QUANTITY SURVEYORS SOCIETY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
RULES AND REGULATIONS

Regulations

1. DEFINITIONS

.1 "Society" means the Quantity Surveyors Society of British Columbia. (QSSBC)

.2 "Board" means the Board of Directors of the Society.

.3 "Member" means a Member of the Society as classified in the By-Laws.

.4 "National Institute" means the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors. (CIQS)

.5 "Client" means a person or firm with whom a Member or QS firm has an agreement to provide services.

.6 Wherever the masculine is used herein, it shall be construed as including the feminine.

.7 "Other Affiliated Association" means a Quantity Surveyors Society or Association of one of the other Canadian Provinces or Territories, and which is also affiliated with the CIQS.

.8 "Diploma" shall mean the Membership diploma issued by CIQS or QSSBC.

.9 "Certificate" shall mean a Membership Certificate issued by CIQS or QSSBC.

.10 "Qualified Member" shall mean:

a) a Professional Quantity Surveyor as defined in Article 3.1 hereof who is a Member in good standing of the Society and who has not been classified as a "Member-Retired."

b) a Construction Estimator Certified as defined in Article 3.2 hereof who is a Member in good standing of the Society and who has not been classified as a "Member-Retired."

2. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

.1 Applications shall be made to the Society on a form provided for that purpose and shall be accompanied by the specified fee.

3. MEMBERSHIP

Any person admitted to the Membership of the Society shall be classified in accordance with the following guidelines:

3.1 Professional Quantity Surveyor

.1 PROFESSIONAL QUANTITY SURVEYOR (PQS)

A Member who has completed all the academic and experience qualifications of the Institute together with the Test of Professional Experience.

.2 ASSOCIATE

A Member who has completed all the academic and experience qualifications of the Institute for PQS, but who has not undertaken nor completed the Test of Professional Experience.

.3 FULL TIME STUDENT

A person registered in a full time approved program of studies or a person who has a minimum of high school graduation and is studying towards passing the Institute's examinations.

3.2 Construction Estimator

.1 CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR CERTIFIED (CEC)

A Member who has completed all the academic and experience qualifications required by the Society for the designation C.E.C.

.2 CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATOR (CE)

A Member who has completed all the academic and experience qualifications required by the Society for the designation C.E.

.3 ASSOCIATE

A Member who has completed part of the academic and experience qualifications of the Institute for CEC, but who has not completed all requirements or the diary section.

.4 FULL TIME STUDENT

A person registered in a full time approved program of studies or a person who has a minimum of high school graduation and is studying towards passing the Institute's examinations.

3.3 Other

.1 HONORARY

A person who the Board, with the consent of seven Qualified Members each of at least ten years standing, has admitted as an Honorary Member for having made outstanding contributions to the profession of Quantity Surveying in British Columbia.

.2 RETIRED

A Member as defined in Article 4.9 hereunder.

.3 LIFE MEMBER

A person who the Board has admitted as a Life Member for having met the criteria as established and published by the Society. Such members shall not be required to pay annual fees.

4. FEES AND TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

.1 Annual fees are due and payable by the first day of April each year by all Members, in accordance with the current scale of fees established and published by the Society.

.2 These fees will be collected by the Society.

.3 Applicants for Membership accepted after October 1st will only be required to pay fifty percent (50%) of the specified annual fee for the year in which they are admitted to Membership.

.4 Not less than ten days before the first day of April, a Member may appeal in writing to the Board for an extension of time for the payment of his fee. The Board may, on compassionate grounds, extend the time in which the fee may be paid, but not beyond the year for which it is due.

.5 A Member who is not in arrears in payment of his fees and who is otherwise a Member in good standing, may resign from Membership of the Society by delivering to the Secretary notice of such resignation and upon receipt of said notice by the Secretary, that Member shall cease to be a Member of the Society. He shall have no claim for recovery of his annual fees for any unexpired term of Membership and shall return his QSBC Diploma or Certificate, his CIQS Diploma and seals.

.6 A Member who has resigned may have his Membership reinstated by making written application to the Board, by making payment of the application fee and by paying all dues outstanding from the time of his resignation to the time of his reinstatement.

.7 A Member who has ceased to be a Member because of non-payment of his annual fees shall not hold himself out to be a Professional Quantity Surveyor, Construction Estimator Certified, Construction Estimator, Associate or Student of the Society, or the National Institute and shall return to the Society, his QSBC Diploma or Certificate, and his CIQS Diploma and seals.

.8 A Member who has ceased to be a Member because of non-payment of his annual fee may only have his Membership reinstated by making written application to the Board, by making payment of the administration fee, by paying the portion of dues paid to CIQS on his behalf in the year in which he ceased to be a member, and by paying the current annual fee. On being reinstated he shall have his seals and Diplomas/Certificates returned to him.

.9 Notwithstanding any other provision of the Rules and Regulations, where it is established to the satisfaction of the Board, that a Member of the Society has retired from practice, the Board may, in its absolute discretion, change the category of Membership from Qualified Member to "Member-Retired". All Members so entered shall be deemed to be Members of the Society and shall be obliged to pay a nominal fee in accordance with the current scale of fees established and published by the Society.

.10 Any Member who has not paid his annual dues by May 1st shall cease to be a Member in good standing until payment of said dues. The Secretary shall, not later than the first day of May, notify those Members who have not paid their annual fee on or before that date, that they will cease to be Members of the Society.

.11 Failure on the part of the Secretary to send the notices referred to in this section, or failure on the part of the Member to receive these notices, shall not relieve the Member from any of the additional costs arising out of his failure to make payment in due time.

5. ORGANIZATION

.1 Board of Directors

(a) The affairs of the Society shall be managed by a Board of eight Directors of whom more than half shall form a quorum for the transacting of business.

(b) The board shall include CEC members, excluding the office of President and Vice President.

.2 Officers

(a) The following Officers will be elected as laid down in the By-Laws.

(i) President:

The President assumes the overall responsibility for the functioning of the Society, its Officers and its employees. He shall assume the Chair at all meetings of the Board and the Society.

(ii) Vice-President:

The Vice-President is the immediate deputy of the President. He shall assume the President's duties in the absence or sickness of the President until such time as the President is able to continue his duties. Should the President die, resign or otherwise fail to complete his term of office, his title and duties will be assumed by the Vice-President until the first meeting of the Board after the Annual General Meeting following his assumption of the President's duties.

(iii) Secretary:

The Secretary shall be responsible for all books, papers, records, correspondence and other documents of the Society. He shall be the custodian of the seal of the Society. He shall ensure that the Minutes of all proceedings of the Society and of the Board are properly recorded and shall ensure that all required notices be given.

He shall file the annual statement of the Society with the Registrar of Companies of British Columbia within fourteen days following the Annual General Meeting of the Society, together with a list of the Directors of the Society, their addresses, occupations and dates of election.

He shall be responsible for and ensure that the Membership Register is complete and up to date.

He shall also be responsible for the issuance and collection of all Diplomas. He shall validate and record all proxies at all Annual General and special Meetings and validate all nominations for election to the Board. He shall liaise with the Society's legal advisor in all matters relating to the By-Laws and Rules and Regulations, and liaise with all Committees or Sub-committees and represent them when necessary at Board meetings.

iv) Treasurer:

The Treasurer shall collect all fees, subscriptions and charges and deposit same to the credit of the Society with its bankers, shall keep a regular account of the funds of the Society and shall, with the cooperation and assistance of the Secretary, present an annual statement of the affairs of the Society to the Members at every Annual General Meeting. Such statement shall include a balance sheet containing general particulars of the assets and liabilities of the Society, a statement of income and expenditures and a statement concerning details of the various investments, if any, made by or on behalf of the Society and shall include such further particulars as the Members of the Society may require. Such statements shall be audited and shall be signed by the auditors.

b) At the Board's discretion the posts of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by the same person.

.3 Committees

(a) The President is an ex-officio Member of all Committees. He shall not have the power to vote in Committee, unless he is an appointed Member of the Committee.

(b) The Board shall appoint chairpersons of as many standing Committees as it deems necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the Society. The chairperson of any Committee may be removed by a simple majority vote of the Board or by a secret ballot by the Board as deemed appropriate.

(c) Committee chairpersons shall have the power to appoint or co-opt Members as necessary in accordance with the By-Laws.

(d) Each Committee chairperson shall be responsible to the Board for the activities of his Committee. He shall submit to the Board such written reports as may be requested or required.

.4 Terms of Office

(a) The President may not serve for more than two consecutive one (1) year terms of office.

(b) Each Director shall hold office for a three year term and the term of office of two or three Directors will expire each year.

(c) Should a vacancy occur in the position of one of the Officers during his term of office, the Board shall appoint or elect a replacement Officer from its Membership until the first meeting of the Board after the Annual General Meeting following the date of the vacancy.

.5 Resignation

(a) Resignations from the Board must be submitted in writing to the Secretary, at the Society's Head Office.

(b) The Board will receive all resignations. They will be accepted if it is felt that due and sufficient reasons have been submitted.

(c) The Board may request the resignation of any Board Member if he is delinquent in his duties as a Director, or if his conduct is to the detriment of the Society.

(d) A Director may be removed from the Board provided that at a Board meeting, by means of a secret ballot, 75% of those present vote in favour of such action. All Members of the Society will be advised, within four weeks, that the Director has been removed from the Board, of the reason for removing the Director and the name of the Member replacing the Director.

(e) A vacancy on the Board will be filled in accordance with the By-Laws.

6. AFFILIATION WITH THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE OF QUANTITY SURVEYORS

.1 The Society is affiliated with the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors:

a) To uphold the rules and regulations of the CIQS
b) To permit the exchange of Membership of the Society with Other Affiliated Associations;
c) To exchange information on matters relating to Quantity Surveying;
d) To ensure that the educational standards of the Institute are upheld.

.2 The Society will be represented on the Council of the CIQS by the President, or in the absence of the President, the Vice President.

.3 An affiliation fee of an agreed amount will be paid to the CIQS.

.4 The boundaries of jurisdiction of Other Affiliated Associations shall be as mutually agreed by CIQS Council.

7. REGISTER

.1 The Register of Members shall be the official list of all Members of the Society in which the full name of each person admitted to Membership in the Society shall be entered, together with his mailing address and telephone number, the date on which he became a Qualified Member, Associate or Full Time Student, and his CIQS and QSBC Diploma numbers.

.2 A Member can honourably withdraw from the Society by delivering to the Secretary a written resignation, provided that his Membership is currently in good standing.

.3 The Board, at any of its meetings, may remove from the Register the name of any Member of any classification whose conduct is considered to be detrimental to the interest of the Society, subject to Article 9 of these Rules and Regulations and Article 5.1 of the By-Laws.

.4 Should a Member whose name is removed from the Register be a Member of the Board, he shall automatically be relieved of his office and the Board shall appoint a replacement for the balance of his term of office.

.5 Should a Member cease to be a Member due to resignation, for non-payment of fees, or due to his Membership being suspended or terminated, his name shall be removed from the Register forthwith. It shall not be restored until his Membership is reinstated, or until the period of his suspension has expired.

8. DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES OF QUALIFIED MEMBERSHIP

.1 The Secretary shall issue to each Qualified PQS and CEC Member a Diploma/Certificate certifying him as a Qualified Member of the Society within a reasonable period after his Qualified Membership has been granted and he has paid the required fees as prescribed from time to time. The Diploma/Certificate shall be numbered and shall bear the Qualified Member's name and the date of his admission to Qualified Membership in the Society. It shall be signed by the President, the Secretary and one other Director of the Society. The Diploma/Certificate shall be the property of the Society and shall be returned to the Secretary if the Qualified Member's Membership ceases, is terminated or suspended.

.2 In the case of the decease of a Qualified Member in good standing, the Society shall relinquish any claim to the Diploma/Certificate of the said deceased Qualified Member.

9. PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND COMPETENCY

.1 The Board will have regard to the following principles of ethics and professional conduct:

(a) A member shall act at all times with fairness and loyalty to his associates, employers, subordinates and employees; and with devotion to high ideals of personal honour and professional integrity.

(b) A member shall clearly state that any statements or opinions he may write or speak are those of his own or his company, and not of the Society unless prior approval has been given by the Society.

.2 Duties of a Member to the Public:

A Member:

(a) shall endeavour at all times to enhance the public regard for his profession by extending the public knowledge thereof and by discouraging untrue, unfair or exaggerated statements with respect to Quantity Surveying and to Members and their companies;

(b) shall not give opinions or make statements about projects unless he clearly discloses on whose behalf he is giving the opinion or making the statements;

(c) shall not express privately or publicly, or while he is serving as a witness before a court, commission, or other tribunal, opinions on relevant matters that are not founded on adequate knowledge and honest conviction;

(d) shall sign and seal only work done by him or under his personal and direct supervision.

.3 Duty of a Member to an employer or to a Client:

A Member shall:

(a) act as faithful agent and trustee and shall treat as confidential any information obtained by him as to the business affairs, technical methods, or processes of an employee or Client;

(b) have no interest, direct or indirect, in any materials, supplies or equipment used by his employer or Client, or in persons or firms receiving contracts from his employer without in advance informing his employer or Client of the nature of the interest;

(c) not act as consultant to other parties in respect of any work in which his employer has business interests without first advising his employer.

.4 Duty of a Member to other Members or Quantity Surveying firms

A Member shall:

(a) conduct himself and act toward other members with courtesy and good faith;

(b) not accept an engagement to review the work of another member for the same Client, except with the knowledge of that member;

(c) not accept any engagement to provide substantially the same services where another member holds a commission to provide these services without first ascertaining from the prospective Client, in writing, that the services of the already appointed member have been terminated and paid in full, and this has been confirmed by the appointed member;

(d) not maliciously injure the reputation or business of another member;

(e) not attempt to gain an advantage over other Members of his profession by paying or accepting a commission, fee or other benefit in securing work;

(f) not advertise or promote in a misleading manner or in a manner injurious to the public or to the dignity of his profession.

.5 Duty of a Member to Society:

A Member shall:

(a) promote and maintain the honour and integrity of his profession and expose without fear or favour before proper tribunals any and all unprofessional or dishonest conduct by any other Quantity Surveying Member;

(b) undertake only such work as he is competent to perform by virtue of his training and experience, and shall, where advisable, retain and co-operate with other Members or Quantity Surveying firms to ensure the highest standard of service.

(c) not practice under a name or title, or permit his name to be used in any connection with any name or title, which might imply to the public that someone not a Member is a Member of the Society.

(d) not practice in the jurisdiction of any Other Affiliated Association in which he is not a registered Member in good standing.

10. ADMINISTRATION

The affairs of the Society shall be administered by the Board as provided for in the By-Laws.

11. SECTIONS OF THE SOCIETY

Sections of the Society that reflect the primary employment of Members shall be formed at the request of the Board, or upon application to the Board by a group of Members, at the discretion of the Board.

12. EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATION OF CONSTRUCTION ESTIMATORS, PROBATIONERS AND STUDENTS

.1 Every Member who employs or has employed under him a Construction Estimator or Associate, is responsible for giving such practical experience and instruction and affording such opportunities as are necessary to enable the member to acquire the art, skill, science and knowledge of a Professional Quantity Surveyor or Construction Estimator Certified.

.2 Every member must give immediate notice in writing to the Secretary of the Society of any change in his employment.

13. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS

.1 All Members may take part in the discussions at Annual General Meetings and Special Meetings.

.2 The minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting, and the minutes of any Special Meeting held in the previous year shall be presented at the next Annual General Meeting.

.3 The order of business at the Annual General Meeting shall be:

(a) Call to order.
(b) Reading of notice calling the meeting.
(c) Reading of the minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting.
(d) Reading of the minutes of any Special Meeting held in the preceding year.
(e) Business arising from the minutes.
(f) Reports.
(g) Elections.
(h) Destroy ballots.
(i) Appointment of honorary auditors.
(j) Ratification of the Rules and Regulations.
(k) New business.

Revised & Ratified: May 13, 2010