Constitution

ARTICLE I - TITLE

Section 1. The Society shall be known as the Meigs County Agricultural Society.

ARTICLE II - OBJECT

Section 1. The object of the Society shall be to promote and encourage agriculture, industry, science, art and other interests of Meigs County, which the Board deems proper, and in the best interests of the County.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Any resident of Meigs County may become a member of this Society by paying annually the membership fees fixed by the Board of Directors. Membership tickets can be purchased only at the Office of the Secretary of the Society or his/her authorized agents.

Section 2. No person shall pay for or secure more than one such membership and that membership shall be for him. No membership shall be issued to corporations, organizations, partnerships or firms.

ARTICLE IV - BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall increase from fifteen (15) to eighteen (18) directors by the addition one new director each year for the next three years, beginning with election of 2007 for term beginning December 1, 2007. 

Section 2. Any vacancy caused by death, resignation, removal from office, or other causes, may be filled by the Board of Directors until the next annual election, when a director shall be elected for the unexpired term.

Section 3. If any member of the Board of Directors misses four meetings in a fiscal year, the Board may upon two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors, declare his/her position vacant and appoint a successor to serve until the next annual election, when a director shall be elected for the unexpired term.

ARTICLE V - ELECTION

Section 1. The annual election of the Board of Directors shall be held at a designated place on or before the first Saturday in December of each year. Meigs County’s election will be held the first Monday in November each year. Polls must be open not less than four hours between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on the day of the election.

Section 2. The said election shall be by ballot. Ballots must be marked with an "X" opposite the name of each candidate voted for: otherwise the name will not be counted. The casting of votes for directors by proxies is not to be permitted.

Section 3. Only residents of Meigs County holding membership certificates for at least 15 days before the date of elections may vote.

Section 4. Members of the Society must declare their candidacy for the office of Director of the Society by filing with the Secretary of the Society, a petition signed by ten (10) or more members of the Society who are residents of Meigs County, at least seven (7) days before the annual election of Directors is held. Only regularly nominated candidates who have met the filing requirements will be eligible for election as Director.

Section 5: The term of office of the retiring Directors shall expire and that of the Directors elect shall begin on the 2nd Saturday of December of each year, or until their successors are elected and qualified.

ARTICLE VI - ANNUAL MEETING OF THE MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. The annual meeting of the Meigs County Agricultural Society shall be held not later than the last Saturday in December, the actual time and place to be decided and advertised by the Board of Directors.

Section 2. At this meeting the Officers and Directors of the Society shall make reports to the membership of the Society concerning the past fair and make recommendations for the betterment of future Fairs. The members shall be given opportunity to make suggestions and recommendations for the improvement of the Society and it’s fair. Such other business may be presented as may be deemed proper by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VII - ORGANIZATION AND MEETINGS

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall meet annually in December of each year and elect a President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. The President, Vice President and the Treasurer shall serve one year and the Secretary not more than three years or as the Board may determine and until their successors are elected and qualified.

Section 2. The President, Vice President and Treasurer shall be Directors. The Secretary may or may not be a director. All officers shall be members of the Society.

Section 3. Before election of officers the newly elected directors shall qualify by taking the following oath (or affirmation) before a competent authority (designated by law).

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of Ohio, Laws of Ohio and rules and regulations of the Department of Agriculture of Ohio pertaining to Agricultural Society so help me God."

ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments to the constitution or by-laws may be proposed by.

(A) majority of Board of Directors at a scheduled meeting, voting in favor or placing an amendment on the ballot; or

(B) Filing a petition with the Secretary of the Society at least 14 days prior to the          annual election of the Board of Directors. Said petition must set forth the proposed amendment and be signed by not less than 25 members.

Section 2. If an amendment is proposed, it shall be submitted to the membership of the Society at the annual election of the Board of Directors.

Section 3. When more than one amendment, shall be submitted at the same time, they shall be so submitted as to enable the members to vote on each amendment, separately.

Section 4. If the majority of the membership voting on the proposed amendment shall adopt such amendment, it shall become a part of the constitution or by-laws.

ARTICLE IX - COMPENSATION

Section 1. The compensation of board members shall be fixed by the board in accordance with the rules of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

               Section 2. Travel expenses shall be 54 cents per mile to out of county meetings as authorized by the O.D.A.

ARTICLE X - BONDS

Section 1. The Secretary shall post a surety bond in the amount of $1000.00, payable to the Society, conditioned upon the faithful performance of his/her office.

Section 2. The Treasurer shall post a surety bond in the amount of $1000.00, payable to the Society, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of his/her office.

ARTICLE XI - FAIR DATES

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall fix the date for the annual Exposition of the Society, subject to the approval of the Ohio Director of Agriculture.



For complete rules of regulations please refer to the "Red Book".