Article 1 – Name

The name of the organization shall be the Paseo del Norte Beekeepers Association, hereafter known as Association.

Article II – Purpose

The purpose of the Association, a non profit organization, shall be to promote the art and science of beekeeping, to educate beekeepers and the general public relating to the field of Apiculture, to provide for and promote scientific research in the field of Apiculture, to disseminate such research to the public, and to provide a greater appreciation for beekeeping as a hobby and as an important industry.

Article III – Membership

The Association is a non-profit organization of private beekeepers, commercial beekeepers, persons interested in promoting the importance of the honey bee in the environment, and businesses related to the honey industry. Representing all regions of southern New Mexico and El Paso County, Texas, the Association maintains a close affiliation, sub organization,  with the New Mexico Beekeepers Association. Membership in the Association is open to all interested persons upon payment of annual dues regardless of race, religion, or national origin. The annual dues will be a sum of $30.00 for a family for the calendar year. There is no provision for prorated dues.

Honorary and Life memberships may be awarded to a member of the Association for having given significant service to the organization.

All members shall comply with the New Mexico Beekeepers Association Code of Ethics.

ARTICLE IV – LIMITATIONS

No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, any of its members, trustees, officers or other private persons, except that the Association shall be authorized to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the exempt purposes.

No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be the carrying on of propaganda, attempt to influence legislation and the Association shall not participate in, or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office.

Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the Association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Article V – Association Meetings

Annual Meeting : The Annual meeting of the association shall be during the month of December each year in which members of the Board of Directors shall be elected, a financial statement of the Association received, budget for the upcoming year approved, and reports of officers and appointed committees provided to the members. The meeting may include a program/s of general interest to members. A quorum of the annual meeting shall be 20% of the general membership. No business may be conducted without a quorum.

Regularly Scheduled Meeting: A scheduled meeting for the purpose of a program/s of general interest to members will be each month at a time and location to be determined by the Board of Directors.

A called meeting of the Association shall be held upon the request of five members made to the Board of Directors. A quorum of a called meeting shall be 20% of the membership. No business may be conducted without a quorum.

An agenda of all Association meetings shall be available to the general membership at least ten days prior to the date of the noted meeting.

Article VI – Board of Directors

A Board of Directors will plan programs, recommend the establishment of working committees, and develop the Association in accordance with it’s statement of purpose.

The Board of Directors shall include; President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Advisory Director and two Members at Large. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined into one position.

Of the two Members at Large, one shall reside in Dona Ana County, New Mexico and one shall reside in the El Paso County, Texas.

Vacancies may be filled by the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors of the Association shall constitute an Executive Committee to come together when called by the President, or by three (3) members of the Executive Committee, for the consideration of special matters in the interim, between regular meetings of the Association. The Executive Committee may act on business by electronic means.

Article VII – Duties of Officers

President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The President will create and provide the Secretary with agendas for all meetings.

Vice-President: The Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President upon request or in the absence of the President. The Vice-President shall appoint the Program Committee.

Secretary: The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Association and the Board of Directors, have charge of and maintain records of all minutes; prepare documents of the Association, and perform such other duties as may be required pertaining to correspondence and records of the Association. The Secretary shall appoint the Hospitality Committee.

Treasurer: The Treasurer shall collect the annual dues from members of the Association, pay out such funds approved by the Association or its Board of Directors, and keep complete and accurate records of all monies received and expended. It shall be a standard procedure to present a financial report at the Association’s annual meeting. The Treasurer shall appoint the Membership Committee.

The Advisory Director shall be the immediate Past President.

VIII – Terms of Office

Officers shall serve a term of one year and may be reelected for three consecutive years. 

Members at Large: Two members of the Association elected at the Annual Meeting shall become members at large serving a term of one year and may be reelected for three consecutive years.

IX– Committees

Committees may be created by action of the Association or Board of Directors. The committee/s work shall be in accordance with the stated purpose of the Association. The duties and life of each committee will be established at the time of its creation.

Auditing Committee: There shall be an Auditing Committee, appointed by the President, whose duty shall be to audit the financial records of the Association and reporting results at the annual meeting.

Nominating Committee: There shall be a Nominating Committee, appointed by the President, whose duty shall be to obtain nominations for Officers and Members at Large. Program Committee: There shall be a Program Committee, chaired by the Vice-President, to plan programs and speakers for scheduled monthly meeting/s for the members.

Social Media Committee: There may be a Social Media Committee, appointed by the Secretary, whose duty shall be to manage the Association’s website and social media for the benefit of the Association.

Hospitality Committee: There may be a Hospitality Committee, appointed by the President, whose duty shall be to plan and execute social functions and assist with all meetings.

Langstroth Interest Group Committee: There shall be a Langstroth Interest Group Committee appointed by a Member at Large, whose duty shall be to educate and promote Langstroth beekeeping.

Top Bar Interest Group Committee; There shall be a Top Bar Interest Committee appointed by a Member at Large, whose duty shall be to educate and promote Top Bar Beekeeping.

Other special interest beekeeping committees may be appointed by the Board as needed for the benefit of the Association.

Article X – Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the Association shall be the calendar year.

Article XI – Parliamentary Authority

All procedural questions not resolved by the Bylaws shall be determined in accordance with the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order (Revised).

Article XII – Amendments

Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by the Board of Directors, any member of the Association in good standing or by a committee created for the purpose of bylaw review.

The Board may amend the ByLaws by a resolution with a 2/3 majority.  These amendments must be approved by the membership at the next Annual Meeting.

Any amendment/s to the Association’s bylaws will take effect immediately upon passage by a majority of the members in good standing in attendance at the annual meeting, or a meeting called for the specific purpose of bylaw change unless otherwise provided for in that amendment.  A quorum of a meeting to amend the Associations Bylaws shall be 20% of the paid membership.

XIII – Dissolution

Dissolution of the Association may be accomplished by a majority vote of members present at the Annual Meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose only after the membership has received appropriate notice of the meeting. A quorum of a meeting for dissolution of the Association shall be 20% of the membership.

Upon dissolution of the Association and after paying or making provision for the payment of all liabilities, the Association shall dispose of all the assets of the organization in such manner, as feasible, to organizations or agencies organized and operated for purposes similar to the purpose of the Association.

Adopted on the 10th day of July, 2018 by a majority vote of all members present.