CONSTITUTION OF THE DISTRICT III 4 H COUNCIL We the 4 H members of District III in order to provide additional opportunities for leadership, citizenship, and personal development and to function as a tool of the 4 H program, do hereby establish the Constitution for the District III 4 H Council. ARTICLE I NAME, SCOPE, EMBLEM AND COLORS Section 1. Name and Scope. The name of this organization shall be the District III 4 H Council, an assembly of elected and or appointed representatives who meet, discuss, plan and help expedite the 4 H program in the interest of the 4 H=ers in Leon, Wakulla, Gadsden, Liberty, Gulf, Franklin and Jefferson Counties. Emblem. The four leaf clover with the letter AH@ in each leaflet representing the equal training of the Head, Heart, Hands, and Health and signifying AGood Luck@ and AAchievement@ shall be the official emblem of the District III 4 H Council. Colors. The 4 H colors are green and white. The green represents nature=s most common color and is emblematic of youth, life and growth. The white symbolizes purity. ARTICLE II OBJECTIVES To provide additional opportunities for personal development and to promote the 4 H program through District III, the objectives of this Council shall be to: Section 1. Serves as a means of expression through responsible representation for District III 4 H members. Provide understanding and experiences in applying the principles of representative government. 1
Section 4. Provide effective means of communication within all phases of the District III 4 H program. Develop appreciation for and promote cooperation with 4 H County programs in District III. Section 5. Serve as a means for improving and projecting the complete image of 4 H work. Section 6. Section 7. To allow members from the whole district to interact with each other. Serve as an example of member involvement in planning and carrying out programs. ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP Section 1. Membership. Each County in District III with an organized 4 H program shall be represented on this Council by up to four voting delegates selected by the County Councils or in counties without a County Council some other designated procedure. a. Each county delegate shall be at least an intermediate age division 4 H member and actively participating in 4 H work. b. Any person may attend Council meetings, but only four delegates per county may vote. ARTICLE IV MEETINGS AND QUORUM Section 1. The District Council shall meet more than three (3) times a year and whenever else deemed necessary by the members and their Council Advisors. The executive officers, special committees, and standing committees may meet anytime with the approval of the Council Advisors. 2
a. These meetings must be productive. Section 4. Four counties must be represented by one 4 H=er per county at the District Council meetings to vote. Two thirds of those present can constitute a Quorum on transactions of business. Each county has four votes on each proceeding provided its officially seated voting delegates (or Alternates seated in their absence) are present as the time of the voting. Meetings held via videoconference (polycom) must have an adult in the room at all times. ARTICLE V OFFICERS: PROCEDURE OF SELECTION & DUTIES Section 1. a. District III shall elect a President, a Vice President and a Secretary who will serve as District III Representatives on the Florida 4 H Council. The District Council will also elect a Treasurer and a Reporter/Historian. b. Parliamentarian and Sergeant of Arms shall be appointed by the elected officers through a process of interviews and secret ballot voting. c. The Executive Committee is the elected and appointed Officers of the Council Section 4. Nominees to fill the officers of the Council shall be from the Counties of District III and will meet the Senior 4 H age requirements. Council Advisors will be the Agent from the president s county or an adult agreed upon by the 4 H Agents of District III. Elected Officers. a. To be elected to an office, a candidate must receive a simple 3
majority of the votes cast. b. The elected officers shall continue to fulfill those duties, districtwide in nature, as directed under this Constitution, for one year from September 1 August 31 st. c. If the Office of District President is permanently vacated by elected to the Office of President of the Florida 4 H Council or for any other reason, the District Vice President shall become District President. d. If the office of District Vice President is permanently vacated by election to the office of President of the Florida 4 H Council or for any other reason, the office shall be filled by one of the Alternate Representatives who meets the said requirements stated in the Constitution. e. If any elected officer other than that of District President or Vice President vacates his office, the District President (with the approval of the Executive Officers and District Council Advisors) shall appoint a qualified council member to fill the vacated position. f. If a district council officer breaks the Florida 4 H Events Code of Conduct and discipline procedures at any 4 H event or activity, they may be removed from office by the ruling of the council advisor and council officers. g. All District Council Officers that miss more than three official business meetings or Executive Committee meetings can be considered for removal from office by the Executive Committee and District Advisors. Section 5. Duties of Officers. a. The District President shall preside over all meetings of the Council, and with the approval of the Executive Committee and District Council Advisors, appoint all standing and special appointments as provided by this Constitution, serve as ex officio 4
member of all appointed committees, represent the District on the Executive Board of the Florida 4 H Council, and perform other duties as provided by this Constitution and as required by the work of the Council. b. The District Vice-President shall preside over all meetings of the District Council in the absence of the president. The Vice-President (with the President and Secretary) will represent the District on the Executive Board of the Florida 4-H Council. The vice president shall chair a committee, as appointed, before the 4 H year begins. c. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings, record all activities of the Council, attend to the correspondence of the Council, and will represent the District on the Executive Board of the Florida 4 H Council, and shall perform other duties as required by the District President. The secretary shall chair a committee, as appointed, before the 4 H year begins. d. The parliamentarian shall conduct office as the 4 H Officer=s Training Handbook states and other duties as required by the District President. The parliamentarian shall chair a committee, as appointed, before the 4 H year begins. e. The Reporter/Historian shall perform all duties stated in the 4 H Officers Training Handbook. The Reporter/Historian shall compile and submit to the District President a District report to be read at the State Council Meetings. They shall take pictures and submit a page to the Florida 4 H Council reporter, representing the activities of District III. The Reporter/Historian shall chair a committee, as appointed, before the 4 H year begins. f. The Sergeant at Arms shall be responsible for the opening exercises at all meetings, care for the 4 H efforts of the Council and properly arrange for their display. The Sergeant at Arms shall perform other duties as required by the District President. The Sergeant at Arms shall chair a committee, as appointed before the 4 H year begins. g. The Treasurer will have the responsibility of receiving and 5
disbursement of funds and giving a treasurerʹs report at each meeting. There is a checking account for all District III Council money. District Council President, District Council Treasurer and a Designated Agent can sign for this account. The treasurer shall chair a committee, as appointed before the 4-H year begins. h. The Council Advisor will be responsible for setting up videoconferencing (polycom) bridges when necessary, supporting the President and conducting an officer training. ARTICLE VI COMMITTEES Section 1. The Standing Committees, 1) The Executive Committee. 2) The Constitutional Study Committee, and 3) The Program of Work committee shall be formed as needed. a. The Executive committee shall meet as necessary between meetings of the Council to plan and supervise matters of general concern. b. The Constitutional Study Committee (chaired by the District Secretary) shall provide a continuing review of this Constitution and recommend necessary and appropriate revisions. c. The Plan of Work Committee shall set forth recommended program and goals for the Council and its officers (as suggested by the Executive offers and District Council Advisors) and suggest implementation of same. The committee is to be chaired by the District Vice President. The District President, with the approval of the Executive Officers and District Council Advisors, shall appoint a Chairperson and members of all standing and special committees when not otherwise designated in the Constitution. The Committees shall be composed of County Delegates and Alternates, and other interested 4 H members. 6
Section 4. Section 5. The District Council Advisors is an ex officio member of all committees. Agents of committee chairs will facilitate the accomplishment of the committee s realistic goals. ARTICLE VII PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE The most recent edition of Robert=s Rules of order shall be the authority on all points of Parliamentary Procedure not otherwise specified in the Constitution or standing rules of the council. ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENTS Section 1. Council Members must be notified about an Amendment to the Constitution at least three weeks prior to vote date. ARTICLE IX RATIFICATION Each County in District III with an organized 4 H program shall have four votes in the balloting for ratification of this constitution. Ratification will be a majority of the votes. Revised and Approved on April 8, 2008 2007 08 District III 4 H President Arsenio Bright 7
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