OASWCDE BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I - 
   ORGANIZATION
ARTICLE II - 
   PURPOSE
 ARTICLE III- 
  NATURE
ARTICLE IV - 
   MEMBERSHIP & DUES
ARTICLE V - 
  BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ARTICLE VI - 
  OFFICERS
ARTICLE VII - 
  AMENDMENTS
ARTICLE VIII - 
   DISSOLUTION

 
ARTICLE I - ORGANIZATION

The name of this organization will be the Ohio Association of Soil & Water Conservation District Employees (OASWCD), and shall be affiliated with the Ohio Federation of Soil & Water Conservation Districts (OFSWCD).

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ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The purpose of this association will be to strengthen local soil and water district programs in the State of Ohio. By:

  1. Promoting the professional development of district employees.
  2. Enhancing cooperation between districts through improved communications and information sharing.
  3. Establishing a platform from which to communicate with affiliated state and national associations.
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ARTICLE III - NATURE

This association shall be a not for profit organization. Its function will be to develop, strengthen, and promote conservation district programs within the state of Ohio. This association will not support any attempt to obtain gains from collective bargaining or any other coercion that violates the purpose of this association as stated in ARTICLE II.

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ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP & DUES

Any person who is an employee of a conservation district or under its direction on a seasonal, part-time, permanent part-time, or a full time basis shall be eligible for membership in this association. Upon payment of dues, the employee will be considered a member in good standing for that year and through the date of the conclusion of the next annual meeting.

  1. Voting Members - Each active members who has paid their annual membership fee will be eligible to vote in all the affairs of the association. No proxy voting shall be permissible in the affairs of this association. Only members present at a meeting may vote.
  2. Non-voting/Affiliate Member - The non-voting member is any person engaged in any activity complementary to, or indirectly associated with a district, and any person, firm, agency, organization or corporation assisting or concerned with district programs. The required financial contribution for non-voting members will be determined by the Board of Director. The non-voting members of the association will be eligible to attend the meetings of the association and to receive its publications.
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ARTICLE V - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

  1. The association  will be managed by a Board of ten (10) Directors, two (2) representing each SCS Area. Election will occur at the Association Annual Meeting, in conjunction with the State SWCD All Employee's Meeting. Nominations will be made from the roster of voting members.
  2. Initially , directors from Areas I, III, and V, served a two (2) year term, and the directors from Areas II, and IV, served a three (3) year term. All Directors wil now serve a three year term, and are eligible to serve two (2) consecutive terms. Directors may be re-elected after a one (1) term absence from the Board of Directors. Newly elected officers shall assume office immediately upon election.
  3. No person will be eligible to serve as a director of the association unless that person will, be a voting member of the association and either a permanent full-time employee of a district.
  4. The Board of Directors will meet during the OFSWCD Annul Meeting, and at the Summer Supervisors School for the transaction of business. A quorum of directors will be three-fifths (3/5) majority to hold a meeting. Votes will be responded by parliamentary procedures as defined in Roberts Rules of Order. Meetings of directors will be open to the association; however, only directors may vote at directors meetings.
  5. The Board of Directors mas establish standing and temporary committees with the membership, with chairpersons of such committees to be appointed by the President of the association.
  6. The vacancy in the membership of the Board of Directors will be filled by the Executive Committee, through appointment, after consultation with the Director(s) from that area, and a member so elected to fill vacancy will hold office for the remainder of the unexpired term.

    7. Any director missing three (3) consecutive board meetings may be dropped from the board by a majority vote of the remaining directors.
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ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS
  1. A President, Vice-president, Secretary and Treasurer will be directors each year immediately following the annual meeting  of the association.
  2. In the event of a vacancy in the office of President, the Vice-president will succeed to that office for the remainder of the unexpired term. In the event of a vacancy in the office of either Secretary or Treasurer, the President will appoint a Secretary or Treasurer to serve until the next election of officers, when a Secretary or Treasurer will be elected  to serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. A vacancy in the office of Vice-president will be filled by the Board of Directors.
  3. The President, Vice-president, Secretary, and Treasurer will constitute the Association's Executive Committee which will have the power to act in the name of the association between regular or special board meetings.
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ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS

Amendments to these By-laws shall be a two step process.

 
Step 1. Amendments will be sent to the OFSWCD in the form of a resolution to be voted on.  Resolutions will require a majority vote form the OFSWCD.
Step2. Amendments will be made at the annual meeting of the association by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present.
All amendments or addition to these By-laws will be sent to all association members thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting.
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ARTICLE VIII - DISSOLUTIONS

Upon dissolution of the Ohio Association of Soil & Water Conservation District Employees, the Secretary and Treasurer will transfer any possessions of the association to the Secretary-Treasurer of OFSWCD.

OASWCDE By-laws Last Revision
August 1998

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