Constitution

Constitution and By-laws of the

Nebraska Sheep and Goat Producers

Articles of Incorporation

Preamble

According to the Nebraska Statutes 1961 Accumulative Supplements, Under Section 21-1901 to Section 21-1991, we hereby apply for the following non-profit corporation.

Article I – Name

The name of this organization shall be Nebraska Sheep and Goat Producers Association.

Article II – Objectives and Purposes

The purpose for which this domestic livestock association is formed is to foster, support, protect, and promote in the best interests of the sheep and goat industry in the State of Nebraska and the United States of America and promote harmony of feeling and concert of action among the people interested in the sheep and goat business.

The association shall have perpetual existence.

Article III – Membership

Any person engaged in the production of sheep and goats is, at the discretion of the board of directors, eligible for membership in the association.

Article IV – Dues

All dues are payable to the secretary-treasurer, who shall keep a list of all memberships.  Dues will be set by the Board of Directors.

Article V – Fiscal Year, Place of Business and Agent

The fiscal year of this association shall begin January 1, and end December 31, of each year.  Membership will be on the same basis.  The principle place of business shall be at P O Box 573, North Platte, Nebraska, but the association may have other places of business accessible to the members, directors and associates.  The resident agent of this association shall be Steve Gramlich, Extension Sheep Specialist, University of Nebraska, whose office is located at P O Box 573, North Platte, Nebraska.

Article VI – Officers

  1. The business of this association shall be conducted by a board of directors and officers, consisting of nine (9) members.  The officers shall be selected by the directors.
  2. The officers of this association shall be a president, vice-president and a secretary and/or treasurer.
  3. Directors shall be elected by the members for a term of three years, on an alternating pattern so that 2/3 are always retained from the previous year.  There shall be three different directors from each district of the state as shown on the attached map.
  4. An executive secretary may be elected by and at the discretion of the board of directors.
  5. If representatives (or a representative) of this association are to serve on the board of directors of the National Associations, they shall be elected by and from the board of directors if the need arises.
  6. The board of directors shall have power to redistrict the state when prevailing districts are inequitable.
  7. All officers of the Nebraska Sheep and Goat Producers Association shall hold their respective offices for the term they are elected or appointed and until their successors are qualified and ready to take office.

Article VII – Amendments

These articles may be amended by a two-thirds vote of active members present at any annual meeting, or special meeting called for that purpose.

BY-LAWS

Article I – Order of Business

The order of business shall be as follows:

  1. Call to order
  2. Roll call for quorum
  3. Reading of minutes of previous meetings not yet approved
  4. Report of officers
  5. Reports of standing committees
  6. Reports of special committees
  7. Unfinished business
  8. New business
  9. Program
  10. Adjournment

Article II – Duties of Officers

Duties of officers shall be as prescribed by Roberts Rules of Order, or as specified in the Articles and By-Laws of this association.

Article III – Board of Directors

  1. The board of directors, as elected by the active members, shall constitute the governing body of the Nebraska Sheep and Goat Producers Association.  It shall have full power to transact business, elect officers, and act in other ways for the best interests of the organization.
  2. The meeting of the board of directors shall be held before the adjournment of the annual meeting for transacting urgent business that should be reported to members before the close of the meeting.
  3. The board of directors shall designate the deposition of funds for this association.
  4. A majority of the members of the board of directors shall constitute a quorum.
  5. All meetings of the board of directors shall be called by the president or by a written notice signed by two members of the executive committee, or by a majority of the board members.

Article IV – Executive Committee

  1. The executive committee shall consist of the president, vice-president and secretary and/or treasurer.
  2. The executive committee will be responsible for looking after important business matters when the board of directors is not in session.
  3. The executive committee shall transact only that business which requires immediate attention and cannot be held for action by the board of directors.  In event of necessity to make a decision of great importance, which cannot wait until a board meeting can be called, the executive committee would contact board members by telephone or wire for their opinions.

Article V – Meetings

The annual or special meetings of the members of this association may be held at any time or place at the discretion of the board of directors.

Article VI – Amendments

Amendments to the By-Laws may be made at any meeting of the board of directors as long as these amendments do not conflict with the articles of the association.

Article VII – Incorporators

The following named individuals are the persons taking part in the incorporation of this association and also are the directors.

Bob Ahlschwede – Crete, Nebraska

Bob Aue – Potter, Nebraska

Dean Benker – Potter, Nebraska

Harlan Brown – Mitchell, Nebraska

Jim Gocke – Waco, Nebraska

Steve Gramlich – Carroll, Nebraska

Harry Hart – Cozad, Nebraska

Bruce Robinson – Bennet, Nebraska

Charles Westing – Prosser, Nebraska

Ralph Whitwer – Petersburg, Nebraska

Joe Steffen – Humboldt, Nebraska

(Followed by notaries of each person’s signatures)

ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF NEBRASKA SHEEP COUNCIL

Pursuant to the provisions of Neb. Rev. Stat., Section 21-1932 through 21-1936, the undersigned non-profit corporation adopts the following Articles of Amendment to its Articles of Incorporation:

FIRST, the name of the corporation is NEBRASKA SHEEP COUNCIL.

SECOND, the following amendment of the Articles of Incorporation was adopted by the members of the corporation on the 17th day of November, 1993, in the manner prescribed by Nebraska Revised Statute Section 21-1933:

  1. Amend Article I to read: The name of this organization shall be: NEBRASKA SHEEP INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION.

THIRD, a meeting of members was held on November 17, 1993, at which time the amendment was adopted, by a vote of more than two-thirds of the members present at such meeting, said members present representing a quorum.

Dated this 14th day of May, 1994.

NEBRASKA SHEEP COUNCIL

BY:

Robert Ahlschwede, President

Ted H. Doane, Secretary/Treasurer

(Signed by 7 additional persons)