Name

The name of the organization shall be the Western Association of Broadcast Engineers, abbreviated W.A.B.E.

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Objectives

The W.A.B.E. shall be a non-profit organization with the following objectives:

(1) A. To promote and advance the dissemination of technical knowledge among its members. The primary means of achieving this shall be the organization of an annual convention at which appropriate technical papers shall be presented and current technical equipment exhibited.

(2) To represent the interests of the majority of its members to duly appointed technical, educational, and legislative institutions.

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Membership

Annual membership in the W.A.B.E. is granted upon either payment of the W.A.B.E. convention registration fee, or by purchasing a yearly membership.
Membership remains in effect until the first day of the subsequent WABE convention.
Membership in the W.A.B.E. is renewed annually by either paying the yearly membership fee or attending the annual convention and paying the full
registration. At the discretion of the Executive Committee reduced fees may be established for short term attendance. Payment of a reduced fee does not entitle
the payee to membership rights and privileges. The Yearly Membership fee will be set by the executive committee within 30 days of the end of the convention.  (amended Nov. 7, 2017)

(1) Voting Member

On a regular basis, the current executive, along with at least 3 past presidents, shall meet to ascertain the relevance of adding new criteria for becoming a voting
member. This will be brought to the next general meeting for ratification.  A voting member shall be a current or past technical employee of a broadcast or
new media-based company that operates in Canada. Payment of a yearly membership fee or full convention registration fee shall give this member the
right to vote at the Annual Business Meeting held at that year’s convention. (amended Nov. 7, 2017)

(2) Affiliate Member

An affiliate member shall be anyone employed in a field related to broadcasting who pays a yearly membership fee or a full convention registration fee, but does
not meet the qualifications of a voting member. Affiliate members shall not have the right to vote at the Annual Business Meeting. (amended Nov. 7, 2017)

(3) Honorary Member

Honorary members shall be appointed at the discretion of the Executive Committee. Former voting members who have retired shall be eligible for honorary membership. Honorary membership may also be bestowed upon individuals who, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, have made a major contribution to the furtherance of the objectives of the W.A.B.E. Honorary members shall receive complimentary full registration at W.A.B.E. conventions, but shall not have the right to vote at the Annual Business Meeting. A retired member who resumes employment in the broadcasting or broadcast related field shall not be entitled to complimentary registration for the period of that employment.

(4) Student Member

Students enrolled in broadcast engineering courses at technical institutions approved by the Executive Committee shall be entitled to reduced rate registration at W.A.B.E. conventions. Rates and conditions of student registration shall be set by the Executive Committee. Student members shall not have the right to vote at Annual Business Meetings.

(5) Others

From time to time other classes of membership may be established by the Executive Committee, however only those persons meeting the qualifications of voting members shall be allowed to vote at Annual Business Meetings.

Membership in the W.A.B.E. is renewed annually by attending the annual convention and paying the full registration fee. At the discretion of the Executive Committee reduced fees may be established for short term attendance. Payment of a reduced fee does not entitle the payee to membership rights and privileges.

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Officers of the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall consist of three officers: President, Secretary-Treasurer and Past President. The current executive shall be responsible for the
appointment of the following 5 yearly local committee chairpersons.  (amended Nov. 7, 2017)

President

The President shall act as overall supervisor and co-ordinator of the affairs of the W.A.B.E. The President shall be responsible for organizing all Executive Committee meetings, and shall present the President’s report and act as chair of the Annual Business Meeting held at each convention.

At the discretion of the President, the duties of the Executive Committee may be modified or expanded to meet the needs of a particular convention.

Past President

The retiring President shall become an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee, and shall act in an advisory capacity to the President Should a member of the Executive Committee be obliged to resign, the Past President may be called on to fulfill the obligations of the resigning member.

Secretary-Treasurer

The Secretary-Treasurer shall be responsible for ensuring the financial accounts and records of the W.A.B.E. are accurately maintained. The Secretary-Treasurer
shall record the minutes of all meetings and shall assume the responsibilities of the President in the President’s absence. The Secretary shall be responsible for
maintaining the W.A.B.E. website and promoting W.A.B.E. on social Media. The Secretary-Treasurer shall present a report at the Annual Business Meeting
summarizing the current financial position promotion of the W.A.B.E.  (amended Nov. 7, 2017)

Exhibitor’s Chair

The Exhibitor’s Chair shall be responsible for the organization of all equipment exhibits at the annual convention. The Exhibitor’s Chair may be assisted by an Exhibitor’s Liaison who shall represent the interests of the exhibitors participating in the convention.

Host Chair

The Host Chair shall be responsible for the organization of all meal and social functions of the annual convention, and for the printing of the program and event tickets. The Host Chair shall also be responsible for the organization of networking activities.

Radio Papers Chair

The Radio Papers Chair shall be responsible for the organization and implementation of the Radio technical papers program at the annual convention.

TV Papers Chair

The TV Papers Chair shall be responsible for the organization and implementation of the TV technical papers program at the annual convention.

Sessions Chair

The Sessions Chair shall be responsible for the acquisition and operation of all audio-visual equipment required for the technical papers program. The Sessions Chair shall also arrange for the introduction of the paper presenters.

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Election of Officers

The election of the Executive Committee shall take place at the Annual Business Meeting. The President shall arrange for the selection of a slate of officers to be presented for nomination at the Annual Business Meeting. Nominations shall also be accepted from the floor. The Exhibitors Chair, Accommodations Chair, Host Chair, Papers Chair, and Sessions Chair shall be elected annually. If possible, these officers should be resident in or near the city hosting the convention. The Secretary-Treasurer shall normally be elected every other year and shall serve a two year term. Following that term the Secretary-Treasurer shall become the President.

The President shall normally serve a two year term. Should the President be unable to complete this term, the Secretary-Treasurer shall be promoted to President Should any other officer be unable to complete the term of office, the President shall select a replacement. This selection must be ratified by a majority of the remaining members of the Executive Committee. The President and Secretary-Treasurer must meet the qualifications of a voting member of the WARE. in order to hold office. Other members of the Executive Committee should preferably meet these criteria, however if no suitable voting member is available, an affiliate member may be selected.

From time to time the President may appoint other officers or committees to perform additional duties of the organization such as the presentation of awards, the selection of future convention sites, or the amendment of this constitution. These officers or Committees shall report to the President but shall not be considered members of the Executive Committee.

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Finances

The revenues of the W.A.B.E. shall be derived primarily from sponsorships, memberships and registration fees from the annual conventions. Members of the
Executive and Local Committee shall not be paid for their services. They shall, however, be reimbursed for all travel, lodging, and other reasonable expenses
incurred on behalf of the W.A.B.E. during the organization meetings of the convention. Each member of the Executive and Local Committee shall be required to pay a
full registration fee at the annual convention and will be responsible for their own travel and accommodation at the convention. Should the employer of the
Executive Member not cover the travel and accommodation costs, the W.A.B.E. will cover these approved expenses. (amended Nov. 7, 2017)

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Annual Business Meeting

An Annual Business Meeting shall be held at each convention. The primary functions performed at this meeting are the presentation of the President’s report, presentation of the Secretary-Treasurer’s report, and election of the new officers of the Executive Committee. All convention delegates including exhibitors are invited to express their opinion on WARE. business, but only voting members may cast a ballot Voting shall normally consist of a show of hands, but at the discretion of the President may be done by secret ballot. A simple majority of one shall carry a presented and seconded motion.

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Constitutional Amendments

Amendments to this constitution may be proposed by the Executive Committee or by a petition of ten or more voting members. Amendments must be presented at the Annual Business Meeting, and if approved by the majority of voting members in attendance, shall take effect within thirty days thereafter.

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