The Constitution



The Constitution

of the

Beginning Farmers Network

Mission Statement

To provide a network for beginning farmers who share the desire to succeed through communicating and the exchange of ideas.

Relationship to Iowa State

The Beginning Farmers Network is an organization of individuals who wish to use their education from Iowa State University to strengthen the farming industry. The Beginning Farmers Network will abide by Iowa State University rules and regulations, state and federal laws.

Objectives

1. Create a network for beginning farmers to converse in open discussion about important agricultural issues chosen by the entire network.

2. Arrange for those with field experience to speak and share their ideas with the network to allow further questions to be answered.

3. Develop personal farm strategies through the exchange of ideas from network peers and speakers.

4. Maintain network for further communication with alumni through the aid of the BFN website.

5. Work with the Beginning Farmer Center to create opportunities for willing members looking to return to the farm.

Non-Discrimination Clause

The Beginning Farmers Network is open to registered students at Iowa State University and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, marital status, disability or status as a United States Veteran.

Article I Section A: BFN Officers and Duties

Members can nominate themselves for the following positions. If nominated, members can accept or deny the nomination. Nominations will be accepted at meetings prior to, and up until elections begin. Officer eligibility is as following:

(a) Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) as stated below and meet that minimum GPA in the semester immediately prior to the election/appointment, the semester of election/appointment and semesters during the term of office. For undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, the minimum GPA is 2.00. In order for this provision to be met, at least six hours (half-time credits) must have been taken for the semester under consideration.

(b) Be in good standing with the university and enrolled: at least half time (six or more credit hours), if an undergraduate student (unless fewer credits are required to graduate in the spring and fall semesters) during the term of office, and at least half time (four or more credits), if a graduate level student (unless fewer credits are required in the final stages of their degree as defined by the Continuous Registration Requirement) during their term of office.

(c) Be ineligible to hold an office should the student fail to maintain the requirements as prescribed in (a) and (b)."

Chairperson

The duties of this office include the direction of each board member to assure that all duties are carried out. The chairman is also in charge of appointing a committee to review the constitution annually. The chairman is responsible for voting only when the board is split on a decision, though he or she may not give his opinion before voting. Special committees may be appointed by the chairman when need be.

Board of Directors

Contact Directors

Two people will work collaboratively to insure that the duties of this position are fulfilled. The contact directors will organize regulatory, speaker, and subsidiary meetings. This will include planning time and place for each meeting as well as reserving lodging for the speaker if needed. If no contact is known, the contact directors are responsible for finding the contact in that area of interest. It is the duty of the contact directors to introduce the speakers at meetings.

Recording Director

The duties of this office include keeping records of the BFN meetings and/or video recording speaker meetings. Equipment used will be available at the Leopold Center in Curtiss Hall. The recording director is responsible for making copies available.

Financial Director

The duties of this office include creating a budget for the BFN, paying expenses, and collecting funds. The Financial Director is also head of all funding requests.

Publicity Director

The duties of this office include publicizing when and where meetings will be. This includes posting flyers, sending out BFN news and information.

Alumni Director

The duties of this office include keeping records of current and past members as well as collecting feedback from alumni and upkeep of the BFN website.

Meeting Director

The duties of this office include preparing the meeting room prior to meeting time. This includes getting a key if necessary, lighting, and making sure technology is in working order.

Elected Advisors

The BFN may have two to four advisors that will carry alternating two year terms. Advisors can be reelected indefinitely. Advisors are asked to give their advice on the club’s operation and status after each meeting.

a.)A current advisor has the ability to stay on as an adviser until they wish to leave.

b.)Advisors are voted on the same meeting as officers under the same circumstances.

Section B: Election Proceedings

Officer Nominations/Elections

Officer nominations will be opened the meeting prior to elections or the night of elections. Nominated members may be allowed to decline nominations if they so choose. A member of the organization is also allowed to nominate themselves for office. Elections will be done in a sliding ballot form where officers will have the chance to slide to other positions that have not been voted on. Voting is done on a majority vote and a nominated individual must win by a majority. If only two individuals are up for the office then they need only win by 1 vote. A sliding ballot will be used in voting procedures. All members vote for these positions. The nominee with the majority of votes will be appointed to the position. In the event there is no majority, the top two members will be re-voted upon. In exception, the contact directors will be the two who share the most votes.

Election Date

Elections will be the first Monday of November.

Removal/Replacement

The removal of a BFN officer may occur under two circumstances:

1. The officer does not comply with their duties which are stated under the BFN constitution

2. The officer does not have a 2.0 GPA

Officers or advisers may be removed from office by ½ vote of the other officers and ¾ vote of the general membership if actions are deemed inappropriate by the membership. The officer is permitted to speak before the Executive Committee and the general membership about the charges made concerning his/her performance. The officer is not permitted to participate in the deliberation of the Executive Committee regarding the charges.

The Beginning Farmers Network follows all officer requirements set forth by the Student Activities Center and Student Organizations Recognition Process. If an officer does not follow SORP requirements, or is found by the Beginning Farmers Network executive council and advisors to not be fulfilling his/her responsibilities, then they may be asked to leave their position. Replacement of an officer will occur that same meeting. If an officer position is left vacant between meetings, the position will be filled the next meeting.

Article II: Membership

Membership in the BFN is open to anyone with interest in production agriculture. To become a member, dues must be paid. Dues are $7 per semester or $10 per year. The Financial Director will collect dues. Members will need to give their e-mail address to the network to assure contacts throughout the year.

Article III: Regulatory Meetings

Regulatory meetings discuss the direction and inside business of the Beginning Farmers Network. Ideas for the four main meetings, as well as subsidiary meetings, will be announced, decided upon, and planned at these regulatory meetings.

The meetings shall be conducted in the following fashion. The Chairman will conduct by calling the meeting to order. The Contact Directors give their reports followed by the report of the Recording Director. Next, the Financial Director will state their report followed by the Publicity Director. The Alumni Director will state their report followed up by the remarks from the Meeting Director.

The meeting will then cover old business including discussion or reflection on past meetings and notes. New business will then be discussed. This includes but is not limited to potential speaker meetings and related costs.

Article IV: Main Speaker Meetings

Four main speaker meetings will be held each semester. The topics of these meetings begin as group interest proposals. All interests are mentioned and listed under the four main areas of crops, livestock, financing, and technology. The entire network decides the topics in which they would like to learn more about.

Article V: Subsidiary Speaker Meetings

If enough interest is shown in another topic other than the main four, a subsidiary speaker meeting will be organized by the Board of Directors in the same manner as any other meeting.

Article VI: Amending the Constitution

The Chairman is in charge of appointing a committee to review the constitution annually. If change is needed, the committee will propose an amendment which will be discussed and voted upon according to the networks response at a BFN regulatory meeting. A 2/3 majority vote is needed to pass the amendment(s). Amendments must be noted and dated when approved.

Article VII: Responsibilities of the Organization

Statements

All monies belonging to this organization shall be deposited and disbursed through a bank account established for this organization at the Campus Organizations Accounting Office and/or approved institution/office (must receive authorization via Campus Organizations Accounting Office and Student Activities Center). All funds must be deposited within 24 hours after collection. The Adviser to this organization must approve and sign each expenditure before payment.

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