CONSTITUTION

Article One – Name

The name of the organization shall be Polish American Engineering Association of State of Illinois.

Article Two – Objective

The objective of this organization shall be:

To foster closer relations among professional engineers, and professional people of related fields.

Article Three – Activities

To accomplish the objectives of Article Two, the Association shall:

a. Cooperate with such persons, groups, associations, etc., in order that mutual benefits to the parties concerned, and to the community will materialize.

b. Maintain a program for aiding and influencing the youth of Polish extraction in seeking higher education.

Article Four – Membership

Section One – Membership in this organization shall be open to professional engineers, and professional people of related fields, all of whom shall be of Polish extraction.

Section Two – There shall be five grades of membership: Honorary, Active, Associate, Affiliate and Sustaining.

Section Three – Qualifications for Membership.

An Honorary member may be any person who has rendered national or international service in the engineering or in some related field, or he/she may be a person recognized for outstanding work in promoting the general welfare of the community.

An Active member must submit proof of graduation from an accredited institution of responsibility in lieu of each year of college work required.

An Associate member can be only such a person who has qualifications for Active membership but resides outside the metropolitan of Chicago.

Active members automatically become associate as soon as they establish residence beyond the limits of the metropolitan area of Chicago, unless they specifically request retention of their Active membership.

An Affiliate member shall be a person, who at the time of application for membership is identified with related engineering or scientific endeavors, or a student in engineering sciences.

A Sustaining member shall be a firm or corporation, which at the time of application, shall be identified with engineering or scientific endeavors.

A Sustaining member may appoint as a representative a person who has the qualifications of an Active, or of an Affiliate member.

Section Four – Privileges and Obligations of Members.

Honorary, Associate, Affiliate, and Sustaining members shall be entitled to all privileges and obligations of the Association except the right to vote and hold Administrative office. Only Active members shall have the right to vote and to hold office.

Section Five – Change of Membership Classification.

Membership status changes to that of a higher grade as soon as the member meets the requirements of the particular grade. The change is accomplished through the action of the Administration upon recommendation of the Membership Committee.

Section Six – Suspension and Cessation of Membership.

a) A member can be suspended for the following causes:
1. Beginning in arrears with dues for a period of over one year and less than two years.
2. When under indictment for the violation of moral and ethical principles.

b) Membership affiliation can be terminated by:
1. Resignation
2. Being in arrears with dues for a period of two years or longer.
3. Established proof of violation of moral and ethical principles.

Section Seven – Reinstatement.

A member whose name has been removed from the rolls for non-payment of dues may have his name restored.

a) By full payment of dues in arrears.
b) If the indictment has proved to be false.

Article Five- Administration

The Administration of the Association shall consist of the following: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, and Recording Secretary.

Article Six – Amendments

Section One – Amendments to this constitution and/or by-laws can be proposed by any member of any grade. Such proposals shall bear the endorsement by five (5) Active members, and shall be presented in writing to the Recording Secretary.

Section Two – Upon receipt of any proposal in accordance with Section One of this Article, the Recording Secretary shall present the proposal at the next meeting for comments and recording in the minutes. The Recording Secretary shall than prepare printed copies of the proposed amendment for mailing within thirty (30) days to the Active membership for its study and action.

Section Three – The Recording Secretary will at the time of mailing copies of the proposed changes include a ballot enabling the voting member to voice his/her approval or disapproval of the proposition. The ballot must be returned to the Recording Secretary within a period of four weeks time.

Section Four – The sealed envelops containing the ballots from the individual members shall be opened and counted in presence of members at the next regular meeting. An affirmative vote must be registered by a two-thirds majority of Active members. Failure to vote shall in effect be considered as disapproval of the proposed amendment.

Section Five – Upon receiving the necessary affirmative vote, the proposed amendment shall immediately be recorded in the minutes of the current meeting. The recording will automatically make the amendment to Constitution or the By-Lows effective.

Article Seven – Elastic Clause

The Polish American Engineers Association cannot be disbanded as long as there are five Active members remaining.