Article I: Name
Article II: Purpose
Article III: Membership
Article IV: Officers and Board of Trustees
Article V: Duties of Officers and Board of Trustees
Article VI: Awards
Article VII: Meetings
Article VIII: Committees
Article IX: Expenditures and Appropriations
Article X: Amendments

ARTICLE I: NAME (top)
Section 1.1
The name of the organization shall be the “New Jersey Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, Inc” and is herein referred to as “the Chapter”.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE (top)
Section 2.1
The Chapter is organized exclusively for charitable purposes and specifically to advance the art and science of fire protection engineering and its allied fields, to maintain a high ethical standard among its members, and to foster fire protection engineering education amongst members of the profession and those interested in joining the profession, and to work with the SFPE (hereinafter “the Society”) and other State chapters on mutually important topics.

Section 2.2
The Chapter shall not speak for the Society on any local or national matter without specific written authorization from the Society.

Section 2.3
No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.

Section 2.4
No substantial part of the activities of the organization is carrying on (political) propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation. Additionally, the organization does not participate or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP (top)
Section 3.1
There shall be two grades of membership in the Chapter; SFPE Dual Member and Chapter Only Member. Those holding membership in SFPE will be considered Dual Members. Those holding membership in the Chapter and not with SFPE will be considered Chapter Members. Code Officials/AHJs can be given complimentary membership in the Chapter and will be considered Chapter Members if approved by the Board of Trustees..

Section 3.2
All applications for membership to the Chapter shall be submitted to the Membership Committee Chair, who shall confirm the applicant’s membership status in the Society, if applicable. After being voted upon favorably at a meeting of the Board of Trustees, the applicant’s name will then be read at the next regular Chapter meeting, and members present will vote on the applicant. If approved by the majority of members present, the applicant shall then be notified, in an appropriate manner, of his/her acceptance as a Chapter member, which shall be duly entered in the Chapter records by the Treasurer or designee.

Section 3.3
The annual dues of each Member shall be in the amount as recommended by the Board of Trustees and approved by a majority vote at any two consecutive regular Meetings. Chapter dues and fees are payable immediately upon election for a new Member and on a date established by the Board for all renewals.

Section 3.4
Complimentary members of the Chapter will not be required to contribute to the dues of the organization.

Section 3.5
Each Chapter and Dual Member is entitled to one vote in the affairs of the Chapter. Complimentary members of the Chapter do not have voting rights.

Section 3.6
Chapter Members who fail to pay Chapter dues/fees may be suspended by the Board, Reinstatement may be made upon reapplication and payment of dues/fees.

Section 3.7
Any Society Member may, upon written request to the Board of Trustees and on payment of an amount which is three times the annual dues, become a Life Member in the Chapter. Life Membership is retained as long as the member is a current SFPE member. Following acceptance as a life Member no portion of the fee shall be refundable.

Section 3.8
Any Member who retires from all professional income producing activity, and upon completion of the dues notice indicating “retired”, shall be exempt from paying annual dues/fees to the Chapter provided that they have a membership record in good standing for five years.

Section 3.9
Any Member may be expelled from the Chapter for cause after a majority vote of the Board. The Secretary shall send a letter to the individual indicating the reason he/she is to be voted upon for expulsion, and he/she may appear at the voting meeting to defend himself/herself.

Section 3.10
There shall be a Chapter membership category of Lifetime Member. This may be awarded to long-term members in good standing. Candidates must be nominated by two current Chapter Officers and affirmed by a majority vote of the Trustees following consideration of their qualifications. Lifetime Members are not required to pay dues, have full voting rights concerning Chapter business and may run/hold office on the Executive Board if otherwise qualified.

Section 3.11
There shall be a Chapter membership category of Honorary Member. Current Chapter membership is not required for this award. Candidates must be nominated by two current Chapter Officers and affirmed by a majority vote of the Trustees following consideration of their qualifications. Honorary Members are not required to pay dues, membership is for life, but they have no voting rights concerning Chapter business and may not run/hold office in the Chapter.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES (top)
Section 4.1
Officers of the Chapter shall be: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. At least one Officer or Trustee must be a member of the Society and hold dual membership.

Section 4.2
Officers of the Chapter shall be elected by a majority of Chapter members present at the Annual Business Meeting. Officers shall serve terms of one year or until their successors are elected. All officers shall serve without salary. The term of officers elected at the Annual Business Meeting shall commence on August 1 of the year elected.

Section 4.3
There shall be a Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees will be made up of a panel of five (5) individuals. A member of the Board of Trustees serves a three (3) year term. Trustees are elected at alternate years so one or two Trustees are elected in any given year. At all meetings, a quorum is achieved through the presence of three or more Trustees. The First Trustee Election shall place new Trustees in the Chapter for July 1, 2018.

Section 4.4
No officer (except the Treasurer and Secretary) and no member of the Board of Trustees shall serve for more than two consecutive terms in any one office.

Section 4.5
Any Officer or Trustee may be expelled for cause (including unacceptable amounts of meeting absences) after a 2/3 vote of the Membership. The Secretary shall send a letter to the Officer or indicating the reason he/she is to be voted upon for expulsion, and he/she may appear at the voting meeting to defend himself/herself. The voting rights of that Board member are suspended during that meeting.

Section 4.6
Vacancies in office may be filled until the next annual meeting by a majority vote of the Board of Trustees. Any person who is selected to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term of an elected Officer or Trustee is still eligible to serve for two full terms.

ARTICLE V: DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES (top)
Section 5.1
It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings and to perform other duties usual to the office. The President shall call meetings of the Board of Trustees at his discretion or by request of three or more members of the Board of Trustees. The President shall appoint the chair of standing committees provided for in Article VII, and such special committees as may be required, subject to approval of the Board of Trustees as occasion may require. The President shall serve as “Ex-Officio” member of all committees. If for any reason the President is not available, the Vice President shall have the powers and prerogatives of the President.

Section 5.2
It shall be the duty of the Board of Trustees to formulate the policies of the Chapter. It is the duty of the Officers to conduct the ordinary business activities and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Constitution and By-Laws.

Section 5.3
It shall be a specific duty of the Board of Trustees to pass upon the desirability of any action submitted to the Chapter for its consideration with respect to basic policy. Negative or advisory results will be reported immediately to the Chapter for further action.

Section 5.4
It shall be the duty of the Secretary to record all official actions of the Chapter and to perform the duties usual to the office. They shall issue all notices of meetings, keep minutes of meetings, maintain records of electronic voting, and issue up-to-date lists of the Chapter members to the Board.

Section 5.5
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive all monies for deposit, keep complete records of all transactions, issue notice of membership renewal, collect members’ dues/fees and maintain a record thereof.

Section 5.6
The Board of Trustees shall meet at least quarterly, but may meet as often as necessary or desirable at the discretion of the President.

ARTICLE VI: AWARDS (top)
Section 6.1
The Executive Committee may create an ongoing awards program to recognize Chapter Members. The Chapter President may present special awards as needs may arise. The Chapter President shall be a member of the awards committee.

Section 6.2
The Chapter establishes the following awards (in Section 6.4), which will be presented to the recipients at the annual business meeting. It is not the intent to present them annually, only as they are merited.

Section 6.3
Generally, the awards shall have a generic name and not a proper name (such as a past or present member of the Chapter, or other proper name).

Section 6.4
The award shall be a plaque (or other appropriate award as approved by the Board of Trustees) recognizing the recipients’ achievements.

Certificate of Appreciation: The Certificate of Appreciation shall recognize Chapter Members who, over the years, have rendered service to the Chapter in an unselfish, extraordinary manner, and have continually promoted the goals of SFPE.

Hats Off Award: The Hats Off Award is given to recognize a Chapter Member who, in the course of their Chapter assignment, have put forth that extra effort….walked that extra mile….to ensure that the effort expended was the absolute best.

The John V. Kelly Excellence in Government Award: The Excellence in Government Award is given in recognition to a public official’s accomplishments, contributions and achievements in the promotion of public awareness of fire protection and prevention concepts and ideals.

Engineer of the Year: The Engineer of the Year Award shall recognize Chapter Members who are registered Professional Engineers, and in the course of their normal activities have expended extra effort to promote the goals of the SFPE and extra effort to promote the profession of Fire Protection Engineering.

James Tolos Outstanding Service Award: The James Tolos Outstanding Service Award shall recognize Chapter Members who have rendered service as an Officer or Trustee of the Chapter or served on a Chapter committee for at least 5 years. The award is also presented to those members who have also served the Chapter in other capacities in an unselfish, extraordinary manner above and beyond normal expectations.

President’s Award: The President’s Award shall recognize Chapter Members who, in the course of activities during the prior fiscal year, have expended extra effort to promote the goals of SFPE and to contribute to the Fire Protection Engineering profession.

ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS (top)
Section 7.1
Meetings shall be held at least quarterly, and there shall be one definite meeting being designated by the Board of Trustees as the Annual Business Meeting.

Section 7.2
At the Annual Business meeting the retiring President shall present a report reviewing the activities of the Chapter during the past twelve months and recommending future activities. The Treasurer shall present a report showing receipts and disbursements for the past twelve months, and a statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth at the close of the elected term.

Section 7.3
In order to transact business at any meeting of the Chapter, there should be a majority of the Board of Trustees present.

Section 7.4
Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the transaction of business in all meetings unless inconsistent with these articles.

ARTICLE VIII: COMMITTEES (top)
Section 8.1
Committees shall be of two classes: Standing Committees, which shall have a continuing function, and Special Committees appointed by the President for the execution of a particular task.

Section 8.2
The following Standing Committees and their functions are hereby established.

Program Committee: This committee shall recommend appropriate features for meetings and field trips.
It shall procure qualified speakers for presentation of subjects and information on, or allied to, Fire Protection Engineering, and shall extend the courtesies of the Chapter to such speakers. This committee, in conjunction with the Communications Committee, shall issue all notices (announcements) of any special meeting.

Arrangements (Meeting) Committee: This committee shall arrange all details of meetings and Chapter activities (such as luncheons, public address system, projectors, etc.) in cooperation with the Program Committee.

Membership Committee: This committee shall solicit qualified individuals to become Chapter Members.
The Membership Committee shall (a) screen applications for Chapter membership, (b) present to the Chapter applications for membership, (c) notify new members in writing of their acceptance and enclose a copy of the Chapter’s Constitution and By-Laws, and (d) introduce new members at a Chapter meeting.

Nominating Committee: The Nominating Committee shall consist of three members with two members elected by the membership at the annual business meeting. The immediate past president shall be the third member and shall Chair this committee. It shall be their duty to nominate a slate of officers and Trustees, and the nominating committee for the following fiscal year.

The above provision shall not preclude the nomination of any other candidate, but no member shall be eligible for election to any office unless his or her name shall have been submitted to the Secretary at least four weeks before the Annual Business Meeting, together with the signatures of five voting members of the Chapter. Nomination for officers and membership on the Board of Trustees shall be published by the Secretary to the Chapter members at least two weeks prior to the Annual Business Meeting.

Auditing Committee: This committee shall audit the Treasurer’s books, verify the balance and certify as to the accounts at the close of the fiscal year. The committee shall document the results of such audit in a letter to the president and make a report to the membership at the start of the following year.

Archivist Committee (Chapter Historian): This committee and the Chapter Historian shall be the curator to maintain and archive the records of the Chapter, including, but not limited to those from the President, Treasurer and Secretary. The Chapter Historian shall at least annually update the Historical Facts section of the Web page.

Communications Committee: This committee shall be responsible in notifying the Chapter membership of meetings and Chapter news. Communications shall include, but not limited to, (a) meeting notices, (b) minutes of meetings, (c) publication of the Fusible Link, and (d) posting of the Chapter ‘Constitution and By-Laws’ on the Chapter’s Web page.

ARTICLE IX: EXPENDITURES AND APPROPRIATIONS (top)
Section 9.1
No expenditure or appropriation of Chapter monies shall be authorized except by majority vote of the Board of Trustees. This shall not include necessary expenditures required by the Secretary or Treasurer for meeting expenses, stationery, postage and incidentals.

Section 9.2
The Chapter shall in no way incur financial or contractual obligations upon the Society without full written approval of the Society, or upon the Chapter without full approval of the Board of Trustees of the Chapter.

ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS (top)
Section 10.1
These articles may be amended in the following manner. Proposals for amendments shall be submitted by any Chapter Member in good standing, in writing, to the Secretary. The Secretary shall present the proposals to the Board of Trustees. Any further action of the proposals requires a 3 of 5 quorum affirmative vote by the Board of Trustees. The tentatively approved proposals shall be distributed in writing to the membership and read at the regular meeting immediately preceding that at which the amendments are to be voted upon. Passage of the proposed amendments requires a two-thirds vote of the members present.

Article XI – Dissolution
Section 1
This Chapter may be dissolved at any meeting by written or printed ballots of two- thirds of the members present voting in favor provided that notice and purpose of such meeting is signed by at least fifty (50) percent of the Board of Trustees and Officers of the Chapter. Notice shall have been mailed to each person entitled to vote at least twenty (20) days previous thereto, and shall have been published three (3) weeks successively; once each week in a newspaper circulating in New Jersey and New York. Notice of dissolution shall forthwith be filed with the Secretary of the State of New Jersey.

Section 2
Upon dissolution of the Chapter the Board of Trustees shall satisfy the liabilities and distribute the assets of the Chapter in accordance with the following priority:
(1) Payment and discharge of all liabilities and obligations of the Chapter.
(2) Compliance with all conditions of any tax exemption applicable to the Chapter.
(3) Return, transfer or conveyance of all assets received and held by the Chapter upon condition that the assets be returned, transferred or conveyed upon dissolution of the corporation.
(4) Transfer or conveyance of all assets received and held by the Chapter subject to limitations permitting their use only for charitable, religious, eleemosynary, benevolent, educational or similar purpose but not held upon condition set forth in paragraph three (3) above, to one or more domestic or foreign corporations engaged in activities substantially similar to those of the
dissolving corporation, or if applicable, to a receiver to be held for the benefit of the public and for use in accordance with the limitations, or pursuant to a Court Order.
(5) Distribution of all assets required by the Chapter’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws to be distributed to the members in the manner so specified.
(6) Disposition of all other assets.

Article XII – Emergency By-Laws
Section 1
Due to the nature of the world that we live in, there could arise situations where the hierarchy of the Chapter will be compromised due to national emergency, local emergency, or tragedy. The purpose of Emergency By-Laws for the Chapter is to provide alternative guidelines to the Membership in the event a national or local catastrophe causes disruptions in the proper workings of the Chapter.

Section 2
The Emergency By-Laws will not be utilized unless one of the following occurs:
1. A National Emergency/Catastrophe is declared by the President of the
United States; OR
2. A Local Emergency or Catastrophe is declared by the local authorities; OR
3. Some Event of Importance which is determined by the Board of Trustees and Officers occurs; AND
4. The Chapter is affected in a serious manner which would severely impair its ability to operate.

Section 3
If an Event causes the Emergency By-Laws to be utilized:
1. Any Officer or Trustee of the Chapter may call an Emergency Meeting of the Chapter.
2. Notice of the Meeting will be made through all available means, including telephone, and email.
3. The meeting location will be at the Office of the Attorney, if practicable. If the Attorney’s Office is unusable, the meeting location will be at the discretion of the individual calling for the meeting.

Section 4
Emergency Meetings
1. Any decisions made at an Emergency Meeting will only remain in effect until a General Meeting of the Chapter may be called.
2. All decisions made at an emergency meeting need the approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the individuals attending the meeting.
3. The highest-ranking Officer present at the meeting will preside. If no Officers are present, the most tenured Trustee will preside.
4. At the Emergency Meeting, the members attending will determine whether the Emergency Powers must be implemented. A two-thirds (2/3) vote for use of the Emergency Powers will be necessary to enact them.
5. The Emergency Powers will end at the next General Meeting of the Chapter unless a vote is taken to extend the powers.

Section 5
Emergency Powers
1. The Emergency Monetary Power allows the Secretary of the Chapter to have signatory power over the monies of the Chapter. This allows banking, the making of checks, and financial responsibility to continue in the event the Treasurer, President or Vice President is unable to perform these tasks. Any use of the Emergency Monetary Power will be reviewed by the Auditing Committee after the lifting of the Emergency Powers and a report will be compiled and distributed to the Chapter.

These by-laws were adopted at the November 6th, 2025 meeting of the NEW JERSEY CHAPTER of the SOCIETY OF FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERS, INC.