By-Laws

Section A: President - It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Farmer and Agribusiness Association and to serve as chairman of the State Executive Committee. The President shall appoint all committees and may serve as an ex -officio member of these committees. He/she shall call a State Convention each year at such time and place as shall be decided by the Executive Committee.

Section B: President-Elect - It shall be the duty of the President-Elect to preside at all meetings in the absence of the President and assist the President at all times in carrying out the work of the Association.

Section C: Vice-Presidents - The Vice-Presidents shall work for the Association on the region level and shall assist the President in conducting the business and work of the State Association

Section D: Advisor - The State Advisor is the ex-officio member of all committees. He/she is an active member of the State Executive Committee of Farmer and Agribusiness Association and assists State Officers in conducting meetings and other affairs of the Association. He/she reviews actions taken by all committees and the State Convention to determine whether or not they are in conformity with policies, plans, and regulations pertaining to the program of agricultural education as approved by the State Agricultural Education Department.

Section E: Past President - Serves as nominating chair & has the ability to appoint additional chapter members in good standing to fulfill the responsibility of nominating duties. He/she also serves in an advisory role for one year immediately following his/her year of service as president.

Section F: Executive Director - The Executive Director will assist in the organization of Executive Committee meetings, keep accurate minutes of all meetings, assist in the organization of any state sponsored function, provide proper correspondence to members of the South Carolina Farmer and Agribusiness Association and correspond with the National Young Farmer Education Association as needed. He/she will be responsible for oversight of the annual budget & responsible for coordination of financial receipts & payments with the contracted accounting firm, to include the annual audit.

Section G: Executive Committee - The Executive Committee shall conduct the business of the State Association, subject to such regulations, by-laws, and State Program of Work as have been adopted by delegates, and in conformity with the policies and plans governing the administration of Agricultural Education in the State.

Section A: Election of State Officers

The Nominating Committee, as identified by the past-president & his/her appointees, shall study and review the qualifications of members for the various offices in the Association. This committee shall nominate well qualified active members for State Office. Nominations may also be made from the floor of the convention following the report of the Nominating Committee.

Where qualified candidates offer for election one Vice-President shall be elected from each region. Vice-Presidents are to be elected for one year terms, may be eligible for reelection a second year, and can be re-elected a third year as President-Elect only. The President-Elect shall be elected from the State at large and shall have served on the State Executive Committee for at least one year. The President-Elect shall automatically be elevated to the office of President. The advisor shall be the State Supervisor of Agricultural Education. A member of the Agricultural Education State Staff shall serve as Executive Director.

Should the office of the President be vacated, the office shall be filled by the President Elect. Should the office of President-Elect become vacant, it shall be filled by a Vice President elected by the Executive Committee until the next annual convention at which time the Association shall elect a President. Should the office of a Vice-President be vacated, the Executive Committee shall elect a replacement upon the recommendations of the State Advisor.

Section B: Membership of the Executive Committee

The officers of the Farmer and Agribusiness Association, the immediate past president, and the State Advisor are members of the State Executive Committee.

Section C: Issuing Charters to Chapters

Local Chapters of the Farmer and Agribusiness Association shall apply through the State Advisor to the Executive Committee for affiliation with the Farmer and Agribusiness Association. Such applications shall be signed by the Chapter President, the Secretary and the local advisor. The following material shall accompany the application for a chapter charter:

1. A copy of the proposed constitution and by -laws.
2. A copy of the annual program of work.
3. A list of the active membership.
4. A list of chapter officers and address of each.

Section D: Determining Standing of Chapters

A local chapter of the Farmer and Agribusiness Association shall be considered in good standing with the Farmer and Agribusiness Association provided the following general conditions are met:

1. Local members are enrolled each year in a course of systematic instruction in Agricultural Education.
2. The local chapter constitution is not in conflict with the State constitution.
3. The activities of the chapter are in harmony with the purposes of the State Association.
4. All current reports are submitted to the Executive Director as requested.
5. All membership dues are paid.

In the event a chapter is not in good standing at the time of the opening of the State Convention, the delegates in the Convention shall have the power, on recommendation of the State Executive Committee, to withdraw or suspend its charter and refuse such chapter official representation at the State Convention. When, and if, such action is taken, the members of the chapter in question shall be denied the regular privileges of the Association. By meeting the requirements for good standing a chapter may be reinstated by action of the State Executive Committee no earlier than 10 days after the close of the State Convention during which it was not in good standing.

Where provisions of the constitution are not or cannot be met by a local chapter, an appeal by the chapter must be made to the State Executive Committee stating the circumstances. After analyzing the situation, the State Executive Committee will rule on the standing of the chapter and notify them within ten days of the decision of the State Executive Committee.

Section E: Determining the Standing of Members

An active member is considered to be in good standing provided:

1. He /she attends class meetings regularly. Active membership cannot be retained for longer than one year after he discontinues attending class meetings.
2. He/she attends chapter meetings regularly.
3. He/she shows an interest and takes part in the affairs of the chapter.
4. He/she pays dues regularly.

Section A: Regular and special meetings of the State Executive Committee shall be held at such time and place as determined by a majority of the Executive Committee.

Section B: Special meetings of the State Association may be called at any time by the State President with the approval of a majority of the Executive Committee.

Section C: Local chapter meetings shall be held once a month throughout the year at such time and place as designated by the Chapter Executive Committee.

Section D: The order of business at regular meetings shall be: Call to order, roll call, reading of the minutes, report of officers and committees, unfinished business, new business, special events and adjournment.

Review the South Carolina Farmer and Agribusiness Association Constitution.

Download the PDF of the Constitution and ByLaws (DOCX, 25.43KB)