Membership Info - By-Laws

<< Back

ARTICLE VI

MEMBERSHIP

 

SECTION 1.  CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP

To be qualified for membership both the FIRM and the INDIVIDUAL MEMBER must meet the requirements set forth below.

 

A.     MEMBER FIRMS

A firm becomes a member of ACEC/CO after the first INDIVIDUAL MEMBER joins.  Member firms shall be limited to those individual firms, parent firms, branch offices, divisions or subsidiaries whose resident principals proprietors, partner, officers, or managers)  furnish independent engineering services.  Wherever the words “engineer” or “engineering” appear herein, it is intended that the words “land surveyor” or “land surveying” may  be substituted.  A firm  shall:

  1. Maintain  offices for the practice of engineering, as (i) sole proprietorships;

(ii) as partnerships; or (iii) as corporations ; or (iv) as an engineering department, division or subsidiary of a private, non-engineering company when the parent company is not eligible to be a Member Firm, provided the component offers professional knowledge and professional services to clients other than the parent, and provided that component managers are professionally licensed.  In all cases, member benefits shall accrue only to the component that is accepted for membership.

1.  have one or more resident principals registered or licensed professionally in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado.
2.  practice engineering in accordance with the ACEC Professional and Ethical Conduct Guidelines.
3.  practice under an organizational arrangement that does not involve a conflict of interest or that does notsubordinate independent professional judgment to other considerations.

B.      INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

An Individual Member shall be a principal of the Member Firm.  A principal is an individual designated by a member firm, who is a sole proprietor, partner, officer, or manager: (a)having ownership interest, or (b) exercising management responsibility for technical or business decisions.

C.      ASSOCIATE MEMBER  FIRM

1. Criteria.  ACEC/CO Associate Members shall be limited to those sole proprietors, firms, parent firms, branch offices,  divisions, subsidiaries, and/or organizations that support the goals of ACEC, provide professional services of a scientific and technical nature that are complementary to the services provided  by member firms, and provided those managing the services are professionally licensed/certified/registered, as appropriate, in Colorado.  Such members shall not include entities that supply goods or services that are specified by or used in engineering firm operations 

2. Eligibility.  Only firms judged not eligible for ACEC or ACEC/CO membership as a “Member Firm” are eligible to become Associate Member Firms.  Associate Member Firms shall not be eligible to vote on ACEC/CO business, hold office in ACEC/CO nor serve as a chair of an ACEC/CO committee. <> 

3. Membership.  Associate Member Firms may belong to:  (a) ACEC/CO only, provided it has created such a category;  (b) ACEC only through a coalition; or (c) to both ACEC and ACEC/CO if the applicant firm so desires and meets applicable eligibility requirements.

 

D. INDIVIDUAL ASSOCIATE MEMBER

An Individual Associate Member shall be a principal of an ASSOCIATE MEMBER FIRM.

 

E.  AFFILIATE MEMBERS

1.  Definition
Affiliate Members shall be employees of Member Firms who, in the opinion of the Member Firm’s key
principal, have the potential to become a principal in the firm and who will be encouraged to participate in activities of the Council.

2.  Rights and Privileges
Affiliate Members may be members of committees but shall not hold office in the Council.

 

F.  LIFE MEMBERS

1.  Definition

 Life membership in ACEC/CO is not an automatic extension of regular membership but is granted by action of the Board of Directors to members deserving honor for dedicated services.  The Board of Directors shall investigate and evaluate each individual case onits merit.  This honorary membership may be granted to members in good standing, upon their retirement from active professional practice. <>       

2.  Rights and Privileges

Life membership entitles the Life Member to all rights and privileges of regular membership without the requirement of payment of ACEC/CO membership dues.

G.      RETIRED STATUS

1.       An individual member: who has been a member in good standing for ten continuous years, shall be granted retired status upon retirement from practice, with all the privileges of membership.  ACEC/CO dues as established by the Board of Directors will be assessed, however ACEC dues would be waived.  Application for retired status must be made in writing to the Board of Directors.

 

 SUSTAINING MEMBERS

1.  Definition
Sustaining Members are businesses or organizations that provide business products or Professional services used in the operation of any of the above categories.  They may include (but not be limited to) insurance, banking, accounting, legal services, A/E/C  management consulting, equipment suppliers, software vendors and construction material manufacturers and suppliers.

2.  Rights and Privileges
Sustaining Members shall not be eligible to vote on ACEC/CO business, hold office in ACEC/CO, but they may serve as members of committees and as a chairperson of an ACEC/CO Committee.

SECTION 2.   Admission and Separation       

    A.  APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

1.  Applicants for membership shall complete an application form prepared and updated by the Membership Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.

2.  Provide a list, thereon, of at least three (3) references who are members of the  ACEC/CO or ACEC/US member organization.

3.  The applicant’s name shall be published in the ACEC/CO monthly News-Bulletin requesting comments be made to the membership committee from the ACEC/CO membership at large.  The membership committee shall not act on the application until at least seven (7) days after the News-Bulletin has been mailed to the general membership by the ACEC/CO office.

4.  If a particular applicant does not know at least three (3) members of ACEC/CO or ACEC/US member organizations who are sufficiently familiar with applicant to provide a reference  then the applicant can request a personal interview before the Membership Committee.                                                                             

5.  After reviewing the application and references for personal interview, the Membership Committee shall forward a recommendation to the Board of Directors.

6. The Board of Directors shall act on the application.            

7.    In the event the Board of Directors do not approve of the application for membership, the applicant can request to appear before an Ad Hoc Review Board to appeal the Board of Directors’ decision.            

8.    The Ad Hoc Review Board shall be appointed by the President and shall consist of no less than five (5) members, at least two (2) of whom are members of the Board of Directors and one (1) who is a member of the Membership Committee.  The Chairperson shall be designated by the President.

9. After the appeal proceedings, the Ad Hoc Review Board shall forward their findings to the Board of Directors for final action.

        

B.  DISQUALIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP

1.  Any member ceasing to fulfill the necessary qualification listed under Section 1-A shall be dropped from the membership roll by the Board of Directors.


C.  RESIGNATION

1.    Resignations must be made in writing to the Board of Directors of ACEC/CO.  Resignation effective date will be the end of the month that the letter of resignation is received and dues are to be pro-rated to that date for a “resignation in good standing”.

2.    Payments

     a.  Member resigned in good standing.  No payment.

     b.  Member disqualified for non-payment of obligations or other cause.  Full payment of all delinquent amounts,           or effecting such other requirements as the Board of Directors may impose. 


D.  REINSTATEMENT OF FORMER MEMBERS

1.    Board Approval: A former member who has resigned, or been disqualified, from membership in ACEC/CO may be reinstated to membership by approval of their application by the Board of Directors and satisfying one of the following:

2.    Payments

       a.  Member resigned in good standing.  No payment.

       b.  Member disqualified for non-payment of obligations or other cause.

Full payment of all delinquent amounts, or effecting such other requirements as the Board of Directors may impose.