(August 1, 2023)

ARTICLE I. ORGANIZATION 

The name for this organization shall be “Chinese Institute of Engineers/USA –Seattle” (CIE/USA-SEA). 

The organization is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purpose. It consists of voting members, the Executive Officers, the Committees, the Board of Directors, and the Advisory Board. The Executive Officers and Committee Chairperson shall propose, lead to plan and execute activities for the Organization. The Board of Directors shall provide guidance and audit functions to the Organization. 

The organization shall have members meeting the definition of “members” in RCW 24.03A.010(45). 

ARTICLE II. MISSIONS 

  1. To promote technical and professional excellence in engineering, science and technologies for Asian Americans. 
  1. To provide technical, professional and culture services and education to the communities. 
  1. To serve as a conduit to similar engineering and scientific organizations at the national and international levels. 

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP 

Individuals supporting organizational missions may apply as members of the Organization. Member may elect for lifetime membership by paying lifetime membership dues. Membership may be terminated by a majority of the Board of Directors due to the member’s unethical conduct or violation of Bylaws of the Organization. 

Annual dues, based on calendar year, are required for all regular members. The amount of the dues, for regular members and lifetime members, shall be recommended by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. Regular and lifetime members are active members. Only active members can be nominated as Board of Directors and exercise membership-voting rights. 

The annual meeting shall be held at such date between October and December as determined by the Board of Directors and notified to the members at least twenty (20) calendar days in advance of the meeting date. 

ARTICLE IV. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS 

  1. There shall be a President and one to four Vice-President(s). 
  1. Treasurer and Secretary shall be member of the Board. 
  1. Treasurer shall be nominated by member of the Board and approved by the Board of Directors. The term is two years. 
  1. The President shall appoint a Secretary. 
  1. President, Vice President(s), Treasurer and Secretary together are the Executive Officers. 
  1. The Executive Officers and the Committee Chairs shall plan and execute all activities for the Organization. As the situation required, the Chairperson of the Board shall be consulted. 

ARTICLE V. COMMITTEES 

  1. Based on the mission of CIE USA-Seattle, Committees are assembled and formed under the guidance and supervision of CIE USA-Seattle Board. Each Committee shall be led by a Committee Chair. All Chairs shall solicit volunteers to staff various functions or programs, share the fund raising responsibilities, and coordinate with the President for all local community activities. 
  1. A Membership/Communication Committee to organize/maintain membership data, publish/maintain the Organization web site, publish/distribute the Newsletter, and to disseminate related news and activities in the Organization to members. This committee shall also carry the historian function by archiving multi-year data as determined by the Board. 
  1. An Education Committee to promote education and to develop programs in the technical, leadership, mentorship, scholarship and career development areas. 
  1. A National Council Communication Committee to coordinate AAEOY, SATEC, METS, HKTEC and other matters with the National Council. 
  1. An Advisory Committee to manage Advisory Board. 
  1. A Professional Development Committee to form Professional Interest Groups and to promote their activities among our members. 

ARTICLE VI. BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

  1. There shall be up to twenty-one (21) Directors of the Board including the President, and the Vice- President(s). Each year there shall be up to seven (7) openings for annual election. If there is a vacancy on the Board, the members shall elect during the annual election a new director to fill the unexpired term of the vacant position. Alternatively, the Board may decide to fill in the vacant position at a time other than the annual election, in which case, Chair of the Board shall call for a special meeting or conduct election at a regular Board meeting. A majority of the remaining Board of Directors shall elect the new director to fill the unexpired term of the vacant position.  
  1. The Board of Directors shall elect a Chairperson of the Board. 
  1. Functions of the Board are to provide guidance and auditing activities of the Organization and to provide advice to the Executive Officers and the Committee Chairs of the Society. 
  1. The Board shall hold meetings quarterly. Special meetings shall be held upon request by the Chairperson or upon request to the Chairperson by two members of the Board. 
  1. In all Board meetings, at least a majority (1/2) of the board members present shall constitute a quorum. A majority vote shall constitute a resolution unless otherwise specified. 
  1. The Board shall determine the Organization representatives to participate in meetings of affiliated associations. 
  1. For a Bylaws offending Executive Officer, Committee Chairs or Board Director, associated title can be removed by a two-thirds vote from the Board of Directors. Board Director who has unexcused absence from two consecutive Board meetings shall constitute a cause for removal. 

ARTICLE VII. ADVISORY BOARD 

An Advisory board consists of up to nine (9) non-voting Advising Directors. Any person with distinguished achievement or contributions to the Organization can be nominated by the active members and elected as a non-voting Advising Director. 

ARTICLE VIII. ELECTIONS 

  1. The President and Vice President(s) shall be nominated by the Board of Directors and elected by a majority of the organization active members in an annual election with a quorum (30% of active members) in attendance or by proxy. The term of President and Vice-President shall be one year. 
  1. Board Directors shall be nominated among the Organization members by at least six active members and elected by a majority of the Organization active members in an annual election with a quorum (30% of active members) in attendance or by proxy. The term of the directorship shall be three years and can be re-elected for a maximum of two (2) consecutive terms. A term limit exception can be granted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Directors. 
  1. Advising Directors will be nominated by a minimum of two (2) Directors or the President and elected by a two-thirds (2/3) vote from the Directors. The term of the Advising directorship shall be three (3) year and can be extended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote from the Directors. Each year there shall be up to three (3) openings for election. 
  1. The Chairperson of the Board shall have a term of one (1) year. 
  1. All Committee Chairs are nominated by the President and approved by the Board of Directors. Term of the Committee Chairs shall be at least two (2) years and consecutive terms can be determined by the Board of Directors as situation dictates. Committee Chairs shall be nominated in alternate years if feasible. 
  1. Unless specified otherwise, “year” means a calendar year from January 1st to December 31st. 

ARTICLE IX. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE 

  1. The organization should operate according to the operational guideline. 
  1. The operational guideline can be updated through a quorum of majority (1/2) and a vote exceeding two-thirds (2/3) of the board of directors. 

ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS 

Amendment proposals of the Bylaws may be submitted to the Board in writing by two board members. Upon approval by the Board with a majority vote, the final version shall be approved by a majority vote with a quorum (30% of active members) in attendance or by proxy. 

Date approved by the members: August 1, 2023.