USGBC Alabama Chapter

About Us

US Green Building
Council Alabama Chapter
 

Our Mission: To transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling a socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life in Alabama.

• USGBC-Alabama Chapter is a 501(c)(3), non-profit, volunteer organization formed in 2004.
• We have four Branches: North, Birmingham, Central, and Gulf Coast.
• We are an all-volunteer leadership: Board, branch leaders and committees.
• Licensed by USGBC National to use the USGBC Chapter brand.  We are one of 72 chapters that make up USGBC National.
• There are more than 400 individual members of the Alabama Chapter*.
• Chapter membership is open to anyone. Annual dues are $65 for regular members, $45.50 for employees of national companies, and $26 for full-time students. www.usgbcofal.org links to the chapter member sign-up.
• Chapter’s educational mission depends on membership and sponsorship.
• Core Committees are Programs, Membership and Communications. Plus special committees: Homes, Schools, Commercial and Advocacy (public policy).
• Chapter programs, lectures, building tours, and other events are open to the public and available in all 4 branch areas.
• Get involved!

Chapter Bylaws

Article I. Name
The name of the organization is the U.S. Green Building Council - Alabama Chapter, a nonprofit corporation incorporated in the state of Alabama.

ARTICLE 1.A Purpose
The Chapter is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The specific purposes of the Chapter are to study means and methods of improving the energy and environmental performance of commercial, residential, and public sector buildings and their associated surroundings in the State of Alabama; encouragie the adoption of standards for the design, construction, and renovation of "green buildings" and their associated surroundings; educate the public of Alabama on the need for green buildings, sustainable whole building environments, and the means for accomplishing such buildings and environments through conferences, workshops, reports, and other written materials and programs; and accelerate the initiation, development, and implementation of market-based green building policies, design, technologies, and operation procedures.

Article II. Property
No part of the chapter's property shall inure to the benefit of any Officer, Director, or member of the Chapter.

Article III. Membership
Chapter member types are as follows:

1. Full Member - a person who is employed by a company, organization, institution, etc. that is a Member in good standing in the USGBC.

2. Associate Member - a person who does not work for a USGBC Member company.

3. Student/Emerging Green Builder - EGB is a member currently defined as a student or an emerging professional who is within five years of graduation.

Article IV. Dues
1. Dues. The Chapter will collect chapter dues as set forth in the USGBC chapter policy.

2. Refunds. No fees will be refunded.

Article V. Board of Directors
1. Directors. The governing body of the Chapter is the Board of Directors, which has the authority and is responsible for the supervision, control, and direction of the Chapter.

2. Composition of the Board. The Board of Directors shall consist of 8 to 15 members, all of whom are full members of the Chapter (as defined above). Local branches, upon satisfying the terms set out in the Branch Operating Agreement, may each elect 2 representatives to the Chapter Board. Chapter at-large seats will remain until such time that local Branches have filled all seats on the Board.

3. Board membership shall be representative of the professional categories as currently defined by the USGBC.

4. Terms. Board members are expected to serve 2-year terms from the date of the first Board meeting after election results are announced. Directors may serve up to three consecutive terms with a one year hiatus prior to re-election. In cases where the officers of the Chapter are deemed to be Chapter Board members, and the Chapter intends for the individuals who fill the role of the Chapter Chair to pass through the position of the Vice-Chair, this rule may be exempted.

5. Elections.

1. Board members are elected by the Chapter membership, specifically, those individuals who are full members as defined under Article III. In the case of Branch seats on the Chapter Board, the Chapter members within the Branch territory vote for the Branch candidates. In the case of at-large seats, all the full members of the Chapter in Alabama may vote for these candidates.

2.  Annual Chapter board elections will be held in conjunction with Council elections as much as possible. Elections may take place via on-line ballot, per the policies of the USGBC.

3. The Board shall each year form a Nominating Committee whose responsibility is to call for nominations from the membership, ensure the candidates meet basic qualifying criteria (according to USGBC policy), and supervise the elections process.

6. Resignation. If a Board member resigns, the Chair shall nominate a replacement and put it to vote before the Board.

7. Attendance.  Failure to attend a majority of Board meetings may result in removal from the Board. Removal is to be decided by a two-thirds vote of the Board.

8. Vacancies. If a vacancy occurs on the Board for any reason, the Chair shall nominate a replacement for the unexpired portion of the term and put it to vote before the Board. A vote of approval of two-thirds of the Board confirms the replacement. .

9. Meetings. The Board of Directors meets at least quarterly at whatever time and place it selects. A quorum is two-thirds of the members of the Board.. A simple majority is required on all votes except where some other number is required by law or these Bylaws.

Proxy voting is permitted when executed by the member or his/her duly authorized representative. A proxy is valid for only one meeting. The number of proxies that a member may represent shall be limited to one.

10. Compensation. Directors do not receive compensation for their services but may be reimbursed for expenses.

11. Duties. Policy and Procedures: The Board of Directors may establish policies, procedures or such other rules that are consistent with these Bylaws and with the Bylaws and Policies of the U.S. Green Building Council.

12. Committees. The Board of Directors shall appoint a Program Committee, a Membership Committee, and a Finance Committee each to serve a one year term for the coming fiscal year. The Board may appoint other committees, working groups or task forces as necessary to carry out the business of the organization.

Article VI. Officers

1. Officers. The Officers of the Chapter shall be a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.

2. Qualifications. Officers must be regular members of the Chapter who have been elected to the Board of Directors. No person may hold more than one office at the same time. Officers may serve two consecutive years.

3. Elections. The Board shall vote for and elect the Officers for the coming fiscal year to serve a one year term. Elections to take place during the first regular Board meeting after elections are complete.

4. Duties. Officers shall perform those duties usual and customary to their positions and as outlined in the policies of the Chapter. In addition, the Vice Chair acts in the place of the Chair when the Chair is not available. The Treasurer is the financial officer of the organization.

5. Vacancies. If a vacancy occurs among Officers, for any reason, the Board appoints an interim Officer  for the unexpired term.

6. An Officer or Director may be removed for cause by two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors.

7. Compensation. Officers do not receive compensation for their services but may be reimbursed for expenses.

Article VII. Membership Meetings

1. Annual Membership Meeting. The Chapter holds an annual membership meeting at the place and on the date decided by the Board of Directors.

2. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the Board of Directors at any time.

3. Notice. The Board of Directors must give members a thirty day notice of all annual and special meetings. This notice must include a description of the business to be discussed.

4. Voting. A simple majority is required on all votes except where some other number is required by laws or these Bylaws. Voting by mail or by electronic means is permitted in appropriate circumstances determined by the Board of Directors. A decision shall be made by a majority of those responding.

Article VIII. Officer Nominations and Elections

Article IX. Indemnification

The chapter shall indemnify any current Board or Committee member who may be designated from time to time to perform official duties on behalf of the Chapter. Such persons shall be indemnified by the Chapter against all expenses and liabilities including counsel fees, reasonably incurred or imposed upon them in connection with any proceeding to whom they may be made a party, or in which they may become involved, by reason of being a member of a Committee or the Board of Directors of the Chapter, except in such cases wherein the person is adjudged guilty of willful misfeasance or malfeasance in the performance of duties. The foregoing right of indemnification shall be in addition to and not exclusive of all other rights to which the indemnified may be entitled.

Article X. Dissolution

The Chapter status may be revoked by failure to meet the Chapter standards established by the USGBC, or upon the request of the Chapter Board of Directors with the approval of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Green Building Council. On the dissolution or liquidation of the Chapter, any of its assets remaining after payment of all liabilities shall be distributed by a vote of the Chapter Board of Directors to any non-profit corporation or association whose objectives are similar to the Chapter's.

Article XI. Amendments

Amendments to these Bylaws may be made at any properly called meeting or by electronic means, with a minimum 30-day  prior notice to the membership. Amendments shall be adopted upon a two-thirds vote of the membership present and voting. Emergency amendments may be made at any time by a quorum vote of the Board of Directors, but emergency amendments are temporary and subject to subsequent approval by a majority vote at the next meeting of the membership.

The name of the organization is the U.S. Green Building Council - Alabama Chapter, a nonprofit corporation incorporated in the state of Alabama.

ARTICLE 1.A Purpose

The Chapter is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary, and educational purposes including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

The specific purposes of the Chapter are to study means and methods of improving the energy and environmental performance of commercial, residential, and public sector buildings and their associated surroundings in the State of Alabama; encouragie the adoption of standards for the design, construction, and renovation of "green buildings" and their associated surroundings; educate the public of Alabama on the need for green buildings, sustainable whole building environments, and the means for accomplishing such buildings and environments through conferences, workshops, reports, and other written materials and programs; and accelerate the initiation, development, and implementation of market-based green building policies, design, technologies, and operation procedures.

Article II. Property

No part of the chapter's property shall inure to the benefit of any Officer, Director, or member of the Chapter.

Article III. Membership

Chapter member types are as follows:

1. Full Member - a person who is employed by a company, organization, institution, etc. that is a Member in good standing in the USGBC.

2. Associate Member - a person who does not work for a USGBC Member company.

3. Student/Emerging Green Builder - EGB is a member currently defined as a student or an emerging professional who is within five years of graduation.

Article IV. Dues

1. Dues. The Chapter will collect chapter dues as set forth in the USGBC chapter policy.

2. Refunds. No fees will be refunded.

Article V. Board of Directors

1. Directors. The governing body of the Chapter is the Board of Directors, which has the authority and is responsible for the supervision, control, and direction of the Chapter.

2. Composition of the Board. The Board of Directors shall consist of 8 to 15 members, all of whom are full members of the Chapter (as defined above). Local branches, upon satisfying the terms set out in the Branch Operating Agreement, may each elect 2 representatives to the Chapter Board. Chapter at-large seats will remain until such time that local Branches have filled all seats on the Board.

3. Board membership shall be representative of the professional categories as currently defined by the USGBC.

4. Terms. Board members are expected to serve 2-year terms from the date of the first Board meeting after election results are announced. Directors may serve up to three consecutive terms with a one year hiatus prior to re-election. In cases where the officers of the Chapter are deemed to be Chapter Board members, and the Chapter intends for the individuals who fill the role of the Chapter Chair to pass through the position of the Vice-Chair, this rule may be exempted.

 5. Elections.

1. Board members are elected by the Chapter membership, specifically, those individuals who are full members as defined under Article III. In the case of Branch seats on the Chapter Board, the Chapter members within the Branch territory vote for the Branch candidates. In the case of at-large seats, all the full members of the Chapter in Alabama may vote for these candidates.

2. Annual Chapter board elections will be held in conjunction with Council elections as much as possible. Elections may take place via on-line ballot, per the policies of the USGBC.

3. The Board shall each year form a Nominating Committee whose responsibility is to call for nominations from the membership, ensure the candidates meet basic qualifying criteria (according to USGBC policy), and supervise the elections process.

6. Resignation. If a Board member resigns, the Chair shall nominate a replacement and put it to vote before the Board.

7. Attendance.  Failure to attend a majority of Board meetings may result in removal from the Board. Removal is to be decided by a two-thirds vote of the Board.

8. Vacancies. If a vacancy occurs on the Board for any reason, the Chair shall nominate a replacement for the unexpired portion of the term and put it to vote before the Board. A vote of approval of two-thirds of the Board confirms the replacement. .

9. Meetings. The Board of Directors meets at least quarterly at whatever time and place it selects. A quorum is two-thirds of the members of the Board.. A simple majority is required on all votes except where some other number is required by law or these Bylaws.

Proxy voting is permitted when executed by the member or his/her duly authorized representative. A proxy is valid for only one meeting. The number of proxies that a member may represent shall be limited to one.

10. Compensation. Directors do not receive compensation for their services but may be reimbursed for expenses.

11. Duties. Policy and Procedures: The Board of Directors may establish policies, procedures or such other rules that are consistent with these Bylaws and with the Bylaws and Policies of the U.S. Green Building Council.

12. Committees. The Board of Directors shall appoint a Program Committee, a Membership Committee, and a Finance Committee each to serve a one year term for the coming fiscal year. The Board may appoint other committees, working groups or task forces as necessary to carry out the business of the organization.

Article VI. Officers

1. Officers. The Officers of the Chapter shall be a Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.

2. Qualifications. Officers must be regular members of the Chapter who have been elected to the Board of Directors. No person may hold more than one office at the same time. Officers may serve two consecutive years.

3. Elections. The Board shall vote for and elect the Officers for the coming fiscal year to serve a one year term. Elections to take place during the first regular Board meeting after elections are complete.

4. Duties. Officers shall perform those duties usual and customary to their positions and as outlined in the policies of the Chapter. In addition, the Vice Chair acts in the place of the Chair when the Chair is not available. The Treasurer is the financial officer of the organization.

5. Vacancies. If a vacancy occurs among Officers, for any reason, the Board appoints an interim Officer  for the unexpired term.

6. An Officer or Director may be removed for cause by two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors.

7. Compensation. Officers do not receive compensation for their services but may be reimbursed for expenses.

Article VII. Membership Meetings

1. Annual Membership Meeting. The Chapter holds an annual membership meeting at the place and on the date decided by the Board of Directors.

2. Special Meetings. Special meetings may be called by the Board of Directors at any time.

3. Notice. The Board of Directors must give members a thirty day notice of all annual and special meetings. This notice must include a description of the business to be discussed.

4. Voting. A simple majority is required on all votes except where some other number is required by laws or these Bylaws. Voting by mail or by electronic means is permitted in appropriate circumstances determined by the Board of Directors. A decision shall be made by a majority of those responding.

Article VIII. Officer Nominations and Elections

Article IX. Indemnification

The chapter shall indemnify any current Board or Committee member who may be designated from time to time to perform official duties on behalf of the Chapter. Such persons shall be indemnified by the Chapter against all expenses and liabilities including counsel fees, reasonably incurred or imposed upon them in connection with any proceeding to whom they may be made a party, or in which they may become involved, by reason of being a member of a Committee or the Board of Directors of the Chapter, except in such cases wherein the person is adjudged guilty of willful misfeasance or malfeasance in the performance of duties. The foregoing right of indemnification shall be in addition to and not exclusive of all other rights to which the indemnified may be entitled.

Article X. Dissolution

The Chapter status may be revoked by failure to meet the Chapter standards established by the USGBC, or upon the request of the Chapter Board of Directors with the approval of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Green Building Council. On the dissolution or liquidation of the Chapter, any of its assets remaining after payment of all liabilities shall be distributed by a vote of the Chapter Board of Directors to any non-profit corporation or association whose objectives are similar to the Chapter's.

Article XI. Amendments

Amendments to these Bylaws may be made at any properly called meeting or by electronic means, with a minimum 30-day  prior notice to the membership. Amendments shall be adopted upon a two-thirds vote of the membership present and voting. Emergency amendments may be made at any time by a quorum vote of the Board of Directors, but emergency amendments are temporary and subject to subsequent approval by a majority vote at the next meeting of the membership.