in Western New York
The five officers and four at-large voting members shall form the Executive Committee and shall act as the Board of Directors.
The duties of the officers shall be:
- The President shall preside over Chapter meetings and interface with other chapters, the Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers and other environmental organizations.
- The President-elect shall preside over Chapter meetings in the absence of the President and act as the program director for Chapter meetings.
- The Immediate Past President shall be responsible for recruiting members in the Chapter and assisting the Executive Committee in promoting the Chapter's objectives.
- The Secretary shall be responsible for documenting Chapter meetings, maintaining and updating Chapter records and documenting Chapter sponsored training.
- The Treasurer shall be responsible for documenting membership in the Chapter, maintaining the Chapter's financial records and interfacing with government regulators to maintain the Chapter's nonprofit status.

ARTICLE V - ELECTIONS

Nominations for Chapter officers and at-large members of the Executive Committee shall be open to all voting members at the last regular Chapter business meeting prior to the election of officers.
Officers, except for the President and at-large members, shall be elected by the membership in March of each year.
The President-elect shall automatically advance to the President position at each election.
Installation shall be effective October of each year for all officers and directors.
The President and President-elect cannot hold consecutive terms.
In the event any officer or director notifies the Executive Committee that they are unable to fulfill the duties of his/her position during his/her term, the Executive Committee shall appoint an individual to maintain the position for the duration of the term.
Removal for Cause- An officer failing to attend at least two of the Executive Committee meetings and half of the regularly scheduled Chapter meetings or to carry out the duties of his/her position, may be removed by vote of a majority of the Executive Committee.
No person can hold more than one position at the same time and each member of the Executive Committee is limited to one vote.
The results of each election shall be reported to the Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers no later than one month after the election by the Chapter's Secretary.

ARTICLE VI - ADMINISTRATION

The Chapter shall be governed by the Executive Committee.
All votes will be by majority count of those members present, except for election of officers, for which absentee ballots will be accepted.
Before the Chapter publishes or otherwise issues publicly any statement upon a policy matter which purports to represent the opinion of the Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers, it must first obtain the written consent of the Academy.
Before any member of the Chapter publishes or otherwise issues publicly any statement upon policy matter that purports to represent the opinion of the Chapter, he/she shall first obtain written approval of the Executive Committee.
The Chapter shall take no action in conflict with the advice and direction of the Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers.
The President shall preside at all meetings of the Chapter.
The President-elect shall be Chairperson of the Program Committee and shall appoint his/her own members.
A consensus of the Executive Committee can appoint additional committees as may be required to conduct Chapter business.
The Secretary shall record the minutes of all meetings and shall read these minutes prior to each meeting.Any corrections or deletions of the minutes requires approval of the Executive Committee. The Secretary will receive and issue all correspondence for the Chapter.
The Treasurer shall be custodian of all monies of the Chapter. Signatures of any two members of the Executive Committee are required for disbursement of any funds. The disbursement of all funds in excess of $100.00 requires the approval of the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall not disburse greater than 50% of the Chapter funds as existed on January 1st during any single year without approval of the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall report the status of funds at each membership meeting.

ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS

Meetings shall be held at least four (4) times a year. The time and place of each meeting shall be approved by Executive Committee.
A quorum of the Executive Committee is required for the Executive Committee to conduct Chapter business. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be when at least five members of the Executive Committee are present.
A quorum for the conduct of regular Chapter business at membership meetings requires that at least four members of the Executive Committee and five voting members of the Chapter are present.
All meeting dates must be preceded by a notice to the membership of at least fifteen (15) days in advance of the meeting.

ARTICLE VIII - MISCELLANEOUS

The Executive Committee shall establish dues amount for the following year, committees and other activities as necessary to maintain and expand the Chapter. Effective October 13, 1998, membership dues will be $10.00 per year.
If at any time the Chapter shall be dissolved, no part of the funds or property shall be distributed to or among its members. After payment of all indebtedness of the Chapter, its surplus and properties shall be forfeited to the Academy of Hazardous Materials Managers.

ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS

Amendments to the Bylaws may be presented by any member at any regular meeting or at any meeting called for that purpose. A notice of the proposed amendment shall be transmitted to all members at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting at which voting will take place. A 2/3 majority vote by the membership present is necessary to change the Bylaws.

ARTICLE X - APPROVALS

These Bylaws, and amendments thereto, of the Chapter are effective as of October 13, 1998

The Executive Committee Signatures (1998)
(On File)

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