National Young Farmer Educational Association - The Association for Educating Agricultural Leaders

NYFEA Constitution

(printable PDF version here)

NYFEA is organized on the national level to provide consistent, efficient coordination of programs. The presence of the national organization allows for sponsors, advertisers, instructors and participants to participate in quality programs that maximize the return on the dollar.

States are encouraged to organize and be represented at the national organization by a delegate assembly. The number of delegates provided is based on the membership strength of the state organization. The delegate assembly annually selects a national secretary and national president-elect who serve on the board of directors.

Other members of the board include: president, past president, national institute/convention chair, immediate future institute chair, a representative from the state executives, a representative from the National Vocational Agricultural Teachers' Association, a representative from the American Association of Agricultural Educators, a representative from the National Association of Supervisors of Agricultural Education, a member representing the Young Farmer Founders Committee (the organization's fund raising arm), a member representing the Ag Leaders Club (the advanced membership level), a representative of the corporate community from the President's Council, and the National Advisor from the U.S. Department of Education. The fifteen member board, in conjunction with the delegate assembly, is the governing body of the association. The executive director is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the association. The association also has advisory/fund raising boards. The President's Council, a corporate entity, meets twice annually to assist in the development and growth of the organization. The Council of Ag Leaders and the Young Farmer Founders are bodies formed of select members who serve in an advisory/fund raising capacity. They focus on leadership training and community service initiatives.

National Young Farmer Educational Association, Inc.- Constitution and Bylaws

Constitution

Article I - Name

The name of the corporation shall be the, "National Young Farmer Educational Association, Inc.". Doing business as the NYFEA, and hereinafter, for the purposes of this document, will be referred to as the Association.

Article II - Purposes

Section A: The mission of the NYFEA is to promote the personal and professional growth of all people involved in agriculture.

Section B: The purpose of the NYFEA is to develop leaders, inspire service, strengthen communities, and enhance the success potential for American agriculture, especially the beginning farmers.

Section C: The objective of the NYFEA is to accomplish this mission through programs and services designed to provide:
a. a national framework to inspire personal achievement;
b. educational opportunities to build business and environmental stewardship skills;, and
c. leadership and service opportunities for living and working in a local and global community.

Section D: The vision of the NYFEA is a world where all people value and understand the vital role of agriculture, food, fiber and natural resource systems in advancing personal and global well being.

Section E: The core business goals for NYFEA should include the following:
a. Provide quality products that are perceived by members, Young Farmer advisors/teachers and educational and business partners as adding value to lives of NYFEA members.
b. Continually build human resources through a highly motivated, committed national board, national officers, national delegate assembly, and national staff.
c. Build and maintain a solid delivery system.
d. Build a customer base that includes all people involved in agriculture, food, fiber and natural resource systems.
e. Establish and maintain a secure financial base.

Article III - Organization

Section A: This corporation was incorporated September 17, 1982 and assigned Certificate #66556 under the General Not-For-Profit Corporation Act, State of Illinois.

Section B: The duration of the Association is perpetual unless dissolved by a vote of the delegates.

Section C: In the event of dissolution, the Association's assets shall be transferred to the member state organizations which, at the time, qualify as exempt organizations under section 501-c-3 of the Internal Revenue code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States revenue Law) in proportion to the individual memberships held by each qualified member State Association at the time of dissolution of the Association.

Section D: No portion of the property, real or personal, nor any part of the income or principal of the Association shall inure to the benefit of any member of the board of directors, officer or members of the Association or to any individual having a personal or private interest in the activities of the Association, nor shall any member of the board of directors, officer or member or other individual receive, or be lawfully entitled to receive, any pecuniary profit from the operation thereof.

Section E: The private property or the private funds of the incorporators or members of the board of directors shall not be subject to the payment of debts of the Associations.

Article IV - Membership

Membership of this organization shall be: A. Active; B. Contributor; C. Inactive; D. Corporate; E. Honorary; F. Life.

Section A: Active Membership

1. Any State Association which:
a. accepts the provisions of this constitution and by-laws.
b. adopts a constitution and/or by-laws and submits it/them for the approval of this Association.
c. furnishes the national executive director with the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the officers and delegates.
d. submits annual dues.

2. State Associations with active membership in the Association are entitled to one (1) voting delegate in the Association's delegate assembly for the first 49 members, two (2) voting delegates in the Association's delegate assembly for a membership total between 50 - 499, three (3) voting delegates in the Association's delegate assembly for a membership total between 500 - 999, and four (4) voting delegates in the Association's delegate assembly for a membership total of 1000 or more. States with over 1500 members will have the option of appealing to the national delegate assembly for an additional delegate for each 500 members above the 1500 total. Life members are counted in the membership total; however, a minimum of 10 active annual members is necessary for a state to maintain its charter and be eligible to seat delegates.

3. Individual members of State Associations with active memberships are eligible to hold office in the Association.

4. Application for membership shall be voted upon at the next regular meeting of the delegate assembly.

Section B: Contributor Membership

1. Any individual who;
a. accepts the provisions of this constitution and by-laws.
b. furnishes the national executive director with his/her name, address and telephone number.
c. submits annual dues.

2. State organizations chartered from contributor members' fall under the following guidelines:
a. If they have organized outside the umbrella of agriculture education and still meet the requirements for charter, the state organization is classified as a Contributor State Association. The Contributor member state is entitled to the same delegate seating guidelines as Active member states. To be chartered the Contributor State Association must meet the requirements for charter and show a legitimate educational, service and otherwise consistent plan of work.
b. application for state association membership under this category shall be voted on at the next delegate assembly.

c. If a Contributor State Association shows that they have legitimately attempted to gain the support of that state's educational system for three (3) consecutive years, they may appeal to the delegate body for certification as full voting, active state associations.

3. States chartered at the time of the passage of this constitution which are not under the umbrella of the agriculture education family, will be grandfathered in to Active status. They will have full voting privileges.

Section C: Inactive Membership

1. Inactive membership occurs when an active state fails to pay the required dues or otherwise falls outside the provisions of the constitution and by-laws. Upon being classified as Inactive, a state loses its voting privileges. If a state fails to regain active status for a period of five (5) consecutive years, the board of directors may pull its charter.

2. If a state becomes Inactive, its previous individual members become eligible for Contributor membership in the NYFEA.

Section D: Corporate Membership

1. Corporate members are individuals and businesses who have made an annual contribution to the corporate membership of the Association.

2. Corporate members are not eligible to vote or hold office.

3. Notice of renewal for their membership shall be sent to State Associations annually by NYFEA for its share of each state's Corporate membership dues.

Section E: Honorary Membership

1. Individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the Association and to the general improvement of agricultural conditions may be elected to Honorary membership of the Association by a vote of the delegates at a regular or special meeting of the delegate assembly.

2. Honorary members are not required to pay dues and are not eligible to vote or hold office.

Section F: Life Membership

1. Life membership is open to all individuals who make the required payment.

2. Life members who are also members of an Active and/or Contributor state association are represented in the delegate assembly by their state association's voting delegates.

3. A Life membership purchased by an individual is not transferable.

4. A Life membership purchased by a business is transferable upon notice to the national office.

5. State Associations with Active members in the Association will not be required to pay annual membership dues on behalf of Life members in that state.

Section G: The delegate assembly shall conduct the business of the Association.

Section H: The Association's fiscal year shall be November 1 to October 31.

BY-LAWS

Article I - Registered Agent

Section A: The Association's registered agent is the national executive director.

Section B: The location of the NYFEA headquarters is to be determined by the National Board of Directors.

Article II - Officers and their duties

Section A: The officers of the Association shall be: President, President-elect, Past president, Secretary, Executive Director, Advisor, and Assistant Advisor. Other officers may be added at the request and approval of the board of directors and delegates. These officers will be elected using the same procedure under Article II, Section B, of the By-laws.

Section B: Elections

1. The president-elect and secretary shall be elected annually and serve from one NYFEA Institute through the next NYFEA Institute.

2. a. Candidates for president-elect and secretary must be or have served as a delegate to the national delegate meeting. Served as an officer previously or received an NYFEA degree.

b. Offices have no age restrictions unless imposed by the board of directors and the delegate body.
c. No individual may serve more than two (2) consecutive terms as president or secretary. Past presidents must wait a minimum of one (1) year after leaving office before becoming a candidate again.
3. Procedures:
a. Active states will be allowed to submit one (1) candidate for national office (president-elect or secretary).
b. The nominating committee, at the Summer Business Meeting, will select a slate of up to three (3) candidates for each office from those meeting requirements for eligibility and properly stating their intention to run. If the committee does not have enough applicants to slate officers, then they will be charged with the responsibility of identifying at least one but no more than three candidates for each office and reporting their nominations to the delegates no later than November 1. In December when the elections are held, the nomination process will be reopened immediately prior to the election. This will allow for nominations from the floor. While no more than three candidates may be submitted by the nominating committee, there will be no limit to the number that may be nominated from the floor.
c. Said candidates shall prepare resumes and make photographs available for the NYFEA newsletter.
d. Election of the president-elect and secretary will be conducted by the delegate body at the NYFEA Institute.

Section C: The President shall:

1. Be elected by the delegate assembly.

2. Preside at all meetings of the Association and serve as chair of the national board of directors.

3. Perform those duties regularly performed by a president.

4. Appoint all committees.

5. Serve as an ex-officio member of all the Association's committees.

6. Appoint a parliamentarian.

Section D: The Secretary shall:

1. Receive the items for the agenda of each meeting.

2. Distribute the agenda for each meeting 30 day prior to the meeting.

3. Record the minutes and attendance at all meetings.

4. Assist the president in conducting the business of the Association.

5. Perform those duties regularly assigned a secretary.

Section E: The National Executive Director shall:

1. Be appointed by the national board of directors.

2. Perform the duties and responsibilities as indicated in the job description developed by the board of directors, and as reviewed annually.

3. Be bonded.

4. Serve in a resource capacity on the national board of directors.

Section F: The National Past Secretary shall:

1. Be filled by the elected secretary in the year after the secretaries elected term ends.

2. Perform the duties and responsibilities as a voting member of the board of directors.

3. Serve a one-year term.

4. Perform the duties of the elected secretary at times when the secretary is unable to serve.

Section G: The Advisor shall:

1. Be the Co-ordinator, Agricultural and Rural Education United States Department of Education.

2. Serve as a non-voting member of the board of directors, providing advice and counsel for the Association.

3. Assist the president in performing his or her duties.

4. Represent educational interests at all meetings where direction on policy pertaining to the Association is formulated.

Section H: The Assistant Advisor shall:

1. Be an agriculture education professional.

2. Be elected for a two (2) year term by the state executives of the active member state associations of the Association.

3. Serve as a member of the board of directors, providing advice and counsel to the Association.

4. Assist the advisor in performing his/her duties.

5. Serve as a liaison between the board of directors and the state executive secretaries.

6. Represent education's and state executive's interests at all meetings where direction or policy pertaining to the Association is formulated.

Article III - Meetings

Section A: Two meetings of the Association will be held annually. the first will be the Summer Business Meeting held during June, July or August. The second meeting will be held during the NYFEA Institute.

Section B: Special meetings of the delegate assembly may be called by a vote of the active state associations.

Section C: Written notice shall be given sixty (60) days prior to all meetings.

Section D: Items for the agenda must be submitted to the national executive director, forty-five (45) days prior to the meeting.

Section E: The agenda must be distributed to the delegates, officers, and ex-officio members of the delegate assembly, thirty (30) day prior to the meeting.

Section F: Committee reports shall be a regular part of each meeting's agenda.

Section G: A quorum shall consist of one (1) over one-half (1/2) of the active state associations.

Section H: All votes will be by simple majority, except on matters pertaining to changing the constitution and by-laws, which will require a 2/3 majority vote, or where Robert's Rules of Order take precedence.

Article IV - Membership Dues

Section A: All NYFEA dues, fees, and due dates shall be reviewed annually by the delegate assembly at the Summer Business Meeting. All dues, fees, and due dates may be adjusted by the delegate assembly. A proposal may be submitted at a summer or winter business meeting and may be voted on at the next meeting of the delegate assembly following at least a 90 day waiting period. The decision will be made based on a majority vote.

Article V - Delegate Assembly

Section A: The delegate assembly shall:

1. Consist of delegates representing Active member associations. Delegate strength is outlined in Article IV Section A of the constitution.

2. Consist of delegates representing Active member associations. Delegate strength is outlined in Article IV Section B of the constitution.
a. Change the nominating process to clarify the committee's responsibilities.

3. Establish direction and conduct such business as may properly come before the Association.

Article VI - National Board of Directors

Section A: The national board of directors shall consist of the president, president-elect, past president, secretary, past secretary and additional, approved officers, national institute chair, immediate future national institute chair, assistant national advisor, national advisor, and designated representatives of the NASAE, AAAE, and NVATA. In addition, the NYFEA President's Council (beginning in December of 1998 and serving for a 3 year term), Foundation Committee (beginning in December of 1999 and serving a 3 year term) and Ag Leaders Committee (beginning in 2000 and serving a 3 year term.) will each elect one representative to the NYFEA board. An elected member must come from states with associations. Only one elected position may be held by any one member in a given year.

Section B: The primary duties and responsibilities of the national board of directors shall be to:

1. Be responsive to the Association, and none of its actions shall conflict with the actions taken by the Association.

2. Oversee the administrative work of the executive director.

3. Review quarterly reports of activities and accomplishments of the executive director.

4. Review the executive director's financial report.

5. Review the executive director's annual plan of work, make recommendations and approve it.

6. Review and approve the Association's budget and present it to the delegates.

7. Council with the executive director and advise him/her in decisions on behalf of the Association.

8. Have general supervision of the affairs of the Association between its business meetings.

Article VII - Committees

The president of the NYFEA shall appoint eight (8) committees annually; nominating, financial, futures and guidelines, membership development, educational programs, publicity, institute review, and corporate advisory. Other committees may be appointed as necessary.

Section A: Nominating Committee shall:

1. Review state nominees for qualifications as indicated in the constitution.

2. Follow procedures previously outlined in article II, section B, of the by-laws.

Section B: Finance Committee shall:

1. Review the annual audit of the Association.

2. review the Association's budget and make recommendations to the board of directors.

3. Coordinate and promote a thank you letter writing campaign to thank national sponsors each year.

4. Review NYFEA membership dues, fees, and due dates, annually, and recommend any changes to the delegate assembly.

5. Perform other duties usually assigned to a finance committee.

Section C: Futures and Guidelines Committee shall:

1. Assist in the development of long-term planning for the Association.

2. Review the Associations constitution and by-laws and suggest amendments as needed.

3. Review the work and activities of the Association to ensure that they are consistent with the stated purposes of the organization.

4. Perform other duties usually assigned to a futures and guidelines committee.

Section D: Membership Development Committee shall:

1. Review and present nationwide membership initiatives.

2. review constitutions of states interested in Association membership and make recommendations to the delegate assembly.

3. Perform other duties usually assigned to a membership committee.

Section E: Educational Program Committee shall:

1. Recommend ways and means for new program ideas.

2. Review effectiveness of existing programs to make suggestions for improvement.

3. Review established and proposed programs to ensure that they are consistent with the Association's stated purposes.

4. Perform other duties usually assigned to a program development committee.

Section F: Publicity Committee shall:

1. Establish ways and means for ideas for articles to be submitted for Association publications.

2. Review national publications.

3. Assist in the promotion of the Association and NYFEA institute.

3. Perform other duties usually assigned to a publicity committee.

Section G: Institute Review Committee shall:

1. Provide opportunities for the NYFEA to grow during its institute.

2. Strive to ensure that members feel better about their membership after attending an institute.

3. Work to see that members who do not attend an institute, still receive the benefits.

4. Secure opportunities at the institute for non-members to understand the benefits of the NYFEA.

5. Facilitate the institute's effectiveness in serving the mission of the NYFEA.

Section H: President's Council, Ag Leaders Council, and Foundation Committee shall:

1. Provide opportunities for the NYFEA story to be told to individuals not presently aware of the organization.

2. Increase sponsorship of NYFEA activities.

3. Provide funding sources external to the FFA Foundation.

4. Increase the participation of corporate members.

5. Provide insight into the direction of NYFEA from a different perspective.

Article VIII - NYFEA Institute

Section A: The NYFEA institute chair shall be selected by the host state and ratified by the delegate assembly.

Section B: The host state shall plan the NYFEA institute program so that the date and location do not conflict the NYFEA and AVA annual meeting.

Section C: To determine the location of the NYFEA institute, the United States shall be divided into two geographical areas, the west bank of the Mississippi River being the dividing line. The institute shall alternate between Eastern and Western regions. The first exception being that every twenty-five (25) years the institute shall be located anywhere, regardless of geographic location. The second exception occurs every third year when the NYFEA will serve as the national institute host.

Section D: The chair shall appoint any sub-committees necessary to help in the planning and conducting of the NYFEA institute.

Section E: The program of the NYFEA institute shall be consistent with the goals and purposes of the Association.

Section F: NYFEA Institute Rotation:

1. A rotation system, using a master roster of member states listed in the order that they have hosted past institutes and featuring NYFEA as the host every third year, will be used to determine the host of future institutes.
a. Set a minimum level of memberships needed to retain active status as a chartered association.

2. States at the top of the list shall:

a. Notify the NYFEA executive director of the acceptance of their turn to host the institute by the summer business meeting three (3) years prior to their hosting the institute.
b. Present a slide, tape, or video program about themselves at the NYFEA institute following the above mentioned summer business meeting.
c. Abide by the standards outlined in the Institute Agreement.

3. States that decline to host the institute at their turn shall:

a. Notify the NYFEA Executive Director of their declination no later than the institute prior to the summer business meeting three (3) years prior to their turn hosting the Institute.
b. Move to the bottom of the master list.

4. The next state on the list would then be notified of the opportunity to host the institute and would have sixty (60) days in which to accept or reject their turn.

5. New member states shall automatically by placed five (5) states down on the master list for their region.

Section G: If no state accepts their opportunity to host an NYFEA Institute, the board of directors has full authority to solicit bids, select one and complete preparations for the NYFEA Institute.

Article IX - Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the Association in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this constitution and by-laws.

Article X - Amendments

Section A: Amendments shall be presented in writing and submitted to the delegates at least thirty (30) days prior to the winter business meeting.

Section B: The constitution and/or by-laws may be amended only at the summer business meeting of the Association.

Section C: Amendments to the constitution or by-laws shall be adopted by a two/thirds (2/3) majority vote of the delegates who are present.

Article XI - Votes

Section A: All votes in the delegates meetings shall be by simple majority, except when amending the constitution or by-laws, or when, Robert's Rules of Order take precedence.

The constitution and by-laws. The constitution and by-laws were adopted July 24, 1982 during the SBM by a unanimous vote. They were amended on December 12 and 15 1982; July 17, 1983; July 25, 1985; December 6, 1985; July 18, 1987; July 8, 1989; June 30, 1990; July 13, 1991; July 6, 1995, July 6, 1997, July 1999, July 2000 and July 2001.