ARTICLE I - NAME, LOCATION AND OBJECTIVES

Section 1- NAME

The name of this organization is "The Northern California Council of Black Professional Engineers."  Referred to hereafter as NCCBPE.

Section 2 - LOCATION

The principal office for the transaction of business of NCCBPE is in the City of San Francisco, San Francisco County, in the State of California. The area encompassed by NCCBPE lies north of the vicinity of the City of Fresno and extends to the Oregon border.

Section 3 - OBJECTIVES

The objectives of NCCBPE are to:

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section 1 - QUALIFICATIONS

Membership is open to anyone educated or trained in the field of engineering or any allied profession, and who subscribes to the objectives of NCCBPE. The membership shall consist of four classes: Members, Associate Members, Student Members, and Organizational Members.

a.  Members.:   A member shall be any individual who has earned a four year degree in engineering, the natural sciences or a technical discipline from an accredited college or university, or an individual with experience equivalent to a four year degree.

b.  Associate Members:   An associate member shall be any individual who does not meet the requirement for full membership, but share the goals and objectives of NCCBPE. All applications for memberships are subject to the review and approval of the membership Committee, officers and/or Board of Directors.

c. Student Members:   A student member shall be anyone who is presently enrolled in a college or university pursuing an engineering, architectural, natural science or related curriculum.

d. Organizational Member:   An organizational member shall be any organization which is interested in supporting the objectives of and working with NCCBPE.

Section 2 - ADMISSION AND TERMINATION

a.  Admission:   Any applicant meeting the requirements of Section I of this Article shall be granted membership. The membership Committee shall verify the status of the applicant for the class of membership for which he/she applies. After payment of dues as set forth in these bylaws, the applicant shall be in good standing with all rights and privileges relative to his/her class of membership.

b. Termination:   A member, associate, student, or organization is terminated from NCCBPE as follows:

1. as of the effective date of his/her letter of resignation to the Secretary,

2. for non-payment of dues for a one year period, or

3. by an action which is determined to be detrimental to NCCBPE by a majority of the membership present at a regular or special meeting of NCCBPE.

 

Section 3 - RIGHTS OF MEMBERSHIP

All classes of membership shall have the same rights and privileges to vote and participate in the activities of NCCBPE and to benefit from its efforts in implementing its objectives. Only the members classification shall have the right to hold office in the organization.

Section 4 - DUES

Annual dues shall be set by the membership, and may be changed (upon approval by a majority vote of the membership) whenever it is determined an adjustment is necessary. Dues shall be paid on a calendar year basis, January I to December 31. Dues shall be paid by the 31st of January of each year, and shall be the amount approved by a majority vote of members specified by ballot sent out to the membership for all categories (members, associate members student members, nonprofit organizations and for profit making organizations This amount will remain in effect until change is recommended by the Board of Directors and voted by the membership.

For members joining for the first time, dues will be assessed in the following manner: First quarter of the calendar year (January thru March) - 100%; second quarter (April thru June) - 75%; third quarter (July thru September) 50%; fourth quarter (October thru December) - 25%. The prorated assessment refers to first time members only. Members renewing after two or less years are not eligible for the prorated dues structure described above.

Section 5 - ASSESSMENTS

The membership, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present at any regular or special meeting called for the purpose of assessment, may assess itself additional amounts to fund special projects.

 

ARTICLE III - DIRECTORS

Section I:  SELECTION

a. The corporate powers of NCCBPE shall be vested in and exercised by a Board of Eight (8) Directors, the first Directors being those shown in the Article of Incorporation. The election of four (4) of the Directors (one from each area) shall be annually at a meeting on the Second Saturday in November of each year, which shall be designated as the "Annual Meeting"., Each Director's term Shall be for a period of two years, i.e., from January 1st of the year following the election to December 31st of the following year. The terms for the two Directors of each area shall be staggered to allow for continuity in service,

b. The Directors shall be elected in the following manner:

a.   Except for the initial slate of Director candidates, which shall be selected by the Nominating Committee, a slate of Director candidates comprised of all candidates nominated by the Committee or by members of NCCBPE via written notice to that Committee, Shall be presented to the membership at each subsequent annual election.

d.   Ballots of the nominees shall be mailed by October 1st of each year and they must be returned in time to be counted at the Annual Meeting.

c.   The candidate with the greatest number of votes, from each of the four areas, shall be elected Director.

Section 2 - QUALIFICATIONS

At least five (5) of the Directors Shall have a classification of -MEMBERS".

Section 3 - MEETINGS

Quarterly meetings of the Board of Directors shall be called by the President, and five members of the Board must be present to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Minutes of the meeting Must be taken and recorded. A majority vote is necessary to take action on any item.

Section 4 - VACANCIES

Vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be filled by nominations from and a vote of the membership at the first meeting of NCCBPE after the vacancy occurs.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

As soon as practicable after the election of Directors, they shall hold a meeting to elect a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. The President can be selected from the Board of Directors or any NCCBPE person with a classification officers.

Section 1 - PRESIDENT

a.   The Board of Directors shall annually elect the President of NCCBPE who shall serve a one (1) year term without compensation

a.1.   President may succeed him/herself.

b.   The President shall have a membership classification of "Member" and shall have at least six years of professional experience.. Four years of undergraduate studies and one year of graduate studies may be counted towards the experience requirement.

All capital projects require a vote of recommendation from all Board Member's and two-thirds majority vote of approval from the responding paid membership.

d.   The President shall appoint the chairperson of all standing and special committees and shall be ex-officio a member of each committee.

e.   The President may appoint such other officers, such as Sergeant at Arms, as may be necessary for the orderly conduct of business. Each officer shall serve at the pleasure of the President.

f.   The President shall submit annually at the end of his/her term of office, a report on the affairs of NCCBPE and a financial report of its operations. Such report, in addition to being given orally to the membership, shall be in writing.

g.  The President and Treasurer at the end of their terms of office, shall assist the new Officers (President and Treasurer) in preparing all documents that are required for NCCBPE to continue to operate under the status of a tax exempt and non-profit organization in the State of California.

Section 2 - VICE-PRESIDENT

a.   The Board of Directors shall annually elect the Vice President of NCCBPE who shall serve a one (1) year term without compensation. A Vice President may succeed his/herself.

b.   It shall be the duty of the Vice President to sit in stead of the President and to discharge such other duties as the President may assign.

Section 3 - SECRETARY

a.   The Board of Directors shall annually elect the Secretary of NCCBPE who shall serve a one (1) year term without compensation. A Secretary may succeed him/herself.

b.   The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings and a record of the proceedings of the Board of Directors.

c.   He/she shall conduct all correspondence of NCCBPE and maintain a current and up-to-date listing of the names and addresses of all members, associates, students and organizational members.

Section 4 - TREASURER

a.   The Board of Directors shall annually elect the Treasurer of NCCBPE who shall serve a one (1) year term without compensation. A Treasurer may succeed him or herself.

b.   The Treasurer shall maintain the financial records of NCCBPE, collect dues and other monies owed NCCBPE, provide receipts to persons making payments to NCCBPE and disburse funds as necessary.

c.   The Treasurer shall also safeguard all funds, depositing them in a bank determined by the Board of  Directors and open a checking account in the name of NCCBPE. (Two signatures, that of the Treasurer, and that of the President, shall be required on all checks written for NCCBPE.)

d.   The Treasurer shall report at each meeting the financial status of the financial records shall be audited annually by a committee appointed by the President. The Treasurer does not have to be bonded.

Section 5 - TERM OF OFFICE

The term of office for all officers shall begin January 1, or as soon as possible thereafter as is feasible, and shall continue until December 31st of that same year, or until their successors are elected and take office. An officer cannot succeed him/herself in the identical office for more than three successive terms. In the event an officer resigns, becomes disabled, or is removed from office, the Board of Directors shall elect a successor to complete the officer's term,

ARTICLE V - IMPEACHMENT

Any elected Officer or Director may be impeached and removed from office upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the regular members in good standing.

ARTICLE VI - STANDING COMMITTEES

There shall be seven (7) Standing Committees namely; (1) Membership, (2) Education, (3) Professional Development (4) Public Relations, [5) International Affairs, (6) legislative and (7) Ways and Means. Persons on such committees shall be appointed by and hold office at the discretion of the Chairman of such committees. Chairman of all standing committees shall report on the activities of their committee at each NCCBPE meeting.

Section I - MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

This Committee shall consist of a minimum of three (3) persons including the Committee Chairman, and has the responsibility for verifying the proper membership category of applicants. The Committee shall maintain a list of potential candidates and exert every effort to enroll all prospective candidates into NCCBPE. It may establish any additional guidelines or rules for orderly acceptance of persons into NCCBPE and to transfer from one class of membership to another.

Section 2 - EDUCATION COMMITTEE

This Committee shall consist of a minimum of five (5) persons including the Committee Chairman, and shall develop programs to inform minority youths of engineering opportunities. Also, the committee shall counsel them in courses prerequisite to qualifying for engineering enrollment in college. The Committee shall also help to obtain financial assistance and Scholarships for minorities wanting to enter engineering schools.

Section 3 - EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE

This Committee shall Consist of a minimum of five (5) persons including the Committee Chairman, and shall search for job opportunities in engineering and assist engineers to apply and compete for positions which are available. it shall also explore means by which minority engineers can enter the consulting field and provide professional services on their own by forming minority engineering companies.

Section 4 - PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE

This Committee shall consist of a minimum of three (3) persons including the Committee Chairman, and shall develop programs to present a good public image of the minority engineer and his/her capabilities in performing engineering work. It shall also publicize the accomplishment of minority engineers, and keep the public informed of papers, designs, construction projects, new methods and developments, and other achievements made. This Committee shall also generate NCCBPE's data on the social relevancy of the engineering profession.

Section 5 - INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

This Committee shall consist of a minimum of three (3) persons including the Committee Chairman, and is responsible in general for gathering, monitoring, and disseminating relevant information on events in the African world to the council membership.

The Committee will, more specifically; (1) Bring to the attention of the council information of U.S. policies towards and possible effects on those policies on countries of the Pan-African world. (2) Provide a forum for exchange of information to visiting Africans who are interested in technical information. (3) Assist in the preparation and implementation of technical education programs relevant to the needs of Liberation Fighters in the African world. (4) Attempt to raise the level of political consciousness of the Council Membership as such consciousness relates to the profession. (5) Encourage full Council support for the programs of science and technology development as set forth by the current Pan-African planners. (6) Seek to establish an on-going forum for the exchange of culture and technical information and advancement between engineers throughout the African world.

The Committee recognizes an African both in his original home on the African continent, and in the various other parts of the world where Black communities and Nations exist.

Section 6 - LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE

This Committee shall consist of a minimum of three (3) persons including the Committee Chairman, and is responsible for keeping NCCBPE abreast of legislation that is relevant to Black professional engineers. The Committee is also responsible for recommending the positions that NCCBPE should take on proposed legislation and initiating changes to current legislation as it pertains to the goals and interest of NCCBPE.

Section 7 - WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

This Committee shall consist of a minimum of three (3) persons including the Committee Chair and has the responsibility for the fiscal and financial activities of NCCBPE. The Committee shall: explore sources of funding, have budgeting responsibilities, allocate revenues and coordinate all financial activities to meet the programmatic requirements of NCCBPE.

The Treasurer shall be a member of the Ways and Means Committee. In the absence of an appointment, he/she shall serve as defacto chair for this committee.  The ways and means Committee shall insure that any NCCBPE scholarship funds used for loans or seed money is available on demand or by the end of each fiscal year and include repayment with interest at the prevailing rate.

*All projects requiring funding of more than one year shall be reviewed by the Ways and Means Committee for timeliness, financial soundness and relevancy to the goals and objectives of NCCBPE. This report shall be submitted to the President.

ARTICLE VII- REGIONAL CHAPTERS

NCCBPE may establish Regional Chapters which transact business in sections of the area encompassed by NCCBPE. The purpose of the Regional Chapters will be to help carry out the objectives of NCCBPE more efficiently. Regional Chapters shall be governed in accordance with the following provisions.

Section I - MEMBERSHIP

The Regional Chapter membership shall come from NCCBPE membership. The regional chapter membership shall total no less than six.

Section 2 - OFFICERS

Regional Chapters shall elect a President, Vice-President and a Secretary/Treasurer or a Secretary and a Treasurer on an annual basis.

Section 3 - RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities of a Regional Chapter shall hold activities isolated within its geographical region. The Regional Chapter's activities shall be done in the Regional Chapter's name.

Section 4 - ESTABLISHMENT

Regional Chapters may be established by listing the Regional Chapter's name and regional area in this article - Section 10 - Regional Chapters, of NCCBPE bylaws through the bylaw amendment process, requiring a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote.

Section 5 - DISSOLVEMENT

Regional Chapters may be dissolved by deleting the Regional Chapter's name from the bylaws through the bylaw amendment process, requiring a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote. A Regional Chapter may be dissolved only if its activities extend beyond the scope of this section.

Section 6 - ACTIVITIES

NCCBPE Bylaws revision: March 9, 1991