Bylaws

BYLAWS OF

THE SANDUSKY RIVER VALLEY BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
Bylaws Established 2017

 BYLAWS

 

 Section 1: The name of this organization shall be The Sandusky River Valley Beekeepers Association. This association is a nonprofit organization and exists under the laws of the State of Ohio.                                                                                                                              Section 2: Purpose: As members of the Sandusky River Valley Beekeepers Association, we dedicate ourselves to the protection and preservation of honey bees.  To accomplish these goals, we shall endeavor to educate the public about the important role honey bees play as pollinators, the value of honey bees to our ecology and economy, and the perils facing these bees.
 Section 3: We educate novice beekeepers in the proper management of colonies, provide instruction to experienced beekeepers regarding new concepts and practices, and provide a forum through which both can share their knowledge and experience to future generations.

Article I

 Membership

Section 1: Membership consists of individuals or families interested in beekeeping, honey bee advocacy, and related activities.
Section 2: The privileges of membership are contingent on the payment of annual dues, which constitute members in good standing, by March 1 of each calendar year.  Annual dues of individuals and family membership (consisting of minor children) are available.
Section 3: Dues paying members in good standing shall be entitled to serve on committees and vote, but must be at least 18 years of age to hold office.
Section 4: Family memberships shall have one voting member.  The voting member must be identified at the time membership is paid.  Any additional family member desiring to have full voting rights must acquire an individual membership.
Section 5: For proven good cause, any member may request that the Executive Board take action to expel another member. If the Executive Board deems the expulsion warranted, a proper notice must be given (per the conditions of Article 10 of these Bylaws) of the intended action to the Association members prior to a general membership vote. An expulsion vote must be approved by two-thirds vote of members present at an Association Meeting. At the time of the expulsion, its duration will be determined by the voting membership.  No refund of membership dues will be given.

Article II

 Officers

Section 1: Only voting members, ages 18 and over, may serve on the Executive Board.
Section 2: The Executive Board members shall maintain regular attendance at association meetings.
Section 3: The Executive Board shall consist of its: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three (3) Directors (formerly Trustees).
Section 4: The President shall have general supervision of the affairs of the association and may preside during all association business meetings and meetings of the Executive Board.
Section 5: The Vice President shall preside in the absence of the President.
Section 6:
A. Under the direction of the President, the Secretary shall conduct the correspondence of    the association.                                                                                                                                         1.  A copy of the approved written record of each meeting shall be provided to the President by the following business meeting. These minutes shall become the property of the association, a copy of which to be filed electronically.

Section 7:
     A. The Treasurer shall submit a report of all receipts, expenditures and income at each business meeting and shall at the annual meeting submit a full report of the Association’s financial status.

  1. A copy of the monthly report shall be presented to the President prior to the monthly meeting.
  2.  The Treasurer shall collect dues for which he or she will issue receipts, record the names, addresses and contact information of every member of the association, and upon request will provide a current roster denoting members of the Executive Board to the membership.
  3. Within twenty four hours of request, the Treasurer shall make available all financial records to members of the Executive Board.
  4. Any member may view the Treasurer’s reports.
  5. Checks written by the Association, if over $500, shall bear two signatures, that of the Treasurer and that of the President.

 

Section 8:

 The three (3) Directors shall act in good faith to promote the success of the Association.

  1. The three (3) Directors shall observe that the Bylaws of the Association are followed.
  2. The three (3) Directors shall participate in the planning of the Annual Budget and assist in planning Association events.
  3. The three (3) Directors shall choose a Committee Chairperson for any committee deemed necessary by the President.  They will also assist in recruiting committee members.

Article III

 Executive Board

Section 1: The Executive Board will consist of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three (3) Directors.

Section 2:  The Executive Board shall oversee various business transactions, authorize the expenditure of monies by the Association, and pass legislative matters found desirable and not in conflict with these Bylaws.
Section 3: The Executive Board shall have the power to enter into contracts in the name of the Association when so needed to promote the work of the Association and its supervised committees.
Section 4: The Executive Board shall ensure that the Treasurer’s books are reviewed prior to the annual meeting and upon his or her retirement from office.
Section 5: 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 6: The Executive Board must have a quorum of two-thirds to approve and transact any and all business.
Section 7: If an Executive Board member commits nonfeasance or fails to perform required duties or obligations of his or her elected office, the Executive Board may remove this member from his or her elected office by a majority vote of the remaining Executive Board members. 

Article IV

 Meetings

 Section 1: The Association shall hold no fewer than nine (9) regular Association business meetings and two (2) annual Executive Board meetings, with times and dates determined by the Executive Board.

Article V:

 Elections

Section 1: Nominations and Elections Committee  The Nominations and Elections Committee be a standing committee appointed by the President.

  1.  The Nominations and Elections Committee shall be comprised of two (2) members in good standing.
  2. The Nominations and Elections Committee shall be responsible for gathering nominations and conducting the elections.
  3.  The Nominations and Elections Committee shall present its nominations at the October monthly meeting. These nominations, along with any nominations made from the floor, will be voted upon by the Association members in attendance. Anyone, including themselves, can nominate themselves. All nominations made from the floor must be seconded. Members nominated from the floor must be in attendance and agree to be nominated for the position.
  4. Each nominee must accept the nomination before he or she may be considered a viable candidate.Section 2: Election of Officers
  5. The candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each office shall be duly declared elected and shall assume the duties of the office at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting.
  6. The candidate must be present to be elected to office.
  7. President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three (3) Directors shall be elected by qualified voting members, as indicated in Article 1, at the Annual Meeting and shall maintain their offices until their successors have been elected.
  8. President, Vice President, and Treasurer shall be one year terms, with three year term limit.  Votes shall be gathered by written secret ballot provided by the Nominations and Elections Committee and tabulated by the Executive Board.
  9. Upon the resignation or vacancy of an officer, the Executive Board shall appoint a replacement for the unexpired term during a regularly scheduled Association Business Meeting.

Article VI

 Committees

Section 1: If the Executive Board deems the following committees as active, the Directors shall appoint chairpersons to the following standing committees, including but not limited to:
     A. Nominations and Elections
Section 2: All appointments to committees and subcommittees are for every year and will end upon completion of the December monthly meeting unless otherwise stated at the time the committee is formed.
Section 3: If deemed necessary by the Executive Board, an appointment to a committee may be withdrawn, at any time, by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
Section 4: The President may convene necessary committees as the President sees fit.
Section 5:  Nominations and Elections Committee
• Screen and recruit candidates.
• Present candidates at the monthly meeting prior to elections.
• Conduct the elections at the December meeting.

Article VII

 Association Business Meetings

 Section 1: The Association Business Meetings shall be called, as needed, by the President of the Association according to the following order of business, observing the latest revised version of Robert’s Rules of Order:

  • Call of Order by the President
    • (At his or her discretion, the President may make a motion to suspend the agenda rules. Once seconded and affirmatively voted upon, members may proceed with a flexible agenda)
    • Reading of the minutes of the previous meetings Report of the Treasurer
    • Old Business
  • Report of Committees
    • New business
    • Adjournment by President

 Article VIII

 Finances

 Section 1: No indebtedness shall be incurred by anyone on behalf of the Association except as indicated by these bylaws.
Section 2: At the February meeting, the Executive Committee will present a budget to the Association members at an Association business meeting. The financial plan will establish the maximum limits the Association will make available for gifts, contributions, scholarships, and operating expenses other than the expenses deemed necessary for the operation of the county fair and any other “In-Out” expenditures such as expenses for Association shirts. No expenses in a new Association year other than Association operating expense may be incurred by the Association until the Financial Plan is approved by a majority vote of the Association Membership at an Association Business Meeting. Additional expenses beyond the approved financial plan must be approved on a case by case vote of the Association members at an Association Business Meeting.

Article IX

 Dues

 Section 1: The dues for annual membership shall be recommended by the Executive Board and voted on by the membership.  A majority vote of present members is required for passage.
Section 2: Any dues increase for membership in the Association shall be in the amount as set forth by the Executive Committee and voted on by membership at the October monthly meeting.  If a dues increase is passed, it will be effective the following January.
Section 3: Dues are payable the first meeting of the calendar year, in February and are due on or before the March meeting for current members.  Members who fail to pay dues by the March meeting shall be dropped from the roster and shall lose one’s voting rights for that year.  Membership may begin during any month, but dues paid during the interim carry only to the end of the Association’s calendar year.

Article X

 Notice

At times, business of the Association can only occur after proper “Notice” has been given to the Association membership. Notice will be considered proper upon completion of any two (2) of the following notification methods:

  1. Announcement at any regularly scheduled Association business meeting of the proposed actions to be taken at the next regularly scheduled Association business meeting.
  2. Publication in the edition of the Association’s Newsletter immediately prior to the proposed actions to be taken. The publication must be published and disseminated by email or postal mail at least fourteen (14) days prior to the Association Business Meeting.
  3. A direct mailer to all Voting Association Members detailing the proposed actions to be taken. The mailing must be made at least fourteen (14) days prior to the vote.

Article XI

 Non-Discrimination

 Section 1:  The SRVBA does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation or military status, in any of its activities or operations.  These activities include, but are not limited to, selection of volunteers and vendors, membership, Board of Directors, and provision of services.  We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members, staff, volunteers, vendors, and service population.

 

  Article XII

 Requirements to be Exempt as an Organization Described in Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code

 Section 1: Said organization is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes, including for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

 Section 2: No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose clause hereof.
Section 3: No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.
Section 4: Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Section 5: Upon the dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.  Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

 Article XIII

 Amendments

Section 1: These Bylaws may be amended by simple majority vote at any regularly scheduled Association Monthly Meeting.  Members must be given proper Notice (per Article 10 of these Bylaws) before the meeting is held to vote on any considered amendment changes.