Article 1. General
1.0 Name. The name of the alliance shall be Practice, Education and Research for Sustainable
Infrastructure (PERSI). The name of its Board of Directors shall be the Governing Assembly.
1.1 Establishment. PERSI is established in accord with the attached PERSI Memorandum of
Understanding dated June 16, 2006 whose provisions govern in the event of conflict with
those of these bylaws.
1.2 Purposes and Objectives. The purpose of PERSI is to provide a means by which the
infrastructure community can work cooperatively and collaboratively to promote and translate
the philosophy of sustainability into action. The objectives of PERSI are:
- A common language for the definition and achievement of sustainable infrastructure.
- Interaction, internationally and nationally, among groups and organizations which are, or should be, working for sustainable infrastructure.
- Provision of the practices needed for sustainable renewal of America’s infrastructure to respond to marketplace values and meet society’s needs.
- Embedment of provisions for sustainability in the practices regularly used for planning, design, construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance, renovation and removal of infrastructure.
- Educational programs in architecture, construction, engineering, planning, and related technologies, incorporating principles for sustainable infrastructure in their curricula, and strengthening K-12 education to improve public understanding of sustainability and infrastructure, and to attract qualified youth to infrastructure careers.
- An enduring program of research to provide critically needed knowledge for improvement of practices for sustainable infrastructure.
- A clearinghouse for information on practices, knowledge and programs for sustainable infrastructure.
- A sustained program to assess current practices and knowledge.
- Agendas for implementation of best available practices, development of improved practices to exploit available knowledge, research to fill important gaps in knowledge, and education of current and future infrastructure professionals and technicians.
1.3 Activities. PERSI may advise, conduct, facilitate and/or promote all lawful activities
addressing its purposes and objectives, and may publish or endorse publications of the
results of its work.
Article 2. Membership
2.0 Members. Members of PERSI are organizations, including non-profit professional, technical
and educational societies, corporations, trade associations and public agencies, that
produce or maintain standards or practices used for infrastructure systems, and are current
in their dues to PERSI.
2.1 Associate Members. Associate members are all other organizations, such as programs of
universities and companies, with interest in the work of PERSI and current in their dues to
PERSI.
2.2 Voting rights. Members have voting rights in the Governing Assembly; associate members
do not.
Article 3. Separations from Membership and Disciplinary Proceedings
3.0 Separations from membership or officer positions and other disciplinary procedures require
a two-thirds vote of the Governing Assembly.
Article 4. Dues
4.0 The Governing Assembly, by majority vote, may assess dues on member and associate
member organizations. Dues are limited to $5000 annually for either member or associate
member organizations. Government members and government associate members are
excused from dues unless they voluntarily and legally can participate in dues or a
contribution.
Article 5. Management
5.0 Governing Assembly. The authority to direct and manage the affairs of PERSI shall be
vested in its Governing Assembly. Each member shall select a representative to serve as a
voting member of the PERSI Governing Assembly.
5.1 Executive Committee. There shall be a seven person Executive Committee of the Governing
Assembly.
5.2 Technical Committee. The Executive Committee shall appoint a Technical Committee to
conduct or advise on technical activities of interest to PERSI. Members of the Technical
Committee may be nominated by member or associate member organizations.
5.3 Development Committee. The Executive Committee may appoint a Development
Committee to assist in acquiring resources for technical activities of interest to PERSI.
Members of the Development Committee may be nominated by member or associate
member organizations.
5.4 Director. The Governing Assembly may appoint a Director for PERSI who shall be an ex-
officio, non-voting member of the Executive Committee, responsible for the detailed
management of the affairs of PERSI and such other duties as assigned by the Governing
Assembly or Executive Committee. Other administrative services may be assigned to
individual members or associate members if mutually agreed by the parties thereto.
5.5 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year for PERSI shall coincide with the calendar year.
Article 6. Officers and Elections
6.0 Executive Committee: Members of the Executive Committee shall be members of the
Governing Assembly elected by the Governing Assembly for staggered, three-year terms.
6.1 Chair. The Governing Assembly shall elect a chair from among its members for a one-year
term. The Chair also shall serve as the Chair of the Executive Committee.
6.2 Vice Chair. The Governing Assembly shall elect a vice chair from among its members for a
one-year term. The Vice Chair also shall serve as vice chair of the Executive Committee
and serve as Chair in the absence of the Chair.
6.3 Treasurer. The Governing Assembly shall elect a treasurer from among its members to
review and report on the financial status of PERSI.
6.4 Officers of Committees. The Executive Committee shall appoint officers of the Technical
Committee, Development Committee, and such ad-hoc committees as the Executive
Committee may choose to appoint, with consideration of recommendations provided by the
particular committee. Appointments shall be for one-year terms with reappointment
possible.
6.5 Spokespersons. The Chair and the Director are authorized to speak for PERSI.
Article 7. Compensation
7.0 Members of the Executive Committee shall receive no compensation from PERSI other than
reasonable reimbursement of expenses associated with Executive Committee meetings.
Members of the Governing Assembly shall receive neither compensation nor expense
reimbursement from PERSI for meetings of the Governing Assembly.
Article 8. Meetings
8.0 Governing Assembly. The Governing Assembly shall meet twice a year, face to face or by
conference call. The quorum is representation of fifty percent of the member
organizations.
8.1 Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall meet monthly, by conference call or
face to face, to conduct the affairs of PERSI. The quorum is fifty percent of the committee’s
members.
8.2 Notification of Meetings. Meetings of the Governing Assembly shall be called by the Chair, or,
for a special meeting, by written request of ten (10) percent of the members of the Governing
Assembly. Thirty days notice shall be provided for meetings of the Governing Assembly
Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be called by the chair or vice chair with at least
two weeks of notice.
Article 9. Amendments
9.0 Amendments to Bylaws. These Bylaws may be amended at a duly constituted meeting of the
Governing Assembly by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those present and voting, provided
a written notice of such proposed amendment shall have been given at a previous meeting of
the Governing Assembly.
