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Bylaws Amendment Approved by Members
On June 15, the members approved an amendment to the Society’s bylaws requiring candidates for the National Board of Directors to be Certified Professional Services Marketers or SMPS Fellows. The amendment was passed with 653 votes in favor and 261 opposed.
The amendment was introduced by the National Board in May. The Board finds it in the best interest of SMPS to provide for certain minimum qualifications of candidates for the National Board of Directors, ensuring direction of the Society by members who have clearly demonstrated their knowledge of and commitment to professional services marketing. The Board concluded that recognition of an individual as an SMPS Fellow or a Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) provides reasonable and appropriate evidence of a candidate’s knowledge of and commitment to the profession.
National President Peter Kienle, FSMPS, CPSM, said, “Over the last five years as the number of CPSMs has really started to climb, we now have a pool of approximately 600 CPSMs and Fellows who are writing, mentoring, teaching, speaking, and leading A/E/C marketing in the United States. There has long been discussion to require professional marketing credentials of National Board Members, the leaders of SMPS. This is but one more step in solidifying that professionalism at the highest level.”
The amended bylaw now reads (bold indicates new language):
Article IV – Board of Directors
Section 4.1.3. – To be eligible for election as a director, an individual must be a Regular or Distinguished Life member and must have been such a member for five years as of the date of the meeting at which the results of the election are to be announced. All candidates for the Board must hold either the designation of Certified Professional Services Marketer (CPSM) and/or recognition as an SMPS Fellow (FSMPS), and must keep that status current during their entire tenure on the Board. No individual may hold more than one Directorship at any time nor have served as national president.
To qualify for a position on the National Board, a candidate must meet the following requirements:
- be a current active member in good standing
- have been a member of SMPS for five or more years
- hold a Certified Professional Services Marketer or Fellows designation
- have the endorsement of the local chapter
- have the endorsement of the candidate’s firm
- be committed to the Society’s mission
- be willing to devote an estimated 20–30 hours per month to SMPS
- be a team player and contribute personal and professional qualities that complement those of other board members
- become knowledgeable about current goals and issues of importance to the Society and be committed to advancing the interests of the Society and its members
- be willing to place SMPS’ purposes and interests above their own professional and personal interests when making decisions as a board member
Past National Presidents, Emeritus members, and Student members are not eligible for a seat on the National Board of Directors.
To amend the Society’s bylaws, a ballot presenting the proposed change is mailed to all members in good standing (student and Emeritus members are not eligible to vote). Approval of an amendment requires at least 100 members in good standing to vote by returning a signed ballot, and a majority (more than 50%) of the eligible members returning ballots must approve of the proposed amendment.
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