Association ByLaws
Article I – THE CORPORATION
Article II – PURPOSE AND GOALS
Article III – FINANCES
Article IV – MEMBERSHIP
Article V – MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
Article VI – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Article VII – BOARD MEETINGS
Article VIII – COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
Article IX – BYLAW AMENDMENTS
Article X – DISSOLUTION AND SUCCESSION
Article I – THE CORPORATION
1.1 NAME: The corporation shall be known as and referred to herein as the Gotland Sheep Breeders Association
of North America (GSBANA).
1.2 CHARTER: The GSBANA shall be chartered as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Montana.
1.3 LOCATION: The principal and registered office of the GSBANA shall be located at such place as most recently designated by the Board of Directors of the GSBANA.
Article II – PURPOSE AND GOALS
2.1 PURPOSE: The purpose of the association shall be to establish and support the Gotland breed of sheep in North America.
2.2 GOALS:
b) To register and keep pedigree records of all animals that qualify as percentage blood Gotland sheep according to the guidelines of the Association.
c) To provide interested people with information about Gotland sheep and their products
d) To maintain high standards and promote quality Gotland sheep that meet those standards.
e) To promote interest in the Gotland breed of sheep wherever possible in order to attract new breeders for the conservation and well being of the breed.
f) To maintain a registry of only those animals descended from Gotland sheep and the Foundation breeds: Finnsheep, Icelandic Sheep, Shetland Sheep, Wensleydale Sheep, Cotswold Sheep, Lincoln Sheep, Border Leicesters, Bluefaced Leicesters, English Leicesters, Teeswater and crosses between these breeds.
g) The ewe lamb known as #253 Lil’ Chops, belonging to Laurie Andreacci, white in color, born on 9/21/04 as a result of LAI from Zorro (purebred Gotland) and #232 Molly (Hampshire), is eligible to be Recorded in the GSBANA Flock Book by virtue of being conceived prior to the formation of GSBANA and choosing the Foundation Breeds.
Article III – FINANCES
3.1 FISCAL YEAR: The fiscal year of the GSBANA shall commence January 1 and end on December 31.
3.2 DEPOSITS: All moneys, securities, and other valuables of the GSBANA shall be deposited in the name of the Gotland Sheep Breeders Association of North America in such banks, trust companies, or safe deposit boxes as the Board of Directors shall designate, and shall be withdrawn only by check or order signed by such person as designated by the Board. At least two (2) such people, including the Treasurer, will be designated at any time. Payments in excess of $100 require specific authorization by the Board.
3.3 EXECUTION OF INSTRUMENTS: All instruments of assignment, transfer, conveyance, release, and contract requiring execution of the Board of Directors of the GSBANA shall be signed by the authorized officer or agent designated by the Board.
3.4 ACCEPTANCE OF BEQUESTS, DEVICES AND DONATIONS : The President, or any other officer of the Board may:
b) With the prior approval of the Board, accept any other bequests, devices, or donations.
3.5 INDEMNIFICATION: Subject to compliance with Montana state law: The members, staff, management, directors, and officers of this organization, and their private property, shall not be liable in any manner for the debts, obligations, undertakings, or liabilities, and shall be exempted and indemnified against any personal expense, losses, or liabilities, which may accrue from time to time in any manner by reason of the ownership, administration or distribution of the corporate property of funds, the conduct of corporate affairs, so long as they act in good faith. They shall not be liable or accountable in any manner for honest mistakes or errors of judgment, nor for errors or wrongdoing of agents, brokers, attorneys, or servants, not for interest on funds temporarily idle as long as they act in good faith. They shall have the right, at all times and in all matters to act upon any information or evidence deemed by them reliable, without incurring any personal liability or responsibility of any kind or in any kind of manner, as long as they act in good faith. The Board of Directors and staff personnel shall be bonded if authorized by the Board.
3.6 PROHIBITED TRANSACTIONS: No part of the net earnings of this corporation shall inure to the benefit of any individual, and no part of the funds of this corporation shall attempt to influence legislation, nor shall this corporation engage in any prohibited transaction as defined by the Internal Revenue Code.
3.7 YEARLY AUDIT: The Board of Directors may require that a yearly audit of the corporation is conducted by an independent auditor who is beyond the realm of the business affairs of the GSBANA. A copy of such audit shall be available to the members of the GSBANA.
Article IV – MEMBERSHIP
4.1 PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP: Membership in the Association is and at all times shall be considered to be a privilege and not a right. Active members of the corporation are entitled to attend and speak at the membership meetings of the association. In addition, members in good standing shall be kept informed of the corporation’s activities, shall be notified of all membership meetings, shall have annual reports, and up-to-date copies of the bylaws made available to them. All reports and books of the association may be inspected by any member of the association at any reasonable time, with the exception of matters relating to the hiring, firing, discipline of personnel, or personnel records. Only GSBANA Members in good standing may register, record, or transfer sheep with the Association.
4.2 DEFINITION OF MEMBERSHIP:
b) MEMBERSHIP UNIT: Any flock that is managed as a unit by a single family, corporation, group of other partnership is entitled to no more than one (1) Active membership with one (1) vote, regardless of how many locations the flock is managed on. Correspondingly, sheep that reside at one address and are managed as a unit are considered to be a single flock and are eligible for no more than one (1) Active Membership with one (1) vote.
c) ACTIVE MEMBER: Active members must be current on their membership dues (in good standing) to be eligible to vote and/or hold elective office. Active members maintain their active status by breeding and recording and/or registering lambs each year. When two (2) years have passed without such activity, the member will automatically become an Associate member until such time as their breeding activity recommences.
d) ASSOCIATE MEMBER: Any person, family, entity or corporation interested in the promotion of Gotland sheep may become an associate member of the GSBANA, and as such is entitled to all privileges of full membership except they shall have no vote, nor shall they be eligible to hold elective office.
e) JUNIOR MEMBERS: Any interested person under the age of 18 may become a junior member of GSBANA. Junior members have the same privileges of active members except they shall have no vote, nor shall they be eligible to hold elective office.
f) HONORARY MEMBER: Any person having made outstanding contributions to the establishment of the Gotland breed in North America, upon nomination and election by the Board, may become an honorary member. As such they shall not be entitled to the privileges and responsibilities of active members including the holding of elective office and the privilege of vote.
g) The Board of Directors may,at its discretion, establish other classes of membership.
4.3 MEMBERSHIP FEES AND DUES: Annual membership fees for the above established classes of membership shall be set at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Annual dues shall not exceed $35 per year per membership.
4.4 EFFECTIVE DATE OF MEMBERSHIP: Annual membership shall begin January 1st and expire on December 31st. During the month of January each year, the Secretary will mail and/or email dues notices to members whose dues are not yet paid.
4.5 TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP: Membership shall terminate on December 31st each year. A grace period of 60 days will be in effect, allowing such time
for members to send in membership dues. To renew the membership after 60 days, a reactivation fee in an amount to be determined by the Board of Directors shall be submitted with the annual membership fee.
4.6 EXPULSION OF MEMBERS: The Board may expel members for just cause, including but not limited to: not keeping adequate records, falsification of pedigrees, or willful misrepresentation of any animal owned, bred or exhibited by him/her or any other act derogatory to the standing of GSBANA.
Article V – MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
5.1 The members of the GSBANA shall meet annually at such time and place as designated by the Board of Directors.
5.2 PURPOSE OF MEETING: The Annual Membership Meeting is held for the purpose of accepting nominations for open Board member positions, for hearing the report of officers of the Board, for the consideration of bylaws changes, and for the transaction of any other business which may properly come before the meeting.
5.3 GENERAL NOTICE OF MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS: Written notice of the time and place of the membership meetings shall be mailed or emailed to the members and be postmarked at least 60 days prior to such meetings. Upon request, an agenda of the meeting, any ballots to be used, and any proposed changes to the bylaws shall be furnished to any member.
5.4 QUORUM: The active members present at any properly called membership meeting shall constitute a quorum.
5.5 VOTING: Voting on issues addressed at membership meetings shall be conducted by mail ballot or by electronic/online ballot. Any member unable to vote online can request a paper ballot. No more than 30 days after the Annual Membership Meeting, the Secretary of the Association shall mail the ballots to each active member. Results of the balloting shall be counted by the Secretary of the Association or such other person as designated by the Board, and shall be kept in his or her custody for a period of time as determined by the Board, and be subject to inspection at reasonable times by any member of the Association. The membership shall be promptly notified of the results of such balloting. The act of the majority of those voting shall be considered an act of the membership of the corporation, except when a two-thirds majority of the eligible membership is called for in these bylaws.
5.6 SPECIAL MEETINGS: Such meetings other than the above mentioned Annual Membership meeting may be called for educational and promotional purposes and to discuss and (if needed) vote on urgent issues. Special meetings may be called by the President or by petition of the lesser of 10 active members or 25% of the active membership. Written notice of the time and place of the special meetings shall be mailed or emailed to the members and be postmarked at least 14 days prior to such meetings.
Article VI – BOARD OF DIRECTORS
6.1 AUTHORITY: The Board of Directors of the GSBANA shall be the governing board of the GSBANA, and shall have ultimate authority over and responsibility for all corporate expenses, properties, funds, and debts. The Board of Directors shall have ultimate authority over any and all policy decisions.
6.2 DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY: Members, staff, directors, officers and others may act in the name of the GSBANA only when specifically authorized to do so by the Board.
6.3 NUMBER OF DIRECTORS: The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than five and not more than nine members at the discretion of the existing Board. The Board of Directors includes the Officers and the Board Member(s) at large. No more than one member of a family, corporation or entity as defined in Section 4.2.e shall serve on the Board at the same time.
6.4 TERMS OF DIRECTORS: Director(s) shall serve a term of two years. Elections shall be staggered such that in even years the President, Secretary and even numbered Directors will be elected, and in odd numbered years the Vice President, Treasurer and odd numbered Directors will be elected. No one person may serve more than two (2) consecutive terms as President, Vice President, Secretary, or Board Member at Large. The Treasurer may serve an unlimited number of terms.
6.5 MANNER OF ELECTIONS: The Board of Directors shall have the discretion to declare districts within the territory covered which will promote a fair and reasonable representation of the membership.
b) Nomination of candidates shall be considered valid when written nomination is received by the Secretary from any active member postmarked no less than 60 days prior to the Annual Membership meeting.
c) The Secretary of the Association shall mail a ballot for election of Directors to each active member no less than 30 days prior to the annual membership meeting. No ballot shall be counted as valid unless such ballot shall have been received by the Secretary of the Association no less than 7 days prior to the annual meeting. Results of the election shall be announced at the annual membership meeting and the members of the Association shall promptly be notified by mail or email of the election results.
6.6 VACANCIES ON THE BOARD: Vacancies may occur during the term of a Board member by death, resignation, removal, disqualification, incapacitation, or by expansion of the Board at the discretion of the Board.
b) Any director may be removed from the Board for just cause by the affirmative vote of 2/3’s of the currently existing members of the Board or by a 2/3 majority of the Active Members. Any director shall have the right to speak on his/her own behalf before a vote and removal by the Board or by the Membership. Any director so removed has the right to appeal to the Membership and/or arbitration.
c) In the event a vacancy occurs in a Board position, other than the President, the other members of the Board shall elect a new Board member to serve until the next annual membership meeting, at which time the members shall elect a member to fill the unexpired term. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice President fills the vacancy, and the office of Vice President is filled by the Board. Board vacancies shall be filled within 60 days after the position becomes vacant.
6.7 COMPOSITION AND DUTIES OF BOARD OFFICERS: The officers of the Board shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.
b) The VICE PRESIDENT shall, in the absence of or the incapacity of the President, act in the capacity of the President.
c) The SECRETARY is subject to the ultimate will of the Board and in compliance with the provisions of the bylaws and:
-shall record the proceedings of all board and membership meetings. If a meeting goes into closed session to deal with matters of personnel, the secretary shall not take minutes except as shall be ordered by the Board,
-shall insure that the members of the board receive a copy of the minutes with 60 days of the meeting,
-shall be responsible for maintaining all official documents, minute books, and such other matters entrusted to the secretary’s keeping,
-shall see that all such documents are kept under proper care and safekeeping,
-shall ensure that a register containing the names and addresses of all members is being properly kept and maintained by the Board,
-shall record and keep a permanent file of any letter ballots received from the general membership,
-and shall perform such other activities as may be set by the Board.
d) The TREASURER of the Board shall be responsible for the financial administrative policies established by the Board and shall perform the duties of supervision over the responsibility for the funds, securities, receipts, and disbursements of the corporation. The Treasurer is responsible for bringing any questionable expenditure to the attention of the Board in a timely manner and shall see that a timely record of the financial activity of the GSBANA be properly preserved. (S)he shall be empowered (without regard to the will of the Board or the members ) to require from any director, officer, staff worker, or associate of the GSBANA any financial documents, reports, or statements giving such true information as may be desired with respect to any and all financial transactions of or with the corporation.
6.8 SUBORDINATE AGENTS AND ADVISORS TO THE BOARD: The Board may appoint such other agents and advisors to the board as it may deem necessary or advisable. The appointments shall be for such period and with such authority, and for such compensation and duties as the Board may determine. Such agents and advisors may not be Board members, but may be required to participate in board meetings.
6.9 COMPENSATION: Directors shall serve without compensation except that they may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the performance of duties as a director or officer of the GSBANA at the discretion of the Board.
Article VII – BOARD MEETINGS
7.1 BOARD MEETINGS are held for the purpose of conducting corporate business and shall be held at least once a year. The Board shall meet for the first time within 10 days after an election. Board meetings may be held by personal attendance of the Board members and/or by participation via conference call or electronic media. The time of the meetings shall be set by the President with the approval of the Board, or by agreement with the majority of the Board. The setting of the time preferably occurs as one of the last items on the agenda of the preceding Board meeting.
7.2 GENERAL NOTICE OF THE UPCOMING BOARD MEETINGS: Written notice of the time and place of Board meetings shall be furnished to all board members and ex-officio participants. This notice shall be given at least 10 days prior to the meeting, and shall contain a copy of the agenda.
7.3 QUORUM: A simple majority of the existing Board members (not counting current vacancies) shall constitute a quorum.
7.4 NO proxies or absentee ballots may be used at any Board meeting.
7.5 ONLY BOARD MEMBERS may vote at any Board Meeting. The act of a majority of the votes cast shall be considered an act of the Board.
7.6 OPEN BOARD MEETINGS: Any member of the Association may attend meetings of the Board of the GSBANA. However, in order to address the Board or to comment to the Board, they must be recognized by the President. The official decisions and recommendations of the Board will be made available to the members of the Association.
7.7 CLOSED SESSIONS OF THE BOARD: The Board shall go into closed session to deal with fiscal or personnel matters. Any non-board member may be excluded by the Board during closed sessions.
7.8 ATTENDANCE BY BOARD MEMBERS AT BOARD MEETINGS: Absence of any Board member from two consecutive meetings without notifying the President or Secretary of the Board will be grounds for the removal action on the part of the Board.
7.9 CONDUCTING BOARD MEETINGS: All meetings of the Board shall be conducted by the President or Vice President, or in the absence of both of the officers, by a member elected by the Board. Meetings, other than by electronic means, shall be conducted in accordance with the latest revised edition of Robert’s’ Rules of Order except as otherwise specified in these bylaws. Electronic meetings may be conducted in a manner agreed to by the Board, except that any Board member may request that a meeting, or a portion of the meeting, be conducted in accordance with the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order
Article VIII – COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD
8.1 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: The executive committee consists of all officers of the Board. The President shall act as chair of the meetings of this committee.
8.2 ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEES: The Board may establish committees to perform such duties and to have such powers as may be set by the Board, and these committees shall assist the Board with specialized tasks delegated to the committees. The role of the committees shall be of an advisory and assisting nature. Each committee may make its own rules of governing the conduct of its activities, provided they are in compliance with the wishes of the Board. Committees shall have no authority to exercise control over the daily management or operation of the corporation. The Board shall directly oversee all committees. Committees shall act through the authority of the Board in compliance with the bylaws. A Board member may serve on each committee. All committees shall be appointed, dismissed, or restructured individually by the President with the approval of the board. Any Committee member may resign at any time, giving written notice to the Board. The acceptance of that resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. The President, with the approval of the Board, shall have the power to change the membership of any committee, to fill vacancies, and to discharge any member of any committee.
Article IX – BYLAW AMENDMENTS
9.1 PROPOSED BYLAW AMENDMENTS: Proposed bylaw changes may be initiated by the Board or by petition to the Annual Membership Meeting, signed by not less than 25% of the members of the Association.
9.2 BYLAW AMENDMENTS: These bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the active membership in good standing. Proper notification as noted above shall include a clearly stated notice of what section of the bylaws is to be deleted, changed, or added; and what the exact wording of the desired change or addition shall be. No more than 30 days after the Annual Membership Meeting, the Secretary of the Association shall mail the proposed amendments and ballots to each active member. Results of the balloting shall be counted by the Secretary of the Association or such other person as designated by the Board, and shall be kept in his or her custody for a period of time as determined by the Board, and be subject to inspection at reasonable times by any member of the Association. The membership shall be promptly notified of the results of such balloting.
Article X – DISSOLUTION AND SUCCESSION
Upon dissolution of the North American Gotland Sheep Breeders Association, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all liabilities of the association, dispose of all assets of the association exclusively for the purposes of the association in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized for charitable, educational, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization under section 501 (c) (5) or the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) as the Board of Directors shall determine.