ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY 4-H/FFA LIVESTOCK ADVISORY COUNCIL
BY LAWS
Article I – Name
This organization shall be known as the Rockbridge County 4-H/FFA Livestock Advisory Council.
Article II – Purpose
The purpose of this organization shall be five-fold:
- To create and sustain the interest of youth.
- To develop and support 4-H/FFA Youth livestock programs.
- To co-ordinate and/or assist with all youth livestock activities.
- To provide for and develop leadership opportunities for youth and adults.
- To cooperate with the Extension/FFA staffs.
Article III – Membership
Section 1. Eligibility
- Membership in this organization is open to all persons 14 years of age or older, interested in youth and livestock, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status; parents, youth, leaders, agri-business persons and other interested individuals from Rockbridge or surrounding counties.
Section 2. Membership Dues
- This shall be an annual membership fee of $1.00 per member. To be a voting member you must pay the Annual Membership Dues.
Article IV – Executive Board
Section 1. Name
- The Executive Board shall be known as the Board of Directors of the Rockbridge County 4-H/FFA Livestock Advisory Council.
Section 2. Purpose
- The purpose of this board shall be four-fold:
- a. To bring recommendations to the Rockbridge County 4-H/FFA Livestock Advisory Council where the final decisions will be made.
- b. To have a group of people who are empowered to make decisions when it is not feasible or necessary for the Advisory Council to meet.
- c. To condense the amount of time spent at Rockbridge County 4-H/FFA Livestock Advisory Council meetings.
- d. To consider and formulate policy as recommended by the council.
Section 3. Board Membership
- The Board of Directors shall consist of members as follows:
- a. Five adults each representing an interest in beef and/or swine and/or dairy and/or goat and/or sheep.
- b. Two youth, 14 and older, one representing 4-H and one representing FFA with an interest in livestock.
- c. Treasurer of the Rockbridge County 4-H/FFA Livestock Advisory Council with non-voting privileges. If treasurer is an elected member of the board then he/she shall have voting privileges.
- d. The 4-H Youth Agent, one FFA Instructor, and the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Directors shall be ex-officio members, with non-voting privileges.
- e. Only elected members of the Board of Directors shall have voting privileges.
Section 4. How Nominated
- A committee named by the Chairperson in August shall nominate the adult candidates for the Board of Directors. The nominating committee will report a slate of adult nominees to the Board of Directors at the September meeting. The Board of Directors will announce the slate at the September meeting of the Advisory Council at which time nominations from the floor will be taken.
- Youth members will be nominated by the following:
- 4-H – must be a bonafide member of the Rockbridge 4-H Stockman’s Club and nominated by a plurality vote of the Stockman’s Club members.
- FFA – must be a bonafide member of the Rockbridge FFA Chapter and be nominated by a vote of the Chapter’s membership.
Section 5. How and When Board Members Elected
- Board members shall be elected by paper ballots, mailed three weeks prior to the annual meeting in October to eligible members.
Section 6. Term of Board Membership
- a. Term begins at the close of the October meeting of the year elected.
- b. Three years shall be considered a full term for adult members.
- c. Two years shall be considered a full term for youth members.
Section 7. Vacancies on Board
- Vacancies on the Board shall be filled by appointment by the Chairperson with approval of the Board of Directors. Vacancy will be formally filled at the next annual election.
Section 8. Officers of the Board
- Officers shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson and a Secretary. The Board of Directors shall elect their Vice Chairperson and Secretary each year and the Vice Chairperson moves into the Chairperson role the following year.
Section 9. Quorum
- A quorum shall consist of a majority of the voting members of the Board of Directors.
Section 10. Meetings
- The Board of Directors shall meet quarterly. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson with written and/or telephone notice to all members of the Board.
Article V – Advisory Council Meetings
Section 1. Annual Meeting
- The Annual Meeting of the Rockbridge 4-H/FFA Livestock Advisory Council shall be held in November.
Section 2. Special Meetings
- Special meetings may be called by the Board of Directors with written and/or telephone notice to all members.
- Section 3. General Membership Meetings
- General membership meetings will be held monthly, with at least 10 meetings per year, with written and/or telephone notice to all members.
Article VI – Committees
Standing Committees shall be appointed by the Chairperson. The Committees shall be as follows:
- Grounds
- Trophy/Awards
- Sale
- Show
- Finance
- Awards Banquet
- Others, as needed
Article VII – Amendments
The By-Laws may be amended at any monthly or special meeting of the Advisory Council by a 2/3 vote of the members present. Proposed changes recommended by the Board of Directors of the Advisory Council shall be announced at the meeting prior to the vote and be sent to all members prior to the monthly or special meeting.
Article VIII – Standing Rules
- The Board of Directors shall meet quarterly at a time and place specified by the Chairperson of the Advisory Council.
- The Order of Business shall be as follows:
- a. Call to Order
- b. Secretary’s Minutes
- c. Treasurer’s Report
- d. Other Officer’s Report
- e. Reports of Standing Committees
- f. Unfinished Business
- g. New Business
- h. Adjournment
Article IX – Finances
An audit committee should be appointed by the Board of Directors in October to complete an annual audit by December 31st and report the results at the January meeting.