Bylaws of the Southern Tier Association of Home Inspectors

4/18/06 amended 9/18/18, amended 5/21/19, revised 9/19/21 and updated 11/16/21, revised and adopted 2/21/23

ARTICLE I: TITLE

1. The name of this professional organization shall be Southern Tier Association of Home Inspectors. It shall also be known by its acronym “STAHI” or referred to herein as “The Association”.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

1. To promote excellence within the profession and to improve inspection services to the public.

2. To provide members and others with a forum in which to enhance their professionalism through education, an informed exchange of ideas, and to provide other related benefits of membership.

3. To build public awareness and confidence in the home inspector.

4. To interact with related professions, the legal community and government bodies as a representative body for the local home and building inspection profession.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

1. FULL MEMBERSHIP in STAHI (“Member”) shall be restricted to New York State licensed Home Inspectors. An original and current New York State license must be presented to the Treasurer with payment in full of annual dues to join the Association as a Member.  A New York State Home Inspector license must be maintained at all times by a Member and lapse of such licensing shall immediately terminate membership.  Full Membership in the Association shall include Member registration in NYSAHI (New York State Association of Home Inspectors), as STAHI is represented as an organization in NYSAHI (with the exception as stated in Article IV – 4).  Only Full Members of STAHI shall have status as Board Members or any voting rights.

2. ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP in STAHI (“Associate Member”) shall be restricted to licensed home inspectors from jurisdictions outside of New York State and retired home inspectors who are or have been licensed by a state

3. TRADE MEMBERSHIP in STAHI (“Trade Member”) shall be those in other professions with whom Members might interact in the course of practicing their home inspection profession.

ARTICLE IV: DUES

REVISED (9/19/21)
(UPDATED 11/16/2021)

1. Dues for membership shall be an amount established from time to time by the Board of Directors.

(Currently dues are: Member $225 (includes $75 NYSAHI dues); Associate Member $150 (NYSAHI dues paid in another association); Retired Member $0; Trade Member $100; McGovern Scholarship Member $0 (includes NYSAHI).

2. Annual payment of dues for membership shall be required for continuing membership no later than the date of the Association’s first meeting in January (the third Tuesday of January).  Advance notice relating to the amount and due date should be sent by the Treasurer by e-mail to each person in the current membership (except Retired Members) monthly from the prior October until the January when payment is due.  Such notice should include payment instructions and dues amounts by membership category.  In addition to methods of payment offered in the notice, payments in cash will be accepted at the January meeting.

Any member who is delinquent in payment of dues shall be dropped from STAHI membership on June 30th of the year delinquent and shall be sent prompt notice of such by First Class Mail by the Treasurer.  Such notice shall include instructions to the terminated member to immediately take down the STAHI logo along with any representation of their membership in or affiliation with STAHI, from their website, business card, social media or other forms of promotion, advising that failure to do so may constitute a violation of New York State regulations Section 197-4.8 “Fraud, Misrepresentation and Dishonesty”.

During any member’s period of dues delinquency, they will not be eligible for State Continuing Education credit for any STAHI education program and no certificates for such shall be given them.  Such State CE credit may not be conferred by STAHI retroactively when past due dues are paid up.

Ex-Members may be re-instated to membership upon payment of un-discounted past due annual dues in full, along with payment of a $25 administrative fee.

The Treasurer may authorize late payment by an individual in the case of invoicing/communication difficulties, medical/family emergency, or other exceptional circumstance. Each current member (except dues-free members) should be invoiced along with payment instructions by e-mail by the Treasurer on, or about, the first day of November and December prior to the January when due. Payment may be made by funds transfer as instructed on the invoice. Payment will be accepted by mailed check, postmarked no later than due date, to STAHI c/o Treasurer at the current mailing address.

(Currently: STAHI, PO Box 5909, Endicott, NY 13763)

Any member who is delinquent in payment of dues shall be dropped from STAHI membership and shall be sent prompt notice of such by First-Class Mail by the Treasurer.  Such notice shall include instructions to the terminated member that their presence on the STAHI website will be removed and that their privileges of access to STAHI on-line resources, including access to online continuing education records, will be revoked.  They will also be advised to immediately take down the STAHI logo, along with any representation of their membership in or affiliation with STAHI, from their website, business card, social media or other forms of promotion, advising that failure to do so may constitute a violation of New York State regulations Section 197-4.8 “Fraud, Misrepresentation and Dishonesty”.  Only current individual STAHI members may make public representations of their STAHI membership or affiliation.  Businesses may not use the STAHI logo or other such representations of membership or affiliation unless it is clearly attributable only to an active individual STAHI member.

Former members may be re-instated to membership upon payment of the current year dues in full, plus a $25 administrative fee.

3. In the event of dissolution of the Association, any funds remaining shall be transferred to one or more organizations which are exempt from Federal Income Tax under Internal Revenue Code 501 (c )(6).

4. The Association dues for a Member who maintains NYSAHI membership through means other than their STAHI membership shall be discounted, but such member shall have no STAHI voting rights in any matter relating to NYSAHI. That discount shall be established from time to time by the Board.

ARTICLE V: OFFICERS

1. The officers of the Chapter shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

ARTICLE VI: DUTIES OF OFFICERS

1. The President shall be the chairperson of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and shall preside at membership meetings. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee.

2. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall assume duties of the President. The Vice President shall also assume such other duties as are assigned by the Board. If the office of the President shall become vacant, the Vice President shall automatically succeed to the office of President to fill the unexpired term.

3. The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping the minutes of all meetings of the Board, the Executive Committee, the Membership Meetings, and any special meetings. The Secretary shall also be responsible for the maintenance of all papers, letters, member rosters and transactions of the association.

4. The Treasurer shall have general supervision over the fiscal affairs of the Association. The Board shall designate by resolution, signatories for all checks, notes drafts and other instruments for the payment and retention of money and other assets. The Treasurer shall report the financial standing of the Association to the Board with interim reports at any Executive Committee or Board meeting and shall make a full report at the Annual Meeting.

5. An officer or director may be temporarily suspended or removed from the Board for good cause by a three-quarter vote of the Board.

6. If the office of Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer shall become vacant the President shall appoint a successor to fill out the unexpired portion of the term subject to approval by the Board. If the appointee is already holding elective or appointive office, the appointee shall serve in the appointed capacity in addition to other duties.

ARTICLE VII: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1.  The Association shall have a Board of Directors consisting of its Members (“Directors)” not including Associate and Trade Members.

2. The Board shall hold at least 6 meetings each year. Other meetings may be called by the President on thirty (30) days notice to each Board member and shall be called by the President in like manner or on like notice by the request of not less than 25% of the Board. Special meetings shall be held at such times and places as shall be specified.

ARTICLE VIII: DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1) The Board of Directors shall:

a. Establish administrative policies governing the affairs of the Association and devise measures for the Association’s growth and development.

b. Provide for the proper care of materials, equipment, and Association funds for the payment of legitimate expenses.

c. Approve the President’s appointments to committee chairpersons.

d. Establish notice and response for amendments by ballot.

ARTICLE X: STANDING OR SPECIAL COMMITTEES

1. Standing Committees shall perform the duties that these Bylaws describe and other duties as may be directed by the Board.

2. The president, with the approval of the Board of Directors, shall appoint such other committees, subcommittees or task forces as are necessary and which are not in conflict with other provisions of these bylaws, and the duties of any such committees shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors upon their appointment.

ARTICLE XI: ELECTIONS

1. A President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected to serve for a two-year term.

2. Elections shall be carried out by members entitled to vote.

4. A plurality vote shall constitute an election. The nominees receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected. In case of a tie, the choice shall be decided by lot.

5. The schedule for nominations and balloting shall be determined by the Board.

ARTICLE XII: MEETINGS

1. The Association shall hold regular meetings on the third Tuesday of each month starting at or about 6:00 PM. Meetings shall be held remotely by Zoom unless otherwise announced. A majority of the current Officers may decide to change the date of a regular meeting or may decide to hold a meeting in-person.  In that case, the place, date, and time of the meeting shall be announced by the Secretary to the membership by e-mail at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the rescheduled or regularly scheduled meeting, whichever comes first.

2. Special membership meetings of the Association may be called by the Board or shall be called by the President upon written request of 25% or more of the members. The place, date, and hour of any special meeting shall be designated by the Board. Official notice of a special meeting shall state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is held.

3. Voting at any meeting or special membership meeting of the Association may be in person or by proxy. The proxies shall be in writing and may be for any or all of the items on the call of the meeting. A signed and dated proxy shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to the Secretary before the commencement of the meeting.
Proxies may be revoked by the maker prior to their being voted.

ARTICLE XIII: QUORUM

1. At least 50% of the members entitled to vote and voting in person shall constitute a quorum at any regular or special meeting of the Association, provided the quorum includes the President or Vice President and two other officers or directors.

2. In the event of a mail ballot, response by 45% of the members entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum.

3. One half of the Board members plus one shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board.

4. A majority of the members of any standing committee or special committee shall constitute a quorum for voting on committee issues.

ARTICLE XIV: FISCAL YEAR

1. The fiscal year shall be the calendar year.

ARTICLE XV: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

1. The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order (current edition) shall govern meetings of this Association where not inconsistent with these bylaws.

ARTICLE XVI: AMENDMENTS

1. These Bylaws may be amended at any annual or special meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting.

ARTICLE XVII: INDEMNIFICATION

1. The Association shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or proceeding (including actions by or in right of the Association to procure a judgment in its favor) by reasons of the fact that the person is or was a representative of the Association, against expenses including attorney’s fee, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred, if such person has been successful on the merit or otherwise in such action or, upon a determination in the specific case that such indemnification is proper in the circumstances. The Association may purchase and maintain insurance for the purpose of indemnification on behalf of any or all persons to the full extent authorized by law.

ARTICLE XVIII: RESTRICTIONS

1. All policies and activities of the Association shall be consistent with applicable tax exemption requirements including that the Association not be organized for profit and that no part of its earnings inures to the benefit of any private individual or corporation.

2. It is the undeviating policy of the Association to comply strictly with the letter and spirit of all applicable federal, state, and local regulations and laws. Any activities of the Association or related actions of its staff, officers, directors, or members which violate these regulations and laws are detrimental to the interests of the Association, are unequivocally contrary to Association policy and, in consideration of these Bylaws, lack authority