Organizational Structure
Opportunities
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Constitution
Article I — Preamble
We the "National Organization of
Professional Hispanic Natural Resources Conservation Service Employees" believe
in the spirit of cooperation and support to the Natural Resources Conservation
Service in its mission. We have elected to form an Organization in order to
assist the NRCS deliver program benefits/services to the Hispanic community and
showcase the value that Hispanics bring into any organization and the value that
Hispanics will continue to bring to the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
As a key component of a multi-culture and diverse workforce that provides for
Hispanic employee representation at all levels in direct proportion to the
population of Hispanic taxpayer/customers/stakeholders. We will serve as a
strong link between NRCS and the Hispanic community. Membership in the
Organization is open to all NRCS employees. With the following Charter
and companion By-Laws, we will achieve our vision by:
- Assisting NRCS performance in the
delivery of program benefits and services to the Hispanic community in the
conservation of natural resources.
- Remaining a vital component of a multi-cultural workforce with Hispanics
and NRCS as partners for
success.
- Serving as the liaison between the Hispanic community and other NRCS colleagues.
- Assist Natural Resources Conservation Service in achieving equal
representation of Hispanics in the workforce that leads toward a
multi-cultural organization to improve the agency performance of assisting
stakeholders in the conservation of natural resources.
This organization has been endorsed
by the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, William Richards, by
letter dated December 15, 1992.
Article II — Name of the Organization
- The name of this Organization
shall be the "National Organization of Professional Hispanic Natural
Resources Conservation Service Employees." Hereafter, shall also be referred
to as the Organization.
Article III — Organization Motto
"Hispanics — Partners for Success"
Article IV — Purpose & Goal
The purpose of the National
Organization of Professional Hispanic NRCS Employees is to assist NRCS in the
delivery of program benefits and services to the Hispanic rural/urban community
by strengthening NRCS efforts in the recruitment, retention, development, and
advancement of Hispanics. The goal is to assist NRCS in the technology transfer
of information to the Hispanic community. The purpose will be fulfilled by
providing a forum that:
- Serves as a partner between the
Hispanic community and NRCS/USDA in addressing natural resource management
issues.
- Assists NRCS/USDA identify
Hispanic community leaders to assist in the delivery of program benefits and
services for the conservation of natural resources.
- Assists NRCS become a leader in the
development of bilingual natural resources information for the efficient
transfer of information.
- Assists NRCS meet its mission,
vision, and goals in the conservation of natural resources among Hispanic
customers and stakeholders.
- Assists NRCS and its partners
identify and provide leadership training for Hispanic community leaders to
promote stewardship of the land.
- Assists NRCS develop bilingual
visual images that describe the agency mission and challenges.
- Serves in an advocacy role for increased recognition of Hispanics as a
viable part of our NRCS
workforce.
- Promotes a greater sense of pride, professionalism, and unity among
employees.
- Serves to increase awareness of Hispanic culture to leadership of the
Natural Resources Conservation Service.
- Strengthens relationships of Hispanic Association of Colleges and
Universities (HACU) and other Universities
with NRCS resulting in enhanced recruitment.
- Develops a network that fosters a productive working relationship
between employees and leadership of NRCS.
- Assists in the enhancement of technical and leadership skills of
employees to meet NRCS current and future
needs by sponsoring scholarships, workshops, seminars, field days, and similar
events.
- Creates opportunities for employees to gain experience, visibility and
recognition.
- Encourages a mentor program that is sensitive to cultural, individual,
and professional needs of employees to aid in their retention, development
and advancement.
- Assists NRCS obtain ideas from the
local level on improving delivery of program benefits and services for a healthy
land and quality environment.
- Assists NRCS hear and understand
the concerns from the Hispanic community on natural resource management
issues.
- Enhances employees knowledge of local, state, national, and
international issues and concerns relative to USDA and NRCS.
- Serves as liaison between NRCS and
the Hispanic Community in promoting the conservation of our nations natural
resources.
Article V — Government
Laws — The laws of this Organization
shall consist of the Constitution, the By-Laws, the Robert’s Rule of Order, and
any additional regulations passed by the National Council.
Article VI — Membership
- Eligibility — Any person or
organization subscribing to the constitution and bylaws of the Organization is
eligible to apply for membership.
- Class — The membership in this
Organization shall be the following classes as defined by the
By-Laws:
- Charter/Regular
- Life
- Honorary
- Associate
- Institutional
- Student
Article VII — Membership Dues
Membership will cover the twelve
month period of the calendar year and dues will be:
Membership Type |
Price |
Charter/Regular |
$ 30.00 per annum* |
Associate |
$ 15.00 per annum |
Life |
$ 500.00 lifetime
membership |
Honorary |
$ 10.00 per annum |
Institutional |
$ 250.00 per
annum |
Student |
$ 10.00 per annum |
Dues will be prorated for new membership
based on the remaining portion of the year in which the Organization is
joined.
Article VIII — Organization
This Corporation is organized
exclusively for charitable purposes within the section 501(c) 3 of the Internal
Revenue Code.
Notwithstanding any other provision
of the Articles, the Corporation shall not carry on any other activities not
permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from Federal Income Tax
under section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Service Code of 1986 (or the
corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b)
by a corporation contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c) (2)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provisions of any
future United States Internal Revenue Law). **
- The Organization will consist of
Officers and Regional Council Representatives. This body will be known as the
National Council and will consist of five officers (President, Vice- President,
Executive Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary) and one representative per
region.
* Amended 1/21/98 ** Amended
11/20/97
- There will be seven regions. The
boundaries of these regions will parallel those of the Natural Resources
Conservation Service administrative regions for the East, Midwest, Northern
Plains, West, South Central, Southeast and Caribbean Area. The NHQ will be
included in the East.*
Election officers will be in
accordance with Article X of this constitution.
**
Article IX — Chapter
There is one National Chapter of the
National Organization of Professional Hispanic Natural Resources Conservation
Service Employees.
Article X — Elections
- All officers and regional
representatives will be elected for a two year term. The regional
representatives will be elected by the membership of the region represented.
The office of President, Executive Vice-President, Secretary, and Regional
Representative from the Northern Plains, Midwest, Northeast and Caribbean Area
will be elected in even numbered years. The office of Vice-President, Treasurer and Regional Representative from the South East, South Central and West will be
elected in odd numbered years. The President will appoint a Chair for the
Nominations committee, this committee will the have responsibility for the
nominations process and will work with the Vice-President to conduct the
elections for the organization.
- Election of all officers and
regional representatives will be by membership ballot prior to the annual
Organization meeting. The nominees receiving a majority of votes shall be
elected.
- The terms of officers and regional
representatives shall be from the date of entering office (the first annual
meeting following the election) until the next election.
- Any officer or regional
representative may serve up to two consecutive terms.
- In case of a vacancy, a
replacement officer or regional representative shall be appointed by the
president and approved by the National Council. Such appointee will serve only
for the duration of the unexpired term of their predecessor.
- Anyone with current Charter,
Regular, Life, or Institution membership in the Organization shall be eligible
to vote in any election of officers and / or regional representatives. Anyone
with Honorary membership shall have the rights and privileges of regular members
excluding the right to hold office, make motions, and vote. *
* Amended 1/21/98 ** Amended
11/20/97
Article XI — Standing Committees
- Standing committees shall be
designated and directed by the National Council and shall be defined in the
By-Laws.
- The Chairperson of any committee
shall report to the National Council through the Vice-President.
- Each Chairperson will be
responsible for developing a plan of action to include issue, action(s), person
responsible, and date for completion. The Chair will submit to the
Vice-President a progress report (including a negative report if no action has
been taken) on a quarterly basis. It is the duty and responsibility of the Chair
to keep the Vice President informed of all activities within each
committee.
Article XII — Finances, Books and Records
- No financial resources or net
earnings of the Organization shall be used to the benefit of, or be distributed
to its members, officers, regional representatives, or other private persons,
except that the Organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay a
reasonable compensation for service rendered and to make payments and
distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article IV. The
Organization shall not participate in the publishing or distribution of
statements for any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public
office.
Not withstanding any other provision of these Articles, the
Organization shall not, except of an insubstantial degree, engage in any
activities, or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of the
Organization. **
- Records and financial statements
will be prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
(GAAP).
Upon the dissolution of the
Organization, assets will be distributed for one or more exempt purposes, to be
determined by the National Council, within the meaning of Section 501 (c) 3 of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or corresponding section of any future
federal tax code, or shall be distributed to federal government, or to a state
or local government, for the publics’ purpose. Any such assets not so disposed
shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the
principle office of the Organization in located, exclusively for such purposes
or to such organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and
operated exclusively for such purposes. **
** Amended
11/20/97
Article XIII — Organization Publications
- The official publications of the
Organization are:
- Organization Constitution
- Organization By-Laws
- Organization Directory
- Organization Newsletter
Article XIV — Dissolution of the Organization
- A. An affirmative, two-thirds vote,
of Organization voting members will be required to dissolve the Organization.
The organization shall be dissolved within sixty (60) days of the affirmative
vote. A special ballot for this purpose shall be prepared and mailed to
members.
- B. A special meeting of the National
Council shall convene to implement dissolution. Such meeting requires written
membership notification of at least thirty (30) days prior to the
meeting.
- Upon winding up and dissolution of this Corporation,
after paying or winding up and dissolution of this Corporation, after paying or
adequately providing for the debts and obligations of the Corporation, the
remaining assets shall be distributed to a non-profit fund, foundation, or
corporation which is organized and operated exclusively for charitable
educational, religious, and/or scientific purposes and which has established its
tax exempt status under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue
Code.**
Article XV — Meetings
- An annual meeting of the
membership will be held. Special meeting(s) will be held as provided for in the
By-Laws.
Article XVI — Amendments
- Amendments to the Organization
Charter and By-Laws will be proposed in writing by any Charter, Regular,
Lifetime, and/or Institutional member at any regular or special meeting of the
Organization or at any time to their regional representative.
- Amendments require a two-thirds
vote of the National Council.
- The amendment(s) shall become
effective immediately upon adoption.
** Amended
11/20/97
Latest Revision Date:
September 20, 2004
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