Marine Chemist Association By-Laws
  

Article I. Name and Purpose

 
1.1 The name of this organization shall be the Marine Chemist Association, Inc. and may be commonly known as the Marine Chemist Association.

 
1.2 The purpose of the Association shall be:

(a) To promote the science and improve the methods of evaluation that serves the purpose of eliminating health, fire and explosion hazards in marine and associated industries.
(b) To obtain and circulate information relative to these hazards and other information regarding the professional and ethical activities of its members.
(c) To enhance the general welfare of its members by promoting a closer relationship between Marine Chemists certified by the National Fire Protection Association, and the various other industry and regulatory bodies involved with the marine industry.

Article II. Membership

  
2.1 Categories of Membership. 

 
There shall be four categories of membership.

(a) Regular Member
(b) Life Member
(c) Associate Member
(d) Affiliate Member

2.2 Regular Member. A holder of a NFPA Marine Chemist Certificate shall be eligible for regular membership. A regular member, commonly known as a member, shall pay dues in an amount determined from time to time in accordance with Section 2.6 of this Article. Each such member shall have one vote in the affairs of the Association and shall be eligible for all other rights and privileges of membership.

 
2.3 Life Members. A member or associate may be elected to life membership by the members assembled at an Annual Meeting after having been recommended for membership by the members of this Section, and having the Executive Committee endorse such recommendation. A life member shall have all of the powers and privileges of a regular member, but shall be exempt from the payment of dues.

 
2.4 Associate Member. An associate member, commonly known as an associate, shall be a former member whose certification as a Marine Chemist has expired and who has formally expressed an interest in maintaining an active involvement in Association activities. An associate will pay Association dues and may serve on committees, but may not vote or serve as an elected officer or delegate to the Executive Committee.

 
2.5 Affiliate Member. An affiliate member, commonly known as an affiliate, shall be an individual who is employed in a occupation requiring interaction with and cooperation of NFPA certificated Marine Chemists. An affiliate will pay Association dues and may serve on committees, but may not vote or serve as an elected officer or delegate to the Executive Committee.

 
2.6 Dues for the various classes of membership shall be determined from time to time by the Association membership acting on the recommendation of the Executive Committee. The membership shall likewise determine the applicable period for dues and penalties for their non-payment.

 
2.7 Admission to membership shall be by the Executive Committee or their nominee(s), as they shall from time to time determine. Application for membership shall be forwarded to the Secretary-Treasurer acting on behalf of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may deny membership in the Association to any person who in their determination has engaged in unethical conduct deemed detrimental to the Association or any of its members, or has evidenced a lack of good character which maybe shown by conviction of a felony or other crime.

 
2.8 The Executive Committee by a two-thirds vote may rescind, suspend, terminate or cancel any membership for acts or omission deemed not to be in the best interests of the Association or its purposes. Except for termination of membership for failure to pay dues, any action under this Section shall be taken only upon recommendation of the Ethics Committee and due notice and opportunity to be heard before the Executive Committee.

 
2.9 Admission to education seminars held by the Association, other than a designated Association business meeting shall be not limited to those holding membership under this Article.
 

Article III. Meetings of the Association

  
3.1 There shall be an Annual Meeting of the Association to install officers, to determine the dues and to act on such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

 
3.2 A special meeting may be called by the Executive Committee or shall be called on written application to the Executive Committee of at least 25 percent of the membership entitled to vote at the time of such application. Notice of the time, place and purpose of a special meetings shall be sent to all members 60 days in advance of such meeting. No business other than that stated in the notice of the special meeting shall be conducted at that meeting. The Secretary-Treasurer on behalf of the Executive Committee shall schedule no special meeting sooner than 90 days after the Executive Committee Action or the receipt of the written application.

 
3.3 In order to transact business at any regular or special meeting of the Association, there shall be present at least 15 members entitled to vote.

 
3.4 Unless otherwise provided by these By-Laws, "Roberts Rules of Order (Revised)" shall govern the transaction of business at all meetings.
 

Article IV. Officers and Their Duties

  
4.1 The officers of the Association shall be a Chairman, Chairman-elect, and Secretary-Treasurer.

 
4.2 The Chairman and Chairman-elect shall be elected from and by the members by letter ballot. Elections shall be by a majority of those voting. They shall be installed at the annual meeting and serve for a period of two (2) years or until their successors have been elected and installed.

 
4.3 The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Association and Executive Committee. The Chairman shall be responsible for all administrative maters, and shall undertake such additional activities and responsibilities as directed by the Executive Committee.

 
4.4 The Chairman-elect shall assist the Chairman in administrative matters, shall assume the responsibilities of the Chairman in the Chairman’s absence, and shall automatically succeed to the chairmanship.

 
4.5 Should the Chairman-elect be unable to fulfill his/her respective duties, then an appointment shall be made by an from the Executive Committee for the interim to undertake those duties until such time as the Chairman-elect shall resume such duties or until a new Chairman-elect is duly elected.

 
4.6 The Secretary-Treasurer shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to serve at their pleasure and shall be compensated for services and expenses as directed by the Executive Committee. The Secretary-Treasurer (need not) be a member of the Association.

 
4.7 The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep the minutes of all meetings and shall be responsible for al documents and archives of the Association. He/she shall be responsible for the collection of dues, assessments, and fees, and the payment of all indebtedness as directed by the Executive Committee. He/she shall submit an activities report including a financial statement annually, or as requested by the Executive Committee.
 

Article V. Executive Committee

  
5.1 There shall be an Executive Committee, which shall have general charge of the affairs of the Association.

 
5.2 The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected National Officers, two (2) delegates from each section and the past Chairman.

 
5.3 The Association Secretary-Treasurer shall serve as the secretary of the Executive Committee.

 
5.4 Sectional delegates shall be members elected by the respective Sections at their annual meeting. Sectional delegates shall be considered members of the Executive Committee on April 30th of the year elected.

 
5.5 The Executive Committee membership shall be established no later than April 30th of each year.

 
5.6 The Executive Committee shall met at least once each year. A majority shall constitute a quorum.

 
5.7 The Executive Committee may act between its meetings and shall report such activities as part of it report to the Annual meeting of the Association. Any action taken by the Executive Committee without a meeting requires the signed consent thereto of at least two-thirds of the Committee.

 
5.8 The Secretary-Treasurer shall submit any business deemed necessary by the Executive Committee to a vote of all members by letter-ballot.

 
5.9 The Executive Committee shall determine the time and place of the Annual Meeting of the Association.

 
5.10 The Association shall pay transportation expenses of officers and delegates to the annual meetings, or such other meetings deemed necessary by the Executive Committee. Reimbursement for such expenses will be based on the financial ability of the Association, and will normally be limited to the round trip air coach fare from the members’ homes to the meeting places.
 

Article VI. Sections

  
6.1 The Association shall consist of three (3) sections, namely Atlantic, Gulf-Inland and Pacific.

 
6.2 Each section shall meet annually and elect its officers and one Executive Committee delegate to serve a two (2) year term.

 
6.3 Minutes of sectional meetings must be forwarded to the Secretary-Treasurer no later than April 30th.
 

Article VII. Amendments

  
7.1 Amendments to the By-Laws may be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer, in writing, by a petition of two (2) or more members. Such amendments when approved by the Executive Committee shall be submitted to the members by letter-ballot

 
7.2 Affirmative votes representing two-thirds of the returned ballots of members in good standing shall constitute approval.