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CONSTITUTION

 

Michigan Association of FSA County Office Employees
(as amended this March 1998)

Article I Name and Object

Section 1
This association shall be known as the Michigan Association of FSA County Office Employees and shall be commonly called MASCOE.

Section 2
The objective of this association shall be:
1. To strive to maintain and improve the confidence, esteem and respect of the public for the FSA County Office Employees and the County FSA Committees;
2. To cooperate with the Michigan State FSA Committee, the State Executive Director and their staff to improve FSA in Michigan;
3. To strengthen the National Association of FSA County Office Employees;
4. To be considered as, and placed on an equal basis with other federal employees; and
5. To promote the status of its membership and the professional improvement of all FSA County Office Employees.

Section 3
The governing body of the Michigan Association of FSA County Office Employees shall in no way knowingly or willingly become involved in any policy determination of the United States Department of Agriculture.

Article II Membership

Section 1
All active, permanent FSA County Office Employees are eligible to be, and shall become, Regular members upon payment of annual dues.

Section 2
Each individual member must show in good faith that he or she is interested in the purpose of this association. He or she must not be a member of an organization of government employees who asserts the right to strike against the government of the United States; and during such time as he or she is a member of this association must not become a member of an organization of government employees who assert the right to strike against the government of the United States, nor may a member engage in a strike against the government of the United States. Any person who belongs to an organization which advocates the overthrow of our constitutional form of government shall not be allowed membership in this association. No officer or member of the Michigan Association of FSA County Office Employees shall use his or her office or membership for the purpose of engaging in activities other than the stated purpose of this organization.
Section 3
Any individual or entity not eligible for Regular membership but wishing to show support for this organization shall, upon payment of annual dues, be eligible for Associate membership.

Section 4
Only Regular members of this association are eligible to vote, hold office or become a member of any committee of this association.

Article III Officers and Directors

Section 1
The officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice-President, and a Secretary-Treasurer.

Section 2
The Board of Directors shall consist of two directors (one director and alternate from grade 9 or above and one director and alternate from grade 8 and under) from each MASCOE District. The districts of the association shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The Immediate Past President shall serve as Ex-officio member of the Board of Directors.

Section 3
Each Director and each elected Officer shall be a voting member at all business meetings of the board.

Section 4
Officers, Directors, Alternate Directors and Members of any committee, and any candidate for these offices or positions, shall be employees of an FSA County Office and shall be a Regular member of this organization Individuals who fail to meet these qualifications by the close of the annual membership meeting shall be suspended from service. Any suspended individual may be reinstated at the discretion of the Board providing all qualifications have been met.

Section 5
A member may not, at the same time, be an officer and director of this association. An officer or director who is elected to another office in this organization must resign their
office before accepting the office to which newly elected.
   
 
Article IV Election of Directors and Officers

Section 1
Two directors (one from grade 9 or above and one from grade 8 and under) and alternates, shall be elected from each district. Nominees for the position of director and alternate shall be by nomination of the eligible voters of each district in a manner prescribed by the Board of Directors of this organization. Election of directors and alternates shall be by mail ballots of eligible voters of each district in a manner prescribed by the Board of Directors. Directors and alternates shall be elected for a term of two years, with the term beginning on the first day of January following the election. Even numbered districts elect directors in even numbered years and odd numbered districts in odd numbered years.

Section 2
Officers of the association shall be elected by mail ballot of eligible voters in each district in a manner prescribed by the Board of Directors. Tie votes will be settled by lot. Nominations for officers to be orally from the floor at the annual meeting of the membership. If only one individual is nominated for a position(s), the mail election procedure for that position(s) will be suspended and the candidate(s) will be declared unanimously elected.

Section 3
Newly elected officers shall assume their duties on the first day of the month following the month of election.

Article V Meetings

Section 1
There shall be one annual meeting of the Board of Directors held at the call of the President before January 31st of each dues year.

Section 2
Other meetings may be held at the call of the President or at the discretion of the majority of the Board, at a place designated by the Board.

Section 3
Meetings of the membership of the association shall be called each year by the President. The selection of the site and date for the convention shall be determined by all members at the annual convention.

Section 4
All meetings and official business of this association shall be at the expense of the association and not at any cost to the government.
 

Article VI Committees

Section 1
All committees shall be appointed by the President.

Section 2
The number of committees, the nature and extent of their duties, shall be such as the President believes will best execute the program or work of this association.

Article VII Dues

Section 1
The Board of Directors shall, at their annual meeting, determine the annual membership dues for Regular and Associate members.

Section 2
Dues become payable July 1st each year. Dues shall be considered timely if authorization for payroll checkoff is received prior to July 1.

Section 3
Dues may be refunded to members who retire with an immediate annuity or who are involuntarily separated. This refund shall be requested in writing and shall be calculated on a prorated basis.

Article VIII  Quorum

Section 1
A quorum of the Board shall consist of a majority of voting members as defined by Article III, Section 3.

Section 2
A quorum of the membership for the annual meeting shall consist of 10% of the membership representing at least one member from 10% of the FSA county office locations.

Article IX Conduct of Meetings

Section 1
Roberts Rules of Order shall cover the discussion and parliamentary procedure in all meetings of this association and of its board.

Article X Vacancies

Section 1
The Vice President shall serve in the absence of or inability of the President. In the absence of both the President and Vice President, the Secretary-Treasurer shall serve.
Section 2
In the case of ineligibility or resignation of a Director, the alternate shall fill the unexpired term. An alternate shall be appointed by the President to fill the unexpired term.

Section 3
In the absence, ineligibility or removal for cause of the Vice President or Secretary-Treasurer, these offices shall be filled by appointment of the President to serve until the next meeting of the Board of Directors at which time an officer will be elected by the Board of Directors to fill the unexpired term until the next state annual meeting of the membership.

Article XI Financial Matters

Section 1
The Secretary-Treasurer shall deposit all funds of this association in an accredited bank, or banks and keep adequate records of collections and withdrawals. The funds shall be deposited in the name of the association and the Secretary-Treasurer shall be bonded by an accredited bonding firm.

Section 2
The President and Secretary-Treasurer must approve the withdrawal of any or all funds from the association account.

Section 3
The President and Secretary-Treasurer shall refuse to pay any expense incurred by any person or committee until all required expense accounts are properly presented to and filed with the Secretary-Treasurer.

Article XII Duties of Officers and Directors

Section 1
The duties of the President, Vice President and Secretary-Treasurer shall be those usually devolved upon such officers, except as otherwise stipulated in this document

Section 2
The Board shall have power to transact all business of this association. Delegations of Authority for this purpose may be made at the discretion of the Board.

Section 3
The Secretary-Treasurer shall conduct the official correspondence of the organization. They shall keep accurate records of all transactions of the organization. They shall collect and disburse all monies subject to the approval of the President. They shall give an accurate financial report of the organization annually. They shall perform such other duties as the Board may prescribe.
Section 4
The President shall serve as chairperson of the board and shall be an ex-officio member of all standing committees.

Section 5
An Officer beginning with the President and one member of the association, elected by the Board of Directors, shall be voting delegates to the NASCOE Convention. Alternate voting delegates shall be elected by the Board from the membership.

Article XIII Amendments

Section 1
This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members voting at any annual State Meeting of the membership, provided notice of such amendments be presented to the Legislative Committee and Officers in sufficient time so that proposed amendments can be published for review at least 30 days prior to the annual state meeting and included in the call of that year’s annual meeting.

Section 2
All amendments or revisions so made shall go into effect immediately.