Ohio Simmental Association, Inc.

Constitution of Ohio Junior Simmental Association

Preamble: The Ohio Junior Simmental Association hereinafter referred to as the OJSA, is the official youth organization of the Ohio Simmental Association. The OJSA and its members shall be subject to all rules and bylaws of the Ohio Simmental Association unless otherwise specified herein. The constitution and bylaws of the OJSA, as ratified by the membership of the OJSA and approved by the Board of Trustees of the Ohio Simmental Association, are to serve as a framework within which the affairs of the OJSA shall be conducted. Amendments to the constitution as well as all policy decisions made by the OJSA Board of Trustees, shall be subject to final approval by the Ohio Simmental Association Board of Trustees before said decisions become official OJSA policy.

Article I: Name and purpose

Section 1: This organization shall be a division of the Ohio Simmental Association shall operate within the scope of the bylaws, rules and regulations of the Ohio Simmental Association, and shall be named the Ohio Junior Simmental Association.

Section 2: The objectives and purposes of the Ohio Junior Simmental Association shall be as follows:

A. To improve and promote the Simmental Breed of cattle.

B. To improve and develop the capabilities of youth, both individually and through group participation, in the breeding, raising, exhibiting, and promoting of American Simmental cattle.

C. To develop and improve scholarship, leadership and community interest of young cattlemen.

D. To encourage high moral character, sportsmanship, and clean living among its members.

E. To establish a means whereby junior members may work in conjunction with the American Simmental Association Youth and Education Committee.

F. To assist the OSA with their youth programs and activities.

G. To acquaint the junior members with the structure and functions of the AJSA and the OJSA.

Section 3: Ohio Junior Simmental Advisors*:

A. Qualifications:

- Possess the personal characteristics and abilities to work with a variety of people and age groups, especially relating to youth, ages 6 - 21.

- Be a mature, energetic individual who has the ability to make decisions for the good of the total Ohio Junior Program and membership.

- To be willing to utilize personal time and finances to travel and promote Ohio Beef at Ohio, regional and national American Junior Simmental Association (AJSA) competitions as this is a volunteer/appointed position.

- Hold past experience and knowledge of not only the Ohio Junior Simmental program, but the AJSA and the Beef Industry. The experience needed, but not limited to in areas of conducting junior beef cattle shows; scoring events, rules of events; organizing workshops and fund raising.

- Understand the OJSA program is a beef educational organization for youth.

- Must strive to maintain integrity of the OJSA as an organized "Family" program.

- Possess the leadership skills to perform specific duties for a large state organization and delegate responsibility when needed.

- Be able to motivate youth and adult family members to complete tasks as delegated.

- Be able to effectively communicate verbally and in writing information to the OJSA membership, their parents, the OSA and other interested parties.

B. Specific Duties:

- Represent and support all OJSA members regardless of the advisors personal status as married or single; parent of an active junior or not.

- Plan and implement educational workshops throughout the year, a minimum one time monthly, October thru May.

- Organize interested family members in assisting with food preparations at shows and other fund raisers.

- Utilize Ohio Simmental breeders, OSA Board members, and other appropriate persons as resources for study sessions, judging competition, Ohio Classic Show, etc.

- Use creativity in developing outstanding OJSA Junior displays, cattle and booths For regional and national shows.

- Be willing to step in, instruct; teach; advise young members as needed in understanding the ASA junior competition programs and displaying Simmental cattle for exhibition.

- Plan, organize and oversee fund raisers including special dinners; silent auctions; heifer raffles and/or other fund raising opportunities.

- Conduct at least one Ohio Junior Show yearly. Currently, Ohio Memorial Day Classic is one specific show. This includes organization and assisting "Host" family(s) and county with fairground arrangements; holding at least 7 specific events following AJSA National Guidelines; planning and purchasing awards; scoring events.

- Oversee the Treasury of OJSA either by acting as the adult representative or Appointing another interested person. This includes maintaining current balances; recording income and expenses effectively and efficiently. This should also include arranging for audit of the account a minimum of every two years.

- Be responsible for a written report to the Ohio Simmental Association Board that includes the OJSA current activity and treasury on a regular basis.

- Foster a positive relationship with all members from Ohio to include as one family unit when exhibiting at regional and national AJSA sponsored shows.

- Provide guidance to OJSA officers as they conduct meetings; organize events; and other specific duties of their respective office.

- Assist older OJSA members and officers in developing their leadership skills, encouraging their involvement with less experienced members.

*Approved by OJSA membership 6-25-01

Article II:

Section 1: Membership: Active members shall be person twenty (20) years of age or under as of January 1st of the current membership year. The voting rights in the OJSA shall be vested exclusively in active members. OJSA membership fees shall be determined by the OJSA Board of Trustees and shall be assessed annually. Membership shall allow a youth all privileges of an active member, and in addition, all privileges of a member of the Ohio Simmental Association, the parent association, except the right to vote at the OSA membership meetings and hold office in the parent organization.

Section 2: Approval of the OJSA: The OJSA is eligible to be recognized and considered in good standing with the AJSA when the following general conditions are met:

(a) The OJSA shall submit to the ASA a complete list of the OJSA officers and the youth advisor(s) on or before July P'. The OJSA officers must be members in good standing of the OJSA.

(b) Annually, an OJSA membership list must be sent to the AJSA on or before July 1st. The AJSA is to be notified of any amendments made to the OJSA constitution.

(c) No provision of the OJSA constitution is in conflict with the AJSA or the ASA constitution, bylaws, or general rules and regulations.

(d) All OJSA should be in harmony with the ideals and purposes of the AJSA and the ASA.

(e) Membership must be open to all youth 20 years of age and under (as of January 1st of the current membership year) who are interested in American Simmental cattle.

(f) One state junior association recognized per state.

Article III : Trustees, Officers, and Executive Committee

Section 1:

Board of Trustees: The Board shall consist of four officers elected by the membership at large and two (2) trustees from each of the three districts in Ohio, each to be elected by their district membership.

(a) The active membership of each of the three districts of the OJSA shall annually elect by a majority vote one (1) of their district number as their District Trustee.

(b) Vacancy: In the case of any vacancy on the Board of Trustee, a successor shall be selected by the remaining members of the board to fill the unexpired term.

(c) Powers of the Board: The Board of Trustees shall have the power and Authority to direct the affairs of the OJSA, including, but not limited to, the right to make, amend and repeal the constitution of the OJSA, subject to vote of the membership, as they may deem expedient concerning the conduct, management, and activities of the OJSA, the admission, classification, qualification, suspension and expulsion of members, removal of officers. And/or advisor(s), expenditure of money, and other details relating to the general purposes of the OJSA subject to review by the ASA Youth and Education Committee and approval of the ASA Board of Trustees.

Section 2: Areas of the OJSA: The State of Ohio shall be divided into three Districts that are synonymous with the area designation of the OSA.

Section 3: Officers: The officers of the OJSA shall be the president, vice president, secretary and reporter, who shall be elected by a majority vote at annual membership meeting.

(a) President: The president shall preside over all meetings of the OJSA and the OJSA Board of Trustees. The president all appoint all committees. The president shall submit a report of the status OJSA and its activities during the preceding year. The president shall have such other and further duties and authority as may be prescribed else where in this constitution or from time to time by the Board of Trustees.

(b) Vice President: The Vice President shall in the absence, disability or inability to act of the president, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the president, and shall perform such other duties as the president shall from time to time prescribe.

(c) Secretary: The Secretary shall manage and administer the affairs of the OJSA in accordance with the policy directives from the Board of Trustees. The secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings, and give notices as required and in general, perform all duties of the secretary and such other duties that may be assigned by the president and the Board of Trustees.

(d) Reporter: The reporter shall report and make notice available to the membership, and the public of all OJSA scheduled events, and any available results of the events, through the use of the OSA newsletter or any other appropriate media.

(e) Vacancies of elected officers: All vacancies in the elective offices of the OJSA shall be filled by election from the Board of Trustees for the unexpired term and those so elected shall serve until the election and acceptance of their duly qualified successors.

Section 4: Executive Committee:

(a) The executive committee of the OJSA shall consist of the president, vice president, secretary and reporter elected by the membership at its annual meeting.

(b) Powers of executive committee: All powers of the Board of Trustees shall be and they are hereby vested in the executive committee. During the interim between annual meetings, or special meetings, of the Board of Trustees, the executive committee is empowered to direct the affairs of the OJSA.

Article IV: Meetings

Section 1: Membership meetings:

(a) Meetings: The regular annual meeting of the OJSA shall be held at such time and place as may be fixed by the Executive Committee of the OJSA for the purpose of electing officers and district trustees and conduct of such other business as may be brought before the meeting. Special meetings of the membership may be held as such time and place as may be designated in the notice, whenever called in writing by the direction of the president or by a majority of the Board of Trustees.

(b) Notice of meetings: Written or printed notice of all meetings stating the place, date and hour of meeting, and in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is being called, shall be mailed not less than 10 days before the date of the meeting. Such notice shall be deemed to be delivered, upon deposit in the United States mail addressed to recognized active members at their address as it appears on the records of the OJSA.

(c) Quorum: A quorum for an annual membership meeting shall consist of the active members, in good standing and present.

(d) Parliamentary Procedure: Standard parliamentary procedure as defined by Robert's Rules of Order shall be followed at all meetings of the OJSA.

Section 2: Board of Trustees meetings:

(a) Meetings: The regular annual meeting of the Board of Trustees shall be held at such time as may be fixed by the executive committee of the OJSA for the purpose of conducting such business as may be brought before the meeting. Special meetings of the Board of Trustees may be held at such time and place as may be designated in the notice, whenever called in writing by the direction of the president or by a majority of the Board of Trustees.

(b) Notice of meetings: Written or printed notice of all meetings stating the place, date and hour of meeting, and in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes of which the meeting is being called, shall be mailed not less than 10 days before the date of the meeting. Such notice shall be deemed to be delivered, upon deposit in the United State mail, addressed to recognized active members at their address as it appears on the records of the OJSA.

(c) Quorum: A majority of the number of the trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if at any meeting of the Board there may be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum shall be present.

Section 3: Executive Committee meetings:

(a) The executive committee shal meet whenever and wherever called by direction of the president or three of the members of the committee acting jointly.

(b) Quorum: The quorum of the executive committee shall be three members.

Article V: Committees

Section 1: Standing committees: There shall be four (4) standing committees.

(a) Membership committee

(b) Memorial Day Classic Show Committee

(c) Education and public information committee

(d) Fundraising committee

Section 2: Standing Committee Chairman: Each standing committee shall be chaired by a member of the OJSA

Section 3: Committee members: Standing committee members shall be appointed by the president. Each trustee of the OJSA shall serve as a member of one standing committee.

Section 4: Temporary committees: Temporary committees shall be created by the President at his discretion. Chairman and members shall be appointed by the president.

Article VI: Place of Business

Section 1: The official place of business for the OJSA shall be the home of the Junior Advisor.

Article VII: By-Law Amendments

Section 1: The By-laws of the OJSA may be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present at any general meeting. Notice, however, of all proposed amendments must be made in writing to the Secretary 10 days prior to any general membership meeting and must be included in the notice calling the meeting.

Section 2: Proposed amendments to the constitution may be brought before the general membership only if approved by a majority vote of the OJSA Board of Trustees.

Section 3: All changes or amendments of the By-Laws made at any general membership meeting will become effective immediately.