By-Laws
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The Society By-Laws
The Society By-Laws enable suitably qualified Associates to become Members or Fellows of the Society, entitling them to use the designatory letters MBMS or FBMS.
The designations of Member and Fellow are characterised by an educational requirement and/or experience, and a commitment to Continuing Professional Development. Advancement to Member or Fellow for new applicants already possessing the relevant qualifications or experience is by application. Those Members subsequently meeting the additional requirements may apply to transfer to Fellowship.
Council has powers to elect persons of distinction to be Honorary Fellows, providing there are no more than five at any one time.
Applications should be supported by three Sponsors, of which at least one must be a Fellow or Officer of the Society. The membership designation is awarded by the Qualifications Panel on the basis of the evidence of qualifications and experience submitted and the recommendations of the Sponsors.
BY-LAWS
MEMBERSHIP
1. General
With effect from 1st January 2000 all existing Personal Founder Members and Members and new applicants shall be entitled to call themselves Associates of the British Masonry Society unless they have been otherwise re-designated. Those who are Founder Members will continue to be recorded as Founders. Each Founder will also be an Associate of a Member or a Fellow or an Honorary member. Associates, Members, Fellows and Honorary Fellows constitute the body of the Society and the terms “the membership” and “members” in lower case are intended to be all inclusive of the four designations.
2. Qualified Membership
From 1st January 1999 all existing members and new applicants will be invited to apply to Council for registration in one of the following designations of qualified membership.
Fellows
Members
Those Members subsequently meeting the additional requirements may apply to transfer to Fellowship.
3. Honorary Fellows
The Council shall have powers to elect persons of distinction to be Honorary Fellows provided that there are at no time more than five in total.
4. Regulations for admission to the various designations of membership
4.1 All designations are intended to be open to all interested in and concernedwith masonry materials, design and construction including research and teaching and including those with a craft background. There are no entry requirements for Associates but it is expected that all Associates will normally progress to Member or Fellow. The designations of Member and Fellow are characterised by an educational requirement and/or experience and a commitment to Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Advancement to Member or Fellow for those new applicants already possessing the relevant qualifications or experience will be by application.
4.2 Applicants shall complete a Form of Application available from the Honorary Secretary and return it to him after completion. Applications may be made at any time and will be considered by the Qualifications Panel (see Section II) as soon as convenient.
4.3 Three sponsors are required in support of every candidate for election or for transference to Member or Fellow, of which at least one must be a Fellow or Officer of the Society. Every candidate must produce evidence of appropriate qualifications by education or experience as exemplified in Table 1.
4.4 The membership designations will be awarded by the Qualifications Panel on the basis of the evidence of qualifications and experience submitted and the recommendations of the sponsors who may be asked for further information. It is not intended that the candidate should be required to attend for interview but the Qualifications Panel reserves the right to require an applicant to do so. Applicants do not have a right to an interview.
5. Designatory letters
Qualified Members shall be entitled to use letters after their names as follows:
Members MBMS
Fellows FBMS
Honorary Fellows HonFBMS
6. Evidence of membership
Each member shall be provided with a letter confirming his admission to a membership designation. Illuminated certificates may be commissioned from the Society. Both the letter and the certificate remain the property of the Society and shall be returnable forthwith on cessation of membership.
7. Duties of members
All Fellows, Members and Associates are expected to conduct themselves honourably in the practice of their profession or calling and to maintain the dignity, integrity and reputation of the Society and to uphold its objects.
8. Rescission of qualifications
8.1 If a qualified member discontinues his annual subscription to the Society he shall forthwith cease to put the Society’s qualifying letters after his name.
8.2 Any qualified member in breach of duty may be removed from the Society and the right to use letters rescinded by a resolution of Council passed by a majority of at least three fourths of the members present and voting at a Special Council meeting of which not less than twenty-one days’ previous notice specifying the intention to propose such resolution shall have been sent to the member whose removal is in question and to all members of the Council. Notice of the general nature of the grounds on which such resolution is proposed shall be sent to the member whose removal is in question at least fourteen days before the meeting and he shall be entitled to be heard by Council. The Secretary shall duly notify the decision of Council to the person concerned.
8.3 Within 14 days of such notification the person whose membership has been rescinded may submit an appeal to the Secretary with evidence in writing to support his case. This shall be considered at a special meeting of the Qualifications Panel to which the Immediate Past President, and the President-Elect have been invited. The appellant will be entitled to attend and address the meeting and be accompanied by another member (but no other person) who may speak for him. If the appeal is successful the decision shall be ratified by Council at its next meeting before being communicated to the appellant.
8.4 A list of those whose membership has been rescinded under clause 8.2 shall be published each year in the Annual Report without indicating the reason for cessation. No information will be given to the public who make enquiry except the fact and date of a person’s qualification and rescission. No reasons will be given.
II QUALIFICATIONS PANEL
1. Composition
The Qualification Panel shall be appointed by Council and comprise a minimum of four members of Council, two of whom shall be the President and Secretary. The Chairman shall be a member of Council. The Panel shall be chosen so that their expertise covers the various sectors and disciplines of the Society. They shall have the power to co-opt persons with specific skills.
2. Procedure
2.1 The Qualifications Panel will consider applications forwarded to it by the Secretary who shall be responsible for ensuring that sponsors have been provided appropriately. The Secretary will inform those successful. The Panel will report its recommendations to Council. In the case of non-election no mention shall be made in the minutes of Council but the unsuccessful candidate shall be informed. Lists of those appointed Members and Fellows will be published from time to time in Masonry International.
2.2 Reasons for rejection will not be given to the applicant. There is no appeals procedure but the candidate may re-apply after one year from the date of his original or subsequent application.
Table 1
Typical requirements for qualification
Exemplified by
Typical
minimum
(years)
Education Experience Exper-
ience Age
Fellow(FBMS) Appropriate degree in Science or Engineering or Corporate Membership of a professional Institution Established reputation in the field of masonry, having made a recognised contribution and be either a senior manager or have responsible experience in industry, teaching, research, design or construction
10
35
Member (MBMS) Degree in Science or Engineering or non-corporate Membership of an Institution or appropriate HND/NVQ or equivalent or apprenticeship Recognized contribution to masonry science or practice in industry, teaching, research, design or construction
6
28
Associate Interest in masonry science or practice
18
CPD requirement: Fellows, Members and Associates are normally expected to attend at least one Society meeting each year.
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