Adopted 15-Feb-98
Article 1 – Formal Title
This organization shall be known as the Orono Farmers’ Market
Association
Article 2 – Purpose
To improve the production and marketing of local farm and garden
products in the Orono and surrounding areas, and to stimulate public
interest in the consumption of local farm and garden products thereby
supporting, preserving, and improving the quality of rural life in this
area.
Article 3 – Membership
Any home gardener or farmer qualifying with Maine homegrown products
shall be eligible for membership in the organization by agreeing to
abide by the established rules and by-laws of operation. Members will
only be allowed to sell after paying membership fees.
Article 4 – Officers and Steering Committee
The officers shall consist of Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer,
Assistant Treasurer, and Market Manager.
Steering Committee: These officers, together with two other elected
members, shall constitute the Steering Committee. The officers shall
serve for one year, or until qualified successors have been elected.
Duties of the officers and Steering Committee are as follows:
Chairperson: The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the
Association and the Steering Committee. She or he shall request the
secretary to call regular or special meetings and attend to all duties
expected of such an officer. The Chairperson shall also appoint
committees, including advertising and promotion.
Market Manager: The Market Manager shall attend to the duties of the
Chairperson in his/her absence or inability to serve. She/he shall be
in charge of advertising, publicity, and public relations, as well as
enforcing collection of dues and adherence to market rules.
Secretary: The Secretary shall keep record of all meetings and send
out notices, whenever requested to do so by the Chairperson.
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall keep a record of all dues and other
money received from the market operation. She/he shall record any money
paid out report on the foregoing, whenever requested to do so. She/he
shall deposit all monies received in a local bank account.
Assistant Treasurer: The Assistant Treasurer shall share some of the
work of the treasurer, and shall be able to sign checks.
The Steering Committee: The Steering Committee shall meet on the call
of the Chairperson, or in his/her absence, the call of the Market
Manager. The Steering Committee shall arrange for all meetings, and
have general charge of the Association activities, including the power
to authorize the treasurer to pay bills approved by the Steering
Committee. The Steering Committee shall appoint new members to a
vacancy on the Steering Committee between annual meetings. The Steering
Committee may sponsor advertising by newspapers, radio, or television
and request support from various municipalities for promoting the
successful operation and expansion of the market. At the request of the
Market Manager, the Steering Committee shall investigate any suspicion
of questionable practices employed by any seller. If verified, the
Steering Committee is authorized to immediately enforce corrective
action. The Steering Committee may appoint committees as needed.
Article 5 – Meetings
An Association meeting to nominate and elect members of the Steering
committee shall be held at the annual meeting. The annual meeting shall
occur in the first quarter of the calendar year. Members in good
standing shall have the privilege of voting at all association
meetings. Each farm membership may have one vote. Twenty percent of
the membership shall constitute a quorum. Members shall be notified of
the meeting at least one week prior to the annual meeting.
Article 6 – Records
Every member shall have the right to examine, for any reasonable
purpose, the books, records, roster of membership, and other appropriate
records of the Association.
Article 7 – Dues and Liquidation
Section 1. The annual dues shall be determined by the Steering
Committee annually, payable to the Orono Farmers’ Market. The Steering
Committee may also set a per day fee for market attendance. All dues
shall be paid by the date appearing on the membership form.
Section 2. Any member of the organization whose dues fall into arrears
shall, after proper notification by the treasurer, be automatically
dropped from membership in the organization unless immediate payment of
such dues is made.
Section 3. In the event of liquidation or dissolution, all remaining
funds in the Association’s treasury shall be distributed on a patronage
basis to members and non-members alike (regardless of chronology of such
patronage) on the basis of their respective patronage satisfying all
debts and other obligations of the Association.
Section 4. The association shall, on an annual basis, return to the
patrons, members and non-members alike, any income that is in excess of
the Association’s expenses.
Article 8 – Amendments
The articles outlined may be amended by a two-thirds majority of
members present at any regular or special meeting, providing that a
notice of such revision or amendment was included in the call of the
meeting, or else that the matter had been duly presented at a previous
meeting.
