In order to render the highest level of public service in the field of environmental health, to establish an identity and voice for the Environmental Health Specialists of California, and to enhance their professional, economic, and social needs, these Environmental Health Specialists hereby unite in the California Environmental Health Association.

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the California Environmental Health Association.

Section 2. The area of jurisdiction shall be the entire state of California.

Section 1. The Official Seal of this Association shall be the Seal of the National Environmental Health Association with the words and date inscribed as follows: "CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION, JUNE 5,1954."

Section 2. The Emblem of this Association shall be of such design as adopted by the National Environmental Health Association on November 3, 1937.

Section 3. The official publication of this Association shall be THE CALIFORNIA JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH and the CEHA BULLETIN.

Section 1. The classes of membership shall be as follows: Active, Student, Retired, Company/Corporate, and Educational Institution.

Section 2. The requirements for membership shall be those established by the Board of Directors of CEHA.

Section 3. The right to hold elective office or to chair a standing committee is granted to all membership classes, except Student and Educational Institution.

Section 4. Membership in the National Environmental Health Association is not required for membership in CEHA and the Chapters.

Section 1. Voting privileges are granted to all membership classes except Student and Educational Institution. Each member is entitled to one vote.

Section 1. Annual dues or contributions for the various classes of membership in the California Environmental Health Association shall be those established by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Total California Environmental Health Association and Chapter dues and contributions shall be paid by or for every member in a manner prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. Dues or contributions shall be payable annually on the anniversary date of the member.

Section 4. Members who have not paid dues or contributions within ninety calendar days of the due date shall be suspended. Such members, during the remainder of the calendar year, shall be automatically reinstated by payment of delinquent dues or contributions. Thereafter, the procedure applicable to new memberships shall be followed.

Section 1. The Board of Directors of this Association shall consist of the officers enumerated in Section 1 of Article VIII, the Immediate Past President of this Association, the President and President-Elect of each Chapter.

Section 2. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President, the President-Elect shall assume the duties of that office.

Section 3. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President-Elect or Vice-President, a special election may be held to fill the vacancy.

Section 4. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Secretary or Treasurer, a voting member in good standing shall be appointed by the Board of Directors to hold such office.

Section 5. Each Director shall have one vote on any matter before the Board of Directors.

Section 6. More than one-half the members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

Section 7. The President, or any three members of the Board, may call a meeting of the Board of Directors.

Section 8. The order of succession to chair any meeting is as follows: President, President-Elect, Vice President, Immediate Past President, Secretary, Treasurer. In the event none of the named officers are present, any Director may call the meeting to order to elect a temporary chair who shall serve for that meeting only.

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall have the same rights, powers, privileges and duties which are generally conferred upon Boards of Directors, and in addition, thereto, shall:

Section 1. The officers of the California Environmental Health Association shall be a President, President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer,

Section 2. The duties of officers shall be such as are implied by their respective titles and which usually pertain to their respective offices, those which are specifically set forth in these Bylaws, and those which may be delegated to them by the Board of Directors.

Section 3. The President shall be chair of the Board of Directors and shall preside at all meetings of the Board and Association. Subject to approval by the Board of Directors, the President shall appoint all Committees and the Chair thereof.

Section 4. The President-Elect shall assist the President in the performance of Presidential duties. In the absence of the President, the President-Elect shall fulfill the functions of the President.

Section 5. The Vice President shall perform any duties as may be assigned by the President.

Section 6. The Secretary shall record and keep accurate minutes of all proceedings of the Board of Directors.

Section 7. The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds of the Association and shall deposit them in a bank or banks approved by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer, whenever requested to do so, shall report the financial condition of the Association to the Board of Directors. All disbursement shall be made by the check of the Association, signed by either the Treasurer, the President, or Secretary.

Section 8. The President, President-Elect, and Vice President shall each present a report at the Annual Business Meeting of the Association. The Treasurer shall present a written report at the Annual Business Meeting of the Association.

Section 1. There shall be at least one business meeting each year, one of which shall be designated as the Annual Business Meeting.

Section 2. There shall be an Annual Educational Symposium.

Section 3. The Annual Business Meeting shall be held in conjunction with the Annual Educational Symposium.

Section 4. The date and location of each meeting is to be fixed by the Board of Directors.

Section 5. Forty voting members, in addition to the President, shall constitute a quorum at a business meeting.

Section 1. The Board may create and dissolve standing and special committees, the organization and charges of which shall appear in the Procedure Manual.

The noted changes Sections 2 and 4 below are not in effect until approved through a vote of the entire membership. At the time of posting, the underscored language was approved by a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors on April 3, 2001 (Board of Directors' meeting in Sacramento).

Section 1. The members of this Association shall elect by plurality vote a President, President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer prior to each Annual Business Meeting. Those elected shall assume office at the close of the Annual Business Meeting and shall hold office for one year, except the Secretary and Treasurer who shall hold office for two years from that date. The terms of office for the Secretary and Treasurer shall be staggered, those positions being filled alternating years.

Section 2. A suggested nomination may be submitted in writing by any member in good standing to the Nominations and Elections Committee for its consideration not later than six months after the last at least ninety days prior to the Annual Business Meeting.

Section 3. The Nominations and Elections Committee shall submit its nominations to the Board of Directors at least ninety days prior to the Annual Business Meeting. Upon approval of the nominees by the Board of Directors, the committee shall prepare a ballot.

Section 4. Voting shall be conducted by the Nominations and Elections Committee and shall be by mail ballot. A short biographical sketch of each candidate shall be included with each ballot. Ballots shall be distributed to eligible voters at least ninety sixty days prior to the Annual Business Meeting. Members residing outside the United States may vote by Fax if ballot is signed and a signed statement is on file with CEHA waiving the anonymity of the individual.

Section 5. Special elections shall be conducted by the Nominations and Elections Committee as instructed by the Board of Directors.

Section 1. Amendments to these Bylaws may originate from the membership at large, any Chapter, or the Board of Directors of this Association. All proposed amendments shall be referred to the Bylaws and Procedure Manual Committee for study and recommendation to the Board of Directors. The proposed amendments shall be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Board of Directors. Bylaw changes shall be voted on by the membeship and shall be published in the next available issue of The California Journal of Environmental Health or the CEHA Bulletin.

Section 1. Chapters may be established by membership petition to the Board of Directors. The establishment of new Chapters shall be at the discretion of the Board of Directors. A new Chapter shall be recognized when its proposed Bylaws have been submitted to and been approved by the Board of Directors of the California Environmental Health Association. The Secretary will then issue a certificate attesting to the recognition of the new Chapter.

Section 2. Chapters shall pattern their Bylaws directly upon these Bylaws, with due allowance for local needs and conditions.

Section 3. It shall be the duty of Chapter officers to cause all correspondence from the California Environmental Health Association and National Environmental Health Association to be read at the first Chapter business meeting immediately following receipt of such correspondence.

Section 1. Twenty per cent of eligible voters may at any time petition for redress on any action of the Board of Directors. Such petition shall be validated by the Secretary and presented to the Board of Directors at its next scheduled meeting. The Board shall then act favorably upon the petition or call for a special election to resolve the issue in question.

Section 1. The President of the California Environmental Health Association shall be the representative of this Association to, and a member in good standing of NEHA. The President shall serve as a representative of the NEHA Board of Delegates.

Section 1. In all matters of procedure not covered by the California Environmental Health Association's Bylaws and Procedure Manual, the provisions set forth in Robert's Rules of Order shall govern.