Article I. Organization

The name of the organization shall be the Lubbock Master Gardener Association (referred to as the LMGA).
“Said organization is organized exclusively for charitable, religious, educational and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.

Article II. Objectives

The LMGA shall be a volunteer association providing horticultural/gardening consultation, information, education and service in support of the Texas Cooperative Extension and the Lubbock Cooperative Extension and will not be affiliated with any commercial enterprises. Its objectives shall be:
A. to assist the Texas Cooperative Extension and the Lubbock Cooperative Extension by providing consultation/referral, information, and educational programs concerning good gardening practices to the community and region,
B. to provide horticultural and gardening continuing education programs, fellowship activities and volunteer recognition for LMGA members,
C. to develop and maintain information concerning approved volunteer activities and external
continuing education programs for the benefit of LMGA members, and
D. to assist Master Gardener Interns in completing their initial volunteer commitment.

Article III. Membership

Section 1. Members of the LMGA shall include:
A. Graduates of the Texas Master Gardener Program who have been certified by the Texas Cooperative Extension, the Lubbock Cooperative Extension, and the Texas A&M University System,
B. Master Gardener transferees from other areas upon receipt of credentials from their previous Association or the Cooperative Extension, and
C. Master Gardener Interns who have completed classroom study and are working on volunteer hours needed for graduation. Interns who do not graduate within two years are no longer eligible for membership. Interns will hold associate, non-voting memberships.
Section 2. Members are in good standing as long as dues are current and recertification requirements are met.
Section 3. The fiscal year of the LMGA shall be from January 1st through December 31st. Annual dues for regular members become delinquent after the March meeting. Interns’ dues are payable at the first regular meeting after completion of their classroom training and become delinquent if not paid within two months of that time. Interns shall pay one-half the regular membership dues for the year in which they begin training. A delinquent member may be reinstated by writing a letter to the Executive Board requesting reinstatement. Full delinquent dues must accompany the above letter.
Section 4. After initial certification, the minimum requirements for recertification are six (6) hours of approved continuing education, and twelve (12) approved volunteer hours each year.

Article IV. Meetings

Section 1. General membership meetings will be held monthly with the exception of December.
Section 2. Special meetings may be called as needed at the discretion of the Executive Board. Members shall be notified by phone, e-mail, or mail at least three (3) days prior to the called meeting date.
Section 3. One-fourth of the voting members must be present to constitute a quorum.

Article V. Officers

Section 1. The elected officers shall be President, President Elect, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The President shall appoint a Parliamentarian. The term of office for elected officers is one (1) year. The officers shall perform the duties as prescribed by these Bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the LMGA.
Section 2. The Nominating Committee shall present a slate of candidates for elected officers at the October meeting. Members may make nominations from the floor.
Section 3. Election shall be at the November meeting and approval of the slate of candidates shall require a two-thirds vote of the regular membership present, provided there is a quorum. Officers shall be installed at the November meeting and assume their duties on January 1st.
Section 4. The President Elect shall serve for one year, and then succeed to the Office of President for one year when elected.
Section 5. Officers other than the President and President Elect may be re-elected to the same office.
Section 6. All nominees for office must be regular members in good standing.

Article VI. Duties of Officers

Section 1. The President shall:
A. preside at all meetings of the LMGA,
B. appoint a Parliamentarian,
C. appoint all committee Chairs except as otherwise provided by these Bylaws,
D. appoint special committees as needed,
E. be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating Committee, and
F. co-sign checks with the Treasurer or President Elect.
Section 2. The President Elect shall:
A. assist the President,
B. attend committee meetings at the President’s request,
C. succeed to the office of the President at the expiration of the current President’s term when elected,
D. preside at all meetings in the absence of the President,
E. be Chair of the Bylaws and Membership Committees, and
F. co-sign checks with the President or Treasurer.
Section 3. The Vice President shall:
A. be Chair of the Educational Enrichment Program Committee,
B. be responsible for reserving the meeting room and procuring any necessary equipment, and
C. coordinate refreshments with the Refreshment Committee Chair.
Section 4. The Secretary shall
A. prepare all necessary correspondence,
B. maintain a current list of all members with their addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses,
C. record the minutes of each regular and Executive Board meeting,
D. distribute the minutes of the previous meeting, and
E. keep a record of attendance at meetings.
Section 5. The Treasurer shall:
A. receive all dues and monies for the LMGA,
B. keep an exact account of all dues, other income, bank deposits, disbursements, and other financial matters,
C. pay all bills as budgeted and/or approved by the Executive Board upon receipt of a written statement and proof of purchase,
D. co-sign checks with the President or the President Elect,
E. give a financial report at each regular meeting,
F. present the financial records for audit annually and,
G. be Chair of the Finance Committee

Article VII. Executive Board

Section 1. The affairs of the LMGA shall be managed by the Executive Board.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers, the Parliamentarian, and the immediate past President. In the event that an Association member is elected to an office of the Texas Master Gardener Association, that member shall be an ex-officio member of the Executive Board. The Chairs of each Standing Committee shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Board. Only elected officials will vote on business before the Board with the President voting only in case of tie votes.
Section 3. An agent of the Lubbock Cooperative Extension Office with horticultural duties shall serve as Advisor to the Executive Board.
Section 4. The Executive Board shall meet monthly, or as needed, to conduct the business of the LMGA.
Section 5. Actions of the Executive Board shall be reported to the membership at the next regular meeting.
Section 6. In the event of a vacancy on the Executive Board, with the exception of the office of the President, such vacancy shall be filled for the remainder of the term by a person approved by a simple majority vote of the Executive Board. A vacancy of the Presidency shall be filled by the President Elect.
Section 7. Three of the voting members of the Executive Board must be present to constitute a quorum.

Article VIII. Standing Committees

Section 1. Standing committees shall be Bylaws, Educational, Enrichment/Program, Educational Garden, Finance, Membership, Newsletter, Publicity, Refreshment, Telephone, and Volunteer Coordination. The President shall appoint the chairs of these committees (except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws), and announce them at the January meeting.
Section 2. Duties of the Standing Committees shall be:
A. Bylaws – The President Elect shall serve as Chair. The committee shall consist of at least two other members plus the Parliamentarian. The committee shall receive, consider, edit, and correct the Bylaws and Standing Rules. It may originate amendments to Bylaws and Standing Rules, when deemed advisable, for approval by the Executive Board and general membership
B. Educational Enrichment/Program - The Chair of this committee shall be the Vice President. This committee is responsible for arranging programs for the regular monthly meetings, and for planning additional educational enrichment programs, seminars, and field trips. This committee is responsible for requesting program certification approval from the Advisor so that continuing education units can be applied to recertification.
C. Educational Garden - The committee will consist of at least a Chair, and will be in charge of the Education Garden. Duties include coordinating the planning and maintenance of the Educational Garden.
D. Finance – The Chair of this committee shall be the Treasurer. The committee shall oversee the finances of the Master Gardener Association and arrange fund-raising when deemed necessary. It shall make recommendations to the Board concerning the need to adjust dues and initiate projects to obtain funds for the Educational Garden and other needs. It will assist the Treasurer in preparing an annual Budget to be presented to the membership by the February meeting.
 E. Membership - The President Elect shall be Chair. The committee shall introduce themselves to and maintain contact with each new Master Gardener class. The committee will encourage Master Gardeners-in-Training to become associate members of the LMGA on their successful completion of the course. The committee shall send an LMGA representative to each Master Gardener class. The committee shall recommend to the Board individuals for Honorary Membership when appropriate.
F. Newsletter - The Chair of this committee shall serve as editor. The committee will prepare and send out a newsletter at a frequency determined by the Executive Board. The purpose of this newsletter is to inform members of meetings and other pertinent information. The Chair shall be a member of the Publicity Committee.
G. Publicity - The committee shall consist of at least the Chair, and will acquaint the community and area with the LMGA’s purpose and activities through periodic publicity and informational articles in a variety of media. During the month of December, the Vista section of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal will be contacted regarding information about the upcoming Master Gardener Course.
H. Refreshments - The committee shall consist of a Chair, who will solicit volunteers to provide refreshments for meetings or special occasions
I. Telephone - The committee shall consist of the Chair and at least two other members. The committee will keep a current list of members and their phone numbers and e-mail addresses. They will contact the members by phone or e-mail as needed to provide information concerning meetings, programs, workdays and other LMGA activities.
J. Volunteer Coordination - This committee shall consist of the Chair, at least two other members and the Advisor. The committee will compile a current list of members’ interests. The committee will maintain a list of approved volunteer opportunities and coordinate these opportunities with members’ expertise and/or interests. Collect records of volunteer and continuing education hours from the regular membership for review by the LMGA Advisor.

Article IX. Ad Hoc Committees

Section 1. The Ad Hoc Committees shall be the Nominating and Audit Committees.
Section 2. Duties of the Ad Hoc Committees shall be:
Nominating - The committee shall consist of a Chair and two members who are not currently on the Executive Board. The committee shall provide a slate of candidates for offices at the October meeting.
Audit - The committee shall consist of a Chair and two members who are not currently on the Executive Board. The committee shall perform an annual audit of the financial records in the presence of the President and Treasurer. The audit will be presented to the Executive Board.

Article X. Parliamentary Authority

The latest revised edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of the LMGA in all cases in which they are consistent with these Bylaws.

Article XI. Changes or Amendments of Bylaws

Section 1. Notice of the proposed changes or amendments to the Bylaws must be presented in writing at one regular meeting and a copy mailed to members not present. Proposed changes or amendments will be voted on at the next regular meeting.
Section 2. These Bylaws may be changed or amended by a two-thirds vote of the regular members present provided there is a quorum.

Article XII. Dissolution Clause as Required by the Texas Cooperative Extension

Upon the dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such asset not disposed of shall be disposed of by the court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located. Exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
In case of the dissolution of the Lubbock Master Gardener Association, the executive committee shall, after settling all outstanding accounts and disposing of equipment, assign any remaining funds to the Breedlove Dehydration Plant, a division of the South Plains Food Bank, Inc., 4612 Locust Ave, Lubbock, TX 79404

Standing Rules for Lubbock Master Gardener Association

Standing rules may be adopted, amended or rescinded by a simple majority vote of members present, providing there is a quorum present. They may be suspended for the duration of one session (but not longer) by a simple majority of the members present.
The annual membership dues are $14.00, which includes State dues of $2.00.
The regular monthly meeting will be held on the first Tuesday of each month except December or when the meeting date conflicts with a national election or holiday. In the case of conflict the meeting will be held on the second Tuesday of that month.
The Executive Board will meet monthly. The Executive Board shall set a monthly date and place to meet, and must inform the membership of any changes. The meeting will be open to all members.
All checks written on the bank account of the LMGA must have the signature of two (2) of the authorized officers which shall be the President, President Elect, and Treasurer.

 Lubbock Master Gardener Bylaws – approved 5/1/07