OREGON STATE BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION

The name of the organization, a non-profit association, shall be Oregon State Beekeepers Association

The Oregon State Beekeepers Association (OSBA) is formed to unite the beekeepers of Oregon in an effort to improve beekeeping in the state and is organized exclusively for charitable, education and/or scientific purposes under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. We agree that no part of the net earnings of OSBA will inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to it's members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that OSBA shall be authorized to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in our organizing document and our application for federal tax exemption.

Section I. Oregon State Beekeepers Association is affiliated with the American Beekeeping Federation, Inc., by virtue of annual payment of “hobbyist” class dues as determined by the Federation's board of directors. By such dues payment, Oregon State Beekeepers Association claims all privileges associated with such affiliation and therefore represents all beekeepers in Oregon for such purposes as the selection of delegates to the federation convention, and any other matter or function relating to the federation.

Section 2. Oregon State Beekeepers Association encourages individual beekeepers to also become members of and support the American Beekeeping Federation, Inc. by submission of their own dues and/or contributions.

Section 1. Membership in Oregon State Beekeepers Association shall include two categories: Paid members (includes BeeLine subscription) and honorary life members.

(A) Paid members. Any individual person who is interested in bee culture or any phase of the beekeeping industry is eligible for membership and may become a paid member by submitting the required membership dues and agreeing to be governed by this constitution and its bylaws. All paid members shall have voting privileges in the state association and one or more branch associations (as prescribed in Section 2 below.) All paid members shall receive a one year subscription to OSBA's publication, The BeeLine. The secretary/treasurer may extend free, renewable, one year subscriptions to those persons or organizations as may be approved by the executive committee.

(B) Honorary life members. Any persons having performed a worthy service for the beekeeping industry, by his or her scientific, industrial or administrative abilities will be eligible for honorary life membership. Honorary life members shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of state members but shall be exempt from payment of dues and fees. The secretary/treasurer shall keep all honorary members on the membership rolls. Not more than two individuals may be elected as honorary life members in one year.

A) Five or more paid members of Oregon State Beekeepers Association in any district of the state who wish to associate together and form a branch association may do so by submitting a list of all of its members and officers thus associated to the state association secretary/treasurer.

(B) When such branches of the state association meet the above requirements, a portion of each paid member's dues may be retained by the treasurer of the branch association. Paid members wishing to join more than one branch association must pay the additional dues to the other branches.

(C) Each branch association may adopt its own constitution and bylaws, and establish its own dues structure as desired by its members, provided there is no conflict with this constitution and its bylaws.

(D) An annual report of branch associations shall be submitted by the secretary-treasurer at the annual meeting of the state association.

The officers of Oregon State Beekeepers Association shall consist of president, vice-president, secretary/treasurer, and seven regional directors. These officers plus the outgoing president and all qualified directors shall constitute the executive committee.

(A) The seven regional directors shall be known as regional directors l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Each shall have full voting privileges on the executive committee. All regional directors shall be current members of Oregon State Beekeepers Association. The seven regional directors shall be elected from seven different areas over the state, as follows:

The outgoing president shall remain a member of the executive committee until replaced by a succeeding outgoing president.

Presidents of branch associations which have five or more paid members shall serve as directors on the executive committee with full voting privileges. All directors must be paid members in good standing.

The following working committees shall be appointed by the incoming president to serve during the ensuing year:

The president, vice-president and secretary/treasurer shall be elected by a majority of the members present at the annual meeting. Nominations for the election of officers shall be submitted by a nominating committee followed by secret ballot nominations from membership at the annual meeting. The newly elected offices shall assume duties at the close of the annual meeting.

Section 5. Terms of office. All officers shall be elected or appointed for terms of one year and will serve until

Section l. An annual assembly of the members shall be held at the time and place selected by the executive committee.

Section 2. Special meetings of the executive committee shall be called by the president or on written request of two-thirds of the members of the executive committee.

Section 3. Special meetings of the entire membership shall be called upon written request of the executive committee or one-fourth of the regular membership. Special meetings of the entire membership may be called by the president when deemed necessary.

Section 4. Issues, except amendments to this constitution or its bylaws, shall be decided by a simple majority vote of the members present and in good standing. Issues shall be decided in meetings of the executive committee by a simple majority vote of those present.

Section 5. The rules contained in Roberts Rules of Order (revised) shall govern this association in all cases to which they are applicable and are not inconsistent with this constitution and its bylaws.

Upon the dissolution of the Oregon State Beekeepers Association, assets will be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the

Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose.

The constitution of the Oregon State Beekeepers Association may be altered or amended only at an annual convention by a three-fourths vote of the total membership present, providing notice of the proposed changes be sent to all members at least one month (30 days) before said meeting.