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Bylaws

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this organization shall be: Graham County Master Gardeners Association.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The Graham County Master Gardeners Association is a non-profit organization that supports the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program by providing to the citizens of the County, research-based horticultural information appropriate for local environments, gardening, food production, landscaping and environmental stewardship. The organization raises funds to support its activities through various garden-related activities.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. Membership is open to all Certified and Associate Master Gardeners in good standing (see Article V, Section 1) without regard to age, race, color, sex, national origin, religious affiliation, or physical disability.
SECTION 2. CERTIFIED MASTER GARDENERS: Certified Master Gardeners, in good standing, shall be eligible for membership in the Association with all the rights and privileges thereof. A Certified Master Gardener is one who has completed the Master Gardener Training Course, the volunteer service, the profile forms and the Memorandum of Agreement, as required by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program Policy. The same policy sets the requirements for annual recertification.
SECTION 3. ASSOCIATE MASTER GARDENERS: Associate Master Gardeners, in good standing, who have completed the Master Gardener Training Course in the last year, but have not completed their required initial hours of volunteer service shall be eligible for membership in the Association with all the rights and privileges thereof, except that they may not hold office or vote

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

SECTION 1. OFFICERS: The officers of this Association shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Program Director. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined upon concurrence of the membership at the time of the nomination of officers. All Certified Master Gardener members of the Association shall be eligible to hold any office.
SECTION 2. NOMINATION AND ELECTION. Candidates for office shall be nominated and then an election by secret ballot conducted at the Monthly Meeting of the general membership in December of each year. Terms of office shall be for one year beginning upon installation during the Annual Business Meeting in January.

ARTICLE V - DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

SECTION 1. MEMBERS: Members shall:
  1. Maintain current certification as Master Gardeners by fulfilling such service and educational requirements as may be imposed by the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners Program Policy.
  2. Conform to such restrictions as may be imposed by the Cooperative Extension as to use of the title "Master Gardener".
  3. Regularly attend meetings of the organization.
  4. Support and participate in activities of the organization.
SECTION 2. PRESIDENT: The President shall:
  1. Preside over all meetings of the general membership and the Executive Committee, act as official
    spokesperson for the organization, and enforce the Bylaws and such other rules as may be adopted by the Association.
  2. Direct and coordinate all official activities of the Association.
  3. With the advice and majority concurrence of the Executive Committee, make appointments to fill vacant elected offices, appoint Historian and fill the committee assignments.
  4. Perform such other duties as may pertain to the office of the President, including the signing of official documents on behalf of the Association.
SECTION 3. VICE-PRESIDENT: The Vice-President shall:
  1. Perform the duties of President during temporary absences of the President.
  2. Succeed to the presidency in case of the death, resignation, or inability of the President to perform the duties of the office.
  3. Serve as Parliamentarian during all general meetings of the Association.
  4. Assist the President by performing such other duties as may be assigned by the President.
SECTION 4: SECRETARY: The Secretary shall:
  1. Record minutes of all general meetings and make written copies of the same available to the  membership.
  2. Notify the Cooperative Extension Office and the membership of the time, date, and place of all meetings and other general Associaiton activities on a timely basis.
  3. Initiate and maintain records of official correspondence (outgoing and incoming).
  4. Maintain the official membership roster and the record copy of official organization documents.
SECTION 5: TREASURER: The Treasurer shall:
  1. Maintain a permanent written record of all receipts and disbursements of Association monies.
  2. With the advice and majority concurrence of the Executive Committee, prepare an Annual Budget for approval of the general membership during the Annual Business Meeting.
  3. Prepare an Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year ending 31 December for presentation at the Annual Business Meeting and such other financial reports as may be required.
  4. Safeguard organizational funds and disburse funds only upon proper authorization. Establish and maintain bank accounts as authorized by the Executive Committee. All checks shall be signed by two officers who have been authorized by the Executive Committee.
SECTION 6: PROGRAM DIRECTOR: The Program Director shall:
  1. Plan and procure speakers/program for monthly meetings pursuant to the Association purpose.
  2. Submit advance program plans to the Executive Committee for approval.
  3. Publicize future programs and report on past programs/meetings in newspapers, radio, newsletters, etc.
  4. Communicate with other Master Gardener groups to publicize our activities and disseminate their activities of possible interest.
  5. Reserve appropriate meeting facilities and arrange for timely access.
  6. Arrange for special program needs, refreshments, clean-up, etc.

SECTION 7: HISTORIAN: The Historian shall gather and edit a scrapbook of all items pertaining to Association history and safeguard these records for the future. The Historian shall encourage written and graphical evidence of Association projects and activities for inclusion in the scrapbook.
SECTION 8: FAILURE TO FULFILL RESPONSIBILITIES: If it is determined by the Executive Committee that any elected officer is not performing the duties of that office, the matter shall be brought in writing before the general membership at a regular meeting of the Association. The general membership may by simple majority vote take one of the following actions:

  1. Officially censure the officer.
  2. Remove the officer from office.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS

SECTION 1: GENERAL, SPECIAL AND ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETINGS, AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS:

  1. General Meetings shall be held monthly.
  2. Special Meetings may be called as deemed necessary to the Executive Committee.
  3. The Executive Committee shall meet at their convenience as needed, or at the request of the President or two other Officers.
  4. The Annual Business Meeting shall be held during the General Meeting in January of each year.
  5. A quorum shall be established at any meeting by documenting the attendance of a majority or that notice was given to the parties concerned.
SECTION 2: RULES: Meetings shall be conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order.

ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES

SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: The Executive Committee shall be a standing committee comprising all officers of the Association and ex officio, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Agent or the designee in charge of the Graham County Master Gardener Program. The Extension Agent or the designee shall have no vote unless the Executive Committee is equally divided.
SECTION 2: STANDING COMMITTEES: Additional standing committees may be created upon approval of the general membership.
SECTION 3: OTHER COMMITTEES: The President with the advice and majority concurrence of the Executive Committee may appoint such other committees as may be required.

ARTICLE VIII - I. R. S.STATEMENTS
SECTION 1: I. R. S. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The Graham County Master Gardeners Association is organized exclusively for charitable, education and 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.
SECTION 2: FEDERAL INCOME TAX EXEMPTION: No part of the net earnings of the Graham County Master Gardeners Association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Section 2. No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Association 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. Notwithstanding any other provision of these bylaws or amendments, the Association 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 the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

ARTICLE IX - CHANGES TO BYLAWS
Any changes or amendments to these Bylaws must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast in a meeting of the general membership, provided that written copies of the proposed change or amendments to existing Bylaws are made available to all members of the Association, in good standing, at least 15 days prior to the date of the general meeting at which the vote is to be taken. ARTICLE X - RATIFICATION OF THESE BYLAWS AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION
SECTION 1: RATIFICATION: Ratification by a simple majority vote of persons present at the Organization Meeting on the Seventh Day of February, 2002, shall be sufficient to establish these Bylaws. The General Business Meeting may then be called to order for the election of officers.
SECTION 2: OFFICERS: Officers shall be elected after ratification of the Bylaws, according to Article IV, Section 2. The newly elected officers shall begin serving upon election.
SECTION 3: EXECUTION OF THE BYLAWS DOCUMENT: The current provisional officers and the newly elected officers shall be directed to execute this document with the following declaration:

We the undersigned hereby declare that at a publicized organizational meeting held on the Seventh Day of February, 2002, in accordance with Section !, Article X above, seven members in good standing were present and seven of them voted to adopt these Bylaws as written, and to establish the Graham County Master Gardeners Association.

Dated this Seventh Day of February, 2002:
PROVISIONAL OFFICERS:                                                 NEWLY ELECTED OFFICERS
Ruth Anne Neff, President                                                  Susan Syfert, President
Perri Larson, Vice President                                              Perri Larson, Vice-President
Sue Martin, Secretary/Treasurer                                       R. Gene Fowler, Secretary/ Treasurer