Articles and Procedures for the North Dakota Coordinating Council for Cooperatives
ARTICLE I. The name of this association shall be NORTH DAKOTA COORDINATING COUNCIL FOR COOPERATIVES. ARTICLE II. This organization is not organized for a pecuniary profit for any of its members, directors or officers. It is organized to promote and coordinate projects that are of a benefit to all of its cooperative members. ARTICLE III. Section 1. North Dakota membership. Any North Dakota organization or association that has as its own membership cooperatives or cooperative affiliates is eligible to become a member of the North Dakota Coordinating Council for Cooperatives. Each organization shall have two (2) votes in the affairs of this association, which shall be cast in person and not by proxy. Section 2. Regional membership. Regional cooperatives with North Dakota-based affiliates shall be eligible to be a member of the North Dakota Coordinating Council for Cooperatives. Each regional cooperative approved for membership shall be given one vote to be represented and cast by a North Dakota based producer/member of an affiliate of that regional cooperative. Or, a regional cooperative that chooses to be represented through an umbrella organization outlined in Section 1, may voluntarily secure one of the two votes provided to an umbrella organization and be represented on the board by a producer/member of that regional. Section 3. Application for membership. Application for membership may be made in writing to the board of directors. Following due consideration and a majority vote by the board of directors, an applicant may be invited to become a member of the Coordinating Council for Cooperatives. Section 4. Dues. The dues shall be assessed at a yearly rate of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each North Dakota member outlined in Section 1. The dues for each regional cooperative outlined in Section 2 shall be assessed at $2,000 each year. Section 5. Supporting membership. Any other cooperatives who wish to support the goals of and receive information from the North Dakota Coordinating Council for Cooperatives may pay an annual support fee of $100. One voting board directorship will be permitted this class of membership. This director will also be a producer/member and be elected by a caucus of the supporting members of the annual Co-op Month conference sponsored by the North Dakota Coordinating Council for Cooperatives. ARTICLE IV. Section 1. Officers. This council shall be governed by a board of directors composed of two (2) members from each organization of which one (1) could be a staff person. Each director shall have one (1) vote. A president and vice president shall be chosen from this group on an annual basis. Neither officer shall be allowed to succeed himself/herself in office. Officers will be elected at the fall board meeting, to serve the next calendar year. A secretary treasurer shall be appointed by the president. He/she shall also serve as the coordinator for the association and shall be reimbursed for any expenses incurred on behalf of the council. Only the president and secretary-treasurer shall be empowered to sign checks on behalf of the council. Section 2. Meeting. The board of directors shall meet at least twice each year. Other meetings may be called at the request of the president or by the membership, if they shall have at least one-third (1/3) of the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting. Section 3. Quorum. At any meeting of the board or membership representation from fifty percent (50%) of the membership shall constitute a quorum. Section 4. Articles and procedures revision. These rules can be revised at any regular meeting of the board at which a quorum is present and by a majority vote of those in attendance, provided the proposed change was included in the notice and call of meeting. |
