Bylaws of MCEA

Bylaws of MCEA – Adopted Oct. 11, 2007

Article I -- Name, Purpose and Objectives

Section 1

The name of this association is the Michigan Council of Extension Associations.

Section 2

The purpose is to strengthen two-way communication with Extension Administration and promote cooperation among all Extension personnel.

Section 4

The objectives are to:
1. Advance professional status of extension personnel.
2. Encourage professional improvement of all extension personnel.
3. Bring concerns of campus and field together.
4. Provide for an exchange of ideas, methods and techniques.
5. Promote coordination of member associations.
6. Promote fellowship among members.
7. Strengthen opportunities for recognition of outstanding leadership and achievement.
8. Promote Extension Professional Development Funds

Article II -- Membership

Section 1

MCEA is open to all professional associations representing Extension professionals in Michigan that are recognized by the majority of member MCEA Associations. Recognized associations are as follows:
1. The Michigan Association of Extension Agents
2. The Michigan Association Extension 4-H Youth Staff
3. The Michigan Extension Association of Family & Consumer Sciences
4. The Michigan Extension Specialists & State Staff Association
5. The MSU Extension Community and Natural Resource Development Association
6. The Michigan Alpha Psi Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Phi

Section 2

Each association will be represented by three voting delegates; voting delegates will be drawn from the elected officers of the individual associations.

 

 

Section 3

Delegates to MCEA cannot be members of the Extension administrative team.

Article III -- Officers

Section 1

The officers of the council are the chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary/treasurer.

Section 2

Officers are elected annually at the annual board meeting from the association
representatives. MSU Administrative team members are not eligible for MCEA officer
positions. (Director of Extension, Associate Director(s) of Extension, Regional Directors, AOE Coaches , State Leaders.

Section 3

The officers will assume their duties upon adjournment of the meeting at which they were elected.

Section 4

No officer is eligible to serve more than one term in the same office.

Section 5

In the event that an office becomes vacant, the remainder of the Executive Board shall elect a replacement for the balance of the term for the vacant MCEA office.

Section 6

•  Past President serves as an ex-officio member and heads the nomination committee for MCEA officers with past presidents of member associations

•  The Chairperson is responsible for scheduling and presiding at all regular and special meetings, representing MCEA or appointing a representative for MSU Extension Administrative Committees, and serving as chair of the MCEA Executive Board

•  The Vice Chairperson is responsible for presiding at meetings in the absence of the chairperson, coordinating the MCEA committees, and arranging for meals of Board Members at regular and special meetings as needed

•  The Secretary/Treasurer is responsible for keeping complete, accurate records of all meetings of MCEA and all financial accounts associated with MCEA and report on those at MCEA meetings. In addition they are responsible for scheduling an annual audit review of MCEA financial accounts.

Article IV -- Executive Board

Section 1

The Executive Board consists of the elected presidents of each association and the officers of the Michigan Council of Extension Associations.

Section 2

Executive Board meetings will be held at the call of the chairperson.

Section 3

The Executive Board may act in case of emergency.

Article V -- Committees and Appointments

Section 1

Committees will be appointed as needed. Committee membership will include representation from all member associations. Association presidents will appoint these committee members. Committee chairpersons will be appointed by the MCEA president. The committee chairpersons will report to the MCEA membership at Council meetings.

Section 2

Vacancies on committees are appointed by the respective association president.

Section 3

The Nominating Committee will be comprised of the past presidents of the member associations.

Section 4

MCEA will appoint the Extension off-campus staff representative to the Michigan 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees .

Section 5

MCEA will appoint the Extension off-campus representative to the Agriculture and Natural Resources College Advisory Committee .

Section 6
The MCEA awards committee will have one member from each association and will select any awards given by MCEA

Section 7
The Professional Fund Development Committee will consist of the entire MCEA Board. The Professional Fund Development Committee is responsible for raising revenue to use for professional development.

Section 8
The Professional Fund Allocation Committee will have one member from each association. The Professional Fund Allocation Committee is responsible for distributing professional development funds for MCEA.

Article VI -- Meetings

Section 1

There will be an annual meeting of the Michigan Council of Extension Associations for the purpose of electing officers prior to November 15.

Section 2

At least two other meetings should be conducted to organize committee work and hear progress reports.

Section 3

The MCEA chairperson, with the approval of the Executive Board or council, has the right to call a special meeting of the associations if deemed necessary.

Section 4

Decisions or recommendations made by the council represent those of the members serving on the council and not necessarily each individual association they represent.

Section 5

A ratified council decision or statement is one that has been approved by each individual association and may be considered representative of the memberships of all member associations.

Section 6

Quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the member associations eligible to vote being present AND a simple majority of the delegates eligible to vote being present.

Article VII -- Awards

Section 1

The council shall have the authority to accept donations of money and other property for the John A. Hannah Awards Fund. All monies or other property donated to this fund by individual members of the Michigan Extension associations, or by business corporations, associations, or the general public, will be paid or transferred directly into the Awards Fund and will not at any time be co-mingled with any other monies or property belonging to this association.

Section 2

The council may give other appropriate awards in the name of the Michigan Council of Extension Associations.

Article VIII - Amendments

Section 1

All Articles of these bylaws may be amended by ratification representing a majority of the member associations of MCEA.