North Prairie Farmers Markets

Bylaws

The objective of the North Prairie Farmers Markets is to provide northwest North Dakota with high quality, fresh produce and products. It is also the intent of this organization to provide area producers with an outlet to sell their locally produced goods. The North Prairie Farmers Markets will help provide valuable information to both producers and consumers regarding the benefits of purchasing and consuming locally grown and made products.

Article I: Name

The Association shall be known as the North Prairie Farmers Markets (NPFM).

Article II: Membership

Section 1. Any member of a local North Prairie Farmers Market network market is by default a NPFM member. The NPFM Advisory Committee reserves the right to refuse membership to anyone who does not comply with the rules and regulations of the organization.

Section 2. Membership dues and fees will be set by the membership at the Annual Meeting.

Section 3. Members may be expelled from the organization with cause by a majority vote of the membership at any meeting. Notice must be given to the member in question no less than seven days before the meeting that their situation is discussed.

Section 4. Each paid membership fee constitutes one vote on all issues submitted to a vote at meetings.

Article III: Meetings

Section 1. There shall be one meeting per calendar year designated as the Annual Meeting.

Section 2. Notice of all meetings shall be made to the membership at least seven days prior to the meeting. The date, time, place, and agenda shall be distributed to all members at that time.

Section 3. Each member of this organization shall be entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the members.

Section 4. Any Advisory Committee member in good standing shall be eligible to hold any office in this organization.

Section 5. A minimum of fifty percent of the members must be in attendance at the scheduled meeting to constitute a quorum.

Article IV: Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee shall consist of two representatives from each member market and one Northwest Venture Communities Board Member. They will conduct all business on behalf of the membership as related to NPFM unless otherwise stated in these bylaws as requiring a general membership vote.

Article V: Officers

The officers shall consist of a President and Vice-President. They shall each hold one year terms of office to be elected by the Advisory Committee at the meeting following the Annual Meeting. The Secretary/Treasurer will be the designated representative from the Northwest Venture Communities Board.

Article VI: Responsibility of Officers

Section 1. The president will preside at all meetings of this organization. They shall sign any contracts or documents executed on behalf of the organization. They shall perform all duties incident to this office.

Section 2. The Vice President will perform all duties of the President in the case of their absence. They will perform all other duties as assigned by the members.

Section 3. The Secretary/Treasurer will record the minutes of all proceedings of the organization and will receive the file proceedings of committees. They will hold all official documents and sign, along with the President, any contracts executed on behalf of the organization. They will account for any receipts and disbursements of the organization and will perform all other duties as assigned by the members, including presenting statements of finances and keeping a roll of members present at the meetings.

Section 4. No obligation of expenses will be incurred and no money will be appropriated without prior approval of the Advisory Committee. All checks issued for the organization will be signed by the Secretary/Treasurer.

Article VII: Vendor Regulations

The market regulations and guidelines will be set by the Advisory Committee and will be presented to the membership at the annual meeting.

Article VIII: Amendments

These by-laws may be amended by a two thirds majority vote of the quorum at any meeting provided the content of the changes are included in the agenda handed out prior to the meeting.

Article IX:

These bylaws have been adopted on April 20, 2006 by the Advisory Committee of the North Prairie Farmers Markets.