Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation

“The organization consisted of active member, active member retiree, friends of farmer member, honorary life member and student member. Active member: individual or family who is directly engaged in the agricultural industry who may be either an independent farm producer or be serving as an employee of agricultural business, corporation, cooperative, or association. An active member may also be a person who is employed in a supporting business, in agriculture-related academic activities or in activities that support or promote hawaii's agricultural industries. An active member shall be a member of regularly organized county farm bureaus in the state of hawaii, and has paid the annual hawaii farm bureau federation and american farm bureau federation dues for membership. Active members shall have the rights and privileges of benefits and have the power to hold office and vote indirectly through its voting delegates. A member, individually, has no right to vote and all of the rights of a member to call a special meeting of the members, to receive notice of any meetings of the members and to vote at any meetings of the members shall be vested in the voting delegates; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not affect the voting rights of such member as a member in any county farm bureau. In the case of businesses, corporations, cooperatives, or other such organizations which may contain more than one active farm bureau member, only one active farm bureau member from each organization shall be eligible to serve on the federation board of directors at one time. Active member retiree: person who shall have been an active member for not less than five (5) years and retires from the pursuit of agricultural production for health, medical reasons or by reason of advancing years, and upon application with and approval by the board of directors shall have the full privileges and rights of active members, provided that the dues and assessments shall be paid by the retired member. Active member retirees shall be members of regularly organized county farm bureaus in the state of hawaii. Friends of farmer member: individuals who are interested in the aims and purposes of the hawaii farm bureau federation, who are members of regularly organized county farm bureau in the state of hawaii, and who shall pay annual hawaii farm bureau federation and american farm bureau federation dues. A friend of farmer member shall not have the power to vote or hold office but shall be eligible for the other benefits of the federation. Honorary life member: person upon whom such membership is conferred by a majority of the voting delegates at any annual meeting, following nomination by a county farm bureau or the board of directors of the federation. Honorary life members shall have been members of the county farm bureaus, but shall not be assessed any county farm bureau, hawaii farm bureau federation or american farm bureau federation dues. Honorary life members shall have all the rights and privileges of active members. Student member: high school, undergraduate or graduate students enrolled for at least nine (9) credit hours. Student members shall not be eligible to vote or hold office, but shall be eligible for the other benefits of the federation. Student members may be offered lower dues than other members at the discretion of the board of directors. Student members shall be members of regularly organized county farm bureaus in the state of hawaii.”

“Voting members within their own county farm bureau vote for their county officers who then elect a county representative to serve on hawaii farm bureau federation's board. Board officers are elected annually by house of delegates who are elected by each county farm bureau (each county farm bureau is entitled to one voting delegate for each 20 paid up active members).”

“The form 990 is reviewed and approved by the central organization's executive director prior to filing.”

“The county organizations are currently in the process of drafting the conflict of interest policy for adoption. Form 990, part vi, section b, line 13: the county organizations are currently in the process of drafting a whistleblower policy for adoption.”

“The federation's executive committee interviewed and recommended to the full board of directors the hiring and compensation of the central organization's executive director. The federation's full board of directors approved the hire and recommended compensation amount.”

“Copy provided upon request.”