Monroe County Master Gardener Association

MICHIGAN MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION BYLAWS OF THE MONROE COUNTY MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION

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ARTICLE I- NAME

The name of this non-profit organization shall be Monroe County Master Gardener Association (MCMGA).

ARTICLE II-AFFILIATION

This Association shall be affiliated with the Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) Monroe County. Liaison will be through the Master Gardener Program coordinator. The MSUE county Master Gardener Coordinator will be an ex- officio, non-voting member of the Association. All activities must be coordinated through the MSUE office.

ARTICLE III – PURPOSE

The purpose of this Association is to provide a forum for Master Gardener volunteers to meet on a regular basis, exchange information, and continue to share their knowledge and love of horticulture with the community through volunteer service.

ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP

Membership shall be comprised solely of currently active with a one year grace period* Master Gardener volunteers, certified through the MSUE Master Gardener Volunteer program.

*currently active MGs are those that have paid their Association dues, and are up to date in their volunteer and education hours, and shall also include new members from the current year’s graduating MG class who have paid their dues, are working on their required hours.

Membership dues shall be paid no later than April 15 or the current year**. Dues will be paid to the treasurer. The current year’s graduating class may join at half the current dues rate.

**Amended 9-8-07

ARTICLE V – ELECTION OF OFFICERS

SECTION 1. A nominating committee shall be selected by the Executive committee. The nominating committee will be comprised of 2 volunteers from the general membership. The committee shall be overseen by the current Vice President. The 2 volunteer members will not be able to run for office that year.

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The term of an elected officer shall be 2 years and subject to re-election.

Election of officers will occur at the January (or first) meeting every other odd calendar year.

The Executive Committee shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy of any unexpired term. This appointee shall fulfill the responsibilities of the vacancy for the remainder of the current term.

The nominating committee shall be selected 3 months prior to the January elections.

The nominations shall be posted in the Newsletter prior to elections.

ARTICLE VI – DUTIES OF THE OFFICE

Duties of the Officers

Duties of the President: 1. The president will preside over the meetings of the general membership and

the executive board. 2. The president shall be the official representative of this Association and act as

liaison between this Association and the Monroe County, Michigan State

University Extension Office, and oversee all standing committees. 3. The President shall prepare an agenda for all meetings.

Duties of the Vice-President:

1. In the absence of the president, secretary, or treasurer the vice-president shall resume the duties of said office.

2. The vice-president shall take attendance at meetings and oversee programs at meetings.

3. The vice-president shall oversee the nominating committee.

Duties of the Secretary: 1. The secretary shall take the minutes at all meetings and shall be prepared to

read the minutes of the previous meeting. 2. The secretary shall be responsible for all Association correspondence and

maintain complete record of minutes, attendance and correspondence.

Duties of the Treasurer: 1. The treasurer will be responsible for collecting dues and all other income for

the Association and issuing receipts. 2. Funds will be disbursed by check and a report shall be prepared and read at

each meeting. Funds will be maintained in ledger form and adhere to the

policies of the Monroe County MSUE. 3. The treasurer will maintain an updated membership list.

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Executive Committee shall be comprised of the Association officers and the MSUE representative who will be a non-voting member. The committee shall:

A. Meet annually, within two months of the January meeting. This meeting shall be comprised of the current officers, and, if it is prior to an election year, the next year’s nominated officers.

B. Discussideasforthefollowingyear. C. DiscusspossiblechangestotheAssociationorBylaws. D. Prepare agenda for the January meeting. E. Approve financial transactions and conduct a yearly audit.

ARTICLE VIII – FINANCES

Finances: A proposed budget will be presented by the Executive Committee to the general membership for approval prior to, or at the, March meeting. Budget must be approved by a majority vote.

No part of the funds of this organization shall inure to the benefit any member, donor, or private interest in its activities. In the event of the Association’s dissolution, the remaining assets shall be forfeited to the county MSUE.

The MCMGA shall operate on the current budget and any use of additional funds from the surplus must be approved by the MCMGA.

ARTICLE IX – GOVERNANCE

Meetings will be conducted democratically with procedural questions resolved by reference to Robert’s Rules of Order.

Per Roberts Rule, a quorum is the minimum number of members who must be present at a meeting for the transaction of business. For MCMGA, a quorum shall be 50% + 1 of the members present at any meeting.

The Bylaws of this Association may be amended or repealed by a 2/3 vote of the total membership present at any meeting. Notice of the suggested change must be made at the previous meeting and printed in the Association newsletter.

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