BY-LAWS

of the SHELBY COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS ASSOCIATION

ARTICLE I

The name of the association shall be “Shelby County Master Gardeners Association” (hereafter referred to as SCMGA).

ARTICLE II

1. To enhance and supplement the Consumer Horticulture programs in extension teaching and research of the Alabama Cooperative Extension Universities.
2. To extend the Master Gardener’s knowledge of and interests in horticultural and related activities.
3. To disseminate to Alabama citizens and residents information on horticultural practices and techniques in accordance with standards approved by the Alabama Cooperative Extension Universities.
4. To provide opportunities for its members to meet and associate with others who have similar horticultural interests.

Article III

Section 1. CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP

1. Active. Active members shall be those graduates of the Master Gardener Program who have successfully completed an approved Cooperative Extension System Master Gardener training program (hereafter called “the Program”) and also fulfilled the Programs volunteer service requirements. Active members must pay annual dues.
2. Provisional. Provisional membership shall be granted for one calendar year to intern Master Gardeners who have satisfactorily completed the approved MG instructional program. Once a Provisional member fulfills the programs volunteer service requirements provisional membership terminates and the individual becomes eligible for active membership. Provisional members do not pay dues and have no voting privileges.
3. Associate. Associate members shall be an Alabama Extension System employee working with an office that offers the Program. Associate members do not pay dues and have no voting privileges.
4. Honorary. Honorary membership may be bestowed by the Board of Directors on individuals who have rendered outstanding contributions to the Program or to SCMGA. Honorary members may occupy an advisory capacity. Honorary members pay no dues and have no voting privileges.
5. Lifetime. Lifetime membership may be granted to an active member in good standing. Lifetime Membership may be awarded to an individual Master Gardener for meritorious service to the Association as determined by the Board of Directors. Lifetime members will no longer pay SCMGA dues; however will be responsible for State dues. They will have full SCMGA voting privileges.
6. Only active and lifetime members in good standing are eligible to vote and hold office.

Section 2. DUES
Annual dues for each class of membership shall be established annually by the Board of Directors and shall be payable on or before January 1. Members who have not paid dues by January 1 are considered no longer in good standing and therefore not eligible to vote. Voting rights and full SCMGA privileges will be restored upon payment of dues.

Section 3. RESIGNATION
Any member who desires to resign will notify, in writing, a member of the Board.

ARTICLE IV

Section 1. ELECTED OFFICERS of SCMGA shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. These officers will perform the duties prescribed by parliamentary authority adopted by SCMGA, where not in conflict with these by-laws.

Section 2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

1. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the active members in attendance at the December meeting. Votes must be cast in person.
2. The nominating committee will choose candidates for office. Nominations will also be accepted from the floor at the time of the election. In the event a nomination is made from the floor, voting shall be by ballot.
3. The nominating committee shall be composed of three members. The immediate past President will serve as Chairman with the two remaining positions being appointed by the President.
4. The nominating committee shall present their recommendation for officers at the November meeting.
5. Term of office will be for one year.
6. Officers may not serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.
7. If there is no nomination for a position, an incumbent may continue to serve until such time that a replacement is found.
8. Any vacancies that may occur among the officers shall be filled by the board subject to approval at the next SCMGA monthly meeting.
9. Installation of officers will occur at the January meeting.

Section 3. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

1. The PRESIDENT shall oversee all meetings, serve as liaison with any outside persons or organizations, appoint all committees and chairpersons, serve as ex-officio of all committees and maintain a record of all pertinent information and shall transfer these records including the AMGA Local Association Handbook to the succeeding President at the end of his/her term and be a signatory on the SCMGA checking account.
2. The VICE PRESIDENT shall perform the duties of the President in case of his/her absence; perform other duties as assigned by the President; be responsible for securing a meeting place, setting meeting dates and secure program speakers; be responsible for any tokens of appreciation and thank you notes to speakers; assume the duties of the president should the office become vacant; and maintain a record of all program contacts and suggestions for programs and shall transfer these records to the succeeding Vice-President at the end of his/her tenure.
3. The SECRETARY shall keep records of all meetings for historical and parliamentary reasons; including meeting attendance records, provide copies of the minutes to the officers, directors and membership as required; receive and file communications, correspondence and committee reports as directed by the President; maintain a record of all minutes and communications and shall transfer these records to the succeeding Secretary at the end of his/her tenure.
4. The TREASURER shall serve without bond; notify membership no less than 30 days before local and state dues are to be remitted; collect local and state membership dues, and remit annual membership dues and records as instructed by the AMGA by-laws; maintain a checking account in the interest of SCMGA. There shall be two names on the bank signature card, however only one signature will be required on a check. The two signatures shall be the Treasurer and the President. Shall maintain, update and submit membership rolls and data base information for SCMGA and AMGA; pay all bills incurred by SCMGA; provide a financial report to SCMGA at local meetings; and shall maintain and transfer records and books to the succeeding Treasurer following an internal financial review.

ARTICLE V

SCMGA shall be a member of the Alabama Master Gardener Association, (AMGA).

ARTICLE VI

The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Immediate Past President and Committee Chair-persons. Board Meetings shall occur quarterly with special meetings of the Board called by the President as deemed necessary and may also be called by written request by a majority of the Board of Directors. Time and place shall be fixed in such call.

ARTICLE V

The dates of the regular meetings of SCMGA shall be determined by SCMGA itself, or by any person or persons designated by SCMGA. A minimum of four meetings per year (one per quarter) shall be required.

Section 1. An annual business meeting of SCMGA shall be held each year in December to vote on officers and conduct other appropriate business.

Section 2. Special business meetings may be called by the President or at the written request of any five members of SCMGA.

ARTICLE VIII

Section 1. Standing Committees shall include the Nominating, Project Service, By-Laws, Auditing, Sunshine, Communication, MG Intern, Membership, Program Committees; Newsletter Editor and Historian. These committees shall serve at the direction of the president. The President shall have the authority to form or dissolve any committees as the need arises.

Section 2. There shall be an SCMGA Representative on the AMGA Advisory Council, appointed by the president and approved by the membership.

ARTICLE IX

Section 1. The fiscal year shall be from January 1 to December 31.

Section 2. The financial records of SCMGA shall be audited yearly by the Auditing Committee, when a change of Treasurer occurs.

ARTICLE X

These by-laws may be amended at any regularly scheduled meeting of SCMGA by a majority vote, provided the membership has been notified at the last scheduled meeting and through the newsletter preceding the vote.

ARTICLE XI

Section 1. All services shall be voluntary with no remuneration except for out-of-pocket expenses if funds are available and approved by the officers.

Section 2. Within SCMGA there will be no discrimination with respect to race, color, sex, age, creed, or national origin.

ARTICLE XII

Section 1. The rules contained in “Robert’s Rules of Order”, latest revised edition, shall govern the business meeting of SCMGA, unless in conflict with these bylaws.

Section 2. Order of Business. The order of business at all meetings shall be:

Call to Order, Attendance Sign in, Approval of the Minutes as posted, Financial Report, Committee Reports, Communication and Announcements, Old Business, New Business, Adjournment.

Submitted by the By-Laws Committee, Dated 7/27/2010. Jeanon Massien, Chairman, Members: Bill Legg, Cathy Canant and Patty Johnson
Revised, August 29, 2010
Revised, December 4, 2012
Revised February 14, 2014
Amended January 6, 2020