Adopted Feb 2012; Amended 2015
Article 1 – Formal Title
This organization shall be known as the Bangor Farmers’ Market Association.
Article 2 – Purpose
To improve the production and marketing of local farm and garden products in the Bangor 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(s). 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/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(s) 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. Each
market location must have a manager. An individual may manage multiple market locations.
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 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 Bangor Farmers’ Market Association. 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 nonmembers
alike, any income that is in excess of the Associations 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.