This organization shall be known as “Heart of the Ozarks Poultry Association”, “H.O.T.O.P.A.”

The post office address of the club Secretary shall be considered as the headquarters.

The purpose of this club is to encourage the breeding, the constant improvement, and the exhibiting of all breeds and varieties in accordance with the APA/ABA Standards.

Section 1.

Any person of good character and sincere interest in all APA/ABA recognized breeds and varieties may become a member of the club by sending one year’s dues to the secretary, or any officer or director of the club.

a.  Annual members will be a member in good standing upon receipt of payment membership dues.

b.  Family membership shall consist of members of immediate family living in the same house hold.

c.  Junior Members shall consist of members not less than six (6) years of age and, not over eighteen (18) years of age.

d.  Annual dues shall be $8.00 for each individual membership, and $12.00 for a family membership, and $5.00 for junior membership, or as voted on at a general meeting, by a majority of the members present.  Two (2) votes per family membership.

e.  All membership dues expire on the annual show date the year following joining.

Any member whose dues have expired for a period of three (3) months, after having received due notice of same, shall cease to be a member, and shall forfeit all claims he or she may have had as a member.  Such delinquent members may be reinstated by payment of current years dues.

Junior members shall abide by the constitution and by-laws of the parent club..

All junior members must be present from coop-in to coop-out and present during judging to be awarded any type of awards.

Article V: Annual Dues

(a) Individual 8.00

(b) Family 12.00

(c) Junior 5.00

The elected officers of this organization shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, Director-at-Large, and Four (4) Directors.

President, Vice-President, Secretary, & Treasurer, shall be elected for a term of one (1) year.

Directors shall be elected for a one (1) year term.

Only members are eligible to file for, and if elected, hold office.

Only members are eligible to vote.

The office of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, or Treasurer, vacated for any reason during their term, will be filled for the remaining term of office by an officer appointed by the Board of Directors.

Any Directors office vacated for any reason during their term will be filled for the remaining term of office by a special election at the next monthly general meeting.

Also any elected officer that misses three (3) consecutive meeting without a valid reason will be removed from his or her office.

The President shall be a member in good standing, and act as Chairman of the Board of Directors. And execute all other duties imposed upon him or her at the time of election, and shall see that the Constitution and By-Laws are executed by everyone concerned, and that all officers of the Heart of the Ozarks Poultry Association are properly executing their said duties, and may call a special meeting when deemed necessary, or at the request of at least three (3) board members, and he or she shall preside at all meetings.

The Vice-President shall act as presiding and executive officer in the absence of the president, assuming all other duties of the office during the term if it should be vacated. The Normal duties of the Vice-President shall be to work closely with the secretary-treasurer and directors, and they through the membership as a whole in securing as many new members as possible. And shall also execute any other duties imposed upon at the time of election.

The Secretary shall conduct the correspondence of the club and keep an account of same.  The secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings, and shall have charge of all books and papers pertaining to the club; He or She shall issue all notices of meetings, and shall notify all members with dues, and if unpaid for three (3) months after due date, remove name from membership list. The secretary shall keep a correct list of all members of the Heart of the Ozarks Poultry Association together with their address. He or she shall be custodian of the Constitution and By-Laws of the Heart of the Ozarks Poultry Association. The secretary-treasurer shall surrender all files, and any other property of the Heart of the Ozarks Poultry Association, to the new secretary at the termination of his or her duties, in the presence of the Board of Directors.

Section 4.Treasurer

He or She shall keep an account of all revenues. He or She shall also collect all money due the Heart of the Ozarks Poultry Association and keep an accurate account of same. The treasurer shall also prepare a financial statement for the fiscal year and present the same at the first general meeting of the year. The treasurer shall surrender all files, money, and any other property of the Heart of the Ozarks Poultry Association, to the new treasurer at the termination of his or her duties, in the presence of the Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors shall control the affairs of the Heart of the Ozarks Poultry Association at all times. They will remove from office any officer upon a majority vote of the board, for misconduct or failure to perform the duties of his or her office.

Directors and the secretary-treasurer in good standing shall be nominated for the office of president or vice-president. Any member in good standing may be nominated for the other offices of the Heart of the Ozarks Poultry Association. Nominations will be made one month prior to the monthly meeting designated for elections. All nominees must be a member at the time of nomination. Election shall be held at the January meeting.

The club meetings of the Heart of the Ozarks Poultry Association shall be held as voted on.

Section1.

Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary guide of this club, subject to the requirements of the Constitution and By-Laws and to such official rules as may be adopted by this Association.

The Heart of the Ozarks Poultry Association will be governed by the rules and regulations of Associate Clubs: i.e. American Poultry Association and American Bantam Association.

The Heart of the Ozarks Poultry Association will not be responsible for any personal injury, or possessions of people that are lost, damaged, or stolen at shows, meetings, picnics, and etc.

The Annual Show date will be the first Saturday in November, unless changed by a majority vote by the Board of Directors.

In case of dispute arising out of the interpretation and meaning of this constitution and by-laws, and on any matters not covered under the same, a majority vote of the Board of Directors will decide the issue in which the decision will be final.

The by-laws can be repealed or amended only by a like vote at the annual show meeting of the Heart of the Ozarks Poultry Association by a majority vote of the board of directors. The decision will be final.

Since 1/12/2010