Saskatchewan Agricultural Graduates’ Association Inc. Constitution - January 2015
Article 1. Name
The name of the organization shall be:
“THE SASKATCHEWAN AGRICULTURAL GRADUATES’ ASSOCIATION INC.”
Article 2. Objectives
1. To promote the social interests of Degree and Diploma graduates of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan (amend. 2000, 2008)
2. To promote closer relationships among graduates and between graduates and the college, including faculty and students.
3. To keep graduates informed of recent developments at the College of Agriculture and Bioresources (amend. 1965, 2000, 2008)
4. To co-operate with the University Alumni Association on its efforts to promote the interests of the university as a whole.
Article 3. Membership
There shall be five (5) classes of membership:
1. Graduates of the Saskatchewan College of Agriculture and Bioresources, regular or ad eundeum, Degree or Diploma, and any persons who have discontinued either the Degree or Diploma course after two years without receiving a Degree or Diploma, and whose class has since graduated, and graduates of the Saskatchewan College of Graduate Studies with specialization in Agriculture Science, shall be eligible to become regular members of the Association (amend, 1942, 1965, 1966, 2000, 2008)
2. Graduates of Colleges and Schools of Agriculture other than the University of Saskatchewan and staff of faculties at the University of Saskatchewan which have an association with agriculture my be admitted as Associate Members on payment of the regular membership fee per annum. Such members shall be extended the privilege of full membership in the Association, except that of being an officer of the Association. (amend. 1948, 1965, 1971).
3. The Association may elect Honorary Life Members at any annual meeting on the recommendation of the Executive, such members not to exceed two per annum. (amend. 1946, 1948, 1956)
4. Members of the Faculty (as recognized by the Dean of Agriculture and Boiresources) will be Associate Members without payment of a membership fee (amend. 2010)
5. Persons who can qualify under sub-sections 1 and 2, of Article 3, as regular or associate members, shall upon payment of the Life Membership fee (as per scheduled rate) be eligible to become Life Members of the Association. (amend 1948, 1971)
Article 4. Officers
1. The officers of the Association shall be:
a. Honorary President e. Secretary (amend. 1965, 1966)
b. Past President (amend. 1949) f. Registrar
c. President g. News Editor (amend. 1946)
d. Vice-President h. Treasurer (amend. 1996)
2. The officers mentioned in the above section, with the exception of the Past President, shall be elected annually.
3. The executive of the Association shall consist of the following elected members:
a. The officers of the Association (amend. 1948)
b. A representative of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources proposed by the Dean, such representative to be approved by the executive of the Association. (amend. 1948, 1965, 2008)
c. Ten other members, to be elected by the Association and to hold office for two years, five of such members to be elected by the Association annually. (amend. 1952).
d. The representative to the Directors of the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame, such representative to be elected at the annual meeting by the Association and to hold office for three years. (amend. 1973, 1982)
4. The executive of the association shall further include:
a. A representative of the undergraduate membership of the College of Agriculture and Bioresources program, to be named by the Agricultural Students Association and to hold office for a term of one year. (amend. 1948, 2000, 2008)
b. The Agricultural Students Association undergraduate representative shall have full voting privileges in all executive matters. (amend. 1948, 2003, 2008)
c. Up to (4) four members-at-large to be named annually by the executive. (amend. 1952, 2010)
d. The chair of any committee established by the executive as required to conduct the affairs of the Association. (amend. 2015)
5. Any vacancy on the executive, other than for those positions representing the College of Agriculture and Bioresources, may be filled by the executive, such members to hold office until the next general meeting of the Association. Unexpired terms on the executive may be filled at the annual meeting; the member so elected to hold office for one year. (amend 1948, 2000, 2008)
6. All officers except President shall be eligible for re-election to the same office. (amend. 1948, 1965)
Article 5. Duties of the Officers
1. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Executive committee, shall enforce due observance of the constitution, shall give the casting vote of a tie on any vote except when a returning officer is in charge, shall call all meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee, and shall be an ex-officio member of all standing and special committees. The President shall assist the Secretary in selecting material from the previous year to be included in the University Archives. (amend. 1996)
2. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall assume all the duties of the President’s office. The Vice-President along with the President and Past-President shall act as a nominating committee to put forward a slate of officers for consideration at the annual meeting. The Vice-President shall act as the executive contact to the reunion year chairs. (amend. 2003)
3. The secretary shall keep a record of business of the Association. He/she shall give notice of all meeting and conduct all correspondence authorized by the executive. The secretary shall assist the President in selecting material from the previous year to be included in the University Archives. (amend. 1965, 1996)
4. The News Editor shall prepare, edit and distribute the news circulars of the Association.
5. The Registrar shall maintain a register of all members, shall assist in the publishing of newsletters and shall make arrangements for registration of members and visitors attending the Annual Reunion of its affiliated activities.
6. The Treasurer shall receive and account all monies belonging to the Association. (amend. 1996)
7. The Past-President along with two members of the association shall bring forward to the Executive, the names for consideration for Honorary Life Members and other awards. The Past-President shall see that the Honorary Life Member Plates are engraved. (amend. 2003)
Article 6. Care of Funds
The funds of the association shall be deposited in a chartered bank, or invested with other accredited financial investment institutions to the credit of the Association. All payments shall be made in a manner satisfactory to the Auditor; any two of the President or Vice-President or Treasurer shall be authorized signing authorities. A financial statement shall be submitted by the Treasurer to the annual meeting or to any other meeting if requested by the Executive. The Executive shall appoint an auditor who shall audit the accounts of the association at least once a year. The fiscal year of the Association shall be the period November 1st to October 31st inclusive. (amend. 1965, 1980, 1987, 2008)
Article 7. Fees
The amount of annual and life membership fees shall be set by the Executive, subject to the approval of the annual meeting of the Association. (amend. 1948, 1958, 1965, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1979, 1981)
Article 8. Voting
The privileges of voting shall be limited to regular and associate members of the Association in good standing. (amend. 1948)
Article 9. Order of the Business
The order of the business at any meeting of the Association shall be:
a. Reading of the minutes of the last meeting (amend. 2008)
b. Unfinished business
c. Financial Statement and Report of Auditor
d. Communications
e. Report of Committees
f. Resolutions
g. Election of Officers
h. Announcements
i. Adjournment
Article 10. Quorum
Eight (8) members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Executive. Ten (10) members of the Association shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any annual meeting of the Association. (amend. 1965, 2008)
Article 11. Non-Profit and Dissolution
a. The Association shall conduct its affairs without the purpose of financial gain for its members and any profits or other accretions of the Association shall be used in promoting its objectives.
b. In the event of dissolution or winding up of the Association, all its remaining assets, after payment of liabilities shall be distributed to one or more recognized charitable organizations in Canada.
Article 12. Amendments of the Constitution
The constitution may be amended as follows:
a. Notice of proposed amendment shall be mailed to all members eligible to vote at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which the vote on the proposed amendment is to be recorded.
b. The proposed amendment shall be declared carried and shall become part of this constitution of two-thirds of all members present at the meeting eligible to vote thereon, vote in favor of the amendment.
