Bylaws
ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
1.1 The name of the Division shall be the Environment, Natural Resources and Energy Division (ENRE) of the American Planning Association.
1.2 The purposes of the Division shall be to:
A. Advance the theory and practice of environmental, natural resource and
energy planning as sub-disciplines of the planning profession;
B. Promote the incorporation of the best environmental, natural resources and energy planning practices in the work of generalist planners and other planning sub- disciplines; and
C. Promote the adoption of scientifically sound and effective policies to promote protection of the environment and the sustainable use of natural resources and energy by the American Planning Association as an organization and by APA's members as individuals.
1.3 The Environment, Natural Resources and Energy Division is established pursuant to Section 9 of the American Planning Association Bylaws and the approval of the APA Board of Directors.
1.4 The Environment, Natural Resources and Energy Division shall be operated in conformance to the provision of Section 9 of the American Planning Association Bylaws, relating to the creation, continuation and dissolution of APA Divisions as they may be amended.
1.5 The fiscal year of the Division shall run from October 1 to September 30 of the year following.
1.6 The annual budget shall be presented for approval to the members at the Annual Business meeting. Once approved for the fiscal year beginning the previous October 1, this budget shall have roll-over authorization until the next business meeting when the budget is formally adopted by members present. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to spend and transfer funds within the existing budget.
1.7 Meetings
A. The Division shall meet no fewer than once each year. An annual meeting shall be held in conjunction with the APA National Conference at the conference site. Additional meetings may be held at the call of the Chair at such times and places as the Chair designates.
B. All members shall be notified in writing of all meetings no less than 30 days in advance.
C. To the extent that is practical, decisions presented to the membership at any meeting shall be made by consensus. In the event that consensus is not possible decisions shall be made by majority vote of those regular members in good standing who are in attendance. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted. Procedures shall be informal but, where any question arises, shall be governed by the most recent edition of Roberts Rules of Order.
ARTICLE 2. MEMBERSHIP
2.1 Membership shall be open to individuals and organizations having a special interest in environmental, natural resource or energy planning upon application and payment of dues.
2.2 Membership shall be effective from the receipt of initial annual dues and may be renewed annually thereafter.
2.3 Member dues shall be established in the Annual Budget and may be amended by a majority of the Division membership voting in a proposed dues change.
2.4 Membership shall be terminated and all member rights extinguished if dues remain unpaid six months after the member's renewal date.
ARTICLE 3. OFFICERS GENERALLY
3.1 Any regular member in good standing may stand for election and serve as an officer of the Division or may be appointed to fill any vacant officer position on an acting basis by majority vote of the remaining officers.
3.2 The officers of the Environment, Natural Resources and Energy Division shall include: Chair, Chair Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, and Past Chair.
3.3 Officers shall be elected as provided in Article 5 by a plurality of the membership empowered to vote by Section 2.3.
3.4 Any officer or a standing or ad hoc committee appointed by the Chair may perform any of the duties of another officer with that person's agreement or upon the unanimous vote of the remaining officers. Such arrangements shall remain in effect only until the election of new officers and may be continued thereafter only with the agreement of the newly elected officers.
3.5 Terms of Office
A. The Chair shall assume office at the close of the annual meeting in odd-numbered years and shall serve for two years.
B. The Chair Elect shall assume office at the close of the annual meeting in even-numbered years following her or his election and shall serve for one year in this capacity before assuming the office of Chair.
C. The Secretary-Treasurer shall assume office at the close of the annual meeting in even-numbered years following her or his election and shall serve for two years.
D. The Past Chair shall assume office upon the termination of her or his prior term as Chair at the end of the annual meeting in odd-numbered years and shall serve for one year in this capacity.
ARTICLE 4. OFFICERS - POWERS AND DUTIES
4.1 The Chair shall:
A. Act as presiding officer of the Division;
B. Prepare a proposed annual program and budget;
C. Prepare an annual report of the Division's accomplishments for the preceding year as required by Section 9 of the American Planning Association Bylaws, relating to the creation, continuation and dissolution of APA Divisions as they may be amended.
D. Prepare or cause to be prepared such other reports as may be required by the American Planning Association Bylaws and the APA's Criteria for Creation, Continuation and Dissolution of APA Divisions;
E. Propose a long-range plan of development and/or amendments thereto as required by the American Planning Association Bylaws, relating to the creation, continuation and dissolution of APA Divisions as they may be amended.
F. Represent the Division at meetings of the APA Division Council;
G. Call meetings of the Division;
H. Appoint committees, and other permanent or temporary subordinate positions as may be required to implement the Division's program;
I. Authorize specific expenditures in accordance with the adopted budget;
J. Maintain the records of the Division;
K. Coordinate Division activities with staff of the APA; and
L. Ensure the Division's compliance with all requirements of the American Planning Association Bylaws, related to the creation, continuation and dissolution of APA Divisions as they may be amended.
4.2 The Chair-Elect shall:
A. In the absence of the Chair assume her/his duties;
B. Assist the other officers as they deem necessary;
C. Assume the office of Chair upon the resignation or incapacity of the Chair, and
D. Attend Divisions Council annual meetings as Division funding allows.
E. Formulate a committee, as needed, to evaluate the Division’s Bylaws and submit proposed bylaw amendments to the membership.
4.3 The Secretary-Treasurer shall:
A. Act at the direction of the Chairperson;
B. Receive and disburse funds on behalf of the Division;
C. Maintain the accounts of the Division;
D. Invest Division funds in insured accounts, government bonds, or other secured instruments or as may be decided upon by vote at the annual meeting;
E. Prepare an annual report of Division finances and such other financial reports as are required by the American Planning Association Bylaws and the APA's Criteria for Creation, Continuation and Dissolution of APA Divisions;
F. Prepare minutes of Division meetings;
G. Tabulate votes by Division members, except votes tabulated by an appointed Teller; and
H. Assist the Chair in preparing an annual budget.
4.4 The Past Chair shall:
A. In the absence of the Chair and the Chair Elect assume her/his duties;
B. Assist the other officers as they deem necessary;
C. Assume the office of Chair upon the resignation or incapacity of the Chair and the Chair Elect;
D. Conduct removal elections as provided in Article 8, and
E. Serve as the Chair of the Elections Committee.
ARTICLE 5. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
5.1 Elections for Chair and Secretary-Treasurer shall be conducted in each even-numbered year via regular or electronic mail as deemed appropriate.
5.2 The Elections Committee Chair and at lease one other member appointed by the Division Chair shall complete the following no later than January 15 in an election year:
A. Nominate no fewer than two candidates for each elected office.
B. Provide a written report to the Executive Committee including the names of the candidates as well as any petition nominating a person signed by no fewer than twenty Division members.
5.3 The Elections Committee shall prepare the candidates’ biography and statement for inclusion in the quarterly newsletter in sufficient time to allow elections to take place prior to the national APA conference in the spring of even-numbered years.
5.4 A ballot shall be presented to all members in good standing in sufficient time to allow new officers to be notified and to allow them to assume office at the close of the annual business meeting following the election.
ARTICLE 6. ANNUAL PROGRAM AND PROGRAM
6.1 The Chair will prepare a proposed annual program and budget to be presented to the membership present at the Annual Meeting.
6.2 The Annual Program and Budget shall be adopted by a majority of those in good standing in attendance at the Annual Meeting.
6.3 The Annual Program shall at a minimum ensure compliance with the American Planning Association Bylaws and the APA's criteria for creation, continuation and dissolution of APA Divisions and shall identify specific services or products to be provided to the membership or activities to be undertaken to further the purposes of
the Division.
6.4 The Budget shall estimate the current balance of funds, contain a projection of revenues from all sources and specify expenditures by program area. No budget may project a deficit except that budgets may propose to draw down that part of any balance of funds, which is not currently obligated.
ARTICLE 7. AMENDMENTS
7.1 These bylaws may be amended by a majority of the Division membership voting on a proposed amendment(s), which shall be submitted in writing by the Chair-elect to the membership. Members shall be allowed a minimum of 30 days to submit votes.
7.2 Amendments may be proposed by the Chair or by petition signed by no fewer than 20 regular members in good standing.
7.3 Ballot questions concerning amendments may be included on officer election ballots.
ARTICLE 8. REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
8.1 Officers except the Past Chair may be removed from office by a majority vote of the full members of this Division.
8.2 A removal vote shall be conducted by written ballot by the Past Chair, upon his or her receipt of a petition signed by at least 100 full members of the Division, not more of who 150 may reside in one Chapter of APA, requesting a removal vote. The ballot shall be returned and tallied by the Past Chair. The Past Chair shall notify the officer and national APA of the removal vote. Former officers shall transfer all division records, funds and documents in their possession to the Past Chair.
8.3 The Past Chair may serve in the office from which the removal has occurred, if necessary, provided the Past Chair shall, unless a general election is to occur within 6 months, conduct a special election within 6 months to fill the office.