The Structural Engineers Association of Massachusetts (SEAMass) is a non-profit organization established to pursue the common interests of practicing structural engineers and others sharing an interest in the activities of structural engineers. Members are individuals who are licensed professional engineers, license professional structural engineers, engineers in training, students pursuing a degree towards structural engineering and individuals sharing an interest in the activities of SEAMass.

The Association is a Member Organization of the National Council Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA).

Purpose

• Promote and advance the art, science, practice and image of structural engineering.
• Serve the professional development interests of structural engineers.
• Promote communication and recognition among structural engineers and related professionals.
• Promote and maintain professional standards of and qualifications to practice in Massachusetts.
• Communicate the ethics, standards, goals and accomplishments of the Association to structural engineers, related professionals, government and the public.

Committees

The purpose of committees is to carry out their specific charges. They make recommendations in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board and, when requested by the Board, assist in their implementation. All committees report to the Board.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is comprised of the officers. The Executive Committee may exercise the powers of the Board when the Board is not in session, reporting to the Board at its succeeding meeting all actions taken. All its members constitute a quorum. Meetings may be called by the President or any two officers.

Standing Committees

Standing committees shall have a minimum of three members, including a chairperson appointed by the President and approved by the Board. The President may terminate membership on any committee except the nominating committee. Members of standing committees shall be appointed immediately after the newly elected officers take office and shall serve until successors are named.

The Nominating Committee shall select annually, for election by the eligible Members, one or more nominees for vacant offices and for each of two Directors. The Nominating Committee shall consist of a chairperson, who shall be a past officer, selected by the President and approved by the Board, and four additional Professional Members, selected by the Board from the membership beyond the Board and representative of the geographical distribution of the membership. Nominations for officers and directors may also be made by the membership, pursuant to procedures established by the Board.

The Membership Committee is charged with recommending to the Board qualifications for membership and with soliciting new members of the Institute. The committee shall establish the application procedure, for approval by the Board, shall process applications and shall recommend to the Board those applicants to be approved for membership. The chairperson shall be a Professional Member.

The Professional Development Committee shall provide continuing-education programs for members, shall maintain relations with institutions that teach structural engineering and shall promote the minimum education requirements for the practice of structural engineering. The Professional Development Committee shall develop and maintain productive relations with related professional organizations and structural-material associations so as to promote professional development, including educational programs.

The Public Relations Committee shall communicate the ethics, standards, goals and accomplishments of the Institute to structural engineers, related professionals, government and the public. The Committee shall keep abreast of pending and desirable laws and regulations in Massachusetts that affect structural engineering and structural engineers and shall promote changes to same as deemed desirable. The Committee shall develop and maintain productive relations with related professional organizations, the news media, legislators and public agencies, in order to accomplish the above goals.

Special Committees

The Board, from time to time, may establish a special committee as it deems necessary. The composition and charge of special committees, including the appointment and service of their members, shall be determined by the Board. The tenure of such committees shall be through the completion of their charge or as otherwise determined by the Board.

The SEERP shall work with other engineering and public organizations to create a structural engineering emergency response plan for the state of Massachusetts.

The Codes Committee shall review code change proposals from the state of Massachusetts and report information to the Board. Back to top

Boston Association of Structural Engineers

History

SEAMass was created by the Boston Association of Structural Engineers (BASE) in May 2006. The purpose was to create a means for the individual structural engineer to have an opportunity to enhance the structural engineering profession in Massachusetts, provide technical education more locally, and to act as the Massachusetts member organization for the National Council Structural Engineers Associations (NCSEA). The first members of SEAMass were the 55 BASE member firm representatives. The first officers were the then current officers of BASE.

The original purpose of BASE was to create a forum for the structural engineering businesses around the Boston area. Several of the members of BASE were instrumental in creating NCSEA. BASE, therefore, became the Massachusetts member organization of NCSEA in 1993. As time went by, BASE realized that it being a firm-based organization restricted the individual structural engineer access to the benefits of NCSEA and the possibilities of creating technical programs for structural engineers in Massachusetts. BASE sought alternatives that would allow the individual structural engineer to the benefits of NCSEA.

After consideration of several different avenues to accomplish this, in January 2005, BASE decided to create SEAMass, where BASE members would be the first members of the new organization. BASE created a set of bylaws that SEAMass would use as a model document. BASE also provided funding in order to implement SEAMass. A new SEAMass Committee was formed to execute BASE's decision. The SEAMass committee coordinated its efforts with BSCES and its structural group. Thus begins a new chapter for structural engineers in Massachusetts. Back to top