ARTICLE 1: NAME
ARTICLE 2: OBJECTIVES
ARTICLE 3: MEMBERSHIP
ARTICLE 4: DUES
ARTICLE 5: MEETINGS
ARTICLE 6: CHAPTER RESPONSIBILITIES
ARTICLE 7: CHAPTER EXECUTIVE
ARTICLE 8: RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFICERS
ARTICLE 9: STANDING COMMITTEES
ARTICLE 10: ELECTIONS
ARTICLE 11: AUDITORS 
ARTICLE 12: AMENDMENTS 
ARTICLE 13: DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST 
ARTICLE 14: INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS OR OFFICERS  


ARTICLE 1: NAME  

This chapter shall be known as the CANADIAN HEALTHCARE ENGINEERING SOCIETY (CHES) –BRITISH COLUMBIA CHAPTER.

ARTICLE 2: OBJECTIVES

(a) To promote, develop, and disseminate healthcare engineering technology;

(b) To compare and exchange provincial experience;

(c) To promote the principle of integrated design by improved collaboration between the professions (team approach);

(d) To promote more efficient management of operation, maintenance, fire protection, and safety of healthcare facilities, their engineering systems, equipment and buildings;

(e) To collaborate with other provincial organizations;

(f) To provide educational opportunities to increase knowledge and competence in the field of healthcare systems;

(g) To formulate and communicate ideas and advice to governments and the public, on issues and policy related to all aspects of engineering in British Columbia Healthcare Facilities.

(h) To assist where possible the opportunities for young people entering Trade School programs at colleges, to become aware of the employment available in the Healthcare environment.

ARTICLE 3: MEMBERSHIP

1. Membership in this Society shall include any person who is active in the delivery of healthcare engineering technology in the areas of administration, planning and design, construction, operations and maintenance and other related disciplines.

2. Membership shall become effective upon receipt of a formal application and membership dues.

3. There shall be six (6) types of membership, as follows:

1) REGULAR MEMBERSHIP: Membership eligibility shall align with the CHES National By-Laws.

2) STUDENT MEMBERSHIP: Membership eligibility shall align with the CHES National By-Laws.

3) ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP: Membership eligibility shall align with the CHES National By-Laws.

4) HONORARY MEMBERSHIP:  Membership eligibility shall align with the CHES National By-Laws.

5) EMERITUS MEMBERSHIP: Membership eligibility shall align with the CHES National By-Laws.

6) LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP:  Membership eligibility shall align with the CHES National By-Laws.

4. Termination of membership:

1) A member in good standing can resign their membership by submitting a resignation to the Chapter Executive.

2) The Chapter Executive may suspend or expel a member for non-payment of annual dues, or for any conduct or reason which the Chapter Executive considers not to be in the best interests of the Society.  The suspended member shall have the option of appeal, and a decision shall be made regarding termination of membership by an Appeal Committee consisting of three members at large. i) The first member to be appointed by the member suspended. ii) The second member to be appointed by the Chapter Chair. iii) The third member, who will act as Chairman, to be appointed by the other two members of the Appeal Committee.

3) Loss of eligibility A member who no longer meets the requirements of eligibility as stated in Article 3 is no longer eligible for membership in the Society and his membership shall be automatically terminated at the end of the term of which dues have been paid.

4) Nonpayment of dues: Membership of any person, who is 90 days in arrears in the payment of annual dues from the membership renewal date, no longer receives membership benefits.

ARTICLE 4: DUES

1. Annual dues shall be established by the Chapter Executive of the Society.

2. The National Society collects the Chapter dues which are then forwarded to the Chapter.  

3. Dues shall not be refundable due to termination of membership.

4. Any donation, money or property, shall become the property of the Society and shall be used for purposes as designated by the British Columbia Chapter Executive of Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society,

ARTICLE 5: MEETINGS

1. The Society shall meet four times every year, unless members resolve otherwise, to deal in a formal setting with matters of a policy nature and other business.

2. Special meetings of the membership may be called by the Chair of the Chapter Executive, or upon petition of at least 20% of the membership.

3. The membership shall be given 30 calendar days notice, in writing, prior to the date of annual or special meetings.

4. Special meetings of the Chapter Executive may be called by the Chair or upon petition of the majority of its members.

5. Quorum:
a) A quorum of the Chapter Executive present at the meeting shall consist of a majority of its elected provincial members.
b) The quorum for a membership meeting, annual or special, shall be of twenty (20) members present and in good standing.  A member in the Regular Membership, Associate Membership, Lifetime Membership, or Emeritus Membership classification shall be entitled to move or second motions at any such meetings and shall have one vote.  Proxy voting will not be permitted.

6. Provided there is not a conflict with the Society By-Laws, Robert’s Rules of Order will govern.

7. The Chair of the Chapter Executive shall preside at meetings.  In their absence, the Vice-Chair shall assume the chair.

8. At any meeting, member(s) or Committee members may move and second a motion or prepare a resolution to cover the intent, and the motion or the resolution shall be referred to the Resolution by the By-Law Committee for further study and be reported back to the member(s) or committee by the Chapter Executive.

ARTICLE 6: CHAPTER RESPONSIBILITIES (As per Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society National By-Laws)

1. A provincial Chapter of the Society must establish an approved set of By-Laws, as recommended to the chapter membership by the Chapter Executive. A provincial Chapter must be self-supporting financially and therefore responsible for maintaining its own financial records, filing appropriate notices and forms with provincial and federal tax authorities.

2. A Provincial Chapter, at the time of affiliation with the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society, shall have at least 10 regular members in good standing with the Society and shall maintain this minimum membership in the Chapter after the approval and acknowledgement of the National Board of Directors.

3. The purpose of Provincial Chapter of the Society is to provide an organized structure at the local level for members of the Society and others in the engineering field of healthcare facilities to facilitate their working together in areas of common interest; to conduct educational programs; to serve as a resource to the related local healthcare associations; to provide channels of communications between the Society and local groups, and to promote the purpose of and membership in the Society.

4. Provincial Chapters shall have the authority to use the name and logo of the Society.  The Chapter shall be known by Province, territory or district name of the Society.

5. Provincial Chapter organization and operation shall be in accordance with the National manual of operation prepared by the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society Board of Directors, as amended and updated from time to time.

ARTICLE 7: CHAPTER EXECUTIVE

1. The affairs of the Society shall be managed by the Provincial Chapter Executive.

2. The Chapter Executive shall consist of the Chair, Immediate Past Chair, Vice-Chair, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and appointed Committee Chairs.

3. Executive officers shall be elected for a two-year term by the members of the Society by secret ballot.  No officer may serve more than two consecutive terms in any one office.

4. Eligibility:
a) To be eligible for office, one must have been a participating member of the Society for a minimum of two years.
b) To be eligible to the office of Chair, a member in the Regular, or Lifetime Membership classification must have served as an active Vice Chair of the Chapter Executive for at least one term (2 years), except where their term as Vice Chair has been shorter due to the death or resignation of the Chair they succeed.
c) To be eligible to the office of Vice Chair, a member in the Regular, or Lifetime Membership classification must have served for at least 2 years as an active member on the Chapter Executive.  The Vice Chair shall assume the duties of the Chair at the Chair’s request and shall assume the position of Chair at the end of the Chair’s term of office.

5. Where there is a vacancy in the Chapter Executive for any reason, the remaining members of the Provincial Chapter Executive shall appoint a member of the Society in good standing and eligibility as in the National By-Laws to fill the vacancy.  The appointee shall hold office for the balance of the unexpired term of the vacating member.

6. Removal of Officers, Directors or members of the Provincial Chapter Executive
a) If any member of the Chapter Executive is unable to attend a meeting of the Executive, he/she shall so inform the Secretary prior to the meeting.  If an elected member of the Executive absents himself/herself without the approval of the Executive, from three (3) consecutive meetings of the Executive of which he/she received due notice, the Executive may declare the seat to be vacant.
b) A Chapter Executive member, a Director or an Officer may be removed from office by a two-third (2/3) majority vote at a special meeting of the Society.

ARTICLE 8: RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFICERS

1. The Chair shall act as Chair of the meetings of the Chapter Executive and of the General Meetings and Special General Meetings of the Society Chapter.  The Chair has a deciding voice only when voting has resulted in a tie.

2. The Vice Chair shall be vested with the powers, and perform all the responsibilities of the Chair in the absence, disability, or refusal to act by the Chair, together with such other powers and responsibilities, if any, as may from time to time be assigned to them, by the Executive.

3. The Secretary shall issue or cause to be issued, notices for all meetings of the Chapter Executive and the Society, have charge of the minutes and records of the Society, record and maintain the minutes of the Chapter Executive and other meetings of the Society; sign with the Chair or other signing officers of the Society such instruments requiring his signature, and perform such other duties as the terms of their engagement, or this By-Law calls for, or the Chapter Executive may, from time to time, properly require of them.

4. The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all funds and securities of the Society, and shall deposit them in the name of the Society in such bank or banks, or with such depository or depositories, as the Chapter Executive may direct.  He shall, at all reasonable times, exhibit his books and accounts to any member of the executive upon written request at the office of the Society or the place of business of the Treasurer during business hours.  He shall be responsible for the preparation and show from whom all income has been received, and to whom and for what reason all disbursements have been made.

5. No officer, Director or member of the Chapter Executive shall receive any remuneration for his/her services.

6. Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, when properly substantiated, and at the discretion of the Chapter Executive, may be paid to a member of the Chapter Executive, or to any other member who attends Chapter Executive meetings or who acts on behalf of the Society away from their usual place of residence.

7. The use of paid temporary help may be authorized as needed by the Chapter Executive.

8. Certifying of documents issued by the Provincial Chapter and the withdrawal of Chapter assets from depositories may only be carried out by the Treasurer and the Chair.

ARTICLE 9: STANDING COMMITTEES

1. Standing committees may include the following: a) Membership Committee b) Education Committee   c) Communications Committee  d) Resolution and By-Law Committee   e) Any other Committee deemed necessary by the Chapter Executive.

2. The Chair of all Standing Committees shall be appointed by the Provincial Chapter Executive.

ARTICLE 10: ELECTIONS

1. Every two (2) years (even numerical years), at the members’ annual meeting, the incoming Chair will be installed in office and the positions of Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer will be filled in accordance with the votes of the members as indicated in the ballots received.

2. A Nominating Committee Chair shall be appointed at the first Chapter Executive meeting following their General Meeting to serve for the ensuing two years.  The Nominating Committee shall consist of three members of the Society, one of whom shall be the Chair.  The other two members shall be selected by the Chair from the members at large and be subject to the approval of the Executive.  The Chapter Executive shall fill any vacancies which may occur in the Nominating Committee.

3. The time schedule for election procedures is as follows:

At least six (6) months prior to a General Meeting, the Nominating Committee Chair shall issue a call for nominations.

Five (5) months prior to the meeting, a second call is to be issued.

Nominations are to be in the Chair’s hands four months prior to the meeting, at which time nominations close.

The Chair shall collect biographies and statements from each nominee and prepare a ballot.  The ballot shall be provided to the membership three months prior to the meeting.

Ballots shall be returned not later than two months prior to the General Meeting.

4. The Nominating Committee shall prepare a list of additional nominees to provide regional and/or discipline representation to be included on the ballot with the nominees from the membership.  The Committee’s candidates shall not be identified in any way.

5. Nominations shall be signed by at least one members of the Society and the nominee must signify their consent to the nomination in writing.  A member of the Society who is eligible to hold office in the Society may nominate themselves for an office(s).  For a nominee to be eligible for more than one office, the nominee is required to state an order of preference for the offices.

6. Elections shall be conducted by ballot, and counted under the supervision of scrutineers which will be appointed by the Chapter Executive.  Confidentiality of ballots will be maintained.

7. In the case of an equality of votes for any office or position, the Nominating Committee Chair shall cast the deciding vote.

ARTICLE 11: AUDITORS

1. An auditor shall be appointed at each annual meeting who will review the books each year and the Treasurer shall submit an official financial report to the membership which contains a statement of income and expenditure for the preceding fiscal year, together with a balance sheet, the report of the auditor, and any other information required by the By-Laws or by resolution of a previous annual meeting.

2. An audited financial report shall be presented to the members at each annual meeting.

3. The fiscal year and the membership year shall be from April 1st to March 31st.

ARTICLE 12: AMENDMENTS

1. Proposed additions to, amendments to, or revision of the By-Laws shall be submitted: a) By the Chapter Executive, or

b) By petition of at least ten (10) members in good standing of the Regular Membership.

Such proposals shall be forwarded to all members at least ninety (90) days prior to the General Meeting or a Special General Meeting.

2. Any amendment to, revision of, or addition to the By-Laws shall be effective when ratified by more than fifty percent of the votes received from members entitled to vote.  The Chair shall not vote except to cast a tie-breaking vote.

3. By-Laws can only be changed every two (2) years.

4. All votes must be by ballot.

5. Voting must follow procedures laid out in Article 10.

6. Results of the vote will be announced at the next General Meeting of the membership and the amendment(s) shall become effective on that date.

ARTICLE 13: DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST

1. Each British Columbia Chapter Executive Officer, or nominee for the position of officer or director, shall make written disclosure of any interest that might result in a conflict of interest, upon nomination to an office before appointment to fill the office, and annually during the term of office.  Written disclosure shall be made to the Provincial Chapter Executive.  In the event that the conflict of interest is serious enough to jeopardize the interest and welfare of the Society, the Executive Officer, Director, or nominee shall resign from office, or retract the nomination.

ARTICLE 14: INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS OR OFFICERS

1. The Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society - British Columbia Chapter shall indemnify any Director or Officer or former Director or Officer of the Society against any expenses actually and necessarily incurred or imposed (including but not limited to, judgments, costs and counsel fees) in connection with the defense of any action, suit or proceeding in which involvement occurred by reason of being or having been such Director or Officer of the Society, except in relation to matters as to which such Director or Officer of the Society, except in relation to matters as to which such Director or Officer shall be adjudged in any action suit, or proceeding to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of a duty for the Society. Such indemnification shall not be deemed exclusive of other rights to which such Director or Officer may be entitled, under any other By-Laws, agreement, a vote of the Members or as a matter of Law, or otherwi

Revised February 2019
Revised March 2008
March 2000