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Constitution and Bylaws of the Central Weights and Measures Association

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ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this association shall be the "Central Weights and Measures Association" and may include the following States: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVE

SECTION 1. Provide a regional forum for the discussion of questions related to weights and measures administration, regulation, and enforcement at all levels of city, county, State, and Federal Government.

SECTION 2. Encourage and promote:

  1. Adoption of uniform weights and measures laws, regulations, rules, and orders, to include the uniform user, sales and service agency, manufacturer, and packager;
  2. Application of uniform inspection, testing, enforcement methods, and equipment;
  3. Maintenance of membership competence through development and distribution of the latest technical and managerial knowledge and its use in training;
  4. Pursuit of equity in the marketplace and prevention of unfair practices and procedures;
  5. Participation in public relations activities to increase the public awareness and understanding of the protection and equity in commercial transactions provided through the weights and measures program, and additionally provide services and educational development to member states and industry.

SECTION 3. Cooperate with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Conference on Weights and Measures, other weights and measures associations, industry, and scientific organizations.

  1. To encourage and assist in the development and use of weighing, measuring, and counting devices, together with ancillary and auxiliary equipment, meeting the latest code requirements throughout the region.
  2. To promote the maintenance, growth, and use of weights and measures laboratories in the support of regulatory programs and industry; to support activities designed to insure uniformity of laboratory standards, services, and traceability to the National Standards.

SECTION 4. Promote the development of professionalism of weights and measures practitioners through:

  1. Improvement of the image and status among the membership and with the public;
  2. Training new officials to attain professional competence, and all officials through ongoing programs to maintain competence;
  3. Promotion of uniformity and equity of occupational titles, position descriptions, and compensation.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. Membership in the association shall be open to those involved in or concerned with weights and measures activities and shall consist of four classes of membership: Active, Associate, Advisory, and Honorary.

  1. Active membership is open to weights and measures officials actively engaged in regulatory service in the employment of city, county, State and Federal government;
  2. Associate membership is open to individuals involved in business or industry;
  3. Advisory membership is open to:
    1. Representatives of the Federal Government; (non-regulatory)
    2. Retired Active or Associate members if they have no industry affiliation and, prior to retirement, served the Association as an officer or member of a standing committee, or attended three or more annual meetings as an Active or Associate member;
    3. Individuals requested by an officer of the Association to assist in its committee activities;
    4. Other interested individuals;
  4. Honorary membership is:
    1. Open to any person who has made a significant contribution to weights and measures activities;
    2. Free from dues and assessments;
    3. Without voting or office holding privileges;
  5. To become an Honorary member, an individual must:
    1. Be nominated in writing by three members of the Association;
    2. Receive a majority of the vote of the quorum present at an Annual Meeting.

Section 2. Application and Dues. Application membership with payment of the prescribed annual dues shall be submitted to the Executive Secretary/Treasurer who will knowledge receipt by issuing a signed membership card, and enter the new member's name on the official roles of the Association.

  1. Information to be provided with the application for membership includes:
    1. Applicant's full name and residence;
    2. Business or employer's full name and address;
    3. Business title or employment capacity;
    4. Statement of validity of information provided;
    5. Personal signature.
  2. Membership is on an annual basis from the beginning of the spring annual conference through the beginning of the next annual conference and dues are payable upon registration at the annual conference or by mail at that same date.
  3. Dues unpaid after sixty days following the close of the annual conference are in arrears; members in arrears shall not be entitled to any of the rights of membership including voting, holding office, and admission to the meetings.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS AND ELECTED MEMBERS

Section 1. Elected Officers and Elected Members. Officers and elected members of the Association shall be elected from the Active membership, with the exception of the Executive Committee. (See Article VI, Section 1B)

  1. Officers and Elected Members shall be Eight (8) members to serve on Executive Committee.
  2. Following the report of the Nominating Committee at the Annual Meeting, and before the election, additional nominations from the floor shall be permitted.
  3. The officers shall be elected by means acceptable to members present, and consistent with Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised. Elected officers and Elected Members shall begin their term at the close of the annual conference at which they are elected and serve until the close of the next annual conference.
  4. A quorum is needed to conduct an election. A majority of all votes cast shall constitute the legal choice.
  5. No member shall hold more than one elected office at a time and no member shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same elected office.
  6. All elected officers of the Association shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Committee.
  7. The Chairperson shall fill any vacancy arising in an office through appointment, with consent from the Executive Committee for that un-expired term.

Section 2. Appointed Officers. These officers of the Association shall be appointed by the Chairperson from the Active, Associate or Advisory Membership, they shall be:

  • Executive Secretary/Treasurer
  • Sergeant-at-Arms
  • Historian
  • Parliamentarian

These appointed officers other than the Executive Secretary/Treasurer may hold other positions within the Association.

Section 3. Duties. The principal duties of the officers are:

  1. Chairperson. The Chairperson of the Association is the principal presiding officer, shall preserve order, enforce the Constitution and Bylaws, appoint members to the Standing Committees and other committees and subcommittees established to carry out the business of the Association, call special meetings, serve as chairperson of the Executive Committee and as an ex-officio member of all Committees; and shall review all requests for purchases and bills rendered, approving only those purchases to be made and the bills to be paid which are within the approved budget.
  2. Vice-Chairperson. The Vice-Chairperson shall assist the Chairperson in the Activities and duties of the Chairperson. In the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson shall fulfill the duties of his office.
  3. Executive Secretary/Treasurer. The appointee shall keep a record of the proceedings and actions of the Association (including the official voting results). Additionally the appointee will handle correspondence as directed by the Chairperson, mail membership renewal announcements, and/or coordinate member renewal notice with annual conference registration notice. Further the appointee will collect all applications for membership including the dues and registration fees, and shall give receipts therefore along with maintaining the membership records of the Association. Mailing of notices to unpaid members shall be within forty-five days following the close of the annual conference. Shall pay all bills approved by the Chairperson, keeping a detailed record of all receipts and disbursements, and thus making a financial report to the Executive committee at least semi-annually. The Executive Secretary/Treasurer will make purchases approved by the Chairperson or the Executive Committee, and compile and edit the Association newsletter.
  4. Executive Committee Members. See Article VI
  5. Sergeant-At-Arms. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall perform those duties customarily incumbent upon that office.
  6. Historian. The Historian shall perform those duties customarily incumbent upon that office.
  7. Parliamentarian. The Parliamentarian shall assist in assuring meetings of the association are conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised and any special rules adopted by the association.
  8. Annual Conference Secretary. The Annual Conference Secretary shall assist the Chairperson with registration and all correspondence pertaining to planning and operation of the annual conference.

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

Section 1. Types.

  1. Regular Meetings of the Association include the Annual Conference for the election of officers, receiving and voting on reports of officers and committees, and transaction of other business approved by the Executive Committee; and the Interim Meeting for the establishment of the agenda for the Annual Conference and handling of other business of the Association approved by the Executive Committee.
  2. Special Meetings of the Association or its committees may be called by the Executive Committee, or upon the written request of twenty members of the Association. The purpose of such meeting shall be stated in the call.

Section 2. Conduct of Business

  1. The order of business for any meeting shall be specified in an agenda or program. In the absence of an agenda or program, the order of business will follow Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised.
  2. Except for executive sessions so announced, all Association meetings shall be open to all members. Attendance at executive sessions shall be limited to members of the committee calling such a session and others invited by the committee Chairperson.
  3. The privilege of the floor is extended to all classes of membership at all meetings of the Association except executive sessions.

Section 3. Voting.

  1. Each Active member shall have one vote of all matters presented to the Association as a body, and if a member of a committee or subcommittee, one vote on all matters presented to that committee.
  2. Each Associate or Advisory member shall have one vote on all business matters of the Association except they shall have no voting rights on Standing Committee items and elected officers.
  3. Voting on Committee Reports – Voting on Committee Reports shall be according to the following procedures:
    1. Items amended by the committee – Active members shall vote on the item as amended;
      1. Passed amended items shall be forwarded to the NCWM standing committee for consideration;
      2. Failed amended items shall be recorded as such; and
      3. A vote shall be taken on the item as presented prior to amendment.
    2. Committee recommendations – In the event that a standing committee provides a recommendation either in favor of or in opposition to an item, Active members shall vote:
      1. On the item as presented in the agenda, not on the committee’s recommendation.
    3. Committee reports – When voting has been completed on all individual items of a standing committee agenda, the Active members shall vote;
      1. To either accept or reject the standing committee’s report in its entirety.
  4. There shall be no proxies.

Section 4. Quorum.

A quorum exists when a majority of the states having active members in the Association are represented.

ARTICLE VI - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. Composition.

  1. The elected officers of the Association and the eight (8) elected members of the Executive Committee constitute the Executive Committee.
  2. Four (4) of the eight (8) elected members shall be selected from differing state jurisdictions or county or city subdivisions thereof having one or more Active members in the Association. One of the eight (8) elected members shall be the immediate past-chairperson. Two (2) of the eight (8) elected members shall be from the Associate or Advisory membership. One of the eight elected members shall be the secretary-treasurer as an ex-officio member.

Section 2. Duties.

  1. The Executive Committee shall have a general supervision of the affairs of the Association between its business meetings, fix the hour and place of the meetings, make recommendations to the Association, and shall perform such other duties as are specified in this Constitution and Bylaws. The Executive Committee shall be subject to the orders of the Association, and none of its acts shall conflict with action taken by the Association.
  2. The Executive Committee shall consider and prepare reports on any proposed changes to the Constitution and Bylaws.
  3. The fiscal year of the Association shall be July 1 - June 30. At the Annual Meeting preceding its fiscal year under consideration, the Executive Committee will establish a budget for the Association and fix the annual dues. At the Interim Meeting preceding the annual Conference, the Executive Committee shall consider and budget the registration fee for the Annual Conference to fund the estimated expenses.
  4. The Executive Committee shall review the semi-annual reports of the Executive Secretary/Treasurer for conformance with the budget, or for conformance with the actions of the Executive Committee for expenditures exceeding budget.
  5. Business of the Executive Committee may be conducted by phone or mail ballot, provided that actions taken on the basis of phone ballots must be confirmed by either subsequent mail ballot or a vote of the Committee at its next meeting.
  6. The Executive Committee shall review the policy and direction of the Executive Committee of the National Conference on Weights and Measures and prepare a report for the annual Conference of the Central Weights and Measures Association.

Section 3. Meetings.

  1. The Executive Committee will normally meet two times a year at the Association Interim Meeting, and at the Annual Conference. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called upon the written request of three members of the Executive Committee, or at the call of the Chairperson with the verbal consent of the majority of the Committee Members.
  2. There shall be an executive session of the Executive Committee immediately preceding the Annual Conference of the Association, and may be an executive Session immediately preceding the Annual Conference of the National Conference on Weights and Measures.

ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees.

  1. There shall be a Specifications and Tolerances Committee; a Laws and Regulation Committee; and a Professional Development Committee.
  2. Membership of the Specifications and Tolerances Committee shall consist of five (5) members, four being Active members (from differing state jurisdictions or city or county subdivision thereof) appointed by the chairperson and the fifth being the senior regional member of the same committee of the National Conference on Weights and Measures as an ex-officio member.
  3. Membership of the Laws and Regulations and Professional Development committees shall consist of six (6) members, four being Active members (from differing State jurisdictions or city or county subdivision thereof) appointed by the chairperson, the fifth being the senior regional member of the same committee of the National Conference on Weights and Measures as an ex-officio member and the sixth being an Associate or Advisory Member.
  4. Except for the ex-officio member, all committee members, including Active, Associate, and Advisory will serve staggered four-year terms with a new member being appointed each year.
  5. The chairperson of each standing committee shall be elected by the respective committee.

Section 2. Annual Committees.

Annual Committees of the Association shall be as follows with members appointed by the Chairperson:

  1. Nominating Committee composed of five (5) Active members, no more than two (2) members from the same State or subdivision thereof, to nominate candidates for the offices to be filled at the Annual Meeting.
  2. Resolution Committee composed of the three (3) Active members to prepare resolutions for consideration by the membership to document policy or position in specific issues or happenings.
  3. Auditing Committee composed of three (3) Active members to examine the books, accounts, and vouchers of the Executive Secretary/Treasurer and report their condition to the membership at the Annual Conference.
  4. Credential Committee composed of three (3) Active Members to serve at the Annual Conference to: make arrangements for registration; supervise registration; prepare a composite membership list adding the names of registrants to the Executive Secretary/Treasurers membership list annotated to identify active members and their authorization to vote; conduct the voting process under the supervision of the presiding officer; and resolve any questions raised concerning those voting on any particular vote.
  5. An Associate Membership Committee composed of at least five (5) Associate members to function in the mutual interest of the Association and the Associate membership in all business and social functions of the Association.

Section 3. Other Committees of Sub-Committees.

  1. A committee chairperson or a Standing Committee may request establishment of a subcommittee(s) by the Association Chairperson to increase the efficiency of conduction business. Such subcommittees will be established without a specified term, but must be reviewed for continuation by each incoming Association Chairperson. The Association Chairperson will establish subcommittee(s) based on the recommendations of the Standing Committee Chairperson and will name the subcommittee chairperson.
  2. The Association Chairperson may establish, appoint members to, and name the chairperson of, special or ad hoc committees using any committees for up to two years. The life of a committee can be extended providing that two of its members are replaced by two new members who have not served on the particular committee before.

ARTICLE VIII - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the Association may adopt.

ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

Section 1. Proposed changes in the Constitution and Bylaws shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee at least 30 days before the date of the next Interim Meeting. The Association Chairperson shall mail the proposal together with the recommendation of the Executive Committee, to the Association membership at least 60 days before the date of the next Annual Conference, at which meeting it will be brought to a vote.

Section 2. This Constitution and Bylaws may be changed by a two-thirds majority vote of the Active members present at the Annual Meeting provided that it constitutes a Quorum.

Section 3. Approved changes shall take effect at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting at which they were adopted.

Adopted: May 3, 1995 at Lincoln NE
Amended Article VI, Section 1: April 29, 1999 at Springfield MO
Amended Article VII, Section 1: April 29, 1999 at Springfield MO
Amended Article V, Section 3: May 5, 2004 at Omaha, NE
Amended Article VII, Section 1: May 5, 2004 at Omaha, NE

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