Constitution & Bylaws | Texas Society of Professional Surveyors

Texas Society of Professional Surveyors

CONSTITUTION

PREAMBLE

Recognizing that the ancient profession of land surveying is now, more than ever, a vital social and economic influence in the state, the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors does hereby dedicate itself to the advancement of the surveying profession so as to serve both the public interest and the interests of its members.

ARTICLE I

OBJECTIVES

The Texas Society of Professional Surveyors shall be a non-profit organization, incorporated under the laws of Texas; to aid and contribute to the education of its members and the general public in attaining high surveying standards, both technical and ethical; and to provide a central headquarters and a closer association of its members.

ARTICLE II

DEFINITIONS

In this Constitution, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires, the following apply:

"Officers" shall mean the President, President-Elect, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors.

"Past President" shall mean the Immediate Past President of the Society following completion of the office of President. The Immediate Past President shall be an Officer member of the Board of Directors, as provided for in Article V, Section 3, Item A of the Constitution.

"Office" shall mean the elected position of an officer or director.

"Board" or "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors and the Officers of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors;

"Director-at-Large" shall mean those Directors duly nominated and elected by the membership at large of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors;

"Director-Representative" shall mean those Directors duly elected by recognized and active individual chapters of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors;

"Director," when used without qualification, shall mean all Directors-at-Large and Director-Representatives of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors;

"Registered" or "Registered Surveyor" means any person who is registered under the current Professional Land Surveying Practices Act and all amendments thereto;

"Executive Committee" means the Executive Committee of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors, as provided in Article V of the Constitution;

"Member" and "Membership" designate individually and collectively those persons of all classes of membership who have heretofore joined, or who hereafter join, the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors and remain in good standing;

"Member in good standing" means currently meeting all dues and activity requirements for the class of membership named;

"Local Chapter" designates a group of Texas Society of Professional Surveyors members residing and operating under a Charter from the Society, with the same objectives at the local level as the State organization has statewide;

"Student Chapter" designates a group of students of a school of higher education and being members of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors and operating under a Student Chapter Charter from the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors with the same objectives at the Student Chapter level as the State organization has.

ARTICLE III

NAME AND LOCATION

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the "Texas Society of Professional Surveyors."

Section 2. The headquarters shall be located in the City of Austin, Texas, and the place of meeting shall be selected by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. The seal of the Society, upon which shall be inscribed the words "TEXAS SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL SURVEYORS" and in the center of which seal shall appear a five pointed star, all in such design and decoration as shall be determined by the Board of Directors, is hereby adopted as the official seal.

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Any person of good character who qualifies under one of the classes of membership set out below and whose application has been approved by the Executive Committee is eligible for membership. There shall be seven classes of membership, namely: Registered member, associate member, affiliate member, student member, life member, honorary member and sustaining member.

The classes of membership are defined as follows:

A. Registered Member - Any person who is registered under the current Professional Land Surveying Practices Act and all amendments thereto. Registered members shall be entitled to vote and to hold any office in the Society.

B. Surveyor Intern Member - Any person holding a valid certificate as a Surveyor Intern under Section 15(e) of the current Professional Land Surveying Practices Act and all amendments thereto. Surveyor Intern members shall be eligible to vote but not to hold any office in the State Society other than Director; or be President of a local chapter. Surveyor Intern members shall be entitled to all publications received by registered members, including but not limited to, the TSPS Manual of Practice for Land Surveying in Texas.

Associate Member - Any graduate of a school of higher education (college level) recognized by the Board who expresses the intention of becoming a surveyor and who has not become certified as a Surveyor Intern under the current Professional Land Surveying Practices Act and all amendments thereto, and any person who has been engaged in surveying for a minimum of four years or who has two years of surveying experience and has completed at least two years in a school of higher education recognized by the Board. Associate members must become registered members after eight years cumulative membership or be classified as affiliate members of the Society. Associate members shall be eligible to vote but not to hold any office in the State Society other than Director; or be President of a local chapter.

C. Affiliate Member - Any person not registered under the current Professional Land Surveying Practices Act and all amendments thereto, who is interested in advancing the aims of the Society. Affiliate members shall not be eligible to vote or hold any office in the State Society or in a local chapter except the office of Secretary-Treasurer.

D. Student Member - Any student of a school of higher education recognized by the Board who is interested in surveying. Student members shall not be eligible to vote or hold any office in the Society or in the local chapters. Student members shall be eligible to vote and hold office in student chapters.

E. Life Member – A moratorium is placed upon this classification. No new memberships in this classification will be issued until such moratorium is removed. A registered member, who is at least 65 years of age and has had at least 20 years cumulative membership in the Society subsequent to October 1948. Also any member who has served honorably as President of the Society, upon completion of his/her term in office. Life membership shall be vested upon request when any such member is so qualified. Annual dues of such member are suspended beginning with the fiscal year first following such member's qualification. Life members continue to hold the same rights and prerogatives to which they were entitled before attaining life membership.

F. Retired/Inactive member-A person who is no longer regularly engaged in the practice of surveying, has placed Registered Professional Land Surveyor's license on inactive status with Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying, has a minimum of 10 years cumulative membership in Texas Society of Professional Surveyors, and is at least 65 years of age. The dues for a Retired/Inactive Member will be one-half of the dues of a Registered Member.

G. Honorary Member - Any person whose professional attainments in surveying or in subjects closely associated with surveying have given this individual a broadly acknowledged eminence, and any person who has rendered special service to the Society, its aims and objectives. Honorary members shall be elected by a majority vote of the Board of Directors and said member is elected for life or until revoked by the Board for just and sufficient cause. No dues or assessments are required from honorary members. Honorary members shall not be eligible to vote or to hold any office in the Society or in a local chapter thereof.

H. Sustaining Members - Sustaining membership shall be limited to companies interested in the advancement of the surveying profession in the State of Texas and the advancement of the aims of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors. Dues for sustaining membership shall be initially set by the Board of Directors of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors and after initially being set shall be revised according to Article VI of the Bylaws. This category of membership shall not be eligible to vote or hold office. Sustaining members shall be entitled to:

1. First choice of exhibit space at the annual convention.

2. Receipt of all newsletters, magazines and directory.

3. A discount on advertising in The Texas Surveyor or a series of free business card ads.

4. Listing in annual directory.

I. Geospatial Member – Any person who is actively engaged in a field of practice that acquires, manages, displays, analyzes, or otherwise uses data to support geospatial activities and who either: is a graduate of a school of higher education (college level) recognized by the Board with an Associates Degree or higher in a geospatial field; has completed at least 32 semester hours of geospatial related study at a school of higher education; holds a GIS Certification from an institute or organization recognized by the Board; or who has engaged in geospatial activities for a minimum of five years. Geospatial members shall be eligible to vote; to only hold the office of Director in the State Society; and may hold any office in a local chapter except President. Geospatial members shall be entitled to all publications received by registered members.

Section 2. All associate members, surveyor intern members, affiliate members and student members who become registered under the current Professional Land Surveying Practices Act and all amendments thereto, shall automatically become registered members.

Section 3. Any member of TSPS may be expelled or suspended from the Society as provided in Article X.

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS AND BOARD

Section 1. The officers of the Society shall consist of a President, President-Elect, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer.

Section 2. A member must have had at least two years service as an officer and/or a director to be eligible for the office of President-Elect. The President-Elect shall automatically succeed to the office of President upon expiration of the President's term of office, or whenever said office shall become vacant by reason of death, incapacity, resignation or removal from office of the President and serve the time remaining in the President's term before beginning his own term as President.

Section 3. The affairs of the Society shall be governed by a Board of Directors composed of the following:
A. The immediate Past President of the Society.
B. The Officers of the Society as specified in Section 1 above.
C. Twelve elected Directors-at-Large as prescribed below in Article VII, Section 2 of this Constitution.
D. One Director-Representative each from any duly recognized and active Chapter during the year in which such Chapter does not have at least one of its members serving on the Board under the terms of paragraphs A, B, C immediately above, and as specified in Article VII, Section 3 of this Constitution.

Section 4. There shall be an Executive Committee composed of the President, the Immediate Past President, the President-Elect, the Vice President, the Secretary-Treasurer and one member appointed by the President. The President may invite additional persons to serve on this committee in an ad hoc capacity. This committee shall assist and advise the President in handling the affairs of the Society between meetings of the Board of Directors. All official acts of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors.

Section 5. The duties of the officers and the Board of Directors shall be in accordance with the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI

COMMITTEES

Section 1. Such standing committees as may be required shall be appointed to assist the Board of Directors in handling the affairs of the Society. All standing Committees, except the Nominating Committee, shall be appointed by the President. The Nominating Committee shall consist of the Immediate Past President of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors, the Immediate Past Nominating Committee Chairman, a Director beginning the second year of a three year term who shall be elected from a slate consisting of such second year Directors by receiving a majority of votes of the membership present at the annual meeting, and four additional members who shall be nominated from the floor and elected by a majority of the membership present at the Annual Meeting of the Society. Provided, however, that the Immediate Past Nominating Committee Chairman may not serve consecutive years in that capacity. The duties of all committees shall be in accordance with this Constitution where specified therein, and where not so specified, shall be in accordance with the Bylaws.

Section 2. The President may at any time appoint special committees for such purposes as the President may deem fit.

Section 3. The terms of all committees shall expire at the close of the Annual Meeting following their appointment or election, unless reappointed by the President.

ARTICLE VII

ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

All officers and directors shall be elected for the term of office and in the manner as provided in this Article.

Section 1. All officers, except that of President, shall be elected annually and shall hold office for one year, or until their successors shall have been elected and qualified. The office of President shall be filled by the person who served as President-Elect during the previous year.

Section 2. Four Directors-at-Large shall be elected each year for a term of three years.

Section 3. In case of vacancies, officers and Directors-at-Large shall be appointed by the Board of Directors to fill the unexpired term of officers and Director-at-Large without prejudice to the position of any Director-Representative then serving on said Board of Directors. Such appointment may also be made without consideration for any Chapter whose representation may be affected by such vacancy.

Section 4. The Nominating Committee shall nominate one or more candidates for each office to be filled on the Board of Directors except for the President. Members of the Nomination Committee are ineligible for nomination. Nominations may also be made by petition. Each such petition shall be signed by not less than ten (10) members who are eligible to vote and whose dues are currently paid. Said petition, excluding any members on the Nominating Committee, shall be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer not later than seventy (70) days before the Annual Meeting. The Secretary-Treasurer shall certify that the petition meets the foregoing qualifications and the Secretary-Treasurer shall immediately transmit any valid petition to the chairman of the Nominating Committee. The names of all nominees of the Nominating Committee and the names of all those nominated by the petition shall be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer by the Nominating Committee not later than sixty (60) days before the Annual Meeting. Not later than 21 days prior to the Annual Meeting the Secretary-Treasurer shall mail a ballot containing all nominees for each office to all members of the Society eligible to vote. All ballots to be valid must be returned to the Secretary-Treasurer by 4 p.m. seven (7) days before the Annual Meeting. The Secretary-Treasurer shall certify the eligibility of the voting members and shall transmit all valid ballots to the Tellers Committee appointed by the President to tabulate the votes. The Tellers Committee shall certify the results of the vote to the membership of the Society at the Annual Meeting. Upon certification of the result of the vote of the membership, and upon being duly installed in office, the new President shall immediately determine those duly recognized and active Chapters of the Society which do not have any member of the newly constituted Board of Directors. Within one week from the date of his installation, the new President shall notify such Chapters of their eligibility to elect one Director-Representative to serve for a period of one year or until the next election of Officers and Directors by the Society, whichever shall be the lesser period of time.

The election of a Director-Representative shall be conducted by eligible Chapters within a period of 45 days from the date of notification of such eligibility. Within the prescribed 45 day period of time, the result of such election shall be duly certified to the President of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors by the President and Secretary-Treasurer of the eligible Chapter. Failure to comply shall remove such Chapter for eligibility for such election until the following year.

Section 5. In the event an election ends in a tie, the Board of Directors shall vote to break the tie. A majority vote of the Board shall determine the outcome of the election.

Section 6. The new officers and Directors-at-Large shall be installed at the Annual Meeting and shall take office immediately upon the close of said meeting.

Section 7. Director-Representatives shall be installed in office by the President of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors at the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the chapter election of such Director-Representatives.

Section 8. Any officer or Director may be removed from office for neglect of duty, inefficiency or malfeasance. A two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors after a full hearing before the Board is necessary for such removal.

ARTICLE VIII

MEETINGS

Section 1. There shall be a meeting of the membership between September 1 and December 1 of each year which shall be designated as the Annual Meeting and shall be held at a location and on a date or dates selected and accepted by the Board of Directors. Additional meetings of the membership may be held each year as provided in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE IX

CODES

Section 1. The "Policy and Procedure," the "Canons of Ethics" and "Rules of Professional Conduct" as adopted by the Board of Directors and any amendments thereto shall be binding on all chapters and members. Amendments to these policies and codes shall follow the same procedure as provided in the article for amendments to the Bylaws.

ARTICLE X

DISCIPLINE OF MEMBERS

Section 1. It shall be the duty of every member and of every chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors to bring to the attention of the proper authority as defined in Section 2, every case of alleged professional misconduct of which the member is cognizant, and be willing to offer testimony and/or documentary evidence in support of such case.

Section 2. Depending on where complaints or charges against members are lodged, authority to discipline members is vested in the Chapter membership and/or the Board of Directors of the State Society. In the event a Chapter has received a complaint or charge against a member, the Board of Directors of the State Society will assume that disciplinary authority, when, by three-fourths majority decision, the Board of Directors determine that a Chapter has refused to discharge its proper functions and responsibilities as regards the specific case; or if the Chapter requests specifically in writing that the State Society assume jurisdiction.

Section 3. For the purpose of administration of this authority, each chapter shall have an Ethics Committee as hereinafter set forth. The Ethics Committee of the State Society will assume like functions at State level subject to the restrictions imposed by this Article, Sections 2, 11 and 12, and such instructions as may be given by the Board of Directors of the State Society.

Section 4. A Chapter Ethics Committee shall consist of three, five or seven registered members in good standing who, except as noted above, shall be residents of the chapter area. The term of office and method of their appointment shall be determined by the chapter membership. Each committee so organized shall have a chairman, vice chairman and secretary. A majority of the committee shall constitute a quorum for all purposes.

Section 5. If a matter shall arise before a committee where the committee considers one or more of the members disqualified to act, such member or members shall be excluded from further participation therein. If required, the President of the State Society or the chapter shall make temporary appointments or request, to be effective only for considering the matter in question.

Section 6. Professional misconduct shall include violation of Canons of Ethics and Rule of Professional Conduct, malpractice, unethical conduct, or any fraudulent or dishonorable conduct, whether or not connected with the practice of surveying, regardless of whether or not such act or acts may constitute an offense under the Penal Code of this State.

Section 7. Complaints of professional misconduct may be filed either with the State organization or an appropriate Local Chapter, and referred to the Ethics Committee. Each complaint must be in writing, giving the facts of the matter, and in detail all the charges against the accused. The complaint shall be signed by no less than three persons. The Committee may require a sworn statement setting forth the matter complained of as a condition to taking further action.

Section 8. The Committee shall make such investigation of each complaint as it may deem necessary preliminary to taking action as set forth under Section 10. In conducting a hearing as a part of any investigation, the Committee may require testimony to be given under oath or affirmation. The name of the accused member and the proceedings shall be kept private so far as is consistent with the development of the facts. Where the complaint appears to be of such nature as will not call for disciplinary action and can be dismissed without the necessity of hearing the accused surveyor, the Committee need not notify the accused of the filing of the complaint.

Section 9. In any investigation or hearing before the Ethics Committee, it may require the attendance of witnesses and the production of documentary or other evidence by issuing notices to witnesses, requesting them to appear and testify or to produce said documentary or other evidence. Such request shall be issued at the request of the Committee or the accused member, but in the latter case, without any time and place the member is requesting to appear. If documentary or other evidence is required, the notice shall so state giving a brief description of such evidence. Such request shall be served on the witness personally or by registered mail.

Section 10. At the conclusion of its investigation, the Committee shall take action on the complaint in one of the following ways:

A. If the committee shall be of the opinion that no disciplinary action is warranted, it shall dismiss the complaint and notify the complainants, and the accused member also, if the accused member shall have had notice of the complaint.

B. If, in a case where the accused has had notice of the complaint and an opportunity to be heard, the Committee shall decide by majority vote of the quorum present that the accused should be reprimanded, the reprimand being reduced to writing and transmitted to the Board of Directors for its approval and further handling. At its discretion, the Board of Directors may require the accused to appear before it for the delivery of the reprimand or it may send a copy thereof to the accused by registered mail. In the event that a Director or officer of the Board of Directors is one of the members signing such a complaint, or is the complained-against member , or is so associated with the matter to make it difficult to remain unbiased, the Board member shall disqualify himself/herself as a Director during the action of the Board upon that complaint. The Board shall determine what publicity, if any, shall be given the reprimand. No publicity shall be released until the expiration of the time for appeal as hereafter provided.

If the accused shall deem the reprimand unwarranted, the accused may, within thirty (30) days after mailing delivery thereof, file an appeal with the Secretary of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors requesting a hearing by the Board of Directors of that Society to set same aside, failing which, the reprimand shall become final.

C. If the Committee shall be of the unanimous opinion that the accused should be expelled or suspended from membership in the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors for a period not to exceed one year, it shall reduce its recommendation to writing and submit same to the Board of Directors for its approval and action or disapproval as the case may be. The sole authority for expulsion or suspension of members shall be vested in the Board of Directors of the State Society and shall require a two-thirds vote of the entire membership of the Board of Directors.

D. If the Committee shall decide by unanimous vote that the offense is of such a nature that the certificate of registration of the accused should be suspended or revoked, it shall make such recommendation in writing to the Board of Directors for its approval and further handling. If the case is being handled by a local chapter, the complete file shall be forwarded to the Board of Directors of the State Society's Ethics Committee. The State Society's Ethics Committee, if it deems necessary, or if instructed by the Board of Directors of the State Society, by two-thirds vote of its total membership, agrees with the recommendations of the local chapter, it shall refer the matter to the Texas Board of Land Surveying, which Board has the sole authority under the law to revoke registration.

Section 11. The dismissal of a complaint by the Ethics Committee shall be accepted as final action on the matter complained of and shall not be subject to review or reversal by any authority within the Society unless newly discovered evidence justifies reopening the case.

Section 12. In all hearings conducted under the provisions of this article, the accused shall have a right to be heard in the accused's own defense and to be represented by counsel who may be other members of the Society or a licensed attorney who shall be authorized to speak for the accused. In all such hearings, the accused or the accused's counsel shall have the right to interrogate witnesses and offer such testimony as may be proper in the accused's defense. If requested by the accused, a record of the proceedings shall be made by the most appropriate means, the cost of which is to be borne by the accused. This record will be made available to the accused immediately after the transcription. In the absence of such a request, written minutes of the proceedings of the Ethics Committee shall be kept by the Secretary of the Committee.

Section 13. All matters connected with the discipline of non-members of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors shall be handled in a matter as may be decided by the Board of Directors of the State Society.

ARTICLE XI

BYLAWS

Section 1. The Board of Directors may adopt such Bylaws not in conflict with the Constitution as it may deem necessary for the proper government of the Society. The Board of Directors may amend the Bylaws at any regular meeting by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the entire Board of Directors. No amendment to the Bylaws shall be voted on by the Board of Directors unless the proposed amendment has been furnished in writing to all members of the Board of Directors at least two weeks prior to such regular meeting at which the proposal is to be considered.

ARTICLE XII

LOCAL CHAPTERS AND STUDENT CHAPTERS

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall have the authority, at its discretion, to issue charters for local chapters and student chapters. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to make rules and regulations for chartering, fixing chapter boundaries, and combining or dissolving chapters.

Section 2. Each chapter chartered by the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors shall adopt such Constitution and Bylaws for its operation as it may deem proper provided, however, that nothing contained therein shall conflict with or contravene Constitution and Bylaws of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors Chapter Constitution, Bylaws, etc. or any amendments thereto and shall not become effective until approved by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Local chapters shall constitute the "grass roots" representative of the Society and, within the limits defined above, be entitled to all its rights and ideals and ethics and are conducive to public welfare. Such activities shall be restricted to the boundaries fixed for such chapter, except as the Board of Directors may authorize to the contrary. Local chapters shall not have any voting privileges in the affairs of the Society except that their individual members are entitled to vote insofar as they meet the qualifications as provided in Article 4. The vote of a Director-Representative shall not be considered or construed as a mandate vote of a local chapter in Board meetings.

Section 4. Student chapters shall be subordinate to the Society in all aspects.

Section 5. All applications to form local and student chapters shall be submitted to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Society for approval of the Board of Directors, who shall issue a charter to the chapter as evidence of approval. All charters of local and student chapters may be revoked at any time by two-thirds vote of the entire Board of Directors.

Section 6. Any member of the Society may belong to a local chapter and any student may belong to student chapter.

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENTS

Section 1. The Constitution can be amended only by letter ballot. All proposed amendments must originate either (A) by a majority vote of the entire Board of Directors, or (B) by a petition to the Board of Directors which has been signed by at least 50 voting members in good standing. The Secretary-Treasurer shall mail ballots containing the proposed amendments to all voting members of the Society, and all ballots to be valid must be returned to the Secretary-Treasurer within thirty (30) days from the date the ballots were mailed to the membership. A two-thirds affirmative vote of the membership voting shall be required to amend this Constitution or any part thereof.

ARTICLE XIV

NATIONAL AFFILIATION

This society may become affiliated with any national association or organization having similar aims and objectives upon approval of the Board of Directors, such approval to be confirmed by a majority vote of the membership at the next annual meeting, provided thirty (30) days written notice of the proposal has been given to the membership. Likewise, this Society may sever its affiliation in a like manner.

TEXAS SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL SURVEYORS

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I

FISCAL YEAR

Section 1. The Fiscal Year of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors shall be coincident with the regular calendar year, from January 1 to December 31.

ARTICLE II

OFFICERS

Section 1. President - It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Society and of the Board of Directors. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee, which shall be elected as provided in Article IV, Section 10 of these Bylaws; the President shall appoint the chairmen and all members of all committees, unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise direct. The President shall delegate members to represent the Society. The President shall, subject to approval of a majority of the Board of Directors, have general direction of the business of the Society. This aforesaid general direction of business shall include (subject to a two-thirds majority approval by the Board) the authority to engage the services of a(n) Executive Director or management consultant to carry out the directives and mandates of the Officers and the Board. Such employment, however, shall be subject to termination on a ninety-day written notice by the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors Board of Directors or the person or firm engaged, and any contract entered into by the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors shall so state. The Board of Directors may require that said Executive Director or management consultant be bonded; if so the Society shall pay the fee.

Section 2. President-Elect and Vice President - In the absence of or in case of the inability of the President to act, or at the request of the President, it shall be the duty of the President-Elect or other officers in order of precedence to perform all the duties of the President.

Section 3. Secretary-Treasurer - The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all proceedings of the Society and shall have custody of all official papers and records. The Secretary-Treasurer shall read the minutes of the previous meeting. The Secretary-Treasurer shall notify the membership of the Society of the various meetings as well as the slate of nominees for office. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep in a separate book a copy of the Constitution and Bylaws, Policies and Procedures and Canons of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct, entering all amendments as they are adopted from time to time, giving date of adoption for reference in order to keep this official Constitution and Bylaws, Policies and Procedures and Canons of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct up to date. The Secretary-Treasurer shall notify officers, directors, committees and delegates of their election or appointment and furnish committees with all the papers referred to them. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep a register of members available. The Secretary-Treasurer shall act as Secretary for the Board of Directors. The Secretary-Treasurer shall conduct the correspondence of the Society and shall read all letters at the Society meetings

Section 4. The Secretary-Treasurer shall also keep an accurate record of all monies of the Society which shall be deposited in a bank to be designated by the Board of Directors. The Secretary-Treasurer shall render all bills and shall submit a report when requested within fifteen (15) days of the monies received and disbursed since the previous report. The Secretary-Treasurer shall pay all bills by check when so ordered by the Board of Directors. At the Annual Meeting, the Secretary-Treasurer shall submit a written report covering the activities of his office, including a complete financial statement of all collections and disbursements and a statement of the membership dues. All these records and monies shall be turned over to the successor, and the outgoing secretary/treasurer shall receive a receipt therefore. It shall be the duty of the Secretary-Treasurer to advise the President of violations of the Constitution and Bylaws. The Board of Directors may at their discretion require the Secretary-Treasurer to be bonded and shall fix the amount of the bond. The fee for the bond shall be paid out of the funds of the Society. With the approval of the Board of Directors, the duties and functions of the Secretary-Treasurer may be delegated totally or in part to the Executive Director or Management Consultant, if such is employed. When serving under this arrangement, the duties of the Secretary-Treasurer will be outlined at the beginning of the term of office by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE III

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall have general supervision of all matters pertaining to the Society. The Board shall make all rules of procedure to be used in investigations and hearings. The Board shall act for the Society in case of unprofessional conduct. Whenever an emergency demanding immediate attention arises between regular meetings, it shall have the power to act for the Society. It shall attend to all matters which usually evolve upon a body of this kind. A meeting of the Board of Directors shall be at the call of the President or upon the written request of five of its members. A simple majority shall constitute a quorum at any Board of Directors meeting. The action of the Board of Directors shall be reported to the membership not later than the next annual meeting.

ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES

Section 1. There shall be thirteen Standing Committees: Budget and Finance, Education, Convention, Ethics, Membership, Nominating, Public Relations, Registration Practices, Tellers, Governmental Affairs, Executive, Standards and Awards. These and all other committees, except Executive and Nominating committees, and the two members of the Awards Committee, shall be appointed by the President or Division Chairman if so directed by the President. These appointive committees shall be grouped into functional divisions, each division being chaired by an officer of the Society, appointed by the President. The individual committees will report to the Board of Directors through the chairman of the division to which the committee is assigned.

Section 2. General Functions and Duties of Committees - Each committee should:

a. Familiarize itself with, and keep abreast of, developments in its particular field of responsibility.

b. Develop and recommend Society policy and procedure with respect to its particular field of responsibility.

c. Interpret questions arising in connection with established policy and procedure.

d. Take such action as the Board of Directors may direct with respect to approved policy and procedure or in connection with specific studies and investigations requested by the President or the Board of Directors.

e. Make timely and appropriate recommendations to the Budget and Finance Committee as to funds needed to execute plans approved by the Board of Directors.

f. Advise and cooperate with other committees in carrying out related functions.

g. Make quarterly and annual progress reports to the President and the Board of Directors in writing, outlining the work done by the Committee up to that time and reporting upon all Chapter Communications and resolutions referred to it.

h. Cooperate with and advise Chapter Committees of similar functions in all their work.

Section 3. Specific Functions and Duties of Committees - Each Committee's field of responsibility is determined by its name and any specific charges from the President. A committee will assume responsibility for any matter properly referred to it though it might overlap another committee's field of responsibility. In such case, the responsible committee may ask the assistance of such other committee.

Section 4. Budget and Finance.

1. Study the financial structure of the Society.

2. Prepare and present to the Board of Directors for their approval, a budget for the control of the expenditure of money by the Society.

3. Review before each regular meeting of the Board of Directors the approved budget and the record of expenditures being made by the Society and call to the attention of the Board of Directors any expenditure in excess of those provided for in the budget.

4. Examine and audit the books of accounts of the Society when requested.

Section 5. Educational.

1. Prepare, schedule, and present seminars both CEU approved and non-approved.

2. Identify and recruit speakers for seminars.

3. Some or all of this committee’s functions may be delegated to the Education Director if there is one.

Section 6. Convention

1. Arrange for the time and location of social functions at convention.

2. Plan and arrange for exhibits to be shown at convention.

3. Contact exhibitors and arrange firm commitments for their appearance.

4. Establish a schedule of fees for exhibitors

5. Plan interesting and appropriate programs which will advance the objectives of the Society and will meet members needs for continuing education credits.

6. Contact and arrange for speakers for each phase of the program.

7. Arrange for equipment or apparatus required by the speakers.

8. Complete and submit forms for approval of Continuing Education Units as required by Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying.

9. Some or all of this committee's functions may be delegated to the Executive Director or Management Consultant if there is one.

Section 7. Ethics.

1. Make recommendations periodically for keeping up-to-date Canons of Ethics.

2. Prepare and periodically make recommendations for keeping up-to-date the Guide of Professional Conduct.

3. Interpret the Canons of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct. The Board of Directors may veto or change any interpretation of the Ethics Committee, provided however, such interpretations shall remain in full force and effect until vetoed or changed by the Board of Directors. All interpretations shall be in writing and copies shall be furnished to the President and the Secretary-Treasurer for the Board of Directors.

4. Encourage the acceptance and use of the latest Canons of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct by all members of the Society.

5. Receive and investigate complaints or instances of alleged violations of the Canons of Ethics or unprofessional conduct by members of the Society, assemble date, information and witnesses as appropriate, make recommendations to and if appropriate, advise the Board of Directors at a public or private deliberation of the matter.

Section 8. Membership.

1. Assist the Society and Chapters in development of membership campaign material.

2. Cooperate with and advise chapters and their membership committees on effective methods of securing new members and minimizing membership losses.

3. Develop and keep up-to-date a list of all registered surveyors and solicit the membership of those who are not TSPS members.

4. Develop and keep up-to-date a cross index by counties of all TSPS members and registered surveyors.

5. Solicit membership of all non-TSPS members who attend the Annual Convention..

6. Keep all chapters informed regarding TSPS members in their respective areas.

7. Cooperate with the Chapter Activities Committee in furnishing prospect lists for new Chapter areas.

Section 9. Nominating .

The Nominating Committee shall consist of seven members as set forth in the Constitution. Immediately following the adjournment of the Annual Meeting, the Nominating Committee shall meet and select a Chairman. It shall nominate a slate of officers and directors, excluding any member of the Nominating Committee, for submission to the membership prior to the next Annual meeting as provided for in Article VII, Section 4, of the Constitution. In the event of the death of a committee member, or refusal of a committee member to perform, as few as five duly constituted members may perform as the committee. If, for the reasons cited above, the number of committee members falls below five before the work is completed, the appointments necessary to make a committee of five members may be made by the President of the Society, such appointments to be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors.

Section 10. Public Relations.

1. Represent the Society before the public, press, civic associations and other groups.

2. Conduct publicity campaigns through newspapers and other media to inform the public regarding surveying and to impress the public favorably on behalf of the Surveying Profession.

3. Inform the public on qualifications of Registered Professional Land Surveyor and the desirability of appointing Registered Professional Land Surveyors in appropriate positions to public bodies.

4. Campaign to secure due credit for Registered Professional Land Surveyors in connection with work performed by them, and proper recognition; for example, in published accounts, at dedicatory exercises and name plates or plaques.

5. Inform the public and surveyors as to the meaning and proper use of the terms "Registered Professional Land Surveyors" and "Licensed State Land Surveyor."

6. Arrange for any special awards recommended or approved by the Board of Directors such as citations, commendations and honors.

7. Work with chapters to develop program outlines with support materials.

8. Work with allied professional associations to improve understanding of professional roles and determine areas of cooperation.

Section 11. Registration Practices.

1. Represent the Society before the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying.

2. Assist in the administration of the Professional Land Surveying Practices Act and assist in improving the administration of that law.

3. Handle any actions undertaken by the Society in connection with the Registration law.

4. Make studies relative to the protection of the rights and interests of the Registered Professional Land Surveyors, Licensed State Land Surveyors and of the public under the Registration Act.

5. Prepare originally and periodically make recommendations for keeping an up-to-date revision of a Guide on Policy and Procedure on Registration and, after approval of the Board of Directors, furnish it in final form to the Publication Committee for issuance to all members.
6. Make recommendations to the Board of Directors for improving the Professional Land Surveying Practices Act.
7. Encourage the registration of qualified land surveyors.
8. Assist aspirants seeking registration and cooperate with the Education Committee on matters of their education.

Section 12. Tellers.

1. Shall operate according to Article VII of the Constitution, particularly as set forth in Section 4 as a certifier of the results of the annual elections. Such certification shall be made as a report of the results of the annual election at the Annual Meeting.

2. Shall provide Chaplain services at Board of Directors Meetings, Annual Meetings and such other occasions where such services are appropriate.

3. Shall provide Parliamentarian services as required. In providing such services, the committee representative shall be familiar with "Robert's Rules of Order" to such extent as to be capable of promptly resolving any dispute in parliamentary procedure.

Section 13. Governmental Affairs.

1. Solicit from surveyors throughout the State and the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying the need for potential legislation that can or may affect surveyors and the surveying profession.

2. When potential legislation is deemed desirable, it shall prepare or have prepared a draft of such legislation for approval by the Board of Directors. Approval by the membership shall be secured if so directed by the Board.

3. Secure Legislative Sponsors and witnesses to testify as required at Committee Hearings.

4. Provide and control publicity both within and without the Society.

Section 14. Executive.

The Executive Committee, as specified in Article V, Section 4, of the Constitution, shall assist and advise the President in conducting the affairs of the Society between meetings of the Board of Directors. All official acts of the Executive Committee shall be reported, in writing if possible, to the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors.

Section 15. Standards.

1. Develop and submit to the Board of Directors and membership if appropriate, for approval, Standards and Specifications for Categories of Surveying.

2. Supervise the collection, publication and distribution for approved Standards.

3. Develop such other survey-related standards as the Board of Directors shall direct.

Section 16. Awards Committee.

The Awards Committee shall be responsible for the solicitation and review of nominations for awards. The awards shall consist of the Hugh L. George Award, the Surveyor of the Year Award, the Young Surveyor of the Year Award, the Vern Wayne Hanan Memorial Community Action Award and any Special Awards such as citations, commendations or honors.

This committee shall be composed of three people. The Chairman will be appointed by the President. The other two members will be elected by the TSPS Board of Directors at the new officer and director installation meeting immediately after the closing or adjournment of the Annual Meeting.

Hugh L. George Award

This Award was originated in 1974. It is not mandatory that this award be given each year.

Qualifications

1. The award shall go to a person who is no longer regularly engaged in the practice of surveying. It shall be the responsibility of the Awards Committee to determine if the nominee is eligible for this award.

2. Must be a minimum of 60 years of age.

3. A person who, over the years, has made a continuing contribution to TSPS and to the surveying profession.

Nomination Procedure

1. The Awards Committee shall notify the Chapter Presidents and the TSPS Board of Directors during the month of the first quarterly TSPS Board meeting of the need to submit nominations.

2. Nominations must be received by the Awards Committee prior to the second quarterly TSPS Board of Directors meeting.

3. Nominations must be in writing, providing biographical data, work experience, contributions to the surveying profession (local, state and national) and civic contributions. These nominations may be made only by a voting member of TSPS or by a local chapter.

4. The Awards Committee shall submit all qualified nominations for consideration at the second quarterly TSPS Board of Directors meeting for board action at the third quarterly TSPS Board of Directors meeting.

Selection Procedure

1. Selection of the recipient of this award shall be by a simple majority vote of the TSPS Board of Directors at the third quarterly TSPS Board of Directors meeting. In the event three or more candidates are being voted on, the two candidates receiving the most votes will be voted on in a runoff election and a simple majority vote will determine the winner.

2. This award, if given, shall be presented at the Annual Convention.

Surveyor of the Year Award

This award was originated in 1965. It is not mandatory that this award be given each year.

Qualifications

1. Nominee shall be a Registered Professional Land Surveyor and/or a Licensed State Land Surveyor in the State of Texas.

2. Nominee shall be an active member in TSPS.

3. The nominee shall have exhibited outstanding service to TSPS and/or the surveying profession within a period of two years prior to the upcoming Annual Convention.

4. Nominee shall be recognized as a good and valuable citizen in the community in which the nominee resides.

Nomination Procedure

1. The Awards Committee shall correspond with the Chapter Presidents and TSPS Board of Directors during the month of the first quarterly TSPS Board of Directors meeting of the need to submit nominations.

2. Nominations must be received by the Awards Committee prior to the second quarterly TSPS Board of Directors meeting.

3. Nominations must be in writing, listing biographical data, work experience, specific merit as to why this nominee is worthy of the award, contributions to the surveying profession and civic contributions. These nominations may be made by a voting member of TSPS or by a local chapter.

Selection Procedure

1. The Awards Committee shall determine if the award should be given and if so, select a recipient from the nominees submitted.

2. This award, if given, shall be presented at the Annual Convention.

Young Surveyor of the Year Award

This award was originated in 1978. It is not mandatory that this award be given each year.

Qualifications

1. Nominee shall be a Registered Professional Land Surveyor and/or a Licensed State Land Surveyor in the State of Texas.

2. Nominee must be a member in good standing of TSPS and a member of a TSPS Chapter.

3. Nominee must be thirty-nine (39) years of age or younger.

Nomination Procedure

2. Nominations must be received by the Awards Committee prior to the second quarterly TSPS Board of Directors meeting.

Selection Procedure

1. The Awards Committee shall determine if the award should be given and if so, select a recipient from the nominees submitted.

2. This award, if given, shall be presented at the Annual Meeting.

Vern Wayne Hanan Memorial Community Action Award

This award was originated in 1988. It is not mandatory that this award be given each year.

Qualifications

1. Nominee shall be a Registered Professional Land Surveyor and/or a licensed state land surveyor in the State of Texas.

2. Nominee must be a member in good standing of TSPS and a member of a TSPS Chapter.

3. Nominee must show witness to outstanding civic and educational contributions to Community, State and Profession.

Nomination Procedure

2. Nominations must be received by the Awards Committee prior to the second quarterly TSPS Board of Directors meeting.

Selection Procedure

1. The Awards Committee shall determine if the award should be given and if so, select a recipient from the nominees submitted.

2. This award, if given, shall be presented at the Annual Meeting.

Chapter President of the Year Award

This award was originated in 1998. It is not mandatory that this award be given each year.

Qualifications

Nominee shall be a Registered Professional Land Surveyor and/or a Licensed State Land Surveyor in the State of Texas.

Nominee shall be an active member in TSPS and a sitting chapter president or immediate past president of a chapter.

The nominee shall have exhibited outstanding service to the Chapter of which he/she is president.

Nomination Procedure

The Awards Committee shall correspond with the Chapter Presidents and TSPS Board of Directors during the month of the first quarterly TSPS Board of Directors meeting of the need to submit nominations.
Nominations must be received by the Awards Committee prior to the second quarterly TSPS Board of Directors meeting.

Nominations must be in writing, listing biographical data, work experience, specific merit as to why this nominee is worthy of the award, contributions to the surveying profession and civic contributions. These nominations may be made by a voting member of TSPS or by a local chapter or by the Chapter Activities Committee Chairman or the Executive Director.

Selection Procedure
The Awards Committee shall determine if the award should be given and if so, select a recipient from the nominees submitted.

This award, if given, shall be presented at the Annual Convention.

Geospatial Professional of the Year

It is not mandatory that this award be given each year.

Qualifications

1. Nominee shall be regularly engaged in a geospatial related field of practice.

2. Nominee must be a member in good standing of TSPS and a member of a TSPS
Chapter.

3. Nominee shall have exhibited outstanding service to the Geospatial Profession
within a period of two years prior to the upcoming Annual Convention.

Nomination Procedure

1. The Awards Committee shall correspond with the Chapter Presidents and TSPS
Board of Directors during the month of the first quarterly TSPS Board of Directors
meeting of the need to submit nominations.

2. Nominations must be received by the Awards Committee prior to the second
quarterly TSPS Board of Directors meeting.

3. Nominations must be in writing, listing biographical data, work experience,
specific merit as to why this nominee is worthy of the awards, contributions to the
geospatial profession and civic contributions. These nominations may be made by a
voting member of TSPS or by a local chapter.

Selection Procedure

1. The Awards Committee shall determine if the award should be given and if so,
select a recipient from the nominees submitted.

2. This award, if given, shall be presented at the Annual Convention.

Eminent Educator Award

This Award originated in 2012. For the first year that this award is made, it shall be permissible to recognize more than one recipient. After 2012, only one award may be made each year, and it is not mandatory that this award be made in any year.

Qualifications

1. This award shall be made to a member who has contributed in an outstanding manner to the education of the surveying community in Texas, at the professional or at the paraprofessional level.

2.A nominee for this award must be a member in good standing of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors (TSPS).

Nomination Procedure:

1. The Awards Committee shall notify all TSPS members by email before the end of the first quarter of the year of the need to submit nominations.

2. Nominations must be received by the Chairman of the Awards Committee prior to the second quarterly TSPS Board of Directors meeting.

3. Nominations must be in writing, providing biographical data and outlining the nominee’s outstanding contributions to the education of the surveying community in Texas. Nominations may only be made by a voting member of TSPS or by a local chapter.

Selection Procedure:

1. Each Year the Awards Committee shall determine if there is at least one qualified nominee, and if so, shall select the most deserving candidate from amongst the nominees.

2. This award shall be presented to the most deserving nominee at the TSPS annual meeting and convention.

Special Awards

Special Awards will be considered be the Awards Committee when deemed appropriate.

Section 17. The President may at any time appoint special committees for such purposes as the President may deem fit.

Section 18. The terms of all committees shall expire at the close of the Annual Convention following their appointment or election unless re-appointed by the President.

ARTICLE V

ADMISSION OF MEMBERS

Section 1. Applicants for membership in the Society, other than honorary members, must submit an application in proper form to the TSPS office.

Section 2. Applicants for membership received by the TSPS office shall be compiled and approved and accepted by the Executive Committee. Pro-rated dues may be approved by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI

DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

Section 1. The annual dues of members of the Society, which shall be paid to the Secretary-Treasurer by all classes of membership except honorary and life members, shall be determined annually by the Board of Directors; and such determination shall be submitted to the membership at the Annual Meeting for approval or substitution of another amount for annual dues. If no action is taken at the Annual meeting, the annual dues for the preceding year shall be continued and paid. Honorary and life members will not be required to pay annual dues.

Section 2. Annual dues shall be payable prior to January 1 of each year. The Secretary-Treasurer shall mail a bill to each member before that date, stating the amount payable. The amount payable will remain the same throughout the year. Members failing to pay dues by January 31 shall cease to receive any Society publications other than dues notice and any meeting registration materials. Members failing to pay dues ten days prior to the Annual Meeting shall have their votes disqualified. Members in arrears one year shall lose all privileges of membership until such arrears are met, and members more than two years in arrears shall be automatically dropped from the Society.

Section 3. Chapter Dues as described in Article V of the TSPS Chapter Bylaws shall be fixed at a percentage of the annual dues of TSPS, not to exceed one half of the annual dues of TSPS in each classification per year subject to Section 2 herein. The percentage of the annual dues of TSPS shall be determined annually by the Board of Directors; and such determination shall be submitted to the membership at the Annual Meeting for approval or substitution of another percentage for Chapter Dues. If no action is taken at the Annual meeting, the percentage for Chapter Dues for the preceding year shall be continued and paid.

ARTICLE VII

OBLIGATIONS

Section 1. No obligations except normal operating expenses approved by the Board of Directors shall be incurred. No continuing obligation exceeding 25% of the then current budget may be entered into without a two-thirds approving vote of the Board of Directors. Any obligations exceeding this amount shall require a two-thirds approving vote of the Board.

Section 2. The payment of all normal operating expenses shall be approved first by the President. Payment of any unusual obligations shall be approved first by the Board of Directors and then passed on to the President for processing. All expenses within budget may be paid by the Executive Director or Management Consultant with approval of the President.

ARTICLE VIII

MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular Meetings - The Board of Directors shall regularly convene at least once each calendar quarter on a date selected by the President. Notices of each meeting shall be mailed at least two weeks in advance. A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum.

Section 2. Special Meetings - Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President upon his own volition, or upon request of the Board. Purpose of such meetings shall be set forth in notice to members; said notices shall be mailed at least two weeks prior to the day of meeting. No business other than that for which the meeting was called shall be transacted, except this rule may be suspended with the consent of three-fourths of the Board members present or represented at the meeting.

Section 3. Executive Committee Meetings - The President may call a meeting of the Executive Committee whenever required to transact any business of the Society between Board meetings. A majority of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

Section 4. Annual Meeting - There shall be a meeting of all the membership between September 1 and December 1 of each year, which shall be designated as the Annual Meeting. The location of the Annual Meeting will be fixed in the following rotation of central cities: Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and at the discretion of a majority vote of the Board of Directors an alternate location outside of the central cities may be selected. The Executive Director will be responsible for obtaining a viable proposal from the appropriate convention city and the Board of Directors shall approve the location and dates selected.

Section 5. Special Meeting - A special meeting of the membership of the Society may be held at any time with the approval of the Executive Committee or Board of Directors upon a two-week written notice to the membership stating the purpose of the meeting.

Section 6. Quorum - Twenty members, including five members of the Board of Directors, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Society.

Section 7. Proxies - A member of the Board of Directors, including Officers of the Society, may appoint in writing any Registered member in good standing in the Society as his proxy at any specific regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors. This proxy shall be delivered to the President or Secretary-Treasurer prior to the convening of the meeting. The Board of Directors by the unanimous consent of those present after convening may accept a verbal proxy or waive other irregularities.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended in accordance with provisions set forth in Article XI of the Constitution.

ARTICLE X

RULES OF PROCEDURE

Section 1. The order of business of all meetings shall be conducted in accordance with "Robert's Rules of Order."

ARTICLE XI

ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 1. All Officers and Directors of the Society shall be elected for the term of office and in the manner provided in Article VII of the Constitution.

ARTICLE XII

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 1. All Officers, Directors and Employees of the Society and such others as specified from time to time by the Executive Committee, shall be indemnified by the Society against all expenses and liabilities including counsel fees, reasonably incurred or imposed upon them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made a party, or in which they may become involved, by reason of being or having been an Officer, Director or Employee of the Society, or any settlement thereof, whether the person is an Officer, Director or Employee at the time such expenses are incurred, except in cases wherein the Officer, Director or Employee is adjudged guilty of willful misfeasance or malfeasance in the performance of duties.

The foregoing rights of indemnification shall be in addition to and not exclusive of all other rights to which the indemnified may be entitled.

TEXAS SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL SURVEYORS

CHAPTER CONSTITUTION

PREAMBLE

Recognizing that the ancient profession of land surveying is now, more than ever, a vital social and economic influence in the State, the Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors does hereby dedicate itself to the advancement of the surveying profession so as to serve both the public interest and the interests of its members.

ARTICLE I. OBJECTIVES

The Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors shall be a non-profit organization, chartered under the provisions of Article XII of the Constitution of said Society, whose objectives shall be:
To advance, in the broadest sense, the profession of surveying and mapping in the area served by the Chapter; to aid and contribute to the education of its members and the general public in attaining high surveying standards, both technical and ethical; to provide a local headquarters for a closer association of its members and to provide for local meetings.

ARTICLE II. DEFINITIONS

In this Constitution, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires, the following definitions shall apply:
"Director" means a Director of the                            Chapter.
"Officer" means an Officer of the                        Chapter.
"Board" or "Executive Board" means the Board comprised of Directors and Officers of the                            Chapter.
"Registered" or "Registered Surveyor" means any person who is registered under the current Professional Land Surveying Practices Act and all amendments thereto.
"Member" and "Membership" designates individually and collectively those persons of all classes of membership, as defined in Article IV hereof, who shall become a member of the                          Chapter.
"Member in good standing" designates any member of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors and any member of a local Chapter whose dues are currently paid and who is not subject to any disciplinary action by either said Society or Chapter.

ARTICLE III. NAME AND LOCATION

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors.

Section 2. The area in which the activities of the Chapter shall be conducted, after approval by the Board of Directors of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors, shall consist of the following counties: The Charter of the Chapter may be revoked or amended at any time by the said Board.

Section 3. The headquarters of the Chapter shall be located in , Texas, and the place of meeting shall be selected by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Only members in good standing in the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors shall be eligible for membership in the Chapter. Any such member of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors may become a member of the Chapter upon approval of his application by the Executive Board and upon payment of the annual dues.

Section 2. Any member of another Chapter whose dues are currently paid and who shall change his domicile to the area served by the Chapter may, at his election, affiliate with the Chapter without any further payment of dues for the fiscal year.

Section 3. There shall be six classes of membership, namely: Registered Member, Associate Member, Affiliate Member, Life Member, Honorary Member and Student Member. The classification of each member in the Chapter shall be the same as that held in the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors.

Section 4. The rights and prerogatives of members in the affairs of the Chapter shall be as follows:
a. Registered members may hold any office and may vote.
b. Associate/Surveyor Intern members may hold any office except President and may vote.
c. Affiliate members may hold the office of Secretary-Treasurer only and may not vote.
d. Life members shall have the same rights and prerogatives to which they were entitled before attaining life membership.
e. Honorary members shall not be eligible to vote or hold office.
f. Student members are any student of a School of Higher Education (College Level) recognized by the Board, who is interested in surveying. Student members shall not be eligible to vote or hold office in the Chapter.

Section 5. A member expelled or suspended from the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors shall be automatically expelled or suspended from the Chapter.

Section 6. A member may be expelled from the Chapter, suspended for a specified length of time, or reprimanded for a willful disregard of the Chapter's principles and objectives and for professional conduct detrimental to the Chapter's welfare. Expulsion, suspension or reprimand shall require a two-thirds vote of the entire Board, and thirty days notice of the charges against the offending member shall be given in order that the offending member may be present and heard at the hearing on such action. Any member of the Chapter who is disciplined by the Executive Board shall forfeit all rights and prerogatives in Chapter affairs according to the terms of the disciplinary action taken. Any officer or director of the Chapter against whom disciplinary charges are pending shall be disqualified from service on the Executive Board only while the Executive Board is conducting hearings on the charges brought against the offending member.

Section 7. Any disciplinary action approved by the Executive Board shall not affect the status of the individual's membership in the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors, but the Executive Board shall keep the president and Secretary-Treasurer of the Society fully informed of the charges made, the evidence presented and the action taken.

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS AND BOARD

Section 1. The officers of the Chapter shall consist of a President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President, and a Secretary Treasurer.

Section 2. There shall be an Executive Board containing ten members which shall consist of: the immediate past President, the immediate past Secretary-Treasurer, the four elected directors and the officers of the Chapter. The President of the Chapter shall act as Chairman of the Executive Board.

Section 3. Each officer and director may be re-elected. In the event that the President and the Secretary-Treasurer are re-elected, the number of members on the Executive Board shall be reduced accordingly.

Section 4. The duties of the officers and the Executive Board shall be in accordance with the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing committees to handle the affairs of the Chapter shall be appointed by the President as soon as possible after the Annual Meeting. Each member of the Chapter and the President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors shall be notified by mail within fifteen days after all standing committees are appointed. The duties and the method of appointment of standing committees shall be in accordance with the Bylaws.

Section 2. The President may at any time appoint special committees for such purposes as the President may deem fit.

Section 3. The terms of all committees shall expire at the close of the Annual Meeting following their appointment.

ARTICLE VII. ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 1. All officers and directors shall be elected for the term of office and in the manner provided in this article.

Section 2. There shall be four directors elected for a term of two years, with two directors elected each year, except that in the first year in which the Chapter receives it's Charter, two of the four directors shall be elected for a term of one year.

Section 3. In case of vacancies, officers and directors shall be appointed by the Executive Board to fill the unexpired term.

Section 4. The Nominating Committee shall nominate one or more candidates for each office and directorship to be filled. All candidates must be members in good standing of the Chapter and must be eligible to hold office as specified under Article IV hereof. Nominations may also be made by petition. Each such petition shall be signed by not less than ten (10) members, (at least two of whom must be Registered Members) who are eligible to vote and whose dues are currently paid. Said petition to the Chairman of the Nominating Committee. The names of all nominees of the Nominating Committee and the names of all those nominated by petition, if any, shall be submitted to the Executive Board by the Nominating Committee not later than thirty (30) days before the Annual Meeting. It shall be the duty of the Executive Board to ascertain if all candidates, including those nominated by petition, meet the qualifications for office as set forth in this Constitution and to approve all candidates so qualified. In the event any candidate is not qualified for the office to which the candidate has been nominated, the Executive Board shall select and substitute a qualified candidate for the office. Following approval of the slate of candidates by the Executive Board and not later than 14 days prior to the Annual Meeting, the Secretary-Treasurer shall mail a ballot, containing all nominees for each office, to all members of the Chapter eligible to vote. All ballots to be valid must be returned to the Secretary-Treasurer by 5 p.m. of the day before the Annual Meeting. The Secretary-Treasurer shall transmit all valid ballots to the Tellers Committee appointed by the President to tabulate votes. The Tellers Committee shall certify the result of the vote to the membership of the Chapter at the Annual Meeting.

Section 5. Any officer or director may be removed from office for neglect of duty, inefficiency or malfeasance. A two-thirds vote of the entire Executive Board, after a full hearing before the Board, is necessary for such removal.

Section 6. The new officers and directors shall be installed at the Annual Meeting and shall take office immediately upon the close of said meeting.

ARTICLE VIII. MEETINGS

Section 1. The kind, time and place of meetings shall be as provided in the Bylaws. In order to avoid conflict, no meeting of the Chapter membership shall be held less than two weeks before, or two weeks after, the Annual Meeting of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors.

ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

Section 1. All amendments to this Constitution and Bylaws must first be approved by a majority of the entire Executive Board before the amendments are submitted to the Chapter membership.

Section 2. After approval by the Executive Board, the Secretary-Treasurer shall mail a ballot containing the proposed amendments to all members of the Chapter eligible to vote, and all ballots to be valid must be returned to the Secretary-Treasurer within thirty (30) days from the date of mailing. A two-thirds affirmative vote of the entire Chapter membership voting shall be required for approval of any amendment.

Section 3. All amendments to this Constitution and Bylaws approved under the provisions of section 1 and 2 above must be submitted to and approved by the Board of Directors of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors in order to become effective.

Section 4. The Board of Directors of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors may amend this Constitution and Bylaws at any regular meeting and such amendments shall be binding upon the Chapter.

TEXAS SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL SURVEYORS
CHAPTER BYLAWS

ARTICLE 1. FISCAL YEAR

Section 1. The name of this origination shall be the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors (TSPS) and the fiscal year of the Chapter shall terminate at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting which shall be held as specified in Article VII, Section 2. of these Bylaws.

ARTICLE II. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

Section 1. President. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Chapter and of its Executive Board. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee. The President shall appoint the chairman and members of all committees. The President shall delegate members to represent the Chapter.

Section 2. Vice-President. In the absence of, or in case of inability of the President to act, or at the request of the President, it shall be the duty of the 1st Vice-President, and other officers in order of precedence, to perform all the duties of the President.

Section 3. Secretary-Treasurer. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all proceedings of the Chapter and shall have custody of all official papers and records. The Secretary-Treasurer shall notify the membership of the Chapter of the various meetings as well as the slate of nominees for office. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep in a separate book a copy of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Chapter, entering all amendments as they are adopted and approved, giving date of adoption and approval for reference in order to keep this official Constitution and Bylaws up to date. The Secretary-Treasurer shall notify officers, directors and delegates of their election or appointment and shall furnish committees with all papers referred to them. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep a register of Chapter members available and shall distribute a Chapter roster to the membership once each year. The Secretary-Treasurer shall act as Secretary for the Executive Board. The Secretary-Treasurer shall conduct the correspondence of the Chapter and shall read all letters at the Chapter Meetings.

Section 4. The Secretary-Treasurer shall also keep an accurate record of all moneys of the Chapter which The Secretary-Treasurer shall deposit in a bank to be designated by the Executive Board. The Secretary-Treasurer shall receive all bills and shall pay same by check when so ordered by the President. The Secretary-Treasurer shall submit a report to the Executive Board when requested, within fifteen (15) days, of the moneys received and disbursed since the previous report. At the Annual Meeting, the Secretary-Treasurer shall submit a written report of the activities of the secretary-treasurer's office, including a complete financial statement of all collections and disbursements. All these records and moneys shall be turned over to the successor and the outgoing secretary/treasurer shall receive a receipt therefore.

Section 5. The Executive Board may, at their discretion, require the Secretary-Treasurer to be bonded and shall fix the amount of the bond. The bond shall be paid out of Chapter funds.

ARTICLE III. DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1. The Executive Board shall have supervision of all matters pertaining to the Chapter. Whenever an emergency demanding immediate attention arises between regular meetings, it shall have the power to act for the Chapter. The action of the Executive Board shall be reported to the membership not later than the next regular meeting.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall meet at least once in each quarter of the year at the call of the President or upon the request of three of its members. A simple majority shall constitute a quorum at any Executive Board meeting.

ARTICLE IV. COMMITTEES

Section 1. There shall be five standing committees: Membership, Program, Public Relations and Education, Nominating and Audit. These committees shall be appointed by the President with the concurrence of a majority of the Executive Board.

Section 2. Membership. The Membership Committees shall solicit applications for membership, shall ascertain the eligibility and classification of the applicant, and shall submit same to the Executive Board. All applicants must meet the qualifications set out in Article IV of the Chapter Constitution. A current membership card shall be accepted as prima-facia evidence of membership in the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors.

Section 3. Program. The Program Committee shall plan and arrange programs which will advance the objectives of the Chapter.

Section 4. Public Relations and Education. The Public Relations and Education Committee shall serve as a contact committee between the Chapter and the general public, the press and other groups in furtherance of the objectives of the Chapter and the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors.

Section 5. Nominating The Nominating Committee shall consist of three Registered members who shall be appointed by the President subject to ratification by the Executive Board. It shall nominate a slate of officers and directors for submission to the membership prior to the next Annual Meeting as provided in Article VII, Section 4, of the Chapter Constitution.

Section 6. Audit. The Audit Committee shall audit the books of the Secretary-Treasurer at any time an audit may deemed advisable by the Executive Board.

Section 7. Special. Special committees shall meet and report at the earliest possible date after appointment for their specific assignment.

ARTICLE V. DUES

Section 1. The annual dues of the _______________ Chapter shall be fixed at a percent of the annual dues of TSPS in each classification per year as described in Article VI of the TSPS Bylaws, except that Life members and Honorary members of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors shall not be required to pay dues.

Section 2. Annual dues shall be payable on or before January 1 of each year. The Secretary-Treasurer shall mail a bill to each member before that date stating the amount of dues payable. Members failing to pay dues thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting shall have their votes disqualified. Members in arrears one year shall lose all privileges of membership until such arrears are met and members more than two years in arrears shall be automatically dropped from Chapter rolls.

ARTICLE VI. OBLIGATIONS

Section 1. No obligations except normal operating expenses, shall be incurred. No continuing obligations may be assumed without a two-thirds approving vote of 50 percent of the Chapter membership.

Section 2. The payment of all normal expenses shall be approved by the President and paid by the Secretary-Treasurer.

ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular Meetings. The Chapter shall convene at least once each quarter at a time and place selected by the Executive Board, although additional meetings may be held if desired. Notices of each meeting shall be mailed to the membership at least one week in advance.

Section 2. Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting of the Chapter and installation of new officers shall be at least two week's prior to the Annual Meeting of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors.

Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Chapter may be called by the President upon his own volition, upon request of the Executive Board, or upon written request of ten members of the Chapter addressed to the President or the Executive Board. The purpose of the meeting shall be fully set out in the notice to the members, and said notices shall be mailed to the membership at least one week prior to the day of the meeting.

ARTICLE VIII. REPORTS TO THE TEXAS SOCIETY
OF PROFESSIONAL SURVEYORS

Section 1. Two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors, a written report shall be submitted to the President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors and to the Chapter Activities Committee giving the financial and membership status of the Chapter and presenting details of any business desired to be brought before the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors at its Annual Meeting. It shall be the duty of the President to supervise the preparation of this report and sign same. The President, or his duly appointed representative, shall present this report at the Annual Business Meeting of the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors.

Section 2. Any specific reports requested by the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors, other than those covered in Section 1, shall be submitted by the President or Secretary-Treasurer as required.

ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended in accordance with the provisions of Article IX of the Constitution of the Chapter.

ARTICLE X. PROPERTIES

Section 1. All properties, monies and records of the ________________Chapter shall become the property of and be surrendered to the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors at the time the Chapter of the ___________________ Chapter is surrendered or revoked.

ARTICLE XI. RULES OF PROCEDURE

Section 1. The business of all meetings of the Chapter and the Executive Board shall be conducted in accordance with "Robert's Rules of Order."

INDEX TO CHAPTER BY-LAWS

AMENDMENTS ......................... Section 1 ..... Article IX
ANNUAL REPORT (To Chapter) ......... Section 4 ..... Article II
BOND ............................... Section 5 ..... Article II
COMMITTEES
Five standing committees ...... Section 1 ..... Article IV
Membership committee .......... Section 2 ..... Article IV
Program ....................... Section 3 ..... Article IV
Public Relations & Education .. Section 4 ..... Article IV
Nominating .................... Section 5 ..... Article IV
Audit ......................... Section 6 ..... Article IV
Special Committees ............ Section 7 ..... Article IV
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS ............. Section 1 ..... Article II
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS ........... Section 3 ..... Article II
DUES ............................... Section 1 ..... Article V
Delinquent dues ............... Section 2 ..... Article V
FINANCIAL RECORDS .................. Section 4 ..... Article II
DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE BOARD
Duties ........................ Section 1 ..... Article III
Meetings ...................... Section 2 ..... Article III
DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS
President ..................... Section 1 ..... Article II
Vice President ................ Section 2 ..... Article II
Secretary-Treasurer ........... Section 3,4 ... Article II
FISCAL YEAR ........................ Section 1 ..... Article I
MEETINGS
Regular meetings .............. Section 1 ..... Article VII
Annual meetings ............... Section 2 ..... Article VII
Special meetings .............. Section 3 ..... Article VII
Board meetings ................ Section 2 ..... Article III
MEETING NOTICES .................... Section 3 ..... Article II
MINUTES OF MEETINGS ................ Section 3 ..... Article II
NOTIFICATION OF ELECTION OR
APPOINTMENT ................... Section 3 ..... Article II
REGISTER OF MEMBERS ................ Section 3 ..... Article II
OBLIGATIONS
Limitations ................... Section 1 ..... Article VI
Approval ...................... Section 2 ..... Article VI
PROPERTIES ......................... Section 1 ..... Article X
REPORTS TO TSPS
Annual reports ................ Section 1 ..... Article VIII
Special reports ............... Section 2 ..... Article VIII
RULES OF PROCEDURE ................. Section 1 ..... Article XI

POLICY AND PROCEDURE

LEGISLATIVE POLICY

1. The Texas Society of Professional Surveyors proposes to keep informed as to all matters that may affect surveyors, the surveying profession, and the public welfare in those fields where surveyors have a professional responsibility to the public, and, after investigation and evaluation in each particular instance, to take such action as may be determined to be necessary or desirable to protect the interests of the surveyors, the profession, and the public.

2. The Society will concern itself with any matter--
a. Affecting the current Professional Land Surveying Practices Act and all amendments thereto.
b. Affecting the Texas Board of Professional Land Surveying.
c. Regulating the practice of any other profession or any trade or surveying profession, or surveying practice.

3. The Society will oppose specifically any action--
a. Weakening the current Professional Land Surveying Practices Act and all amendments thereto.
b. Affecting adversely the efficient administration of the current Professional Land Surveying Practices Act and all amendments thereto.
c. That directly, indirectly, or by implication restricts the definition of the term "Professional Land Surveyor" or the term "Professional Land or State Land Surveying" as now defined in Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes, Article 5282c, and all amendments thereto.

4. The Society will take specific action--
a. To secure in any matter that directly or indirectly requires surveying services, a provision that such services are to be performed by a Professional Land Surveyor.
b. To secure in any matter in connection with public works a provision authorizing the agency charged with supervisory responsibility to utilize the services of Registered Professional Land Surveyors in any matter involving land boundaries and description.

5. The Society will not endorse the candidacy of any person for political office.

6. The Society will not request the appointment of or endorse any one individual Registered Professional Land Surveyor for appointment to public office when several qualified Registered Professional Land Surveyors are believed available for the position, provided, however, the Board of Directors may in the case of a reappointment submit and endorse the incumbent for appointment.

7. When deemed appropriate or when requested by the appointive authority, the Board of Directors will submit the names of several Registered Professional Land Surveyors believed to be available and qualified.

8. When deemed appropriate the Board of Directors may in its discretion endorse and support the confirmation of any qualified Registered Professional Land Surveyor already under the appointment to Public Office.

ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY AND PROCEDURE

1. The Executive Committee shall have full authority to interpret the Public Affairs Policy of the Society between meetings of the Board of Directors. Under emergency conditions, any member of the Society shall call the President, if immediately available by telephone, and if not so available, any other member of the Executive Committee. The President, if so available, or if not, the member of the Executive Committee who was contacted, shall call all members of the Executive Committee who are immediately available by telephone. Then the President, if available, or if not, the member of the Executive Committee who was contacted shall take appropriate action in Public Affairs matters as determined by the majority of the immediately available members of the Executive Committee.

2. No Committee of the Society nor the Chairman of any Committee acting as such shall take any action in support of or in opposition to any Public Affairs except at the request of, or after approval by the Executive Committee, the Public Affairs Committee, or the President.

3. The Executive Committee is authorized to give the Public Affairs Committee such instructions as it may deem necessary in order to effectuate the Public Affairs Policy, and immediately notify the Board of such action. The Chairman of the Public Affairs Committee is authorized to carry out all instructions of the Executive Committee.

4. The Board of Directors may veto or change any interpretation or instruction given by the Executive Committee, provided, however, that the interpretations and instructions of the Executive Committee shall remain in full force and effect unless vetoed or changed by the Board of Directors.

5. The Executive Committee will make a continuing study of established Public Affairs Policy and Procedure and report thereon to the Board of Directors from time to time with appropriate recommendations as to changes deemed desirable or necessary.

6. The Executive Committee will make quarterly and annual reports to the Board of Directors outlining activity and progress.

III

SPECIAL COMMITTEES

The General and Special Functions and Duties of Special Committees shall be in accordance with the General and Special Functions and Duties of Standing Committees as defined in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society. Each Committee should:

1. Chapter Activities
a) Encourage and assist Chapters in carrying on the Chapter Activities
b) Coordinate Chapter and Society work program.
c) Develop and keep up to date a guide on Chapter Activities.

2. Constitution and Bylaws
a) Promote uniformity between the Society and the Chapter Constitution.
b) Study amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society and of the Chapters, and make recommendations of desirable changes in order to facilitate and expedite the furtherance of Society objectives.

3. Historical
a) Collect historical articles, diaries, recollections, memoirs, field notes, transcriptions, maps, photographs, instruments, etc., relative to Texas Surveyors and Surveys.
b) Prepare a Historical Chronicle and, periodically, prepare supplements to it and after approval by the Board of Directors, furnish it in final form to the Publication Committee for issuance to all members.
c) Encourage and assist in historical ceremonies, the placing of bronze plaques, and other celebrations commemorating surveyors, Surveys and Boundaries.
d) Obtain Sound Tapes recording the voices of Surveyors' recollections of their own work, other Surveyors and their descriptions, mannerisms and other personal characteristics and work, outstanding Surveys, Boundary problems, and other matters.
e) Make transcriptions of all Sound Tapes.
f) Edit the Sound Tapes, make copies as appropriate, and loan copies to Chapters for their use in Chapter Programs.

4. Public Affairs
a) Represent the Society in matters relating to Public Affairs.
b) Make a continual study of Public Affairs policies and procedures and report thereon to the Executive Committee from time to time with appropriate recommendations.
c) Review current public affairs and, with the approval of the Executive Committee, take appropriate action.
d) If considered advantageous by the Public Affairs Committee and if approved by the Executive Committee, subscribe to various services relating to various public affairs.
e) Receive, investigate, and with the approval of the Executive Committee, take action on complaints or instances of public matters adversely affecting the public interest, the profession of surveying or individual surveyors.

5. Publications
a) Publish The Texas Surveyor.
b) Publish such other publications as may be authorized.

6. Resolutions
a) Receive from members of Chapters, resolutions to be presented at the Annual Meeting.
b) Edit or redraft such resolutions if necessary, subject to approval of the sponsors, and forward copies to each Chapter and to the Secretary at least four weeks prior to the meeting at which the resolution is to be considered.
c) Present resolutions as directed by the President or Board of Directors.
d) Nothing contained in this section shall preclude any qualified member at the Annual Meeting from making a motion that the assembly take certain action on any proper business brought before the Society for action.
e) Send to families of our deceased associates a Resolution of sorrow and regret.

7. Revenue
a) Make studies as to the effect of the present dues on the members of the Society and whether increased dues with increased services would be beneficial or detrimental or whether lowered dues, with less services, would be beneficial or detrimental to the welfare of the Society and the public interest.
b) Make studies relative to delinquent dues and assist the Secretary-Treasurer in their collection.
c) Assist the Secretary-Treasurer in explaining and collecting assessments.

CANONS OF ETHICS
AND
RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
FOR THE TEXAS SOCIETY OF
PROFESSIONAL SURVEYORS

FOREWORD

Honesty, justice and courtesy form a moral philosophy which, associated with mutual interest among people, constitutes the foundations of ethics. The surveyor should recognize such a standard, not a passive observance, but as a set of dynamic principles, guiding conduct and way of life. It is the surveyor's duty to practice the profession according to these Canons of Ethics.

At the keystone of professional conduct is integrity. Surveyor's will discharge professional duties with fidelity to the public, employers and clients; and with fairness and impartiality to all. It is their duty to be interested in public welfare and to be ready to apply all special knowledge for the benefit of mankind. They should uphold the honor and dignity of the profession and avoid association with any enterprise of questionable character. In dealings with fellow surveyors, they should always be fair and tolerant.

DUTY TO PUBLIC

CANON 1. SURVEYORS WILL HOLD PARAMOUNT THE WELFARE, PROPERTY, AND SECURITY OF THE PUBLIC IN THE PERFORMANCE OF PROFESSIONAL DUTIES.

SURVEYORS. . .

Rule 1. Will not promote private interest at the expense of the public good.

Rule 2. Will realize that they are responsible for the effect of the their work.

Rule 3. Will report only true facts or true evidence when expressing an opinion or conclusion in testimony or public forums.

Rule 4. Will assist the public to understand the purpose and principles involved in surveying.

Rule 5. Will recognize the need to serve the community, not only in a professional capacity, but also in a civic capacity.

DUTY TO CLIENT

CANON 2. SURVEYORS WILL BE A FAITHFUL AGENTS OR TRUSTEES OF THE CLIENT.

SURVEYORS. . .

Rule 6. Will not exaggerate professional qualifications in advertising or testimony.

Rule 7. Will not practice or offer to practice in any field in which they are not proficient and legally entitled to practice. They may engage the assistance of qualified persons to aid in the proper performance of services requested by the client.

Rule 8. Will be honest in all estimates, reports, statements and testimony.

Rule 9. Will advise clients of possible problems or conflicts of interest before accepting employment.

Rule 10. Will not allow unforeseen difficulties or conflicts to adversely affect the quality of the services.

Rule 11. Will not disclose information concerning the business affairs of clients or employers without their consent.

Rule 12. Will not accept compensation, financial or otherwise, from more than one interested party for the same service or for services pertaining to the same work without the knowledge and consent of all interested parties.

DUTY TO PROFESSION AND TO OTHER SURVEYORS

CANON 3. SURVEYORS WILL ACT IN A MANNER THAT UPHOLDS THE HONOR, INTEGRITY AND DIGNITY OF THE SURVEYING PROFESSION.

SURVEYORS. . .

Rule 13. Will strive to perform services in a manner which brings credit to the surveying profession.

Rule 14. Will avoid any conduct or associations which bring discredit to the surveying profession.

Rule 15. Will not offer to pay, either directly or indirectly, any commission, political contribution, gift, or other consideration in order to secure work, exclusive of securing salaried positions through an employment agency.

Rule 16. Will not use the office or membership in a professional society to promote selfish interests or interests of the client.

Rule 17. Will not maliciously discredit or injure the reputation of the surveying profession or another surveyor.

Rule 18. Will cooperate in extending the effectiveness of the surveying profession by interchanging ideas and experience with other surveyors.

Rule 19. Will recognize the need to promote the profession by contributing to the work of professional societies, schools and the scientific and technical press.

Rule 20. Will, whenever possible, name the person or persons who may be individually responsible for the discovery of original corners, writings, development of theories or other accomplishments.

Rule 21. Will not accept by voice or silence, credit rightfully due another surveyor.

Rule 22. Will not sign or seal maps, reports or other data prepared by someone else unless prepared by an employee under their direct supervision.

Rule 23. Will not represent as their own, the maps, reports, or the data prepared by someone else unless prepared by an employee under their direct supervision.

Rule 24. Will report any unethical, illegal or unfair practice of a surveyor to the proper authority and be willing to substantiate such practice.

Rule 25. Will recognize the value of any surveying service and uphold the principle of appropriate and adequate compensation for those services.

DUTY TO EMPLOYEES OR EMPLOYER

CANON 4. SURVEYORS WILL CONTINUE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREER AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE UNDER THEIR DIRECT SUPERVISION.

SURVEYORS. . .

Rule 26. Will encourage and assist in the education and advancement of those under their direct supervision.

Rule 27. Will encourage and assist those under their direct supervision to be active in professional societies.

Rule 28. Will encourage salaries commensurate with the qualifications of survey personnel.

Rule 29. Will be a faithful agent or trustee of their employer.

Rule 30. Will not practice or offer to practice private surveying services without the knowledge and consent of their employer.