CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
Mission
The Union County Beekeepers is dedicated to scientific and educational activities which will promote practical beekeeping methods in Union County and adjacent counties and help beekeepers be more successful. The Association will represent Union County beekeepers in state and national beekeeping organizations.
CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
Constitution
Article I
Name: The name of this Association shall be the Union County Beekeepers. This not-for-profit organization may be referred to as the Association.
Article II
Preamble: The Union County Beekeepers is dedicated to scientific and educational activities which will promote practical beekeeping methods in Union County and adjacent counties and help beekeepers be more successful. The Association will represent Union County beekeepers in state and national beekeeping organizations.
Article III
Membership: There shall be two classes of membership in the Union County Beekeepers: Active and Associate.
Active membership shall include any registered beekeeper in Union County or adjacent counties who pays annual dues to the Union County Beekeepers and the Florida State Beekeepers Association.
Associate membership shall include anyone in Union County or adjacent counties who has an interest in beekeeping, owns no hives and pays annual dues to the Union County Beekeepers and the Florida State Beekeepers Association.
Article IV
Meetings: The Union County Beekeepers shall hold regular meeting throughout the year to accomplish the purposes of this Association and shall include one annual meeting in December to elect officers.
Article V
Officers: The officers of the Association shall be President, Secretary/Treasurer, Past President and Webmaster and all shall serve one year terms. These officers shall comprise the Executive Board.
Article VI
Finances: The Union County Beekeepers shall use a cash basis for accounting purposes. The Association shall have a bank account and shall deposit all proceeds and make all disbursements from this account.
Article VII
Dissolution: Should the Union County Beekeepers undergo dissolution, all assets shall be distributed to the Union County Agricultural Extension Office.
Article VIII
Parliamentary Authority: Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern all meetings.
Article IX
Ratification and Amendments: This Constitution and any amendments shall be ratified by a 2/3 majority of members present a regular monthly meeting. This Constitution and/or amendments must be presented to the membership one monthly meeting prior to ratification.
Date Constitution ratified: December 11, 2014
Bylaws
Article I
Membership: Prospective members shall complete an application indicating their interest in becoming a member of the Union County Beekeepers. Personal contact information, beekeeper registration number, the number of hives owned, and a record of beekeeping experience shall be noted. Registered beekeepers shall be Active members. All others shall be Associate members.
Article II
Dues: Dues for both Active and Associate members shall be $5.00 annually for the Union County Beekeepers and $15.00 or current fee annually for the Florida State Beekeepers Association. FSBA dues cover membership for both husband and wife. The membership year shall be from October 1 to September 30 in order to concur with FSBA.
Article III
Voting Rights: All Active and Associate members shall be entitled to participate in all Association activities and have voting privileges.
Article IV
Fiscal Year: The fiscal year for accounting purposes shall be January 1 to December 31.
Article V
Expiration of Membership: Expiration of membership shall occur at the end of the membership year, September 30. Renewal of membership occurs when current dues are paid.
Article VI
Termination of Membership: Members are expected to regularly attend monthly meeting and conduct themselves in an orderly manner. The Executive Board may expel a member by a majority vote of the Board for reasons including but not limited to being absent 3 consecutive monthly meeting without requesting to be excused, disruptive behavior in a meeting, theft, or misrepresenting the mission of the Union County Beekeepers to the public. An expelled member may make a written request for a hearing to be held at a monthly meeting. A vote of the membership shall be final.
Article VII
Regular meetings: The Union County Beekeepers shall meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Union County Extension Office, Lake Butler, FL. The President may announce a temporary change of date, time or venue to accommodate special occasions such as field trips, tours, dinners or other events.
Article VIII
Officers: The officers of the Association shall be President, Secretary/Treasurer, Past President and Webmaster. All officers shall be elected at the December annual meeting and will hold office for one calendar year beginning January 1st. Any active or associate member in good standing shall be eligible to hold office. Balloting shall be by secret ballot if there are two or more nominations for the same office. Otherwise, election by acclimation may be used. The officers shall have the authority to transact any necessary business of the Association between monthly meetings.
Article IX
Officers Duties: The President shall serve as Chairman of the Executive Board, supervise all business affairs and preside over all meetings of the Association. The President shall have authority to fill any officer vacancy by appointment until annual elections in December.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall record minutes of all meeting, be custodian of all association records, issue meeting notices, keep membership rosters, and be custodian of all funds of the Association. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be signor of all routine checks written by the Association.
The Past President shall advise the Executive Board and preside over meetings in the absence of the President or assume the duties of Secretary/Treasurer in his/her absence at any meeting.
The Webmaster shall develop and maintain the Association's web site.
Article X
Committees: Ad Hoc Committees may be appointed by the President if deemed necessary by the Executive Board or the Association.
Article XI
Quorum: A quorum necessary to conduct business at any meeting shall be 50% of the membership.
Article XII
Order of Business: Order of business of the Association shall be:
1. Call to Order
2. Introductions
3. Approval of Minutes
4. Treasurer's Report
5. President's Report
6. Guest Speaker
7. Old Business
8. New Business
9. Comments
10. Adjournment
Article XIII
Ratification & Amendments: These Bylaws and any amendments shall be ratified by a 2/3 majority of members present at a regular monthly meeting. These Bylaws and/or amendments must be presented to the membership one monthly meeting prior to ratification.
Date Bylaws ratified: December 11, 2014
Article I
Name: The name of this Association shall be the Union County Beekeepers. This not-for-profit organization may be referred to as the Association.
Article II
Preamble: The Union County Beekeepers is dedicated to scientific and educational activities which will promote practical beekeeping methods in Union County and adjacent counties and help beekeepers be more successful. The Association will represent Union County beekeepers in state and national beekeeping organizations.
Article III
Membership: There shall be two classes of membership in the Union County Beekeepers: Active and Associate.
Active membership shall include any registered beekeeper in Union County or adjacent counties who pays annual dues to the Union County Beekeepers and the Florida State Beekeepers Association.
Associate membership shall include anyone in Union County or adjacent counties who has an interest in beekeeping, owns no hives and pays annual dues to the Union County Beekeepers and the Florida State Beekeepers Association.
Article IV
Meetings: The Union County Beekeepers shall hold regular meeting throughout the year to accomplish the purposes of this Association and shall include one annual meeting in December to elect officers.
Article V
Officers: The officers of the Association shall be President, Secretary/Treasurer, Past President and Webmaster and all shall serve one year terms. These officers shall comprise the Executive Board.
Article VI
Finances: The Union County Beekeepers shall use a cash basis for accounting purposes. The Association shall have a bank account and shall deposit all proceeds and make all disbursements from this account.
Article VII
Dissolution: Should the Union County Beekeepers undergo dissolution, all assets shall be distributed to the Union County Agricultural Extension Office.
Article VIII
Parliamentary Authority: Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern all meetings.
Article IX
Ratification and Amendments: This Constitution and any amendments shall be ratified by a 2/3 majority of members present a regular monthly meeting. This Constitution and/or amendments must be presented to the membership one monthly meeting prior to ratification.
Date Constitution ratified: December 11, 2014
Bylaws
Article I
Membership: Prospective members shall complete an application indicating their interest in becoming a member of the Union County Beekeepers. Personal contact information, beekeeper registration number, the number of hives owned, and a record of beekeeping experience shall be noted. Registered beekeepers shall be Active members. All others shall be Associate members.
Article II
Dues: Dues for both Active and Associate members shall be $5.00 annually for the Union County Beekeepers and $15.00 or current fee annually for the Florida State Beekeepers Association. FSBA dues cover membership for both husband and wife. The membership year shall be from October 1 to September 30 in order to concur with FSBA.
Article III
Voting Rights: All Active and Associate members shall be entitled to participate in all Association activities and have voting privileges.
Article IV
Fiscal Year: The fiscal year for accounting purposes shall be January 1 to December 31.
Article V
Expiration of Membership: Expiration of membership shall occur at the end of the membership year, September 30. Renewal of membership occurs when current dues are paid.
Article VI
Termination of Membership: Members are expected to regularly attend monthly meeting and conduct themselves in an orderly manner. The Executive Board may expel a member by a majority vote of the Board for reasons including but not limited to being absent 3 consecutive monthly meeting without requesting to be excused, disruptive behavior in a meeting, theft, or misrepresenting the mission of the Union County Beekeepers to the public. An expelled member may make a written request for a hearing to be held at a monthly meeting. A vote of the membership shall be final.
Article VII
Regular meetings: The Union County Beekeepers shall meet on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Union County Extension Office, Lake Butler, FL. The President may announce a temporary change of date, time or venue to accommodate special occasions such as field trips, tours, dinners or other events.
Article VIII
Officers: The officers of the Association shall be President, Secretary/Treasurer, Past President and Webmaster. All officers shall be elected at the December annual meeting and will hold office for one calendar year beginning January 1st. Any active or associate member in good standing shall be eligible to hold office. Balloting shall be by secret ballot if there are two or more nominations for the same office. Otherwise, election by acclimation may be used. The officers shall have the authority to transact any necessary business of the Association between monthly meetings.
Article IX
Officers Duties: The President shall serve as Chairman of the Executive Board, supervise all business affairs and preside over all meetings of the Association. The President shall have authority to fill any officer vacancy by appointment until annual elections in December.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall record minutes of all meeting, be custodian of all association records, issue meeting notices, keep membership rosters, and be custodian of all funds of the Association. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be signor of all routine checks written by the Association.
The Past President shall advise the Executive Board and preside over meetings in the absence of the President or assume the duties of Secretary/Treasurer in his/her absence at any meeting.
The Webmaster shall develop and maintain the Association's web site.
Article X
Committees: Ad Hoc Committees may be appointed by the President if deemed necessary by the Executive Board or the Association.
Article XI
Quorum: A quorum necessary to conduct business at any meeting shall be 50% of the membership.
Article XII
Order of Business: Order of business of the Association shall be:
1. Call to Order
2. Introductions
3. Approval of Minutes
4. Treasurer's Report
5. President's Report
6. Guest Speaker
7. Old Business
8. New Business
9. Comments
10. Adjournment
Article XIII
Ratification & Amendments: These Bylaws and any amendments shall be ratified by a 2/3 majority of members present at a regular monthly meeting. These Bylaws and/or amendments must be presented to the membership one monthly meeting prior to ratification.
Date Bylaws ratified: December 11, 2014