Association By-Laws
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ARTICLE I - Name
The name of this association shall be: New York State Association of County
Agricultural Agents
ARTICLE II - Purposes
Section 1 - The purpose of this Association shall be to promote the professional
improvement of members; to elevate professional standing of members; promote
the general welfare of members of the Association; and develop and promote
a spirit of good fellowship and understanding among members.
Section 2 - This Association shall be affiliated with the National Association
of County Agricultural Agents.
ARTICLE III - Membership
Section 1 - The following shall be eligible for membership:
A. Active members:
1. University staff with extension responsibilities or who prepare and conduct
educational programs in agriculture or related fields.
2. Any exempt or non-exempt extension employee who prepares and conducts educational
programs in agriculture or related fields.
B. Life members:
3. Former members of this Association may become Life members without voting
power.
4. Active members with ten or more years of continuous active membership will
automatically become life members of the state and national association upon
retirement.
C. Associate members:
1. Regular members of the New York State Association of Family and Consumer
Science, the New York State Association of 4-H Agents, the New York State
Association of Coastal Extension Professionals or NYS Natural Resources Extension
Professionals may become associate members. Associate members have all privileges
of state membership, but cannot hold state office.
D. Affiliate members:
5. Any non-exempt extension employee who assists with conducting educational
programs or performs diagnostic services in agriculture or a related field.
This includes program aids, assistants, technicians, diagnosticians, or any
other so called “para professionals”.
Affiliate members have all privileges of membership except for NACAA
awards and professional improvement opportunities.
Section 2 - Dues
A. Annual dues shall be established at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
B. For new or first time members, the state’s share of dues will be paid
by NYSACAA.
ARTICLE IV - Officers
Section 1 - The officers of this Association shall consist of president, vice-president,
secretary and treasurer who shall be elected annually with the exception of
the treasurer who is elected for a three-year term. Officers may not succeed
themselves.
Section 2 - Officers shall perform the duties prescribed by Robert’s
Rules of Order. Additional duties shall be defined by the Board of Directors.
Section 3 - Officers shall be elected and take office at the annual
meeting of the Association.
Section 4 - Officer vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the
Board of Directors (President). The appointment shall run until the next
annual meeting of the Association.
ARTICLE V - Meetings
Section 1 - The annual meeting shall be held on a date designated by the executive
committee of the Board of Directors. Special meetings may be held at the
call of the President.
Section 2 - District groups shall be organized and shall meet regularly.
The Board of Directors shall designate the names of the Districts after
consultation with the individual groups. Additional groups may be formed
by action of the Board of Directors. Officers of each group shall be
elected by its members at a regular meeting during the last quarter of
each year. The chair of each group shall be one who has been a member
of this Association for at least two years.
Section 3 - A quorum shall consist of a majority of active members present
at any regular or special meeting.
ARTICILE VI - Board of Directors
Section 1 - The Board of Directors shall consist of the executive committee
and one director from each of the districts. Directors shall be elected at
the annual meeting. Each district director shall be elected for a term of
two years. No director shall serve more than two consecutive elected terms.
To be eligible for the office of director, one should have been a member
for at least five years and be a current member of this Association.
The Association President shall appoint a Historian to be responsible for the
maintenance of the historical records of this Association. The historian shall
have no vote in Association business.
Section 2 - The Board of Directors shall manage the business and affairs
of the Association. It shall meet at least twice a year at a location
determined by the Board. A two-thirds majority of the Board members must
be present to conduct business.
Section 3 - If a Director moves to another district, or if the office
of the Director becomes vacant for any other cause, the district represented
by that Director shall elect a new Director to fill the unexpired term.
In the case of a temporary vacancy, the district chair appoints an acting
Director.
Section 4 - Members or Directors shall receive no compensation. Reimbursement
for expenses incurred in conducting business of the association shall
be determined by the Board of Directors and provided for in the annual
budget submitted to the membership. Distinguished Service Award (DSA)
and Achievement Award (AA) winners will receive a stipend to partially
defray the registration cost to attend the national meeting.
ARTICLE VII - Committees
Section 1 - The executive committee shall consist of the four elected officers
(president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer) and the immediate past
president.
Section 2 - The nominating committee shall consist of one member selected
by each district, plus a chair, appointed by the president. The Chair
shall be a former president.
Section 3 - the Board of Directors establishes some standing committees.
They are: Initiation and Orientation, Publication and Past Presidents.
For other standing committees, the state association will adopt similar
committee structure to the National Association of County Agricultural
Agents.
Section 4 - Committee Rotation
The Board of Directors will recruit and appoint a chair for each standing committee.
Section 5 - the president with the approval of the Board of Directors
may appoint special committees.
ARTICLE VIII - Procedures
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order
(Newly Revised) shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are
not consistent with the By-Laws and any special rules of order the Association
may adopt.
ARTICLE IX - Delegates to National Meeting
Official delegates and alternate delegates to the annual meeting of NACAA shall
be appointed by the Board of Directors with priority consideration given
to the officers, directors, national committee members and state committee
chairs. The National Association shall designate the number of official delegates.
A stipend will be offered to delegates to defray part of the registration
cost to attend the meeting.
ARTICLE X - Amendments
These by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the active members present
at any meeting of the Association. A notice of proposed changes shall be
mailed distributed to each active member at least 15 days prior to the meeting.
ARTICLE XI – Dissolution
If upon dissolution of this association, the assets exceed the liabilities
to creditors, such excess of balance shall be distributed to another not-for-profit
corporation with a similar purpose designated by the Board of Directors.
10/98 Rev. 10/00 Rev 10/02 Rev. 11/03 |
