ORANGE COUNTY 4-H COUNCIL CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE  I                NAME    The organization shall be known as the Orange County 4-H Council.

ARTICLE II                PURPOSE   We, the 4-H members of Orange County, in order to provide additional opportunities for personal development, leadership and growth, and to function as a tool of the 4-H program, do hereby establish this Constitution of the Orange County 4-H Council.

ARTICLE III               MEMBERSHIP   Each organized 4-H club will have 2 voting delegates on the Council.  Other 4-H members may attend.

ARTICLE IV              DUES   Each county shall submit to the Orange County 4-H Council annual dues in the amount of eight dollars ($8.00) to be deposited in the account of the Orange County Council.     

ARTICLE V               MEETINGS   Nine (9) regular meetings shall be held during the 4-H Council year. Special meetings may be held when deemed necessary and meetings may be cancelled when deemed necessary.

ARTICLE VI                       OFFICERS    The elected officers shall be President, Vice-President, Council Delegate, Alternate Delegate, Secretary, Treasurer Reporter, Historian, Parliamentarian and Sergeant at Arms. These elected officers shall compose the executive board, and shall act in the interest of the membership at times other than council meetings. The President, Vice-President, Delegate and Alternate Delegate will serve as the Orange County voting delegates on the District Council. 

ARTICLE VII             ELECTION OF OFFICERS   Offices of this council shall be elected at the spring council meeting and shall serve until their successors are elected and installed.  Candidates for office are to be selected from active club membership (membership qualifications, as stated in the by-laws). Candidates must be present to run for elected office.

ARTICLE VIII            DUTIES OF OFFICERS

PRESIDENT shall preside over all meeting of the Council, appoints and serves as an ex-officio member of all committees and performs other duties as required.  The President shall only vote in case of a tie.  The President represents Orange County as a voting delegate on the District and State Councils.

VICE PRESIDENT shall serve in the absence of the President. The Vice-President shall chair a committee and represent the Council as a voting delegate on the District Council.

DELEGATE represents the Council at the District and State Councils and chairs a committee. 

ALTERNATE DELEGATE represents at the Council at the District Council and serves in the absence of the Delegate on the State Council.

SECRETARY shall keep the minutes of the meetings, call the roll and keep correspondence of the Council.

TREASURER shall keep up to date with the financial dealings of the Council and present a report at meetings.

REPORTER            shall assist with the preparation and writing a bi-monthly newsletter.

HISTORIAN shall prepare slide show for the awards banquet as well as submit items for the state scrap book.

SARGEANT AT ARMS shall see that the meeting room is set up and returned to order following Council meetings.

PARLIMENTARIAN shall ensure that meetings run according to Robert's Rules of Order.

ARTICLE IX              COMMITTEES The President shall appoint all committees and may set up new committees when appropriate.  The standing committees of the 4-H Council shall be as follows:  Constitution Revision, Public Awareness, Awards Banquet, Share the Fun/Fashion Revue, County Events, Central Florida Fair Booth, Ways and Means and Community Service.

ARTICLE X               QUORUM    A quorum is present if representatives from 5 organized 4-H clubs are present.

ARTICLE XI              AMENDMENTS Any proposed amendments to the constitution must be sent to members at least a week prior to a Council meeting.  The Constitution may be amended by a 2/3 majority of the membership of the Council present at the meeting.

ARTICLE XII             BY-LAWS    Additional by-laws may be adopted for the successful operation of the Council.

4-H COUNCIL BY-LAWS

-  Regular meetings shall be held September through May each year.

- Special Meetings may be called by the Executive Board.

- All 4-H Club members are encouraged to attend Council meetings; however, only 2 delegates from each club have voting privileges.

- Robert's Rules of Order shall constitute the authority for council parliamentary procedure not otherwise specified in the constitution or by-laws.

- The 4-H Coordinator shall supervise the activities of council members at meetings & special events.

- This Council shall work cooperatively with the Florida 4-H Club Council in helping carry out the aims, objectives and programs of that organization; provided that such are consistent with the rules, objectives and programs of this Council.

- Teen leader club members may run for council office if they have attended three-fourths (2/3) of the County Council meetings and have the approval of their adult leader.

- Council officers shall wear appropriate 4-H dress at all council meetings and while representing the 4-H Council at other functions.

- Clubs active in the Council shall pay dues and attend three-fourths (3/4) of the Council Meetings.

- The Council Executive Board will appoint a replacement officer if the current officer is absent from two consecutive meetings or can not fulfill their duties.     

- County Council Officers must be active members of the 4-H Ambassadors Club

- Appointments to fill vacated County Council Officer positions will be made by the Agent or Adult in charge.