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BYLAWS OF THE GUERNSEY/NOBLE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION

Revised 10/2019

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ARTICLE I: NAME OF ORGANIZATION

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SECTION 1:   The name of this organization shall be the Guernsey Noble Beekeepers.  This organization shall have an affiliation with the Ohio State Beekeepers association until such time as the affiliation is terminated.

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ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

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SECTION 1:   The purpose of this organization is to support its members by providing educational opportunities, beekeeping research, updates on current beekeeping information, and to promote public awareness of the benefits of beekeeping as well as being a community resource.

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ARTICLE III:  GOVERNING AUTHORITY

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SECTION 1:  Guernsey Noble Beekeepers will operate under the laws of the state of Ohio pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation filed.  The provision of the Constitution and Bylaws shall not conflict with the Constitution, Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation of OSBA.

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1. Guernsey Noble Beekeepers is an autonomous entity and is responsible for maintaining records in compliance with the Articles of Affiliation and all applicable Federal, State and Local laws including tax laws.

2. The Guernsey Noble Board of Directors shall have the final authority in all matters of operations of the Affiliated Beekeeping association.  The club shall also be subject to and participate in OBSA’s general supervision and control.

3. Guernsey Noble Beekeepers shall participate in the OSBA governance through membership and through voting at the annual OSBA meeting.         

ARTICLE IV:  MEMBERSHIP 

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SECTION 1:  Any person interested in Apiculture and wishing to further the activities of the Association may become a member upon payment of $10.00 annual dues affixed by the Board of Directors.  Membership will run annually from January 1 thru December 31.

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SECTION 2:  Membership of the organization shall be:

 

Regular, which includes immediate family members; or

              

Honorary, which is a lifetime non-dues –paying membership conferred on those persons nominated by the Board of Directors and approved by 2/3 majority vote of the members in quorum at any business meeting after the nomination.

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SECTION 3:  Each member in good standing, over the age of seventeen (17) shall be entitled to one vote in the general matters of the Association.  At the Annual Meeting of the Association, the Secretary may cast an absentee vote with the written authority of a member in good standing who is unable to attend the Annual Meeting.

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ARTICLE V: MEETINGS

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SECTION 1:  The fiscal year shall begin January 01 and end December 31 of the same year.  The Annual Meeting of the Association for the election of officers shall be held in November each year at a location, date and time determined by the Board of Directors.  Notice of said Meeting shall be given in writing at ten (10) least prior to the Meeting.

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SECTION 2: Regular meetings shall be held monthly from January through December.  Location, date, and time of these meetings shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

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SECTION 3:  Special meetings shall be held upon written petition of fifteen (15) members of the Association or upon written petition of a majority of the Board of Directors.  The petition shall state the purpose of the special meeting, and only that business set forth in the petition shall be transacted.  The Secretary shall give notice in writing of filing of said petition and the purpose of said meeting to the members of the Association, and said notice shall state the time and place of the special meeting.

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SECTION 4:  A plurality of members present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business at a regular or Annual Meeting.

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ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS

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SECTION 1: The election of officers shall be held at the Annual Meeting of the membership:  The nominee receiving the Majority of votes shall receive that office.  All Officers and Directors must be 18 years of age or older and in good standing with the Guernsey Noble Beekeepers Association.

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SECTION 2: The officers of the Association shall be: President; Vice President; Secretary; and Treasurer.  Each office shall be for a two-year term.   The Vice President and Treasurer shall be elected in odd years and the President and Secretary shall be elected in even years.  During the 2019 election the President and Secretary will hold a one- year term and then in the 2020 election the two- year term will start.

 

 

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SECTION 3:  The President shall be responsible for the conduct of the affairs of ordinary business of the Association.  The Vice-President shall support and assist the President in his/her duties, and shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence.  The Secretary shall maintain orderly and complete records of all business.  The Treasurer shall keep financial records and conduct all financial transactions.

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ARTICLE VII: DIRECTORS

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SECTION 1: There shall be a Board of Directors consisting of the officers, the immediate past president, and three (3) Trustees.  The Trustees shall be elected from the membership at large.  The trustees shall attend all board meetings; plan guest speakers; and follow up to the Board with all committee reports.

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SECTION 2:  The Board of Directors shall have full charge of the affairs, funds, management, property, and control of the Association, subject only to the action of the members.  The decision of Board of Directors on any questions concerning interpretation of these Bylaws shall be final.

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SECTION 3:  The election of the Trustees shall be held at the Annual Meeting of the membership, and a majority vote by those present or represented by written proxy shall be necessary for election.  Only one Trustee is to be elected at each Annual Meeting, and the term of office shall be three (3) years.

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SECTION 4:  In the event of a vacancy on the Board of Directors, the President, with the approval of the Board of Directors, shall appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.

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SECTION 5: The Board of Directors shall meet quarterly at a time, date, and place selected by the President.  Notice of the meeting shall be given at least Six (6) days prior to the date and time selected.  Six (6) members shall constitute a quorum of the Board at all meetings thereof.

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SECTION: 6 A nominating Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors, each year, and shall nominate candidates for all officers and directorship of the Association, Nominations may also be made from the floor at the Annual Meeting by the membership at large.

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ARTICLE VIII: COMMITTEES

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SECTION 1: The President, with the advice and consent of the Board of Directors, may appoint such permanent or temporary Committees as may be necessary or advisable for the administration of the

Association’s business from time to time.  Such Committees shall serve for the period stipulated by the Board of Directors and report their activities to the appropriate Trustee.

 

SECTION 2: The association shall be operated on a cash basis.  Those members whose dues are delinquent cannot be considered in good standing and will not be permitted to vote on matters of business before the Association or hold office.

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ARTICLE IX: AFFILIATION

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SECTION 1:  The Association shall be an affiliate of the Ohio State Beekeepers Association, and shall actively support that organization.  The President of the Guernsey/Noble Beekeepers Association shall represent or shall appoint a delegate to attend the OSBA annual meeting.  Said delegate shall hold membership in the Ohio State Beekeepers Associations.  The affiliation with OSBA may be terminated by a written letter to OSBA.

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ARTICLE X: REQUIREMENTS TO BE EXEMPT AS AN ORGANIZATION DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501 (C) (3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.

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SECTION 1:  Guernsey Noble Beekeepers is organized exclusively for charitable, education, or scientific purposes, including for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

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Section 2:  No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distribution in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose clause thereof.

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Section 3:  No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.

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Section 4:  Not withstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of the internal revenue code, or corresponding section of any or any future federal tax code.

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Revised 10/2019