BELLAIRE FFA ALUMNI CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS (AS OF: 2014-2015)


ARTICLE I NAME, ADDRESS AND PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATION

Section A. The name of the organization shall be the Bellaire FFA Alumni Assoc. commonly referred to also as the Bellaire FFA Booster Club, and hereafter for the purposes of this Constitution, referred to as the Alumni Assoc.

Section B. The principal address of the Bellaire FFA Alumni Assoc. shall be:

Bellaire High School
5100 Maple St.
Bellaire, Tx 77401

Phone:    713-295-3757
Website: www.bellaire.ffanow.org

The mailing address of the Alumni Assoc. shall be:

Bellaire FFA Alumni Assoc.
P.O. Box 2311
Bellaire, Tx. 77402-2311

E-mail:   alumni.bellaireffa@yahoo.com

Section C. The purpose of the organization shall be:

1. To support and promote the Bellaire FFA Organization, defined as the Bellaire FFA Chapter and Alumni Assoc., in its activities and agricultural education on the local, state and national levels by voluntarily assisting with the goals and activities of the Organization with our time, talents, resources and financial ability.

2. To provide a tie to FFA and to assist the FFA Chapter and agricultural education personnel by involving former members, community leaders, educational administrators, sponsors or any others interested in supporting the local Chapter, State and National affiliates.

3. To promote greater knowledge of the agricultural industry and support education in agriculture by providing and sharing past experience, education and knowledge with all those associated.

4. To cooperate with the Bellaire High School FFA Chapter and the Texas State and National FFA Alumni Associations.

5. To promote and maintain an appreciation of the American Free enterprise system.

6. To positively promote and support the personal development of those involved in the Bellaire FFA Organization by assisting with and participating in the activities of the Organization.

7. To encourage participation in the activities of the Organization, and encourage students' development in the areas of leadership, character, scholarship and pride.

ARTICLE II ORGANIZATION

Section A. The Bellaire FFA Alumni Assoc. is a chartered local affiliate of the Texas FFA Alumni Association that is chartered by the National FFA Alumni Association.

Section B. It shall be the responsibility of the Alumni Council to direct the operation of the affiliate/association in accordance with its constitutional purposes, and to be responsible for planning the program and activities in which it is advisable for the affiliate/associate to participate.

ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP AND DUES

Section A. The membership year of the Bellaire FFA Alumni Assoc. shall be September 1st - August 31st.  The fiscal year shall be June 1st - May 31st.

Section B. Membership in the Alumni Assoc. shall be open to former active, collegiate, and honorary FFA members, present and former professional agricultural educators, parents of FFA members and others interested in the FFA, upon payment of membership fees.

Section C. Membership shall be open without regard to race, color, creed, religion, or national origin.

Section D. The annual membership fees of the Alumni Assoc. shall be   recommended and fixed by a majority vote of the Alumni Council. From the membership fees, State and National dues must be paid on a calendar membership year basis for all active FFA Alumni Assoc. members. Members shall be considered active members and in good standing upon payment of their membership fees. A listing of all paid members shall be kept and available at all Alumni Assoc. Council and membership meetings by the Alumni Assoc. Council secretary, in order to determine active members in good standing. Membership is open to all interested and at any time during the membership year. Membership is open to all interested and at any time during the membership year; however, in order to run for an Alumni Assoc. board or officer position, or to vote for officers at the Alumni Assoc. Annual meeting in May, membership must be paid no later than April 1st of the current membership year.

ARTICLE IV EMBLEM

The gold FFA emblem with the word Alumni below it shall serve as the emblem of the Alumni Assoc.

ARTICLE V EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

Section A. The executive body of the Alumni Assoc. shall be the Bellaire FFA Alumni Assoc. Council.

Section B. The Bellaire FFA Alumni Council shall consist of no more than 15 persons, with the ability to add  individuals to the Council with provisions in the Constitution to do as such. The council might be selected in such a way that represents a cross section of the community and consists of interested individuals.

1. 15 persons either voluntarily or by nomination, and elected by a majority of members present of the general membership during the Annual Meeting in May, term of which will be one year.

2. The current FFA Chapter representative (s) shall serve as ex-officio non-voting members.

3. The current FFA advisor(s) shall serve as ex-officio non-voting members.

ARTICLE VI DUTIES OF THE ALUMNI COUNCIL

Section A. It shall be the duty of the Alumni Assoc. Council to direct the operation of the affiliate/association in accordance with its constitutional purposes. It shall be responsible for planning the programs and activities in which it is advisable for the affiliate/association to participate.

Section B. The Alumni Assoc. Council shall appoint committees necessary to further the work of the Alumni Assoc. and promote the Chapter.

Section C. All members of the Alumni Assoc. Council must be active members of the Alumni Assoc, "active" as being defined in Article III, Section D, Membership and Dues, with the exception of the current FFA Chapter representative, and shall serve a one year term.

Section D. The  Bellaire FFA Alumni Assoc. members shall vote annually for a president, vice-president(s), secretary, treasurer, co-treasurer, reporter, and sergeant of arms from the Council. Other positions may be added as needed and with the recommendations and provisions set by the Alumni Assoc. Council or recommended by the FFA Advisor. All Alumni Assoc.Council members should be available to attend all scheduled Council and Membership meetings during the course of their tenure, in order for both to conduct business as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Section E. The treasurer's books shall be audited annually by a qualified person at the close of the fiscal year, at the time that a new treasurer is elected or appointed, or when deemed necessary in order to correct inefficiencies or address proper procedures. Any member of the Bellaire FFA Alumni Assoc. shall be permitted to inspect any and all financial documents and/or reports, upon written notice to the Alumni Assoc. Council.

Section F. All disbursements made by any check in the amount of $500 or over, and with an approved or signed request, shall require the signature of both the treasurer and co-treasurer, and/or the treasurer and president, or the treasurer and vice president, in the absence of or request made by the president.

Section G. Duties of the officers shall be consistent with those usually appertaining to the Council positions with a description of the duties and responsibilities, defined but not limited to, the following:

President -  preside over the Alumni Assoc. by planning and overseeing the Program of Activities in which the Alumni Assoc. will participate; conduct and preside over all Alumni Assoc. Council and Membership meetings and to report ensuing developments and needs; to assist the Chapter President and FFA Advisors in implementing the Chapter Program of Activities.

Vice Presidents - assist the President and Alumni Assoc. with the planning and implementation of the Program of Activities; to preside at any Alumni Assoc. Council or Membership meetings in the absence of the President; to assist the Chapter Vice President and FFA Advisors in implementing the Chapter Program of Activities; any other responsibility asked of by the President or Council.

Secretary - maintain and report the minutes of all Alumni Council and Assoc. meetings; maintain and have on hand at all meetings a current listing of all active members; coordinate with the treasurer the expenditure of State and National Assoc. dues; maintain all membership listings on the State and National FFA website portals; any other responsibility asked of by the President or Council.

Treasurer and Co-Treasurer - keep, maintain and execute the Alumni Assoc. funds and securities; keep and maintain full and accurate records of receipts and disbursements in a timely manner in the accounts belonging to the Alumni Assoc; keep the monies of the corporation in separate accounts to the credit of the Alumni Assoc; disburse the funds of the Alumni Assoc. for the needs of or to the benefit of the Organization, as may be decided by the Alumni Council and reported to the Alumni Assoc., or voted on by the membership of the Alumni Assoc when deemed necessary, taking and maintaining proper receipts for such disbursements; monitor the Chapter expenditures and advise when additional funding is needed or required; render to the Alumni Assoc. Council, at the regular meetings of the Council and membership, or whenever they may require it, an account of all the transactions and of the financial condition of the Alumni Assoc, a prepared written report of the account of the finances of the Alumni Assoc, shall be required at each regularly scheduled meeting of such, and in a timely manner when requested by any member of the Alumni Assoc, with written notice to the Treasurer and President of the Alumni Assoc. Council; other duties as requested by the President or Council.

Reporter -  publicize and promote the activities of the Alumni Assoc. and the Chapter and to work with the Chapter Reporter in publicizing the activities and accomplishments of the Chapter; serve as Alumni Assoc. photographer; other duties as requested by the President or Council.

 Sergeant At Arms - to maintain order at all Alumni Assoc. Council and membership meetings, and to ensure they are conducted in a fair and timely manner; other duties as may be requested by the President or Council.

Other Council members of the Alumni Assoc. Council should consider positions of responsibility, chairing Standing and Special Committees, based on their expertise, education and knowledge.

Section H. Standing Committees and Special Committees shall be added on an as needed basis, with a description of the duties and responsibilities, defined but not limited to those duties and responsibilities.

Section I. Any Alumni Assoc. Council member, may resign at any time or for any reason, in writing, and to take effect immediately upon giving notice. In the event of a resignation, notice shall be given to all members of the Alumni Assoc. in order to accept nominations to fill the vacancy.

ARTICLE VII MEETINGS

Section A. The Bellaire FFA Alumni Assoc. shall hold their annual meeting in May, prior to the Texas FFA State Convention. Additional meetings may be called by the president or by a majority of the council members upon reasonable notice.

Section B. Regular monthly meetings shall be scheduled to include but not be limited to one Alumni Assoc. Council meeting per month and one Alumni Membership meeting per month.

Section C. A quorum shall be defined as all active members present during any Alumni Council or Alumni Assoc. Membership meeting, with affirmation of any amendment or vote needed to be taken, to be by two-thirds of those members present and voting.

ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENTS

Section A. The Bellaire FFA Alumni Assoc. accepts in full the provisions in the constitution and bylaws of the Texas and National FFA Alumni Associations, with provisions available to modify and amend the constitution and bylaws, in order to meet the needs of the local Affiliate and Chapter, with provisions available within the articles and bylaws to do such.

Section B. The constitution of the Bellaire FFA Alumni may be amended or changed by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the active members present, providing that it is not in conflict with the constitution of the State or National FFA Alumni Associations. Proposed amendments may be submitted by any active member to the president and/or secretary and must be in writing, then be submitted to the Alumni Council and approved by at least three members before being submitted to the membership for consideration; must be submitted no later than 30 days prior to the Annual Alumni Assoc. meeting; and, if approved, be presented to the Alumni Assoc. membership at this meeting.

Section C. Amendments to the bylaws of the Bellaire FFA Alumni Assoc. may be adopted, changed or added to fit the needs of the Chapter or Alumni Assoc. at any regular scheduled meeting, provided a quorum is met and affirmation obtained by a majority of active members present and voting.

ARTICLE IX DISSOLUTION

The Bellaire FFA Alumni Association may be dissolved by written consent of not less than two-thirds of the members or in the event that ten fee paying members are not obtained. In the event of the dissolution other than for the purpose of reorganization of the Alumni Assoc, none of the property, proceeds or assets of the Alumni Assoc. shall be distributed to any members of the Alumni Assoc, but after payment of the debts of the Alumni Assoc. its property and assets shall become the property of the Bellaire FFA Chapter for the benefit of assisting the Chapter's members.