BY-
Article
I – Name: The name of this organization shall be the “New Hampshire Farm to
Restaurant Connection Association (NHFRC)”.
Article II – Organization, Purpose,
The
NHFRC is organized as a standing committee of the New Hampshire Stories, Inc.,
a New Hampshire Nonprofit Corporation and operates as a partner with the NH
Stories, Inc. under Article VI, paragraph 7. (d) of their
bylaws,
The purpose of
the New Hampshire Farm to Restaurant Connection (NHFRC) association is to link
The mission of the NHFRC is to
educate the general public on the benefits of a healthy lifestyle acquired
through locally grown agricultural products.
We are dedicated to helping consumers understand the economic, social
and ecological benefits of this lifestyle for themselves as well as for local
farmers, food businesses and restaurants.
The association seeks to educate local farmers, food businesses and
restaurants on best management practices and common operating procedures through
a variety of means including workshops,
seminars and multi-media. The NHFRC will
work to provide the educational assistance, support
and training that local farmers, food businesses and restaurants need to
provide healthy food in an ecologically sound manner. Through education and member participation,
the NHFRC strengthens
The
objectives of this organization shall be:
1. To educate farmers,
food businesses and restaurants, consumers, decision-makers and the general
public about the availability, scope, diversity and benefits of locally grown
produce.
2. To identify farms,
food businesses and restaurants and develop a network of education, support and
training for them.
3. To identify,
promote and encourage the development of self-sustaining, environmentally
conscious farms, food businesses and restaurants. To develop new and expanded farms, food
businesses and restaurants through education, marketing and promotional
diversity to include, but not be limited to: group marketing, educational
opportunities, growing and processing facilities, and agri &
eco-tourism. We envision an outreach to
food service establishments, to include school and work-place cafeterias, as
well as commercial restaurants, in order to improve the nutritional quality of
their fare through increased usage of
4. To protect the
diversity of locally grown produce available to NH food businesses and
restaurants.
5. To provide a
forum for the exchange of ideas and for addressing problems, needs and
concerns; an increased opportunity for purchasing materials by taking advantage
of bulk purchase discounts; and information and technical resources.
6. To advocate farmers’
rights to market their produce and to ensure the continued protection of these
rights. To provide an information
resource to and proactively work with regulatory authorities to create suitable
regulations and amend existing regulations related to agriculture markets and
the production of agricultural-based products.
7. To contribute
to the efforts of related industries and associations in promoting New
Hampshire’s rich and diverse agriculture, forest and tourist-based heritage.
8. To promote the
health and vigor of farms, food businesses and restaurants in
9. To support
other ideas, activities or programs beneficial to NH farms, food businesses and
restaurants.
Article
Article
IV – Dues: The necessary funds to defray the expenses of the NHFRC may be
raised by dues, grants,
donations and other income from activities substantially related to its exempt
purpose. Annual dues are due on or before 31 January.
Article
V – Meetings: An annual meeting will be held.
A minimum of two (2) additional meetings will be held – one in the
spring/summer and one in the fall/winter.
Meetings will be held at a time and place determined during the
preceding meeting. The membership shall
be notified of the time and place prior to the meeting. Additional and/or special meetings may be
held as required.
Article
VI – Officers and Board of Directors: The board of Directors of the NHFRC shall
consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and/or Treasurer and a
minimum of three Directors, one of whom may be nominated by the NHMade.com (NH
Stories, Inc). The NHFRC board of
directors shall nominate an officer
or a member of the board to the NHMade.com (NH Stories, Inc), Board of Trustees
to fill a trustee position (three year term).
The Board of Directors, if so requested by NHMade.com (NH Stories, Inc),
may nominate additional members of the board of the general membership to
trustee positions on the NHMade.com (NH Stories, Inc) Board of Trustees.
1.
The President shall perform those duties which
usually pertain to the office of the President including presiding at all NHFRC
meetings, having general supervision of the affairs of the NHFRC, signing or
countersigning all contracts or other instruments of the NHFRC as authorized by
the Board of Directors, and making all efforts to keep the Board of Directors
and the general members informed of all decisions and actions undertaken on
their behalf by the Board of Directors.
The president shall normally serve as the NHFRC nominee to the NHMade.com
(NH Stories, Inc) Board of Trustees.
2.
The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the
President in his/her absence or inability to serve as well as other duties as
assigned.
3.
The Secretary shall maintain records of all business,
meetings and transactions of the NHFRC and is responsible for correspondence
within the membership. In the case of
absence, the President shall appoint a Secretary pro-tem to serve during a
business meeting or until the time an elected Secretary can fulfill his/her
duties. The Secretary shall perform
other duties as assigned.
4.
The Treasurer shall collect all dues, make out
vouchers covering all legitimate expenses of the NHFRC, submit them to the
Board of Directors and have custody of all funding of the NHFRC. The Treasurer shall keep regular books of
accounts and balance the same every month and submit this record to the Board
of Directors and membership at each meeting.
The Treasurer shall perform other duties as assigned.
5.
The directors, with the approval of the membership,
will raise and expend all funds of the organization, collect all monies due,
have control of the expenses, determine the operating policies and transact all
other business of the NHFRC and perform such other functions as are deemed
necessary.
6.
Vacancies shall be filled by nomination at a meeting
attended by the board of directors and announced and open to the general
membership.
7.
Upon review of all parties involved, the Board of
Directors may, with a 2/3 majority vote of the membership present at a
scheduled or special meeting, remove any Officer and/or Director from office
whose activities are deemed detrimental to the goals and objectives of the NHFRC.
8.
The Departments of Agriculture, Food and Markets,
Resources and Economic Development, and Health & Human Services and the
9.
From time to time the NHFRC will seek grants from
outside agencies. These grants will be
drafted and then reviewed by the NHFRC and a minimum of the NHMade.com (NH
Stories, Inc) Executive Committee, Executive Director and NHDAMF
representative. The NHFRC president
and/or representative(s) to the NHMade.com (NH Stories, Inc) Board of Trustees shall
brief the full board regularly on the status of grants. Approved grant monies will be deposited into a NHMade.com (NH Stories, Inc) line item for the NHFRC and
disbursed to the NHFRC, upon request.
The two entities will agree to a “chart of accounts” for the NHFRC. Where required, this process will be detailed
in any grant proposal as part of the administrative section.
10.
The NHFRC will provide the NHMade.com (NH Stories,
Inc) Board with an annual budget; monthly and year end financial statements;
copies of records of all business, meetings and transactions of the NHFRC; and
an annual report. The NHMade.com (NH
Stories, Inc) Board will provide the NHFRC with periodic reports of its services
rendered and any financial remuneration required for those services.
Article
VII – Committees: Committees shall be comprised of members in good standing,
chosen by nomination and shall be administered by a chairperson elected by the
committee. Vacancies shall be filled by
nomination at a meeting attended by the board of directors and announced and
open to the general membership.
Article VIII – Elections,
Terms and Quorum: The Board of Directors shall be elected to serve a term of
one year. Elections of Officers and the
Board of Directors shall be held at the annual meeting, requiring a majority
vote of those present. Officers shall be
members in good standing. A majority of the NHFRC members attending shall
constitute a quorum.
Article IX – Conflict of
Interest Policy: Officers and Directors of the NHFRC shall receive no
compensation for their services as Officers and Directors. It is allowable that they may be reimbursed
for expenses incurred in carrying out their duties. The details of any such expenses shall be
presented to the Board of Directors prior to reimbursement.
The
The Association, Officers and
Directors will comply with all requirements of
Article X – Fiscal Year: The
fiscal year will be the calendar year.
Article XI - Amendments: These
by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at any
regular meeting or any special meeting of the NHFRC called for that
purpose. This process for amendment will
begin after the adoption of these by-laws by the NHFRC.
Article XII – Dissolution: In case of
dissolution of the NHFRC, all of the remaining assets and property of the NHFRC
shall, after payment of necessary expenses thereof, be distributed to an
organization or organizations having like aims and goals as the NHFRC;
otherwise, all corporate assets will be disposed of according to applicable
state law.
Date:
Adopted on .
* NH Stories, Inc. Bylaws,