CONSTITUTION
OF THE
COLORADO ASSOCIATION OF GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERS
For a pdf version, click here. ARTICLE I
NAME AND ORIGIN
The name of this association shall be the Colorado Association of Geotechnical Engineers,
hereinafter referred to as CAGE. CAGE was established in 1995 as an organization of
geotechnical engineers.
ARTICLE II
OBJECTIVES
The overall objective of CAGE is the advancement of the practice of geotechnical engineering
for the benefit of public safety and the geotechnical engineering profession throughout the
State of Colorado.
CAGE is also established for the following purposes:
1. To be a forum for discussion of professional and technical issues of interest to
geotechnical engineers.
2. To promote good business practices among geotechnical and related professionals.
3. To develop policies, guidelines and standards for technical and professional matters
concerning the practice of geotechnical engineering.
4. To participate with other organizations in the development of standards, codes and other
documents that affect the practice of geotechnical engineering.
5. To encourage the pursuit of excellence in geotechnical engineering work.
6. To encourage opportunities for education and training of geotechnical engineers and
engineering technicians.
7. Encourage membership and participation throughout the State of Colorado.
ARTICLE Ill
MEMBERSHIP
1. QUALIFICATIONS: Membership in CAGE may be held by individuals only, and shall consist
of the following grades:
A. PROFESSIONAL MEMBER (voting member) are professional engineers registered by
the State of Colorado who are actively practicing, teaching or conducting research in the
field of geotechnical engineering or related fields at the discretion of the board.
B. AFFILIATE MEMBER (non-voting member) are non-registered geotechnical
professionals (staff engineers, technicians, etc.), providing services or training in the
field of geotechnical engineering.
C. ASSOCIATE MEMBER (non-voting member) non-geotechnical engineers (structural,
environmental, transportation, etc.), geologists, suppliers to the industry, municipal
officials, etc.
D. FELLOW (voting member) professional member nominated by the board and voted on
by the membership that has performed significant service to the profession. Fellows
shall be exempt from paying dues.
E. STUDENT (non-voting member) individuals enrolled in a school with interest in a
science curriculum.
2. ADMISSION: A person is admitted to membership in CAGE by the following and upon
receipt of dues and completion of application provided by the membership chairman:
A. PROFESSIONAL MEMBER: the written endorsement of at least three (3) Professional
Members of CAGE submitted to the Board of Directors. Acceptance IS contingent by a
majority vote of the Board of Directors.
B. AFFILIATE MEMBER: written endorsement of at least one Professional Member of
CAGE submitted to the Board of Directors. Acceptance is contingent by a majority vote
of the Board of Directors.
C. ASSOCIATE MEMBER: no additional information required.
D. STUDENT: provide verification of school enrollment.
E. PAST MEMBERS: a written request from the past member to the Board of Directors.
Reinstatement is contingent by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
F. CHANGE IN MEMBERSHIP GRADE: a written request from the member and completion
of the admission process outlined above. 3
3. DUES:
A. AMOUNT OF DUES: The yearly dues for each grade of membership shall be reviewed
by the Board and any recommended changes shall be passed by a majority of the
Board and by a majority of all members present, at the next General Meeting.
B. PAYMENT: Renewal notices for the coming year are to be sent in January by the
membership chairman. Annual dues are considered delinquent if payment is not
received by May 1. Individuals whose dues are delinquent will have their membership
benefits suspended until payment is received. If dues have not been received by
December 31, the individual will be considered a past member and have to apply for
reinstatement as outlined in item 2E. Professional members whose dues are delinquent
will not be allowed to vote.
C. ADJUSTMENTS: New members will assessed dues for the first year (or portion thereof)
in the amount of one-twelfth (1/12) of the appropriate annual dues time the number of
months remaining in the calendar year at the time membership is approved.
ARTICLE IV
ORGANIZATION
1. OFFICERS: The officers of CAGE shall be a President, a Vice President/Treasurer and a
Secretary.
2. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: the Board of Directors, also referred to herein as the Board, shall
consist of the three (3) elected officers listed above, together with the past President and
three (3) elected Directors, with the President as Chair. All officers shall be Professional
Members of CAGE and directors may be Professional, Affiliate, Associate or Fellow
Members of CAGE.
3. COMMITTEES: Committees may be established and appointed at the discretion of the
Board to carry out the objectives and operations of CAGE, except that the Board shall
establish a committee upon petition by the membership. Such petition shall be signed by at
least ten (10) Voting Members, or ten percent of the Voting Membership should that be a
greater number, or such petition shall be a majority vote at a General Meeting.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
1. TERM: The term of each officer shall be one (1) year and the term of the Directors shall be
three (3) years beginning in alternating years. These terms shall begin on January 1st and
shall continue for the term, or until a duly elected or appointed (in case of a vacancy)
successor takes office.
2. VACANCY: In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice
President/Treasurer shall succeed to that office. Permanent or temporary vacancies in the
office of Vice President/Treasurer, Secretary or Director shall be filled by appointment by a
majority vote of the Board. Directors appointed to fill a term exceeding one year shall stand
for election by the membership at the subsequent regular election.
3. SUCCESSION: An individual shall not serve successive terms in the same office or as a
Director. An individual may serve successive terms in different offices.
4. ELECTION OF OFFICERS:
A. The Board shall nominate one (1) or more qualified and willing CAGE Voting Members
for each of the offices of President, Vice President/Treasurer, Secretary and one (1)
Director. At the Board’s discretion, a nominating committee may be appointed.
B. The nominations shall be presented to the Secretary and the nominations shall be
distributed to the membership with the announcement of the annual meeting.
C. Additional nominations of Voting Member candidates may be made from the floor of the
annual meeting. Nominees from the floor shall indicate a willingness to serve before the
nomination is accepted.
D. The Secretary shall prepare a letter ballot containing the names of all nominated
candidates and also containing a blank space for each office in which the name of a
write-in candidate may be written. The Secretary shall mail the ballot to all Voting
Members of CAGE. The ballot shall be due no less than twenty-one (21) days after
mailing.
E. The Secretary shall collect and with one Director shall tabulate the results of the
balloting.
F. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes for each office shall be declared
elected. In the case of a tie, the Board shall decide.
G. The Secretary shall announce the results of the election to all members of CAGE by the
end of December.
ARTICLE VI
MANAGEMENT
1. BOARD: The management of CAGE shall be vested in the Board, subject to the CAGE
constitution, Bylaws, and the directives of the membership as expressed at General
Meetings or through letter ballot.
2. BYLAWS: The Board may adopt and publish Bylaws as necessary that prescribe
regulations for the exercise of the corporate powers vested in it. Amendments to the Bylaws
require a two-thirds affirmative vote of the Board and a simple majority of Voting Members.
3. ANNUAL REPORT: The Board shall make an annual report to the membership, which shall
include a financial statement and such other matters as may be deemed appropriate.
4. PRESIDENT: The President shall:
A. Provide the detailed management of the affairs of CAGE acting under the oversight and
authority of the Board of Directors.
B. Preside at all General Meetings and at all Board of Directors meetings.
C. Set the order of business at all of the above meetings.
D. Provide notice of General Meetings and all Regular Meetings of the Board and
Committees to all members at least nine (9) days before each meeting.
E. Carry out the directives of the Board of Directors.
5. VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER: The Vice President/Treasurer shall:
A. Preside at all General or Board Meetings in the absence of or at the request of the
President and perform all Presidents’ duties at such meetings.
B. Be custodian of all funds, sign checks for authorized expenses, present a written
statement of finances at all General Meetings, and produce the year-end financial
statement.
6. SECRETARY: The Secretary shall:
A. Record the proceedings of all General and Board Meetings, present the minutes of such
meetings to the membership, and maintain all records.
B. Prepare, send, collect and announce the results of all ballots.
C. Be responsible for all other official correspondence of CAGE.
7. MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN: a Professional Member or Affiliate Member, appointed by the
Board, will assist the Secretary to maintain the membership list, send annual dues notices,
collect annual dues and send out overdue notices as needed. The membership chairman
is encouraged to serve at least two consecutive years.
8. At its discretion, the Board may hire/appoint an administrative assistant for the purposes of
providing support for general membership administration, communications, event
management, research, financial management and reporting, and website and technology
development.
ARTICLE VII
MEETINGS
1. GENERAL MEETINGS: General Meetings are meetings where the entire CAGE
membership is invited:
A. There shall be at least two, but not more than twelve, General Meetings called each
year. One General Meeting shall be known as the Annual Meeting and shall be held in
November.
B. General Meetings may be called by the Board with a minimum of nine (9) days advance
written notice to the membership.
C. Ten (10) Voting Members, or one-half (1/2) the Voting Members, whichever is the lesser
number, but not less than 10 percent of the Voting Membership shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business at General Meetings.
2. BOARD MEETINGS:
A. Regular Meetings of the Board shall be held at least four times per year.
B. Special Meetings of the Board may be called by the President or by any two (2) other
Board Members.
C. Four (4) members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
3. COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Committees shall establish Regular Meetings on a schedule to
permit written notice to the general membership. Special Meetings may be scheduled with
notice only to the Board.
7
4. RULES OF ORDER: The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order
Newly Revised shall govern all meetings of CAGE, including Board and Committee
Meetings, in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent
with this constitution, the Bylaws or any special rules adopted by the Board.
Recommendations may be made by a body meeting without a quorum and may be
recorded in minutes if noted that a quorum was not present, but such recommendations
shall not become official actions until ratified at a meeting with a quorum or by a letter ballot
ARTICLE VIII
EXPULSION AND RECALL
A member may be expelled from CAGE or an officer or Director may be recalled from office by
the membership in an election by petition as follows:
1. A petition for expulsion or recall shall be signed by at least twenty (20) percent of the Voting
Membership and shall be presented at a Board Meeting.
2. The names of the Voting Members on the petition shall be checked against the current
roster jointly by the Secretary and a proponent of the petition at the meeting of presentation.
3. The Board will conduct a hearing and the results of the hearing findings will be distributed to
the Membership.
4. The Secretary shall prepare a letter ballot (if necessary) with the choice of “Yes” and “No”
on the expulsion or recall question for each individual member, officer, or Director named on
the petition. The ballot shall be mailed within one week of validation and shall be due within
fifteen (15) days of mailing.
5. The Board shall appoint a Tellers Committee of two present or past officers who are not
named on the recall petition to collect and count the ballots.
6. At least a majority of the Voting Members must return ballots for the election to be valid.
7. The member is expelled from CAGE if at least three-quarters (3/4) of the votes cast are in
favor of expulsion. The Officer or Director is recalled from office if a majority of the votes
cast are in favor of recall.
ARTICLE IX
PUBLICATIONS
All publications and policy statements, except newsletters and notices, shall be approved by a
two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board. Such actions are specifically subject to the provisions of
Article XI. Likewise outdated publications may be rescinded, changed, or declared void by the
same procedure. 8
ARTICLE X
REPRESENTATION
The Board shall appoint CAGE members to represent CAGE in any engineering, technical,
professional or political group with which a majority of the Voting Members at a General
Meeting has voted to be affiliated. Representatives shall report all their activities on behalf of
CAGE to the Board, either in writing or in person at a Board Meeting. Where the representative
is called upon to make a statement of position on behalf of CAGE, such position shall be
approved by the Board and presented as the position of the Board of Directors of CAGE,
unless that position has been approved by the Voting Members, in which case it may be
presented as the position of the membership of CAGE. Approval by the Board of specific items
may be delegated by the Board to a committee, but the representative or committee must still
report these actions to the Board.
ARTICLE XI
LETTER BALLOT
1. CALL: Letter ballots to all Voting Members shall be required for election or recall of officers,
for the expulsion of members, except as provided in ARTICLE III, and in the following
instances:
A. All amendments to this constitution (see ARTICLE XII).
B. All matters petitioned by ten (10) Voting Members, or ten percent of the Voting
Membership, should that be a larger number, a voice or written vote for letter ballot on a
matter during a General Meeting by ten (10) Voting Members shall be considered an
acceptable petition for letter ballot.
C. Any matter recommended by the Board.
2. PROCEDURE: Except for elections of officers (see ARTICLE V) and expulsion or recall
elections (see ARTICLE VIII), the following shall apply to letter ballots:
A. Ballots shall provide the following alternatives: “Yes”; “No”; and “Not Voting”. Written
comments are encouraged, especially for a “No” vote, if a revision in the ballot would
change the negative to affirmative.
B. Closing date shall be not less than thirty (30) days after date mailed.
C. Ballots shall be reviewed and counted by a Tellers Committee appointed by the
President. The Tellers shall attempt to resolve all comments and negatives. The
tabulation and all comments and negatives shall be distributed to all Voting Members.
D. A two-thirds (2/3) affirmative (at least twice as many “Yes” votes as “No” votes) shall be
sufficient to record a favorable vote, provided at least one half of the Voting Membership
returned their ballots. Any change for resolution, other than editorial, will require
subsequent approval by the Voting Membership, either at a General Meeting or through
another letter ballot.
E. All votes and supporting materials shall be filed with the Secretary. 9
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENT OF THIS CONSTITUTION
This constitution may be amended by a letter ballot of the Voting Members, provided the
amendment has been submitted in writing in a General Meeting notice and reviewed at that
General Meeting. Passed amendments shall take effect immediately, unless stated otherwise
in the adopting motion.
