ARTICLE I – NAME AND CHARTER
The name of this organization shall be the Heartland Chapter of the Alliance of Hazardous Materials Professionals (AHMP), hereafter referred to as the Chapter. The Chapter is a 501(c) (3) non-profit corporation domiciled in the state of Kansas and in accordance with the formal Charter from AHMP. The Heartland Chapter is considered a local Chapter of AHMP, which is domiciled in the State of Maryland.
ARTICLE II – PREAMBLE AND OBJECTIVES
The Chapter’s mission is to provide a balanced program for its membership in the following five areas:
1. Environmental Health and Safety
2. Regulatory Compliance and Policy
3. Science and Technology
4. Hazardous Materials Handling, Emergency Response, Homeland Security and Remediation
5. Strategic Environmental Management The objectives of the Chapter shall be:
1. To develop professional recognition for certified primary members.
2. To provide, promote and encourage continuing education for maintaining certification status, scholarships for such training, and documentation of related training as recognized by the Chapter.
3. To provide a forum for information exchange among peers in order to promote qualified environmental decision making.
4. To broaden our scope and understanding of prudent hazardous materials management in the interest of protecting human health and the environment.
5. To increase the transfer of knowledge and experience with new technologies, government regulations, and community awareness relating to hazardous materials management.
6. To sponsor training courses and educational opportunities and to assist interested professionals in obtaining an applicable certification.
7. To promote, encourage, and acknowledge the CHMM CODE OF ETHICS in our personal and professional lives.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Classes of members. The members of the Chapter shall be divided into five (5) classes with qualifications for membership in each class as follows:
a. Primary Member – Any Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM®), Certified Hazardous Materials Practitioner (CHMP®), Certified Dangerous Goods Professional (CDGP), and/or Certified Dangerous Goods Trainer (CDGT) in good standing with the Chapter shall become a primary member after completion of the Chapter membership application and payment of established Chapter membership dues. In addition to full voting rights, these members may also serve as officers of the Chapter and Board of Directors.
b. Affiliate Member – Any person with an interest in the field of hazardous materials management who does not meet the criteria for a primary member may become an affiliate member upon completion of the Chapter membership application and payment of established Chapter dues. Affiliate Members will enjoy all of the benefits of Primary Membership in the Chapter including serving on the Board of Directors or serving as a Chapter officer. All Affiliate Members are encouraged to become certified and obtain Primary Membership.
c. Retired Member – Any Heartland Chapter member who has retired from active professional employment may apply for Retired Member status. A Retired Member will retain all of the benefits of Primary Membership upon payment of Retired Member dues.
d. Student Member – Any full-time student at an accredited college, university or higher educational institution, may become a Student member of the Chapter upon payment of Student Membership dues. These members may neither vote nor hold offices, including the Board of Directors, within the Chapter.
e. Sustaining Member – Any person or organization interested in promoting the principles of the AHMP may become a Sustaining Member of the Chapter upon consent of the Chapter’s Board of Directors and payment of Sustaining Membership dues. These members may neither vote nor hold offices, including the Board of Directors, within the Chapter.
Section 2. Revocation of Membership. Chapter membership may be revoked by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors, present at any meeting of the Board of Directors called for the purpose, for conduct deemed prejudicial to the Chapter, provided, that the member shall have been first served with written notice detailing the accusations and shall have been given the opportunity to produce witnesses, if any, and to be heard, at the Board of Directors’ meeting at which the vote is taken. Reasons for removal shall be kept confidential. Written notification of such revocation shall be given to the Secretary of the AHMP.
Section 3. Resignation of Member. Any member may request resignation from the Chapter by notifying the Chapter’s Treasurer. Failure to maintain dues payments may constitute resignation.
ARTICLE IV – DUES
Section 1. Annual dues. The Board of Directors shall determine from time to time the amount of initiation fee, if any, and annual dues payable to the corporation by members of each class and shall give appropriate notice to the members.
Section 2. Dues. The dues of all members shall be a sum to be determined by the Board of Directors, payable annually by March 1, each year.
Section 3. Default and termination of membership. Any member in default in payment of dues shall be suspended from all privileges of membership, until membership dues are paid in full.
ARTICLE V – OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers of the Chapter. The elective officers of the Chapter shall be the President, President- Elect (Vice President), Immediate Past-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 2. Qualifications of Officers. Each officer (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer) must be a Chapter Member and a member in good standing with AHMP.
Section 3. Offices Not Combined. No offices shall be combined in one person and no person shall simultaneously serve as an elected director and an officer.
Section 4. President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Chapter and shall preside over all the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the members. He or she shall present the views of the Chapter to the AHMP and other chapters and environmental organizations. He or she shall promote the growth of the corporation and of the AHMP. He or she shall have general and active management of the business of the corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The President shall be an ex officio member of all standing committees and shall have the general powers and duties of supervision and management usually vested in the office of president of a corporation. In the absence of the Treasurer, the President shall disburse Chapter funds to pay Chapter obligations as approved by the Board of Directors. The President shall have a term of one (1) year.
Section 5. President-Elect. The President-Elect shall preside over the meetings of the Chapter and the Board of Directors in the absence of the President. In addition, the President-Elect will act as the program director for the chapter meeting. The President-Elect will serve as President the following year.
Section 6. Immediate Past-President. The immediate Past-President shall be responsible for recruiting members in the Chapter and assisting the Board of Directors in promoting the Chapter’s objectives.
Section 7. Secretary. The secretary, who is elected to a term of two years in alternating years from the Treasurer, shall attend all meetings of the members and of the Board of Directors, and of the executive committee. He or she shall keep true minutes of the proceedings of all meetings; preserve, maintain and update the books and records of the corporation; and, document Chapter sponsored training. He or she shall give all notices required by statute, bylaw or resolution and shall perform any other duties as may be delegated by the Board of Directors or by the executive committee.
Section 8. Treasurer. The Treasurer, who is elected to a term of two years in alternating years from the secretary, shall maintain the membership records of the Chapter; maintain the Chapter’s financial records; interface with government regulators to maintain the Chapter’s non-profit status; disburse the funds of the Chapter as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for the disbursements; and shall render to the President and directors at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors, and whenever requested by them, an account of all Treasurer transactions and of the financial condition of the corporation.
Section 9. Removal of Officers. Officers may be removed from office for nonfulfillment of responsibilities as an officer by a two-thirds vote by the full Board of Directors. Reasons for removal shall be kept confidential and shall be of the nature of not being in good standing, conducting themselves in a way detrimental to the Chapter, nonfulfillment of responsibilities as an officer, or breech of the CHMM Code of ethics. The officer shall be given the opportunity to resign before any official action is taken by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. Number and term of directors. The business, property, and affairs of this Chapter shall be managed by a Board of Directors composed of the officers and at least four elected Directors. The President shall be the Chairperson of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Vacancies. Vacancies in the Board of Directors shall be filled by the remaining Directors. Each person appointed to fill a vacancy shall remain a Director until a successor has been elected by the members, who may make that election at their next annual meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose.
Section 3. Quorum of Directors. A quorum of the Board of Directors is required to conduct Chapter business. A majority of Directors shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4. Public statements or positions.
A. Before the Chapter publishes or otherwise issues publicly any statement upon a policy matter which purports to represent the opinion of the AHMP, it must first obtain the written consent of the AHMP.
B. Before any member of the Chapter publishes or otherwise issues publicly any statement upon a policy matter which purports to represent the opinion of the AHMP, it must first obtain the written consent of the AHMP.
Section 5. Power to make bylaws. The Board of Directors shall have the power to make and alter any bylaw or bylaws, including the fixing and altering of the number of Directors, provided, that the Board of Directors shall not make or alter any bylaw or bylaws fixing the qualifications, classifications or term of office of any member or members of the then existing board of Directors.
Section 6. Power to appoint agents. The Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint agents as the Board of Directors may deem necessary for the transaction of the business of the corporation.
Section 7. Removal of agents. Any agent may be removed by the Board of Directors whenever, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, the business interests of the corporation will be served.
Section 8. Standing Committees. The work of the Chapter shall be conducted by standing committees of which the chairperson is expected to serve for a period of at least one year. A member of the Board of Directors shall serve on each of the following standing committees: membership, program, awards, education, and legislative. Committees serve and report to the Chapter Board of Directors.
Section 9. Filling Vacated Directors Positions. The Chapter Board of Directors shall fill any Director vacancies by a simple majority vote. The appointment shall be for no greater than one year or the next election, whichever occurs sooner.
ARTICLE VII – VOTING AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. Those entitled to vote. Except as the articles, an amendment, or amendments might otherwise provide, each member shall, at every meeting of the members, be entitled to one vote upon each subject properly submitted to vote. Votes can be cast in absentia in writing and submitted for inclusion to an Officer. Voting by email from email addresses positively identifying the voting party shall be acceptable for all Chapter business and elections.
Section 2. Nominations. Nominations for the Chapter’s officers shall be opened to all primary and retired members at the last regular meeting prior to the election of officers. Nominations for directors shall be opened to all primary, retired, and affiliate members.
Section 3. Officers and directors. Officers and Directors, except for the President and Immediate Past-President, shall be elected by the voting members at the last scheduled general membership meeting of the calendar year. Votes may be submitted for one week after the general meeting.
Section 4. Succession of offices. The President-Elect shall automatically advance to the President position at each election. The President will become the Immediate Past President.
Section 5. Terms of Office. Each officer and director shall serve for a period of one year with the exception of the Treasurer and Secretary, who will hold office for two years. The election of the Treasurer and Secretary shall be in alternating years. Installation shall be effective January 1 for all Officers and Directors.
Section 6. Reports to AHMP. The results of each election shall be reported to the AHMP no later than December 30th by the Chapter’s Secretary.
ARTICLE VIII – MEETINGS
Section 1. Frequency of general member meetings. Meetings shall be held at least four (4) times each year at a place designated by the Board of Directors. Written notice of the time and place of the meetings shall be given at least 10 days prior to the meeting date.
Section 2. Annual meeting of members. An annual meeting of the members shall be held each year at the last regular meeting of the year, one of the purposes of which shall be the election of a Board of Directors.
Section 3. Quorum of members. Presence in person or by proxy of members representing a majority of the voting rights of this chapter shall constitute a quorum at any duly called meeting of the members.
Section 4. Regular meetings of Board of Directors. Regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held not less frequently than four times per year at the time and place as the Board of Directors shall determine. No notice to the general membership of regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be required.
Section 5. Special meetings of Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President at any time by means of notice of the time, place and purpose to each
Director as the President in his or her discretion shall deem sufficient, but action taken at any meeting shall be invalidated for want of notice if the notice is waived as provided.
ARTICLE IX- Execution of Instruments
Section 1. Checks and drafts. All check, drafts and orders for payment money shall be signed in the name of the Chapter and shall be countersigned, by such officers or agents as the Board of Directors shall from time to time designate for that purpose.
Section 2. Contracts, conveyances or other instruments. When the execution of any contract, conveyance or other instrument has been authorized by The Chapter Board of Directors without specification of the executing officers, the President, or Vice-President, may execute it on behalf of the Chapter. The Board of Directors shall have the power to designate the Officers and agents who shall have authority to execute any instrument in behalf of this corporation.
ARTICLE X – AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
Section 1. Amendments, how effected. These bylaws may be amended, altered, added to or repealed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members entitled to vote at any regular or special meeting of the members if notice of the proposed amendment, alteration, addition or repeal is contained in the notice of the meeting, or by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors if the amendment, alteration, addition or repeal is proposed at a regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors and adopted at a subsequent regular meeting.
ARTICLE XI – Dissolution of the Chapter
If, at any time, the Chapter shall be dissolved, no part of the funds or property shall be distributed to or among the members. After payment of all Chapter indebtedness, its surplus and properties shall be distributed, consistent with the mission of the Chapter, as decided by a majority vote of the members and in accordance with the requirements of the federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing the Chapter.
ARTICLE XII – FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the Chapter shall be the calendar year.
These By-laws of the Chapter are effective on August 20, 2020, as approved by the officers and Board of Directors of the Chapter and attested to by the following officers of the Chapter as noted below:
Bryan Ross, President
Laura Kelley, Secretary
Date: August 20, 2020
Kansas Business Entity ID # 2081222 TIN # 431589789