Washington State Society For Healthcare Engineering WSSHE Puget Sound Chapter Bylaws ARTICLE 1 – Name and Purpose Section 1. Name The name of this non-profit organization shall be the "Puget Sound Chapter of the Washington State Society for Healthcare Engineering." Section 2. Purpose and Objectives · A. Encouraging and assisting members to develop their knowledge of hospital engineering principles. · B. Conducting regular meetings, conferences and educational programs. · C. Promoting improvement of hospital services by assisting members to exchange ideas relating to facilities. · D. Promoting communications between the chapter and related organizations. · E. Encouraging communication with regulatory and accreditation agencies to create a better understanding of, and to influence the development of necessary codes and standards relating to the physical plant which are consistent with the state of the art engineering principles. · F. Promoting the professional development and recognition of its members. ARTICLE II – Membership, Dues, and Voting Privileges Section 1. Members Members shall consist of Full, Associate, and Honorary members.. Section 2. Full Members Full Members: Full membership shall include, (a) persons having responsibility in an engineering (maintenance) department of a health care facility, or (b) persons who provide professional services for the planning, design, construction, and operation of health care facility. Former full members with greater than 5 years of membership in the chapter may remain as a full member upon affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members at a chapter meeting. Full members in good standing may vote, be recognized or hold office in the Chapter. Section 3. Associate Members Associate members shall include individuals affiliated with Hospitals or healthcare related institutions or organizations who may not have direct engineering responsibilities, but who seek to advance their hospitals engineering knowledge and capabilities. Associate members may participate in meetings of the chapter and serve on committees but shall not have voting privileges and may not hold office. Section 4. Honorary Members Honorary membership may be granted to such persons of distinction as are deemed worthy by the Board of Directors. Honorary members may participate in meetings or the chapter and shall have the same privileges as a Full Member. Section 5. Dues The Chapter Board of Directors shall establish annual dues for full and associate members. Dues shall be payable by July 1 of each year except for honorary members who will not be required to pay dues. ARTICLE III – BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS Section 1. Board of Directors The Board of Directors shall consist of the four elected officers and/or the three representatives to the State Board of Directors. The duties of the Board of Directors will be to see to the ongoing functioning of the Chapter as to its purposed and objectives. It will also develop policies for membership approval. Section 2. President and president-elect At each annual meeting the President-Elect automatically becomes the President who then becomes the Past-President. The new President, a new President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer will be installed. Their term shall be one year. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the general membership, and shall appoint any special committees. The President-Elect shall preside at meetings in the absence of the President, and shall assume such duties as assigned by the President. Section 3. Secretary The Secretary shall be the recording officer of the Chapter and shall act as corresponding secretary at the direction of the President and for the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall also compile the membership lists to be updated each year. A current membership list will be provided the Washington State Society for Healthcare Engineering. Section 4. Treasurer The Treasurer shall receive and disburse funds as approved by the President in behalf of the Chapter and shall draft a budget for adoption by the Board. Quarterly reports shall be created for the benefit of the membership. Section 5. State Board of Directors Representatives Representatives to the State Board of Directors shall consist of the Past-President, the President, and an Associate member. The term of office is two years. Two members will be elected in odd numbered years and one member on even numbered years. ARTICLE IV – MEETINGS Section 1. Meetings Meetings of the Board Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at least monthly, at the call of the President or at the request of a majority of the Board members. A quorum shall consist of at least four standing Board members or alternates. Robert's Rules of Order shall govern in all cases to which they may be found applicable and not inconsistent with the By-Laws of the Chapter. Section 2. Annual Meeting There shall be an annual meeting of the Chapter membership on a date fixed by the Board of Directors and announced at least two months in advance of the meeting. The purpose of the annual meeting shall include: A. Transaction of Chapter business and committee reports. B. Introduction of new Board Members C. Installation of Board Officers. ARTICLE V - Standing Committees Section 1. Standing Committees shall be activated by the President as the need arises. Section 2. Standing Committees shall consist of at least three members. Full, Associate, and Honorary members are eligible to serve on these committees. Section 3. The Chairperson shall be nominated by the President and approved by a simple majority of the Board of Directors. ARTICLE VI – AMENDMENTS Section 1. The affirmative vote of two-thirds of the full members voting at the annual Chapter meeting, or other meeting called for such purpose, shall be required to amend these bylaws. Notices of such a proposal shall be sent to the membership at least 30 days prior to the meeting at which the proposed change will be voted on. ARTICLE VII – DISSOLUTION Section 1. Dissolution of the Chapter shall require an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Full members at the annual meeting, or other meeting called for such purpose. Two notices of such a proposal shall be sent to the membership at least 60 days and 30 days respectively prior to the meeting at which the dissolution shall be voted upon. Upon an affirmative dissolution vote, the Board of Directors shall assure that all fund balances of the Chapter are donated to the Washington State Society for Healthcare Engineering. Approved: April 2002