Kansas Meat Goat Association

Please feel free to print the by laws for your review.  Proposed changes to the by laws will be voted upon at a meeting conducted in accordance with the by laws.  Election of Officers and Regional Coordinators will occur at the first meeting of each new fiscal year.

MISSION STATEMENT and BY-LAWS

of the

KANSAS MEAT GOAT ASSOCIATION

MISSION STATEMENT

 This Association shall be known as the KANSAS MEAT GOAT ASSOCIATION, and shall be operated and conducted as a non-profit Association.

 The purpose of this Association shall be to promote meat goats as a viable source of long term, stable income in a diversified agricultural enterprise and to establish educational programs and research designed for the promotion, development, production and marketing of meat goats.

By-Laws

Article 1

Membership

Section 1: Qualifications for a voting membership

Any person who pledges to support and conform to this organization and advance its objectives may become a member of this Association upon payment of annual dues as established by the Association.  Each member shall be entitled to one vote/proxy per current membership at official Association meetings.

Section 2: Qualifications for a nonvoting membership

Any individuals who are under the age of eighteen (18), and have paid a junior membership fee shall be eligible to become nonvoting members.

Sub Section A: Youth Membership Requirements (as amended March 17th, 2007)

The Kansas Meat Goat Association (KMGA) is the parent organization of the youth group Kansas Youth Meat Goat Association (KYMGA).  Therefore, this group will be governed under the KMGA by-laws with the following provisions: All members must be nineteen (19) years of age and under as of January 1^st of the current calendar year; there is no minimum age limit.  Each member will turn in the application provided by the KYMGA.  Annual dues for youth membership are set by the Board of Directors.  Each youth member will pay yearly dues payable to the Association on January 1^st of each calendar year.  Yearly due fees will be indicated in the KMGA schedule of fees.

Section 3: Annual dues  (as amended March 17th, 2007)

Annual dues of the Association are set by the Board of Directors.  Annual dues are payable to the Association on January 1 of each calendar year.  Initial membership dues are payable at the time of enrollment.  Nonpayment of membership dues by January 31^st will automatically cancel said membership and all member information will be removed from the KMGA, Inc. website.  Membership dues fees will be indicated in the KMGA schedule of fees.  Written notice will be mailed to all members by November 30th of the current year.

                                                                           Article II

Directors

Section 1: Qualifications and Nominations (as amended April 18th, 2009) 

The Board of Directors of this Association shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, (KYMGA) Youth Coordinator and Four (4) Regional Coordinators.  An Association Nominating Committee, appointed by the President, shall meet before the Annual Meeting for the purpose of identifying a slate of officer and Regional Coordinator candidates to be considered and voted on by the voting membership at the Annual Meeting.  Nominations may also be made from the floor by the membership.

Section 2: Elections and terms of office  (as amended April 18th, 2009)

The Board of Directors shall consist of the Officers, (KYMGA) Youth Coordinator, and Regional Coordinators elected from the membership at the Association's Annual Meeting.  Any qualified director may continue term duties for an indefinite term providing said director is re-elected at Annual Membership Meeting by KMGA, Inc. membership in attendance.

Section 3: Duties

The business of the Association shall be managed and controlled by the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors shall manage the affairs of the Association and shall exercise all such authority provided for in the Association By-Laws.  For the purpose of voting on issues brought before the Board of Directors a quorum is required.  Fifty percent of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.

Section 4: Resignations of Directors

Any Director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the President or the Vice-President. Unless otherwise specified in such written notice, such resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the board of directors or said officers, and the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.  At such time a vacancy occurs of any Association Officer/Director position, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fill such vacancy for a time not to extend beyond the next Annual Meeting.

Section 5: Removal of Officers/Directors

Any Officer/Director may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present at the next regular meeting after the meeting at which removal motion was made.

Section 6: Board of Directors meeting notice

Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be at a time and place as the President may direct.  The President may call a meeting of the Board of Directors at any time by giving written notice to each member of the Board, a majority of which shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transaction of business.  At all meetings of the Board of Directors the President shall preside, and in his/her absence, the Vice-President shall preside.  Board meetings are open to the membership.

Section 7: Regional Coordinators  (as amended March 17th, 2007)

If available, there will be Four (4) Regional Coordinators: NE Kansas; SE Kansas; NW Kansas; SW Kansas.  The Regional Coordinators will be a point of contact for the public in their regions.  The Regional Coordinators shall preside over regional meetings of the Association.  He/she shall report all business proceedings of said meeting to the officers of the Association.  He/she shall perform all duties in accordance with the By-Laws of the Association.

Section 8: Regions (as amended April 18th, 2009)

The Association shall consist of Four (4) geographical regions: Northwest Region (North of Hwy 56/96 and West of Hwy 14, except for Rice County), Northeast Region (North of Hwy 56/150/50 and East of Hwy 14, except for Reno County), Southeast (South of Hwy 56/150/50 and East of Hwy 14), Southwest (South of Hwy 56/96 and West of Hwy 14, and including Reno and Rice Counties).

Article III

Meeting of the Membership

Section 1: Regular Membership Meetings

Meetings shall be held on a regular basis throughout the calendar year at the direction of the President.  A minimum of six (6) regular meetings each calendar year shall be scheduled.  When scheduled, the meetings will be on the Third (3^rd) Saturday of the month and will start at 10 AM. When deemed appropriate teleconference meetings may be conducted.

Section 2: Notice of Meetings  (as amended March 17th, 2007)

Notice of all meetings of the membership stating the time, date, place shall be available to all membership on the KMGA website.  If said member does not have said capabilities they will be notified with the mailing of the minutes to the address shown on the records of the Association via US Mail at least two (2) weeks prior to the date of the meeting.  In the event that KMGA website is inoperable, minutes & all association correspondence will be sent by US mail service to all members of the association.

Section 3: Annual Meetings  (as amended March 17th, 2007)

The Annual Meeting of the Association membership shall be held within each year at a time and place determined by the Board of Directors.

Sub Section A: (as amended March 17th, 2007) Written or electronic notice of the Association's Annual Membership Meeting shall be given thirty (30) days prior to the meeting and posted on Association website.

Sub Section B: The Board of Directors shall verify the credential of voting members at the Annual Membership Meeting prior to conductin business of the Association.

Sub Section C: Every member shall have the righ5 to assign a vote/proxy to an Association member.  The assignment shall be in written form and be presented to the Association President prior to an Association Meeting.

Section 4: Special Meetings

The Association Board of Directors shall determine and establish regular and additional meetings for the purpose of education, promotion, research and other issues relevant to the Association.  The Association Secretary shall notify the membership of such meetings.  Notice shall be deemed delivered when deposited in the US Mail or by delivered E-MAIL.

Section 5: Voting Rights and a Quorum

Only voting members in good standing shall have the right to participate in the transacting of business at meetings of the membership, and no member shall have more than one vote for each issue brought before the membership.  Twenty (20) percent of the membership shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transaction of business at any meeting of the members of this Association.  A vote of the majority of such voting members present at such meetings shall be sufficient to pass or reject any measure properly placed before the membership, except for the transaction of business for which a different quorum and a different vote is specifically provided for by these By-Laws.  The withdrawal of any member after the commencement of a meeting shall have no effect on the existence of a quorum having been established at such meeting.

Section 6: Parliamentary Procedure

Meetings shall be conducted by use of “Robert’s Rules of Order”.  Members are expected to display orderly conduct and cooperative behavior at all times.

Article IV

Association Officers

Section 1: Office and Qualifications (as amended April 18th, 2009)

The Officers of this Association shall be a President, a Vice-President, and a Secretary/Treasurer, each of whom shall be a member of the Board of Directors.

Section 2: Election and Term of Office  (as amended March 17th, 2007)

The Officers of this Association shall be elected by the voting membership at the Association’s Annual Membership Meeting.  Any qualified director may continue term duties for an indefinite term providing said director is re-elected at Annual Membership Meeting by KMGA, Inc. membership in attendance.

Section 3: Removal of an Officer

Any Officer elected by the membership or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors when in its judgment the best interest of the Association would be best served.

Section 4: Vacancies

A vacancy in any office because of resignation, removal, disqualification, death or otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term of said office.

Section 5: President

It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Association.  The President shall appoint such committees as are deemed necessary and shall be ex-officio member of all committees; enforce the By-Laws of the Association; supervise all affairs of the Association; and, at the Annual Membership Meeting, make a report of the accounts and general business of the Association for the previous year.  Except as herein provided, the President shall sign jointly with the Secretary/Treasurer all contracts and other written instruments.  This office is elected annually.  No member shall serve more than two (2) consecutive years as President.

Section 6: Vice-President

The Vice-President shall preside at all meetings of the Association in the absence of the President and, in such event, the Vice-President shall have the authority to perform the duties of the President.  This office is elected annually.  No member shall serve more than two (2) consecutive years as Vice-President.

Sub Section A: The Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President in the event of a vacancy of the office of President.

Sub Section B:  If the President and the Vice-President are absent from any said meeting, the Secretary/Treasurer shall call the meeting to order and a temporary President shall be chosen to preside over the meeting.

Section 7: Secretary/Treasurer (as amended April 18th, 2009)

The Secretary/Treasurer shall give due and proper notice of all Association Meetings, shall keep a record of all proceedings of the Board of  Directors Meetings, Committees activities and members of the Association in a book of minutes and send copies of said minutes to the Board of Directors and Committees members upon request.  Minutes will be available to members on request and published on the Association Web Site.  The Secretary/Treasurer will be responsible for all official Association publications.  The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep and maintain the books and records of account of the Association.  Said books and records of account shall at all times be open to inspection by any member of the Board of Directors.  The Treasurer shall cause the funds of the Association to be collected and shall manage them in a responsible manner.  The Treasurer shall disburse said funds as may be ordered by the Board of Directors and shall render to the President and Board of Directors, whenever requested, an account of all transactions and of the financial condition of the Association.  The Treasurer shall submit a statement of accounts at each regular meeting of the Board of Directors.  The accounts of the Association shall be audited at the instruction of the Board of Directors.  This office is elected annually. No member shall serve more than two (2) consecutive years as Secretary/Treasurer.

Sub Section A:  In the absence or inability of the Secretary/Treasurer to perform his/her duties, any other officer of the Association designated by the Board of Directors shall perform all of the duties of the Secretary/Treasurer until such time a replacement Secretary/Treasurer is appointed.

Article V

Committees

Section 1: Standing Committees (as amended April 18th, 2009)

Standing Committees of the Association include but are not limited to Nominating, Sale, Annual Meeting, Promotion/Programs/Seminars and Youth activities.  Committee members shall either be appointed by the President, or may volunteer to serve.  Committee Chairpersons shall be appointed by the President.  Responsibilities of each Committee will be assigned at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

Section 2: Special Committees

The President may, at any time, appoint additional Committees to address issues and policies of the Association. 

Article VI

Amendments to the By-Laws

These By-Laws may be amended at any Association Annual Meeting.  Notice of proposed By-Law changes must be received in writing by all members at least thirty (30) days prior to the next scheduled Annual Meeting.  The approval of two-thirds of the members attending the Annual Meeting shall be required by Vote/proxy for the adoption of any amendments to said By-Laws.

Article VII

Business of the Association

Section 1: Funds  (as amended March 17th, 2007)

Funds of the Association shall be withdrawn only on checks signed by persons designated by the Board of Directors.  Checks exceeding two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) require two (2) signatures.

Section 2: Contracts

The Board of Directors may authorize any Officer or Officers, Agent or Agents of the Association to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Association and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

Section 3: Deposits

All funds of the Association shall be deposited to the credit of the Association in such banks, trusts or other depositories selected by the Board of Directors.

Section 4: Liability

No member of the Association shall be liable to the creditors of the Association for any indebtedness or liability outstanding or hereafter incurred; and any and all creditors shall look only to the Association for payment. 

Article VIII

Fiscal Year

The Fiscal Year of this Association shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31.