Constitution and Bylaws
Bylaws GO TO CONSTITUTION
Article V. ADVISORY COUNCIL
Section 1. Jurisdiction
The advisory function of this Association shall be vested in an Advisory Council. The Council shall have no executive authority, but shall report to the Executive Committee on all matters involving ethics and discipline referred to it. The Council shall conduct long-range planning and undertake the necessary studies and investigations in connection therewith. It shall report to the Executive Committee on all matters involving constitutional review referred to it. The Council shall recommend to the Executive Committee nominations for Association officers and also honors and awards, with the exception of the Matson Award and the Jules Braunstein Memorial Award. The Council shall review the organization of the Association and the standing committee structure of the Association. It shall also undertake any special projects wherein guidance is requested by the Executive Committee.
Section 2. Ethics and Discipline
Five members of the Advisory Council shall serve as the Hearing Body in grievance proceedings as provided in Article XI of these Bylaws, except as otherwise provided in Article XI, Section 8, of these Bylaws.
Section 3. Long-Range Planning
The Advisory Council shall serve as a functioning long-range planning body to review the Association's activities and recommend to the Executive Committee appropriate changes of programs and policies.
Section 4. Constitution Review
The Advisory Council shall constantly review the Constitution and Bylaws and recommend to the Executive Committee appropriate amendments to meet the changing needs of this Association.
Section 5. Nominations
The Advisory Council shall recommend candidates for Association officers as provided in these Bylaws.
Section 6. Honors and Awards
The Advisory Council shall recommend recipients for all honors and awards which may be established by the Executive Committee with the exception of the Matson Award and the Jules Braunstein Memorial Award.
Section 7. Additional Duties
The Advisory Council shall be charged with reviewing relationships among the Association, Sections, Regions, and Divisions, and other organizations in order to recommend adjustments which will benefit the Association and its members.
The Advisory Council shall engage in such other special projects and shall perform such duties as the Executive Committee may, from time to time, direct.
Section 8. Composition and Terms of Office
Except as set forth in subparagraph (a) and (c) below, the members of the Advisory Council shall each serve for three (3)-year terms in rotation. The members of the Advisory Council shall consist of the following:
- The immediate past-president and the two (2) former presidents who have served most recently or their designated representatives from their respective Executive Committees and the immediate past chairman of the House of Delegates;
- One (1) or more members of the Association elected every third year by the Association members of each United States Section and International Region, in accordance with a schedule established by the Executive Committee to provide staggered terms and subject to the provisions of subparagraph (d) of this Section 8;
- The chief elected officer of each Division who shall serve ex officio during the officer's term, provided said Division has not less than seven hundred and fifty (750) Association members on the first day of the fiscal year of the Association. The chief elected officer of each Division with less than seven hundred and fifty (750) Association members shall be entitled to attend Advisory Council meetings as an Observer but will not be a member of the Advisory Council.
- Each United States Section and International Region with not less than seven hundred and fifty (750) Association members shall be entitled to elect one Advisory Council member for up to five thousand (5,000) Association members within such section or region. Each United States Section and International Region with less than seven hundred and fifty (750) Association members will elect for a three (3)-year term an Observer to attend Advisory Council meetings but who will not be a member of the Advisory Council except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws. If a Section or a Region which elected an Observer has seven hundred and fifty (750) or more Association members on the first day of any fiscal year of the Association, such Observer shall become a member of the Advisory Council as of that date and continue as such for the remainder of the Observer's three (3)-year term. A Section or Region shall be entitled to elect an additional Advisory Council member for each additional five thousand (5,000) members, or any fraction thereof. For the purposes of this subparagraph (d), the number of members of a section or region shall be determined as of the first day of the Association's fiscal year in which an election is to occur. Once elected, an Advisory Council member from a Section or Region shall serve for three (3) years, regardless of the number of members in such section or region during the term of that Advisory Council member.
Section 9. Meetings
The Advisory Council shall meet at least once each year during the annual meeting of the Association, and shall submit annual reports to the Executive Committee. Additional meetings may be held at the call of the Chairman. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of members. Robert's Rules of Order shall apply at all meetings. No proxies shall be allowed, but alternates for absentee members may be appointed in accordance with Section 8, paragraph (a), or the procedures prescribed in Section 12 of this Article V. Mail canvasses may be conducted when necessary for interim action requested by the Executive Committee.
Section 10. Presiding Officer
The immediate past-president of this Association shall serve as Chairman of the Advisory Council, unless, in the event the immediate past-president cannot serve, another member of the Council is elected by the Councillors, to serve. The Chairman shall appoint a Recording Secretary who shall keep minutes of each meeting.
Section 11. Observers at Advisory Council Meetings
The Advisory Council will invite the following Observers to attend its meetings:
- The Executive Director;
- The President;
- The Chairman of the House of Delegates;
- The chief elected officer of each Technical Division that has less than seven hundred and fifty (750) Association members, provided, that the Technical Division would otherwise qualify to elect a member of the Advisory Council were its membership not less than seven hundred and fifty (750) Association members; and
- The elected representative from any United States Section or International Region that has less than seven hundred and fifty (750) Association members, provided, that the United States Section or International Region would otherwise qualify to elect a member of the Advisory Council were its membership not less than seven hundred and fifty (750) Association members. Observers are not Advisory Council members, may not vote, and will not attend executive sessions of the Advisory Council unless authorized to do so by a vote of the Advisory Council.
Section 12. Alternates at Advisory Council Meetings for Absent Members
The alternate representative for an absent Advisory Council member shall be that absent member's immediate predecessor as a member of the Advisory Council, except as prescribed in Section 8, paragraph (a) of this Article. If the absent Advisory Council member represents a Region, Section, or Division and did not have a predecessor, or if that predecessor is unwilling or unable to attend in place of the absent Advisory Council member, then the alternate representative shall be designated by the Region, Section, or Division President, and shall be a current member of its executive committee. If an Advisory Council member dies or resigns, then prior to the election of a successor member as prescribed in Article VI, Section 1, such former member's alternate representative shall be as otherwise provided herein for an absent member. An alternate representative may be seated at any time during an Advisory Council meeting. The alternate representative shall have the authority, including the right to vote, of the absent member.