Bureau County Farm Bureau

“The board of directors may provide for an executive committee of six members, which shall include the officers of this farm bureau with the remaining members of the executive committee appointed by the board of directors from its members. The members of the executive committee shall serve upon such committee for one year or until the appointment of and acceptance of such appointment by their duly qualified successors. Any member of the executive committee, other than the farm bureau officers, may be removed at any time by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire number of directors. The board may fill all vacancies on the executive committee. The executive committee shall exercise those powers delegated to it by the board of directors and shall report its actions at each meeting of the board. Full minutes of all meetings of the executive committee shall be kept and submitted to the board of directors.”

“The farm bureau's bylaws were amended this year to include new classes of membership, professional voting and professional non-voting, to allow individuals that work in agriculture that may not have a substantial financial interest in production of agricultural products to seek membership in the organization.”

“Member qualifications: (a) voting members. Persons eligible for voting membership in this farm bureau shall have a substantial financial interest in the production of agricultural products and be engaged in the production of agricultural products as an owner or operator. Persons meeting the qualifications for voting membership shall only be eligible for voting membership. Persons meeting the above criteria and accepting the obligations of voting membership and upon acceptance by this farm bureau and the illinois agricultural association shall be voting members with all the rights and privileges of voting membership except partnerships, corporations, trusts, and other business entities or their representative shall not be eligible to hold office or to vote at meetings of members or on any issues submitted to members for their approval. Provided also that the right to vote or hold office of any member of the voting member class shall be suspended during any period in which he or she is deriving income, other than on an occasional basis, as an employee, agent or independent contractor from a farm bureau or the illinois agricultural association. Provided further that the right to vote or hold office of any member of the voting member class shall be suspended during any period in which he or she is a regular full-time employee, agent or independent contractor of any of the illinois agricultural association's affiliated, associated or subsidiary companies. Persons who have been voting members for at least the ten (10) years immediately prior to ceasing to be actively engaged in the production of agricultural products and who are not otherwise gainfully employed to the extent that maximum social security benefits are reduced, may continue their voting membership provided they have demonstrated by the length and quality of their service in farm bureau and continue to demonstrate their belief in and support of the objectives and purposes of this farm bureau and illinois agricultural association.”

“Two percent (2%) of the voting members of this farm bureau in good standing shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any and all business at any annual or special meeting, and the favorable vote of a majority of the voting members present in quorum shall be necessary for the determination of any matter. At the annual meeting of members, district directors shall be elected, a maximum of three directors from each district. In addition to the district directors, there shall be four at-large directors nominated by application of the interested party signed by two or more voting members of this association submitted to the district caucuses at the annual meeting. At-large directors shall be nominated by the district caucus and elected by the members at the annual meeting. The four officers: president, vice president, secretary and treasurer who are also members of the board of directors, shall be nominated from the floor at the annual meeting of this farm bureau and elected for a term of one year and shall serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified.”

“These bylaws may be amended, repealed or altered at any regular meeting of the members of this farm bureau or at any special meeting of such members by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting members in good standing present in person or by proxy as hereafter described and voting at such meeting. Also, these bylaws may be amended, repealed or altered, in whole or in part, at any regular or special meeting of the board of directors of this farm bureau by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the entire number of directors, due notice of such meeting having first been given.”

“Return will be reviewed by the board prior to filing.”

“The organization annually reviews the policy and is required to annually disclose interests that could give rise to conflicts.”

“Manager's contract and compensation are reviewed annually, using comparability data. A recommendation is made and voted on by the entire board. Board members are compensated via a per diem and mileage agreement. Mileage is paid at the standard irs rate.”

“Governing documents, the conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are on file at the office and available upon request.”

“The process for overseeing the audit and selecting an independent auditor has not changed from the prior year.”