Member Access click to enter Search the EERI roster Renew your membership Submit changes to your info

Visit the following EERI Websites: World Housing Encyclopedia Northern CA Chapter

Authorization and Regulations
Approved by the Board of Directors May 9, 1998

 
Authorization of Regional Chapters.

1. Regional Chapters of the Institute may be authorized by the EERI Board of Directors. The name of a Regional chapter shall be "EERI (name) Chapter." Authority for the establishment of any Regional Chapter shall lapse automatically if activities are not initiated within one year after authorization.
   
   
2. A prime consideration of the Institute Board of Directors in authorizing a Regional chapter is the opportunity for members to interact with other professionals in the region for the purpose of promoting study of earthquake hazards and advancing mitigation activities that will benefit the region.

The qualifications for establishing a regional chapter shall include:

1. A written request of at least ten (10) Active (regular) Members of the Institute residing in the area of the proposed chapter provided that at least twenty (20) Active Members reside in the area.
   
   
2. A designation of the specific territory to be included in the Regional Chapter and the name proposed for the Chapter. [For a regional chapter to function properly the territory should be defined in a manner that will permit participation by chapter members in organized activities — meetings, workshops, lectures, social events. A territory defined too broadly will not be efficient and effective; a suggestion is to define the region in terms of reasonable travel time (two hours by car) to attend chapter events.]
   
   
3. A statement defining organization of the chapter including officers, terms of office, dues, and anticipated meeting schedule.
   
   

1. Members of the Institute residing in the area of the Regional Chapter shall be eligible for membership. Regional Chapters are encouraged to involve students and Student Chapters in their areas in activities and programs.
   
   
2. Special Regional Memberships may be established by the Chapter to encourage participation and to permit those interested in earthquake engineering to learn about the benefits of membership in EERI. Such Regional Membership is valid for a period of up to two years. Yearly dues for Regional Membership are 1/2 of the dues of assessed Active Members and entitle Regional Members to receive the EERI Newsletter. Half the dues assessed Regional Members will be returned to the Chapter. If a Regional Member joins the Institute as an Active Member, Regional Member dues for that year will be applied toward Active Membership dues.
   
   
3. A regional chapter shall elect a slate of officers who must be Active Members of the Institute. The following officers, terms, and duties are suggested as an Executive Committee but may be modified if other arrangements will better serve the members of the chapter.

1. President (one-year term) -- shall preside at meetings, appoint committees, and serve as contact to the EERI Board.
   
   
2. Vice President (one-year term, with automatic succession to President for one year) -- program chairman and other duties as assigned.
   
   
3. Secretary-Treasurer (two-year term) – shall keep records of activities, accounts; submit annual report to Executive Director of EERI to be forwarded to the Institute’s Board of Directors.
   
   
4. Additional Board Members

A Regional Chapter shall establish its own rules of procedure and shall conform to the Bylaws of the Institute.

1. Each Regional Chapter shall control the occurrence and character of its meetings. The success and value of Chapters may be aided by consultations with the Executive Director and the EERI Board of Directors to help arrange speakers or programs that will enhance the professional interests of the members in the region served by the Chapter.
   
   
2. The Regional Chapter may assess dues to cover expenses of operations. Chapter dues must be approved by the Board of Directors of the Institute. The dues will be collected by the Institute and forwarded to the appropriate Chapter Officer for deposit in Chapter accounts {or may be held in Institute accounts for disbursement at the request of the Chapter}. Regional Members will not be assessed Chapter dues. One third of the first year dues of a new Active Member recruited by and residing in the area of the Regional Chapter will be returned to the Chapter. None of the dues of Active Members who join the Institute after the expiration of their Regional Membership will be returned to the Chapter.
   

Each Chapter shall submit a brief annual report not later than May 1 of each year. The report shall include:

1. A summary statement of the meetings that were held during the preceding calendar year, giving the date of each, the attendance, the program or the principal speaker and subject, and other pertinent information;
   
   
2. Names of the officers and roster of members for the preceding calendar year.
   
   

1. A Regional Chapter, its officers, or its members shall not obligate the Institute to any financial commitment without written prior approval of the Board of Directors of the Institute.
   
   
2. The Chapter shall not issue policy statements on matters outside its geographic area or purport to speak for the Institute without advance written approval of the Board of Directors of the Institute.

The following items may be modified as conditions dictate but are subject to approval of the Board of Directors of the Institute.

1. Area and name of Regional Chapter
   
   
2. Dues increase
   
   
3. Procedures for selection of officers
   
   

Regional Chapters may be terminated by action of the EERI Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may terminate a Chapter if it becomes inactive or if its continuance is considered not to be in the best interest of the Institute.