Medina Beekeepers:Bylaws
Contents |
CONSTITUTION and BYLAWS of MEDINA COUNTY BEEKEEPER’S ASSOCIATION
revised January 2013
Article I
Section 1. The name of the association is “The Medina County Beekeeper’s Association.”
Section 2. The object of this Association shall be to promote beekeeping generally, to broaden the knowledge of beekeeping among its members and to foster the best practices and techniques in apiary management.
Article II
Section 1. The membership shall consist of beekeepers and others interested in beekeeping or allied activities.
Section 2. The privilege of membership in the Association shall be accorded upon payment of the membership fee or election to honorary ore lifetime membership.
Section 3. Any person may be elected to honorary membership by a two-thirds vote at any regular meeting.
Section 4. Certain members may be nominated for lifetime membership in recognition of their long-term commitments and contributions to the association. Upon nomination, the member must be elected to lifetime membership by a two-thirds vote at any regular meeting. Lifetime members are exempt from the payment of the annual membership fee.
Section 5. The membership fee shall be payable January 1 to the Treasurer. Membership may begin any month. Fees paid during the interim carry to December 31st. No partial-year dues are accorded.
Section 6. Any changes in the annual membership fee shall be proposed by the Board of Directors and subject to approval by a majority at any regular business meeting.
Article III
Section 1. The officers shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Board of Directors consisting of three members.
Section 2. The President shall have general supervision of the Association. He/she shall preside at all meetings of the Association and Executive Board. He/she shall appoint such committees as are specified in the Constitution and shall be an ex-officio member of these committees.
Section 3. The Vice-President in the absence of the President, shall perform the functions of the office of President. The Vice-President shall also serve as Program Director, coordinating the speaker schedules, striving to make all meetings interesting and educational and arranging and conducting field meetings.
Section 4. The Secretary shall attend and keep a full record in writing of all meetings. He/she shall conduct the correspondence under the direction of the President and shall give or cause to be given notice of all meetings.
Section 5. The Treasurer shall receive all monies and deposit same to the credit of the Association in such depository as may be designated by the Executive Board. He/she shall collect membership fees, record paid fees and give receipts to paid members as requested. He/she shall disburse funds in accordance with the budget as approved or amended by the Board of Directors.
The Treasurer shall maintain the books for the organization. The books are open to review by any member at a time and place convenient to the Treasurer with one other member of the Executive Committee or as set by the President. The Treasurer shall prepare the annual budget for approval by the Executive Board at the first meeting of that group after the first of the year. The Treasurer shall submit reports of activities, and of the financial status of the Association at the annual meeting.
Section 6. The Board of Directors shall have charge of the various business transactions and authorize the expenditure of money by and for the association, pass on any and all special legislative matters found desirable and not in conflict with or provided by this instrument; it shall have the power to make contracts in the name of the association when so needed in the promotion of the work by any or all departments and to have supervision over all special departments as may hereafter be provided for; it shall review the Treasurer’s books prior to the annual meeting, also upon retirement from that office.
Article IV
Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of all the elected officers: The President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Board of Directors.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall meet at the call of the President, and shall have the power to transact all routine business of the Association.
Section 3. A Quorum at any meeting of the Assocation shall consist of not less than eight members. A quorum of the Executive Board shall be not less than four members.
Article V
Section 1. The President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and one Director shall be elected at the November meeting of each year and shall assume the duties of their respective offices at the January meeting and officiate at that meeting.
Section 2. Prior to the October meeting the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee of one or more members from the membership who shall present their nominations at the October meeting. These, together with any nominations made from the floor will be voted upon. The candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be duly declared elected and shall assume his/her duties at the opening of the January meeting.
Section 3. A Director may not hold the same office for more than two successive terms.
Section 4. Vacancies shall be filled by appointment of the Executive Board.
Article VI
Section 1. The annual meeting of the Association shall be held the first meeting of January. Membership fees are payable at the first meeting of the year.
Section 2. Special, or field meetings may be held at any time upon deliberation at open meeting, or upon the call of the President or Executive Board.
Section 3. The date and place of meeting may be changed upon deliberation at open meeting.
Article VII
Section 1. The President shall appoint the following Standing committees:
- Membership
- Public Relations
- Publicity and Educational
- Social
- Mutual Assistance
- Fair Committee
- Beey Yard Committee
- Communications
A. The Membership committee shall bring to the attention of desirable candidates the advantage of membership and take such measures advisable to interest prospective members. It shall visit or communicate with delinquent members.
B. The Public Relations committee shall consider and report to the Executive Board at open meeting upon such matters as the Board or President may refer to it and shall call to the attention of the Board such matters as may affect the interest of the Association or its members. It shall assist any member in difficulty with his neighbors or Civil Authorities.
C. The Publicity and Educational committee shall disseminate information and cause to be published notices of meetings regarding activities of the Association and acquaint the general public with beekeeping and the use of honey. The committee shall keep fully informed regarding beekeeping activities and progress in general and in particular with the activities of The Ohio State University and research stations and other progressive beekeeping associations. It shall advise the State governmental agencies upon the need of beekeeping.
D. The Social committee shall provide and conduct special events and entertainment for regular and special meetings, and secure and serve refreshments for regular meetings.
E. The Mutual Assistance committee shall help any member who is in need. It shall help care for bees because of a member’s ill health or absence from his hives.
F. The Fair Committee will coordinate the association’s participation in the Medina County Fair. It has specific responsibility for setting prices, organizing decorations and cleanup, scheduling staffing and teardown.
G. The Bee Yard Committee shall manage the club’s hives and report regularly on their status.
H. The Communications Committee will manage publication, development and distribution of the newsletter. The Chair shall determine the newsletter content and mailing date.
Section 2. Additional committees may be appointed by the President as required.
Article VIII
Section 1. This Constitution or Bylaws may be changed at any regular business meeting by a majority present, provided such changes are submitted to all members in writing at least 30 days prior to the date when they are voted upon.
