BYLAWS OF NEW
YORK STATE SIMMENTAL ASSOCIATION, INC.
A NOT-FOR-PROFIT CORPORATION
ARTICLE I.
OFFICES
Section One. Principal office. The principal office
of the corporation in the State of New York shall be located in the City of
Ithaca, County of Tompkins.
Section Two. Other offices. The corporation may have such other offices. either within or without State of New York. as the board of directors may determine or as the affairs of the corporation may require from time to time.
ARTICLE II.
MEMBERS
Section One. Classes of members. The corporation
shall have one class of members. The designation of such class and the
qualifications and rights of the membership of such class shall be as
follows: the class shall be designated as "members" and inclusion in
such class shall require payment of all applicable and required dues.
Section Two. Election of members. Members shall be
elected by the board of directors. An affirmative vote of two-thirds of the
directors shall be required for election.
Section Three. Voting Rights. Each member shall be entitled
to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the members, or one proxy
(notarized) per person per meeting.
Section Four. Termination
of membership. The board of
directors, by affirmative vote of two-thirds of all the members of the board,
may suspend or expel a member for cause after an appropriate hearing, and, by
a majority vote of those present at any regularly constituted
meeting, may terminate the membership of any member who becomes ineligible for membership, or suspend or expel any
member who shall be in default in the payment of dues for the period fixed in
Article IX of these bylaws.
Section Five. Resignation. Any member may resign by filing
a written resignation with the secretary. but such resignation shall not
relieve the member so resigning of the obligation to pay any dues.
assessments. or other charges theretofore accrued and unpaid.
Section Six. Reinstatement. On written request signed by a
former member and filed with the secretary, the board of directors, by the
affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the board, may reinstate such
former member to membership on such terms as the board of directors may deem
appropriate.
ARTICLE III.
MEETING OF MEMBERS
Section One. Annual meeting. An annual meeting of
the members shall be held between January 1, and March 31 in each year. for the
purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of such other business as
may come before the meeting. If the day fixed for the annual meeting shall be a
legal holiday in the State of New York, such meeting shall be held on the next
succeeding business day. If the election of directors shall not be held on the
day designated herein for any annual meeting. or at any adjournment thereof, the
board of directors shall cause the election to be held at a special meeting of the members as soon thereafter as conveniently may be.
Section Two. Special meetings. Special meetings of
the members may be called by the president, the board of directors. or not less
than one-tenth of the members having voting rights.
Section Three. Place of meeting. The board of
directors may designate any place, either within or without the State of New
York, as the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for any special meeting
called by the board of directors. If no designation is made or if a special
meeting be otherwise called, the place of meeting shall be the principal office
of the corporation in the State of New York; but if all of the members shall
meet at any time and place, either within or without the State of New York, and
consent to the holding of a meeting, such meeting shall be valid without call or
notice, and at such meeting any corporate action
may be taken.
Section Four. Notice of Meetings. Written or printed
notice stating the place. day. and hour of any meeting of members shall be
delivered either personally or by mail, to each member entitled to vote at such
meeting, not less than ten (10) nor more than fifty (50) days before the date of such meeting, by or at the
direction of the president, or the secretary, or the officers or persons calling
the meeting. In case of a special meeting or when required by statute or by
these bylaws, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called shall be
stated in the notice. If mailed, the notice of a meeting shall be deemed to be
delivered when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the member at
his address as it appears on the records of the corporation, with postage
thereon prepaid.
Section Five. Quorum. Ten percent (10%) of the membership present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum at such meeting. If a quorum is not present at any meeting of members, a majority of the members present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice.
ARTICLE IV.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section One. General Powers. The affairs of the
corporation shall be managed by its board of directors. Directors need not be
members of the corporation.
Section Two. Number, Tenure, and Qualifications. The
number of directors shall be not less than three (3). Each director shall hold
office until the next annual meeting of members and until his successor shall
have been elected and qualified.
Section Three. Regular Meetings. A regular annual
meeting of the board of directors shall be held without other notice than this
bylaw, immediately after, and at the same place, as the annual meeting of
members. The board of directors may provide by resolution the time and place,
either within or without the State of New York, for the holding of additional
regular meetings of the board without other notice than such resolution.
Section Four. Special Meetings. Special meetings of
the board of directors may be called by or at the request of the president or
any two directors. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of
the board may fix any place, either within or without the state, as the place
for holding any special meeting of the board called by them.
Section Five. Notice. Notice of any special meeting
of the board of directors shall be given at least five days (5) previously
thereto by telephone notice to each director at his home as shown by the records
of the corporation. Any director may waive notice of any meeting. The attendance
of a director at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such
meeting, except where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose of
objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully
called or convened. The business to be transacted at the meeting need not be
specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting, unless specifically
required by law or by these bylaws.
Section Six. Quorum. A majority of the board of
directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any
meeting of the board; but if less than a majority of the directors are present
at said meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting
from time to time without further notice.
Section Seven. Manner of Acting. The act of a
majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present
shall be the act of the board of directors, unless the act of a greater number
is required by law or by these bylaws.
Section Eight. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in
the board of directors shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of
the remaining directors though less than a quorum of the board of directors. A
director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of
his predecessor in office.
Any directorship to be filled by reason of an increase
number of directors shall be filled by election at an annual or at a special
meeting of members called for that purpose.
Section Nine. Compensation. Directors as such shall
not receive any stated salaries for their services, but by resolution of the
board of directors any
director may be
indemnified for expenses and costs, including attorney's fees, actual and
necessarily incurred by him in connection with any claim asserted against him,
by action in court or otherwise, by reason of his being or having been such
director, except in relation to matters as to which he shall have been guilty of
negligence or misconduct in respect of the matter in which indemnity is sought.
ARTICLE V.
OFFICERS
Section One.
Officers. The officers of the corporation shall be a president,
one or more vice-presidents (the number thereof to be determined by the board of
directors), a secretary, a treasurer, and such other officers as may be elected
in accordance with the provisions of this article. The board of directors may
elect or appoint such other officers, including one or more assistant
secretaries, and one or more assistant treasurers, as it shall deem desirable,
such officers to have the authority and perform the duties prescribed, from time
to time, by the board of directors. Any two or more offices may be held by the
same person, except the offices of president and secretary.
Section Two. Election and Term of Office. The
officers of the corporation shall be elected every two years by the general
membership at the regular annual meeting. If the election of officers shall not
be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as
conveniently may be. New offices may be created and filled at any meeting of the
board of directors. Each officer shall hold office until his successor shall
have been duly elected and shall have been elected and shall have been
qualified.
Section Three. Removal. Any officer elected (or
appointed by the board of directors) may be removed by the board of directors
whenever in its judgment the best interests of the corporation would be served
thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if
any, of the officer so removed.
Section Four. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office,
because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or otherwise, may be
filled by the board of directors for the unexpired portion of the term.
Section Five. President. The president shall be the
principal executive officer of the corporation and shall, in general, supervise
and control all of the business and affairs of the corporation. He shall preside
at all meetings of the members and of the board of directors. He may sign, with
the secretary or any other proper officer of the corporation authorized by the
board of directors, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments
that the board of directors have authorized to be executed, except in cases
where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the
board of directors or by these bylaws or by statute to some other officer or
agent of the corporation; and, in general, he shall perform all duties incident
to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the
board of directors from time to time.
Section Six. Vice-President. In the absence of the
president or in event of his inability to act, the vice-president shall perform
the duties of the president, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of
and be subject to all the restrictions on the president. Any vice-president
shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by
the president or by the board of directors.
Section Seven. Treasurer. If
required by the board of directors, the treasurer shall give a bond for the
faithful discharge of his duties in such sum and with such surety or sureties as
the board of directors shall determine. He shall have charge and custody of and
be responsible for all funds and securites of the corporation; receive and give
receipts for moneys due and payable to the corporation from any source
whatsoever, and deposit all such moneys in the name of the corporation in such
banks, trust companies, or other depositaries as shall be selected by the board
of directors; and in general, perform all the duties incident to the office of
treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by
the president or by the board of directors.
Section Eight. Secretary. The secretary shall keep
the minutes of the meetings of the members and of the board of directors in one
or more books provided for that purpose; see that all notices are duly given in
accordance with the provisions of these bylaws or as required by law; be
custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the corporation and see
that the seal of the corporation is affixed to all documents. the execution of
which on behalf of the corporation under its seal is duly authorized in
accordance with the provisions of these bylaws; keep a register of the
post-office address of each member which shall be furnished to the secretary by
such member; and in general perform all duties incident to the office of
secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by
the president or by the board of directors.
Section Nine. Assistant Treasurers and Assistant Secretaries. If required by the board of directors, the assistant treasurers shall give bonds for the faithful discharge of their duties in such sums and with such sureties as the board of directors shall determine. The assistant treasurers and assistant secretaries, in general, shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the treasurer or the secretary or by the president or the board of directors.
ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES
Section One. Committees of Directors. The board of
directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors in office, may
designate one or more committees, each of which shall consist of one or more
directors, which committees, to the extent provided in said resolution, shall
have and exercise the authority of the board of directors in the management of
the corporation; but the designation of such committees and the delegation
thereto of authority shall not operate to relieve the board of directors, or any
individual director, of any responsibility imposed on it or him by law.
Each committee of the board is to serve at the pleasure of
the board. The designation of any such committee and the delegation thereto of
authority does not alone relieve any director of his duty to the corporation.
Section Two. Other Committees. Other committees not
having and exercising the authority of the board of directors in the management
of the corporation may be designated by a resolution adopted by a majority of
the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present. Except as
otherwise provided in such resolution, members of each such committee shall be
members of the corporation, and the president of the corporation shall appoint
the members thereof. Any member thereof may be removed by the person or persons
authorized to appoint such member whenever in their judgment the best interests
of the corporation shall be served by such removal.
Section Three. Term of Office. Each member of a
committee shall continue as such until the next annual meeting of the members of
the corporation and until his successor is appointed, unless the committee shall
be sooner terminated, or unless such member be removed from such committee, or
unless such member shall cease to qualify as a member thereof.
Section Four. Chairman. One member of each committee
shall be appointed chairman by the person or persons authorized to appoint the
members thereof.
Section Five. Vacancies. Vacancies in the membership
of any committee may be filled by appointments made in the same manner as
provided in the case of the original appointments.
Section Six. Quorum.
Unless otherwise provided in the resolution of the board of directors
designating a committee, a majority of the whole committee shall constitute a
quorum and the act of a majority of the members present at a meeting at which a
quorum is present shall be the act of the committee.
Section Seven. Rules. Each committee may adopt rules for its own government not inconsistent with these bylaws or with rules adopted by the board of directors.
ARTICLE VII. CONTRACTS, CHECKS,
DEPOSITS AND FUNDS
Section One. Contracts. The board of directors may
authorize any officer or officers. agent or agents of the corporation, in
addition to the officers so authorized by these bylaws, to enter into any
contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of
the corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific
instances.
Section Two. Checks, Drafts, or Orders for Payment.
All checks, drafts, or orders for the payment of money, notes, or other
evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the corporation shall be signed
by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the corporation and in such
manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the board of
directors.
Section Three. Deposits. All funds of the
corporation shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the
corporation in such banks, trust companies, or other depositaries as the board
of directors may select.
Section Four. Gifts. The board of directors may accept on behalf of the corporation any contribution, gift, bequest, or devise for the general purposes, or for any special purpose, of the corporation.
ARTICLE VIII.
CERTIFICATE OF MEMBERSHIP
Section One. Certificate of Membership. The board of
directors may provide for the issuance of certificates evidencing membership in
the corporation, which shall be in such form as may be determined by the board.
Such certificates shall be signed by the president or a vice-president and by
the secretary or an assistant secretary and shall be sealed with the seal of the
corporation. All certificates evidencing membership of any class shall be
consecutively numbered. The name and address of each member and the date of
issuance of the certificate shall be entered on the records of the corporation.
If any certificate shall become lost, mutilated, or destroyed, a new certificate
may be issued therefor on such terms and conditions as the board of directors
may determine.
Section Two. Issuance of Certificates. When a member
has been elected to membership and has paid any initiation fee and dues that may
then be required, a certificate of membership shall be issued in his name and
delivered to him by the secretary, if the board of directors shall have provided
for the issuance of certificates of membership under the provisions of Section
One of this Article VIII.
ARTICLE IX. DUES
Section One. Annual Dues. The board of directors may
determine from time to time the amount of initiation fee, if any, and annual
dues payable to the corporation by members.
Section Two. Payment of Dues. Dues shall be payable
in advance of the first day of February in each fiscal year.
Section Three. Default and Termination of Membership. When any member shall be in default. in the payment of dues for a period of six (6) months from the beginning of the fiscal year, his membership may thereupon be terminated by the board of directors in the manner provided in Article II of these bylaws.
ARTICLE X.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section One. Books and Records. The corporation
shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and shall also keep
minutes of the proceedings of its members, board of directors, and committees
having any of the authority of the board of directors, and shall keep at the
office a list or record containing the names and addresses of all members, or
capital certificates and the number of capital certificates held by each and the
dates when they respectively became the holders of record thereof.
Any person who shall have been a member of record of the
corporation for at least six (6) months immediately preceding his demand, or
any person holding, upon at least five (5) days' written demand shall have the
right to examine in person or by agent or attorney, during usual business hours,
its minutes of the proceedings of its members and list or record of members and
to make extracts therefrom.
Section Two. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the
corporation shall begin on the first of January and end on the last day of
December in each year.
Section Three. Corporate Seal. The board of
directors shall provide a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of New York
Simmental Association, Inc.
Section Four. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice
is required to be given under the provisions of the New York Not-for-Profit
Corporation law or under the provisions of the certificate of incorporation or
the bylaws of the corporation, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person
or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated
therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
Section Five. Disbursement of Funds Upon Dissolution. Upon dissolution of the corporation, none of the proceeds shall inure to the benefit of the members, but rather shall be distributed, at the direction and discretion of the board of directors, to organizations formed for charitable and educational purposes within the agriculture industry.
ARTICLE XI.
AMENDMENTS
Section One. Power of Members to Amend Bylaws. The
bylaws of this corporation may be amended, repealed, or added to, or new bylaws
may be adopted by the vote or written assent of a majority of the members
entitled to vote or by the vote of a majority of a quorum at a meeting duly
called for the purpose according to the certificate of incorporation or bylaws.
DICERBO a PALUMBO, ATTORNEYS AT LAW, 410 EXCHANGE NATIONAL. BANK BLDG .• OLEAN. NEW YORK 14760