JACKSONCOUNTY BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
as amended 0ct 6, 2011
Article I -- Name

Section 1: The name of this organization shall be the Jackson County Beekeepers Association or nicknamed the JCABA, which maybe be interpreted as an acronym for either Jackson County Alabama Beekeepers Association or Jackson County Area Beekeepers Association.

Section 2: To honor the Cherokee heritage so prominent in JacksonCounty’s history, the nativewords for “honeybee” (wa-du-li-si) and “forever”(i-go-hi-duh) shall be incorporated into the logo of the Association, using the Cherokee syllabary developed by native American philanthropist, Se-quo-yah.

Article II – Purpose and Objectives

Section 1: The purpose of the Jackson County Beekeepers Association shall be to engage in any lawful activity that will increase knowledge of and promote apiculture in the Jackson County, Alabama area.

Section 2: The objectives of this association are to promote and support:

  1. The sustained growth of JacksonCounty’s honeybee population
  2. The understanding of and solutions to the common apiculture problems of its members.
  3. Apiculture education and the use of more productive methods of beekeeping.
  4. The development of both the scientific and practical aspects of beekeeping.
  5. Such legislation as may be necessary to protect and encourage apiculture.
  6. Constructive relations with individuals, businesses, and other organizations.
  7. Activities, which serve to foster good relations between beekeepers and the general public.
  8. Informing the public of the importance and value of honeybees as pollinators of plants and of honey as a food for man.
  9. The increased use of honey and other honeybee products.

Section 3: 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.

Section 4: Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, this association shall not, except to an insubstantial degree, engage in any activities or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of the purposes of this association.

Article III –Meetings

Section 1: The place in this state of Alabama where the principal office of the association is to be located is the City of Scottsboro, in JacksonCounty. Meetings shall be held at the JacksonCountyFarmersFederationBuilding, 23625 John T Reid Parkway (US Hwy 72), Scottsboro, AL, on the 1st Thursday of all even months in the year.

Section 2: The club will host a summer picnic the weekend immediately before Labor Day at a predetermined location.

Section 3: A quorum shall be achieved whenever eight paid members are available to conduct business at any regular meeting. Three members of board of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of committee business. Meeting minutes will be taken only at business meetings.

Section 4: Special meetings, special events or workshops may be held at any time at the discretion of the association.

Section 5: Notice of each meeting, special event or workshop shall be e-mailed to each paid memberof the association (who have e-mail and desire this method of notification) prior to the date of the event.

Section 6: The business portion of meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order, Revised.

Section 7: Membership in the association is not required for attendance at meetings or other events.

Article IV -- Membership

Section 1: Any person interested in, wants to learn, and/or actively engaged in beekeeping or the beekeeping industry is eligible for membership in this club.

Section 2: This association admits members of any race, color, national and ethnic origin, age, religion, sex, handicap, or marital status to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to members of this association.

Section 3: Any dues paying member in good standing is eligible to run as a club officer or to serve on the board of directors.

Article V -- Officers

Section 1: The Officers of the JCABA shall be (1) a president, (2) a vice-president, and (3) a secretary-treasurer.

Section 2: The Officers shall hold office for a term of two years, or until their successors are duly elected.

Section 3: The officers shall be elected by a majority vote, provided a quorum is present, at the regular meeting held during February in odd-numbered years.

Section 4: The president and the vice-president may not succeed themselves in the office just held unless no other person is deemed either fit, eligible, or interested to run.

Section 5: The vice-president shall perform all duties of the president in the event of the president's absence, disability, or resignation. The vice president shall also be primarily responsible for arranging programs for all meetings requiring one.

Section 6: Should a vacancy occur in the positions of vice-president, or secretary-treasurer, the president shall appoint a member of the association to serve in the respective office for the remainder of the term subject to approval by vote of the members.

Article VI – Board of Directors

Section 1: The management of this Association shall be vested in a Board of Directors that shall consist of seven of more active members of the Association, including (1) the President, (2) the Secretary/Treasurer of the Association (who shall be ex office [non-voting]), both of whom shall act respectively as Chairman and Secretary of this Board, and (3) members of the board of Directors. In the event of a tie vote, the President will cast the deciding vote. Two new board members will be elected each year for a term of 3 years, with the term of office commencing immediately following their election. These persons shall continue until their successors are elected. Candidates for office of President and Vice President, as well as Members of the Board, must be current in their dues and either present or retired beekeepers that have demonstrated the ability and knowledge to successfully maintain colonies of honeybees.
Section 2: Four voting members of this Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.
Section 3: The Association shall hold meetings at a time and place fixed by the Board of Directors of the Association.

Article VII – Net Earnings

Section 1: No part of the net earnings of the association shall inure to the benefitof, or be distributable to its members, officers, or otherprivate persons, except that theboard of directors shall be authorized andempowered to pay reasonable compensation for services renderedand to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes and objectives set forth in Article II hereof.

Article VIII – Dissolution

Section 1: Upon the dissolution of this association, its board of directors shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all its liabilities, distribute any assets remaining to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

Section 2: Any such assets not so disposedof shall be disposed of by a Court of Competent Jurisdiction of the countyin which the principal office of the corporation is then located,exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, assaid Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusivelyfor such purposes.

Article IX – By Laws

The members, by a majority of those present and voting, shall adopt such bylaws, rules, make regulations as they deem necessary for the government of the association, provided the bylaws, rules and regulations are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution. The following articles constitue the “By-Laws” portion of this constitution.

Article X – Amendments to Constitution

These Articles may be altered or this Constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the paid members present and voting at any regular or special meetingcalled for that purpose. This assumes the proposed amendment shall have been submitted to the board of directors in sufficient time for notice of the proposed amendment to be e-mailed to each member at least fifteen days prior to the date of said meeting.

Article XI – Dues

Section 1: Annual dues shall be set at $10.00 per family, with the provision that a family unit paying a single membership fee shall be entitled to a single vote.

Section 2: Dues are renewable at every February meeting for that entire 12 month year. New memberships paid before August 1st, will be in good standing for that year only. Memberships paid after Aug 1st will be applied toward next year’s dues.

Section3: JCABA will not accept dues payments for the Alabama Beekeepers Association’s membership. Those payments must be mailed separately to the current Secretary/Treasurer of the Alabama Beekeepers Association.

Article XII – Duties of Officers

Section 1: The president, as the chief executive officer of the association, shall:

a) Preside over all official meetings of the members and of the board of directors

b) Appoint such standing and ad hoc committees as may be deemed necessary to achieve the objectives of the JCABA.

c) Be authorized to make deposits and disbursements of association monies should the treasurer be unable to perform these duties.

d) Discharge such-other duties as usually pertinent to the office.

Section 2: The vice-president shall perform the duties of the president in his/her absence and shall discharge such other duties as may be directed by the president. The vice-president will preside over association committees and be responsible for communications between the respective committees and the executive body.

Section 3: The secretary treasurer shall take minutes of all meetings, conduct association correspondence, and maintain custody of all administrative records, and archives. In the absence of the secretary-treasurer, a recorder may also be appointed to take minutes of the membership meetings. Treasurer duties performed by the sec-treasurer include:

  1. Receiving membership dues and all other income of the association and make disbursements as appropriate.
  2. Maintain accurate records of all monies collected and disbursed and make a report of same at each regular meeting.
  3. Perform all other duties commonly incident to this office.
  4. Option the co-signature of the president or his designee on all association bank checks.

Article XIII – Amendments to By-Laws

These by laws may be amended by a majority vote of the paid members present and voting at any regular meeting provided the proposed amendment shall have been submitted to the board of directors in sufficient time for written notice of the proposed amendment to be mailed to each member at least fifteen days prior to the date of Said meeting.

Article XIV – Repealing Clause

Upon acceptance by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present and voting at a meeting at which a quorum is present this Constitution and Bylaws shall supersede all previous Constitutions and Bylaws of the JCABA.