Mid-Continent Exploration & Production Safety Network Bylaws

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Vision: Incident-Free Operations through collaboration with Industry Safety Leaders.

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Mission:  The MCEPS Network is an all-volunteer organization that promotes incident free operations through safety and health improvements and protection of the environment in the onshore Oil and Gas Exploration & Production, Transmission Industry.  The MCEPS Network provides opportunities for sharing of best practices, lessons learned, continuing education, and networking among organizations and individuals.  Our Goal is that every person goes home safely.

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Article I - Name and Sponsorship

The name of the organization shall be the Mid-Continent Exploration & Production Safety Network, commonly referred to as MCEPS, henceforth referred to as the Network in these bylaws.

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Article II – Membership

1. Membership is open to those engaged in or supporting the Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Industry. The Network shall set no limit on the number of individuals that may become members, attend meetings, or participate in activities.

Active Members:  An active member is one who qualifies under the membership clause and supports the Network through active participation and attendance.

Advising Member:  An advising member is an employee of a regulatory organization or Educational Institution that interacts with the Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, Transmission Industry. Advising members have neither voting nor elective office privileges. Advising members may serve on the Executive Committee in the Advising Member position but shall not be eligible to fulfill the offices of President, Vice President, or Secretary/Scribe.

Membership Status:  The Executive Committee shall review membership status.

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Article III - Organization

1. The Officers of the Network will include as minimum, a President, Vice President, and Secretary / Scribe who shall be elected for a one-year term on a calendar year basis by a majority vote of members and shall serve without compensation.

2. Election of officers will be held at least 60 days before the beginning of the calendar year during November each year. The election may be conducted at a regularly scheduled meeting or by letter ballot.

3. The Executive Committee shall consist of no less than nine and no more than twelve persons as follows: The President, Vice-President, Secretary / Scribe, OSHA Representative and four to seven Active Members, and one Advising Member. The advising member position: shall be filled by an active member when there is not an Advising Member fulfilling that position.

4. The President-elect shall attend Executive Committee meetings until assuming office.

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Article IV – Meetings

1. Meetings are to be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order Revised.

2. General membership meetings are to be held regularly.

3. Meetings may include a round table discussion, guest speaker presentation(s), reports of the Executive Committee business meetings, and from other committees as appropriate.

4. Vendor’s participation is welcome but not a venue for sales pitch.

5. Discussions and interactions may not be limited to the posted agenda of the meeting.

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Article V - Duties of the Network Officers, Committees and Election Process

The President shall:

1. Preside over regular and special Network meetings.

2. Call and lead meetings of the Executive Committee.

3. Provide leadership for programs and activities during his/her term of office.

4. Ensure representation of the Network at meetings of other organizations as appropriate.

5. Establish communication with others who have an interest in Safety, Health and the Environment.

6. Chair the Election for the next year.

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 The Vice-President shall:

1. Assume and carry out the duties of the President if the President is unable to serve.

2. Assume duties as assigned by the President.

3. Maintain all past records and files of the Network in an organized manner.

The Secretary/Scribe shall:

1. Record minutes of the Network and Executive Committee meetings and arrange for duplication and distribution to members.

2. Maintain Network membership and participation records.

3. Prepare and distribute notices of regular and special meetings of the Network and Executive Committee to members.

4. Prepare Network correspondence except for correspondence to acquire speakers.

5. Prepare meeting agendas with the assistance of the Executive Committee.

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The Communications Committee shall:

1. Maintain and update the MCEPS website as necessary

2. Maintain and update other MCEPS social media efforts

3. Update the membership as necessary on the communication outreach efforts of the network.

4. Collaborate with the Secretary as necessary to streamline other communication efforts.

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The Executive Committee shall:

1. Meet as required based on the request of the sitting President for the beginning of each calendar year to plan the Network program. This will include the establishment of necessary sub-committees, types of programs and places of meetings.

2. Review subjects for discussion at regular meetings including suggested guest speakers.

3. Meet periodically to ensure that the meetings and other activities of the Network are being conducted as outlined in the planned schedule.

4. Appoint sub-committees for specified purposes as warranted throughout the year.

5. Appoint Active Members to fill vacancies on the Executive Committee until the next scheduled election.

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The Election Process shall consist of:

1. Be chaired by the President.

2. Provide an opportunity for all Active Members to make nominations.

3. Create and distribute a ballot to active members to allow for a vote.

4. Make provision for written-in names on the ballot.

5. Count votes and announce election results.

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Article V - Procedures:

Robert's Rules of Order Revised is the parliamentary authority in all matters of procedure not specifically covered in the Bylaws.

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Article VI – Amendments to Bylaws

Proposed amendments to these bylaws shall be submitted to the President in writing and reviewed by the Executive Committee before consideration by the general membership. Prior to becoming effective, amendments shall be approved by a majority vote of active members.

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Article VII – Compensation

No member of the Network nor any executive committee member, director nor officer shall receive monetary or other compensation for services rendered during tenure with the Network.

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Article VIII – Miscellaneous

Attendee lists shall only be shared to OSHA Representative as part of the OSHA Alliance.

Perceived conflicts of interest shall be reported to the National STEPS Network Executive Committee.

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Revision 2 - January 24, 2025

Rev.1 – 5.18.2015

Rev.2 – 1.24.2025

 

RECORD OF CHANGE

 

1. Page 1, Article II – Membership, Advising Member: Last line, removed “Communications Officer”.

2. Page 1, Article III – Organization, Section 1: Removed “Communication Officer”.

3. Page 1, Article III – Organization, Section 3: Changed “Committee shall consist of nine” to “Committee shall consist of no less than nine and no more than twelve”.

4. Page 1, Article III – Organization, Section 3: Removed “immediate Past President”.

5. Page 1, Article III – Organization, Section 3: Changed “four Active Members” replaced with “four to seven Active Members”.

6. Page 1, Article III – Organization, Section 3: Added “OSHA Representative” to the list of the Executive Committee.

7. Page 1, Article III – Organization, Section 3: Removed “Until past resident position is filled; an additional Active Member shall be elected to the Committee.”

8. Page 2, Article III – Organization, Section 4: Removed all of section 4.

9. Page 2, Article III – Organization, Section 5: Re-numbered “5” to “4”

10. Page 2, Article IV – Meetings, Section 5: Changed “are limited to” to “may not be limited to”

11. Page 3, Article V - Duties of the Network Officers, Committees and Election Process: Changed the Communications Officer role to a Communications Committee

12. Page 3, Article V - Duties of the Network Officers, Committees and Election Process: Changed “Election Committee” to “Election Process”.

13. Page 3, Article V - Duties of the Network Officers, Committees and Election Process, Election Process: Removed Section 2 and 4.  Renumbered remaining sections as needed.

14. Page 4, Article VIII – Miscellaneous: Removed “The Executive Committee, with inputs from the Membership, shall agree upon a logo”.

15. Page 4, Article VIII – Miscellaneous, Second Line: Changed “Attendee lists shall not to be shared.” To read “Attendee lists shall only be shared to OSHA Representative as part of the OSHA Alliance.”