The constitution of the Middle East Acoustic Society is a set of by-laws as adopted by the committee and applies to all members of the society.
CONSTITUTION
NAME
1. The name of the Society is "MIDDLE EAST ACOUSTIC SOCIETY" (MEAS).
OBJECTS
2. The objects for which the Society is established are:
(a) To inform the public of the role and responsibilities of Acoustical firms and in particular the services which such firms provide.
(b) To establish and encourage adherence to standards of professional behavior and conduct for acoustical firms.
(c) To provide members with a forum for exchange of information on matters relating to acoustics.
(d) To cooperate and liaise with other Societies and bodies with respect to matters of mutual acoustical interest.
(e) To inform and protect the community by discouraging, clarifying, negating or questioning unclear inaccurate or unproven representations of an acoustical nature.
(f) To cooperate and liaise with authorities and Societies having similar or analogous interests and in so doing, to contribute to the establishment, maintenance and application of standards, laws and registrations.
(g) To encourage amongst the members of the Society a high professional standard in all matters of practice including the technical advice, calibration and use of instruments, measuring techniques and data processing employed by acoustical firms.
(h) To promote the welfare of acoustical firms and the common interests of the members of the Society and to do all such things as may be meaningful and lawful from time to time.
(i) To improve the standards of acoustical professionals in the region and to encourage acoustics as a profession.
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
3. Honorary Membership for a prescribed period of time or a Citation may be conferred upon a Member of the Society or an individual in recognition of service and contribution to acoustics and to the standing and welfare of acoustical firms.
ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP
4. Membership shall be Member or Member (International); unless the context indicates otherwise Member and Member (International) are hereafter collectively called Member.
5. Membership at Member grade may be granted to consultancies or firms structured as:
(a) Sole Practitioners
(b) Partnerships
(c) Incorporated companies
(d) Separated and distinct groups or divisions of partnerships or companies
(e) Such other structure as is acceptable to the Society
6. Membership shall conform to the following:
(a) The principals, partners and directors taking technical responsibility for each consultancy or firm shall be a corporate Member of the Middle Eastern Acoustical Society. Each such person shall also satisfy the Society that they hold a recognized tertiary qualification in a discipline pertinent to acoustics and/or have the professional experience to practice acoustical consulting in the area of work undertaken by the consultancy.
(b) Each consultancy shall have demonstrated the ongoing economic and professional viability of the consultancy by having been in practice for the previous two years, except that when a consultancy divides and the principals of that consultancy become principals of separate consultancies, the need for a further two year waiting period may be waived at the discretion of the MEAS Executive Committee.
Similarly, when a Member consultancy merges with another consultancy, or takes in another partner and the consultancy structure and name change; the two year viability establishment period may be waived at the discretion of the MEAS Executive Committee.
(c) Full membership and separate representation may be granted to a branch office which has common or part common ownership by a MEAS Member consultancy, provided that it meets all the other conditions of ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP of this constitution; and further provided that only one vote may be recorded by that group of two or more consultancies when voting on Constitutional changes.
Common or part-common ownership means that a Principal/Partner or shareholder of one consultancy is a Principal/Partner or shareholder of another consultancy.
(d) Where a Member consultancy has two or more divisions the name of each consulting division shall indicate that it is related to, or is a division or branch of the other consultancy or consultancies.
(e) No two members of the Society; as distinct from divisions of a Member, shall have names which are sufficiently alike as may result in confusion in the public's mind.
(f) Members shall conform to the CONTINUING MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS of this constitution.
(g) The consultancy shall be based in The Middle East.
7. Membership (International) may be granted to an Acoustical Consultant resident or normally resident outside The Middle East and in other respects complying with the requirements of ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP.
ELECTION TO MEMBERSHIP
8. Election to membership shall take place in the following manner:
(a) The applicant for membership shall present the qualification held and particulars of relevant experience to the Society.
(b) The Executive Committee of the Society shall; if satisfied with the applicant's qualifications, experience and professional conduct; advise all members of the Society of the applicant's application. So that existing members can make an informed decision, a copy of the applicant's application shall be forwarded to such existing members as request a copy from the secretary.
(c) If within 30 calendar days of this advice no objection has been received from the Members of the Society, the applicant shall be deemed to be a Member of the Society within such category of membership as shall have been determined and subject to the payment of appropriate dues and joining fees.
(d) Should there be an objection, the Chairman and one other member of the Executive committee appointed by that committee shall hear the objector or a representative of objectors to elicit the nature of the objection. The Chairman shall then advise the Executive Committee of the nature of the objection and that Committee shall reconsider the application. If the Committee is then satisfied with the applicant's qualifications, experience and professional conduct, then the applicant shall be deemed to be a Member of the Society within such category of membership as shall have been determined and subject to the payment of appropriate dues and joining fees.
(e) The Society reserves the right to give no reason for its decision.
CONTINUING MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
9. Each consultancy shall provide acoustical consulting services to the community as its day to day principal activity and shall not derive more than one half of its fees from a single client.
10. No principal, partner or director of a consultancy shall undertake activities which will prejudice the impartiality of the consultancy.
11. No related or associated organization of a consultancy shall undertake activities which will prejudice the impartiality of the consultancy.
12. All persons, Principals and staff, authorizing reports of the consultancy or otherwise taking technical responsibility of each consultancy shall be a corporate Member of The Middle Eastern Acoustical Society or of a kindred body acceptable to the Society
13. Members shall at all time carry professional indemnity insurance to a minimum amount of cover as determined from time to time by the Society with respect to acoustical consulting assignments being carried out or to be carried out by them within The Middle East and overseas.
14. All members shall:
(a) Complete the Society's Annual Return within the time set by the Society.
(b) Pay annual and other dues within the time set by the Society.
(c) At all times conform to the CODE OF ETHICS adopted by the Society.
(d) Conform to such other requirements of the Society as adopted from time to time.
CENSURE OF A MEMBER
15. The Society may censure a Member for failing to comply with the established ethics of the
Society or the accepted principles of practice and conduct of the members thereof and such censure shall be in the form of a letter under the hand of the Chairman of the Society to such Member.
SUSPENSION OF MEMBERSHIP
16. If upon examination and consideration by the Executive Committee, a Member is found in default of the CONTINUING MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS, then that Member may be suspended by the Executive Committee.
(a) As part of its deliberations the Executive Committee in its sole discretion may consult with any other person or organization; including the Society in General Meeting.
(b) As part of its deliberations the Executive Committee in its sole discretion may allow and consider submissions by the defaulting Member.
(c) The Executive Committee may determine to suspend a Member:
i Until the satisfactory action or performance by the defaulting Member OR
ii Until a date fixed by the Executive Committee.
17. During the period of the suspension the Member shall not be eligible to participate in any proceedings of the Society.
18. The Representation of any suspended Member shall during the period of any suspension be deemed to have ceased.
19. Any person being an elected officer of the Society shall during the period of any suspension imposed upon the Member be deemed to have relinquished such elected office.
20. Suspension for non-payment of any sum due to the Society shall be for a period not exceeding sixty (60) days but such suspension may be renewed if at the expiration of the first period of suspension the sum or sums due to the Society have not been paid but such extension shall not exceed a period of sixty (60) days in any event.
21. Any suspension may at any time be waived if in the opinion of the Executive Committee the reason therefore no longer exists or if a satisfactory explanation for non-payment has been made.
22. Such suspension may be waived by the Executive Committee at any time if a satisfactory explanation for the cause of the suspension shall be given by the Member.
23. During the period of the suspension for a cause other than non-payment of any sum due to the
Society the Member shall remain liable to pay all sums due to the Society by the Member.
TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
24. A Member shall cease to be a Member of the Society:
(a) Upon death or resignation of a sole practitioner; or if the consulting entity ceases.
(b) If being a Member (International) ceases to be resident outside The Middle East.
25. If in the opinion of the Society, and as so determined by a majority of all members of the
Society a Member no longer conforms to the REQUIREMENTS OF MEMBERSHIP and/or the
CONTINUING MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS as provided for in this constitution; then that
Member shall cease to be a Member provided that:
(a) The Member is advised of the intention of the Society to determine membership.
(b) The Member is given an opportunity to dispute the determination of membership; either personally or in writing at a meeting of the Society of which due notice shall be given to the Member of at least 30 calendar days prior to such meeting.
(c) Such Member is advised in writing by the Society of their right to be represented by legal Counsel at such a meeting of the Society and may bring and present witnesses to such meeting and to request any reasonable adjournment of such meeting.
(d) Due consideration be given to any submission made by such Member or Counsel on the Member's behalf and other witnesses.
REPRESENTATION
26. A Representative of each Member firm, partnership, company or separate and distinct branch or division shall be designated in writing under the hand of the management of that Member firm to be its Representative to the Society. The Representative shall be a Principal or Manager as per the requirements of clause 6 (a) of this Constitution.
27. A Delegate may be sent by a Member organization in lieu of the Representative to attend meetings of the MEAS. The Delegate must be an experienced and fully qualified acoustical consultant who is also a Member of The Middle Eastern Acoustical Society. The Delegate is free to contribute to any matter under discussion but would not normally vote on behalf of the Representative unless carrying a written proxy vote signed by the Representative or a Principal of the Member firm. A Delegate may not act as an Executive Member, but may attend an Executive Meeting as an observer. A Delegate may be sent out of the meeting during delicate discussion and voting at the discretion of the Chairman.
28. An Observer may be sent by a Member organization or potential member organization to general meetings of the MEAS. An observer may only contribute to discussion at the invitation of the Chairman, and has no voting rights. An Observer may be sent out of the meeting room at the discretion of the Chairman.
VOTING RIGHTS
29. At all meetings of the Society each Member shall have one vote.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
30. Members of the Society shall appoint at the first meeting thereof an Executive Committee comprising the Officers named hereunder and who shall be responsible for the management and control of the Society subject to such terms and conditions as the members may impose thereon.
31. The Officers are:
Chairman
Vice-Chairman
Secretary
Not more than three other persons
32. In particular, the Executive Committee shall have power to:
(a) Make rules and regulations for the conduct of its work and for the administration of the Society not inconsistent with this constitution.
(b) Have charge of the property of the Society.
(c) Fill vacancies which may occur in any office.
(d) Prepare an annual budget to be submitted to the members at the Annual General Meeting.
(e) Designate a confidential depository to collect dues and assessments and to handle other confidential information which in the opinion of the Executive Committee shall be delegated to an independent agency outside the Society.
(f) Designate special Committees and define their powers and duties.
(g) Assign special duties to the Officers and where necessary Members, and
(h) Do all other acts not expressly reserved to the members by Statute, or those by-laws which may be necessary or proper to carry out the aims of the Society.
33. A Majority of members of the Executive shall constitute a quorum and the Executive shall meet at such times as it determines or when called together by the Chairman or any two Committee members thereof.
34. Members of the Executive shall be elected for a two-year term and be eligible for re-election at the expiry of the term.
35. The Chairman shall normally preside at all meetings of the Society and the Executive Committee and the Chairman shall be an ex officio member of any Committee of the Society. The Secretary shall be the Public Officer of the Society and shall in addition to the duties normally performed by a Secretary keep and maintain a complete record of the business of the Society.
36. An elected Officer or member of the Executive Committee shall be deemed to have vacated their office of membership of the Executive Committee if the Member is no longer the Representative of a Member partnership, firm, company or separate and distinct group or division thereof or otherwise ceases to be a Member of the Society, resigns from their position or is removed from office. The vacancy so created shall be filled by appointment to be made by the Executive Committee and the person so appointed shall hold the office or membership appointment for the remainder of the term for which the Member's predecessor was appointed.
SUB-COMMITTEES
37. The Society may by majority vote of the members appointment sub-committees and determine the purpose thereof and the membership.
38. If not appointed by the Society; the members of the sub-committee shall appoint the Chairman of each sub-committee from their own number.
39. Meetings of sub-committees shall be on the call of the Chairman of that sub-committee.
FEES
40. Fees payable on application for membership and regular subscriptions for membership shall be such as are determined from time to time by a two-thirds majority of all Members of the Society.
GENERAL MEETINGS
41. For each year following the formation of the Society the members thereof shall hold a meeting which shall be called the Annual General Meeting and at which the business to be conducted shall include where necessary the election of officers and members of the Executive Committee.
42. Any meeting of members other than the Annual General Meeting shall be an extraordinary meeting to be normally convened on the call of the Chairman of the Society or by the Executive Committee. However, any five members of the Society may by notice in writing to the Secretary of the
Society requisition the calling of an Extraordinary Meeting and if such shall not be called by the
Chairman or the Executive Committee such members may themselves call the meeting.
43. All meetings shall be at such places upon such dates and at such times as shall be determined by the person or persons entitled to call the same and notice of such meeting shall be given by such person or persons not less than twenty days prior to the proposed meeting. An Extraordinary Meeting may be called on not less than two days notice provided than not less than three days from the date of such meeting not more than one-third of the Members entitled to attend such meetings have signified their inability to be present.
WINDING-UP
44. The Society shall not be dissolved except at a General Meeting of the Society specially convened for the purpose and by a resolution carried by a three fourths majority of the votes recorded in respect of same.
45. If upon winding-up or dissolution of the Society there remains after satisfaction of all debts and liabilities, any property, whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to or distributed among Members of the Society but shall be given or transferred to some other Society having similar objectives to the Society and which shall prohibit the distribution of its income and property amongst its members to an extent at least as great as is imposed on the Society, such organization to be determined by the Members of the Society at or before the time of dissolution and in default thereof by such judge of the Supreme Court of the UAE as may have, or acquire, jurisdiction in the matter.
CONSTITUTION CHANGE
46. The Constitution of the Society may be amended at any Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary Meeting of the Society provided that:
(a) Particulars of the proposed change to the Constitution are forwarded to each Member at the time the meeting is called.
(b) Any change to the Constitution is carried by a two-thirds majority vote of all Members of the Society.
(c) Where the change in the Constitution so approved by the said two-thirds majority vote differs from the change proposed in the notice accompanying the call of the meeting, such change shall not occur until notice thereof has been given to the members not present at the meeting and after thirty days from the giving of such notice.
