Ohio
Ecological Food and Farm
Association
Education Fund By-Laws Approved
11/17/2001
Article
I : Name
The name
of the organization shall be
Ohio Ecological Food & Farm
Association Education Fund
(OEFFA Ed.).
Article
II : Description
and Purposes
OEFFA Ed. shall be a democratic
association of chartered grassroots
chapters, existing within state
bylaws, working together to
create and promote a healthful,
ecological, accountable and
sustainable system of agriculture
in Ohio and elsewhere. OEFFA
Ed. represents people who are
interested in food grown using
organic methods; preservation
of family farms and farmers;
greater regional food self-reliance;
and the connections between
healthy soil, healthy food,
healthy farms and healthy communities.
OEFFA Ed. encourages everyone
involved in the food industry
to adopt practices and policies
which are ecologically sound
and which respect the resource
needs of future generations.
Goals shall include:
1. Education
a. To actively encourage and
assist all producers in making
the switch to ecological management
and production systems.
b. To make consumers aware
of the increased value and
quality of commodities produced
under ecological and sustainable
management systems.
c. To develop educational
opportunities (including tours,
workshops and seminars) for
OEFFA Ed. members and the public.
d. To support existing and
promote further research on
eco-management systems and
techniques in both public and
private sectors.
e. To promote the adoption
of alternative technologies
when appropriate.
2.
To maintain a membership
directory in order to assist
in networking, marketing and
development of marketing customs.
3.
To provide through open meetings and/or a newsletter
a general sharing of resources,
ideas and information.
4.
To monitor legislation that directly affects ecological
agriculture and provide information
on that legislation to the
membership. OEFFA Ed. shall
provide, if necessary, testimony
at legislative hearings, and
promote legislation in the
interest of ecological agriculture.
Article
III : Membership
1.Eligibility
Any person who believes in
the purposes and goals of ecological
agriculture regardless of race,
color, nationality, creed,
political or spiritual belief,
gender, or sexual orientation
may be a member of OEFFA Ed.
2. Composition
OEFFA Ed. shall consist of
a broad based membership of
food and fiber producers and
processors, growers, gardeners,
consumers and others interested
in the promotion and practice
of ecological and sustainable
agricultural practices. All
members in good standing constitute
the corporation of OEFFA Ed..
3. Classes of membership
a. Unaligned: Each member
in good standing shall be considered
unaligned with a local chapter
until such time as the member
informs the OEFFA Ed. state
office staff of his/her desire
to be affiliated (aligned)
with a particular chapter.
b. Aligned: A member in good
standing who has notified the
OEFFA Ed. office staff of his/her
desire to be considered a member
of a certain OEFFA Ed. chapter
shall be considered an aligned
member. Members may align themselves
with any chapter regardless
of geography, but may be considered
an active member of only one
chapter at a time even if they
choose to attend the meetings
and activities of multiple
chapters.
4. Annual dues
Individual,
$35 per year
Family,$50 per
year
Small Business,$60 per
year
Business,$100 per year
Non-Profit
Organization,$50 per year
Student, $10 per year
Lifetime
Membership, $500
5. Expulsion
Membership can be revoked
for:
a. Non-payment of annual dues.
b. Just cause due to violation
of the bylaws.
Article
IV : Voting
Rights
1. The corporation sets forward
that membership constitutes
voting rights in any meeting
where a quorum is present.
2.
A quorum exists when 10% of the members or 50 members,
whichever is less, is in attendance.
3.
One vote shall be granted for each aligned or unaligned
individual, small business,
business, non-profit organization
or student membership. Two
votes shall be granted for
each family membership if two
persons holding the family
membership are present.
4.
At any meeting of the members, each member present in person,
or by written proxy signed
and delivered to the secretary
of the meeting, shall be entitled
to one vote.
Article V : Corporation
Meetings
1. Corporate membership meeting(s) for
the discussion of organizational
direction and business shall
be held annually in the spring
and/or the fall. Notice of
such meetings shall be sent
to all paid members of the
corporation, through the newsletter
or a special mailing, no less
than thirty days prior to the
meeting.
2.
The agenda of corporation
meetings shall be set by the
board of trustees and include
matters of policy; changes
in by-laws or the dues structure;
and discussion of organization
goals and direction.
3.
Corporate membership meetings shall be conducted by parliamentary
procedure.
Article
VI : Local
Chapters
1. Definition and Organization
Any local area in which at
least 10 members reside may,
by calling a special meeting
of these members through written
notice, form a local chapter
of the Corporation. Each chapter
must agree to hold quarterly
meetings of members, to adopt
the same fiscal year as the
Corporation, and to operate
in accordance with the by-laws
of the Corporation.
2. Chapter Leadership
Each local chapter shall elect
a president, a clerk-treasurer
and any other officers it deems
necessary.
3. Recognition by the Corporation
Each local chapter shall apply
in writing to the Board of
Trustees for recognition as
an official chapter of the
Corporation. The Board shall
vote to accept or not accept
a chapter and shall notify
said chapter, in writing, within
7 days of such vote. A letter
of non-acceptance shall include
the reasons for non-acceptance
and state the changes necessary
for the group to qualify as
a chapter.
4. Representation on the Board
of Trustees
Upon recognition as an official
chapter of the Corporation,
each local chapter shall select
one of its members to sit as
its official representative
on the Corporation's Board
of Trustees.
5. Funding
Each local chapter shall be
entitled to a one-time starting
grant determined by the Board
of Trustees, and on an annual
basis a percentage of all dues
collected from members aligned
to that chapter provided that
the chapter's representative
attends at least two-thirds
of the regular meetings of
the Board of Trustees and that
the chapter submits minutes
of chapter membership meetings
to the Board of Trustees or
its designee as proof that
it is actively serving its
members. Such percentage of
dues shall be determined by
the Board of Trustees and shall
not be less than Five (5) Percent.
Each local chapter shall keep
accurate records of all financial
activities of the chapter and
shall submit annual financial
reports to the Treasurer of
the Corporation or his/her
designee.
6. Dissolution of a Chapter
A local chapter may be dissolved
by a vote of two thirds of
its members. A local chapter
may also be dissolved by a
vote of two thirds of the Board
of Trustees for violation of
these by-laws or for actions
that are detrimental to the
goals or reputation of the
Corporation. Upon such dissolution,
all assets of the chapter shall
pass to the Corporation.
Article
VII : Board
of Trustees
1. The
administration of the corporation
shall be vested in the Board
of Trustees, which shall:
A. Set policy, goals and annual
budget for the corporation.
B. Consider proposals for
projects and activities received
from members, including ways
to fund and carry out such
projects and activities.
C. Present an annual financial
report and reports of projects
and activities to the membership
at the corporation's fall membership
meeting.
D. Hire staff to administer
and implement the projects
and activities of the corporation
as funding permits.
E. Appoint committees from
the general membership to assist
and advise in implementation
of projects and activities.
F. Appropriate funds for supporting
other organizations as deemed
necessary.
2.
The Board of Trustees shall
consist of a representative
from each recognized chapter
elected annually by the chapter; an
OEFFA member representative
from OCIA-Ohio Chapter #1 elected
annually by OCIA-OH#1; a President,
Secretary, Treasurer and three
At-Large representatives, all
elected annually by the membership
from a slate of nominees publicized
in advance of the meeting.
The nominating committee shall
use all diligence to assure
that the candidates for officers
and at-large trustees represent
a diversity of interests and
perspectives.
3.
The board shall, at its first
meeting following the fall
membership meeting, elect
its own Vice President and
an Executive Committee.
4.
The executive committee shall
administer the day-to-day
operation of the corporation,
including reviewing and recommending
to the board in matters of
personnel. The Executive Committee
shall consist of five members,
shall include the President,
and shall make decisions by
consensus.
5.
The term of office for trustees
is one year, running
from one fall membership meeting
to the next. Trustees may serve
consecutive terms, and an individual
may fulfill more than one Board
position. Vacancies shall be
filled by the Board until the
corporation's next membership
meeting or, in the case of
chapter or OCIA representatives,
until the next meeting of that
OEFFA or OCIA chapter.
6.
A trustee may be removed
for cause, including
failure to attend meetings
of the board, by a majority
of the membership at any
meeting of said membership
provided said trustee is notified
10 days before the meeting.
7. The majority of the Board
of Trustees constitutes a quorum.
8.
The Board of Trustees shall
make decisions by consensus (general agreement to the action).
9.
The Board of Trustees shall
meet at least four times per
year. Emergency board meetings
may be called by any trustee
with the support of three other
trustees and with 10 days written
notice to every trustee. All
meetings of the Board shall
be open to the membership.
Article VIII : Officers
The officers of the
corporation shall be elected
from the membership at the
fall membership meeting and
shall consist of a President,
Secretary and Treasurer.
1.
The President presides over
and facilitates meetings
of the board and the corporation, calls meetings, enters into
legal agreements on behalf
of the corporation and with
prior approval of the board,
acts as the corporation's spokesperson
or designates another person
to do so; and performs any
other duties prescribed by
the board.
2.
The Secretary shall keep
minutes of all the proceedings
of the corporation, answer correspondences
as directed by the board,
keep a record of trustees‚ attendance
at board meetings, and make
all said documents available
for inspection by any member
at any reasonable time.
3.
The Treasurer shall keep
all financial records and
books in proper order and
current, and shall make said records
available for inspection at
any reasonable time. The Treasurer
shall be the custodian of all
funds of the corporation subject
to the direction of its members
in a body and shall provide
a financial report to the board
at each of its meetings, a
report to the membership at
corporation meetings, and a
written report at the end of
the corporation's fiscal year.
4.
A Vice-President, elected
by the board of trustees, shall
assist the president, conduct
or facilitate meetings in absence
of the president and replace
the president if necessary.
The Vice-President shall chair
a nominating committee for
the development of a slate
of nominees for president,
secretary, treasurer and at-large
trustees. This slate shall
be announced in the last newsletter
preceding the fall membership
meeting. Nominations shall
also be accepted from the floor.
Article IX : Financial
Structure
1. The corporation shall
distribute educational services
at the actual cost of providing
and carrying out these activities.
2. Every member shall pay
annual dues to the state organization
as indicated in Article III.4.
3. The Treasurer or Executive
Director shall be defined as
the receiver and disburser
of funds.
4. The fiscal year of the
corporation shall be April
1 through March 31.
Article X : Indemnity
The corporation shall
indemnify all trustees, officers,
employees, agents and members
against any financial loss
with respect to said person's
position with the corporation
if said person acts in good
faith and in a manner believed
to be in the best interest
of the corporation or its members.
Article XI : Authority
The members of the corporation
shall constitute the final
authority on all actions of
said corporation.
Article XII : Bylaw Changes and Amendments
These regulations of the corporation may be amended by a three-fourths
vote of the members present at any corporate membership meeting where a quorum
is present. Notice of proposed changes in the bylaws shall be made in the last
newsletter prior to the corporate membership meeting, or in a special mailing
to all members at least two weeks before the meeting.
Article XIII : Dissolution
Upon dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed to another
Ohio organization meeting eligibility under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code, which shares the purposes and goals of OEFFA Ed. Fund.
