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St. Louis Master Gardeners
Bylaws
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| The St. Louis Master Gardeners
bylaws were adopted
in October 2001.
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| I. NAME
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The name of the committee shall be the St. Louis Master Gardener Advisory Committee (hereinafter called the Advisory Committee).
| II. MISSION STATEMENT
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The mission of the St. Louis Master Gardener Program is to provide research-based horticultural information to the public for community service and gardening pleasure.
| III. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
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| The St. Louis Master Gardener Program operates within guidelines set forth by University of Missouri Outreach and Extension’s "Policies and Procedures for the Missouri Master Gardener Program" (Appendix 1) and complies with national rules governing Master Gardener Programs. Cooperative program initiatives are carried out in conjunction with the Missouri Botanical Garden and are governed by the "Memorandum of Understanding Between the Board of Curators, University of Missouri System, University Outreach and Extension; Lincoln University, and the Missouri Botanical Garden" (Appendix 2). Specific conditions for operation are set out in the "Partnership Agreement between University Outreach and Extension and Missouri Botanical Garden St. Louis Master Gardener Program Roles and Responsibilities" (Appendix 3).
| | IV. MEMBERSHIP
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Article A. Elected Members
The Advisory Committee shall have seven (7) elected members, who shall be voting members.
Article B. Ad Hoc or Ex Officio Members
The Advisory Committee may have Ad Hoc or Ex Officio members as deemed necessary by the Advisory Committee. Such members shall be recruited and selected by the Master Gardener Program Coordinators (hereinafter called Program Coordinators) acting in consultation with the Advisory Committee. Ad Hoc or Ex Officio members shall not be voting members and shall serve at the discretion of the Advisory Committee and the Program Coordinators.
Article C. St. Louis Master Gardener Program Coordinators
The University of Missouri Outreach and Extension Regional Horticultural Specialist and the Missouri Botanical Garden Kemper Center Manager, who serve as the St. Louis Master Gardener Program Coordinators, shall be Ex Officio members of the Advisory Committee. The Regional Horticultural Specialist shall serve as liaison between the Advisory Committee and the Missouri State Master Gardener Advisory Board.
| V. MEETINGS
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Meetings of the Advisory Committee shall be held monthly. The Advisory Committee shall establish dates, times and locations of meetings.
| VI. NOMINATION, SELECTION AND REMOVAL OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS
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Article A. Nomination
Section 1. A St. Louis Master Gardener (hereinafter called Master Gardener) may nominate herself or himself to serve on the Advisory Committee. Another Master Gardener may nominate him or her.
Section 2. A call for nominations shall appear in the monthly newsletter at least two months prior to each election.
Article B. Selection
Section 1. The Master Gardeners shall annually elect by ballot new Advisory Committee members for the following two (2) years. Ballots received by the Program Coordinators by the Friday preceding the November Advisory Committee meeting will be counted at said meeting. Results of the election will be announced at the December annual meeting.
Article C. Removal From Office
Any Advisory Committee member with more than three (3) unexcused absences shall be subject to removal from office by the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee shall consider extenuating circumstances before recommending removal.
| VII. TERMS OF OFFICE
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The Advisory Committee year is from January 1 through December 31.
Article A. Length of Term
An elected Master Gardener member of the Advisory Committee shall serve a two (2) year term. At least three (3) of the elected Master Gardeners on the Advisory Committee shall be replaced each year. No Master Gardener may serve more than two (2) full consecutive terms without a two (2) year absence.
Article B. Replacement
If a Master Gardener is unable to fulfill her or his term on the Advisory Committee, a replacement shall be appointed by the Advisory Committee to serve until the next regularly scheduled election. A Master Gardener appointed to a vacancy may then be eligible for election to two (2) two (2) year terms.
| VIII. DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE
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In accordance with the "Partnership Agreement between University Outreach and Extension and Missouri Botanical Garden" dated 7/25/00, the duties of the Committee are:
A. Serves as primary advisory group to the St. Louis Master Gardener Partnership program as follows:
- Provides recommendations on policies and procedures in writing through the Program Coordinators to the Standing Subcommittee on Operations.
- Communicates in writing the needs and desires of the Master Gardener community through the Program Coordinators to the Standing Subcommittee on Operations.
- Works closely with the Program Coordinators to improve overall program and services of Master Gardeners to the community.
- Provides input in writing into the educational training program through the Program Coordinators to the Standing Subcommittee on Operations.
- Coordinates scheduling and maintains the speaker roster for the Master Gardener Speaker’s Bureau under the auspices of the Standing Subcommittee on Operations.
- Develops educational and social activities for Master Gardeners.
- Recognizes and honors Master Gardeners, including the granting of emeritus status.
- Serves as a leadership group to increase community awareness of Master Gardener programs.
- Assists in the development of an annual monetary plan (including both income producing opportunities and expenditures) which is in compliance with MOU Partnership guidelines.
| | IX. DUTIES OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PROGRAM COORDINATORS
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In accordance with "Partnership Agreement between University Outreach and Extension and Missouri Botanical Garden dated 7/25/00", the Advisory Committee, in conjunction with the Program Coordinators, shall:
- Recruit potential Master Gardener applicants.
- Screen and select Master Gardener applicants as per State Master Gardener guidelines.
- Identify, review and evaluate volunteer Master Gardener opportunities within state guidelines, and communicate in writing to the Standing Subcommittee on Operations.
- Develop and distribute the Master Gardener Newsletter.
| X. OFFICERS AND DUTIES
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Officers of the Advisory Committee shall be a Chairperson, Vice-chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. The Officers shall be voting members of the Advisory Committee and shall be elected by the Advisory Committee at the January meeting each year for a term of one (1) year, not to exceed two (2) consecutive terms.
The duties of the officers are as follows:
Article A. Chairperson
- Presides over all scheduled meetings of the Advisory Committee.
- Presents a meeting agenda each month after consulting with the Program Coordinators.
- Reserves facilities for scheduled meetings.
- Other duties as deemed necessary or appropriate.
Article B. Vice-chairperson
- Assumes duties/responsibilities of Chairperson in his/her absence.
- Other duties as deemed necessary or appropriate.
Article C. Secretary
- Records and keeps minutes of all meetings of the Advisory Committee.
- Prepares and distributes copies of the minutes to all Committee members prior to the scheduled meetings of the Advisory Committee.
- After approval, posts a copy of the minutes in a place accessible to all Master Gardeners for their review.
- Other duties as deemed necessary or appropriate.
Article D. Treasurer
- With the Advisory Committee, develops an annual budget, due September 30.
- Provides a monthly written "Treasurer’s Report" at the regularly scheduled Advisory Committee meeting.
- Provides an annual report of income and expenditures for the Advisory Committee, due December 31.
- Other duties as deemed necessary or appropriate.
| | XI. COMMITTEES
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Committees or sub-committees shall be established at the discretion of the Advisory Committee and the Program Coordinators, as deemed necessary or appropriate to serve the purpose of the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee and the Program Coordinators shall determine the composition and chairpersons of such committees.
| XII. OPERATION OF THE COMMITTEE
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Article A. Quorum
A quorum shall consist of at least four (4) voting members of the Advisory Committee.
Article B. Voting
Voting shall be done by voice. However, any Advisory Committee member may request a vote by a show of hands or secret ballot. Approval of any motion shall require a simple majority of voting members present.
Article C. Executive Session
The Committee may hold an executive session for confidential matters. Only voting members and the Program Coordinators shall be notified and in attendance.
Minutes from an executive session shall be attached as an addendum to the meeting minutes for Committee members. They shall not be part of the public record.
Article D. Conflict Resolution
Conflicts between and/or among Agreement-related staff members and Master Gardeners shall be resolved as outlined in "Conflict Resolution Procedures" approved by University Outreach and Extension, Lincoln University, and Missouri Botanical Garden Operations Subcommittee: May, 2000. (Appendix 4.)
Article E. Parliamentary Authority
Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority of all matters of procedure not specifically covered by the Bylaws or by specific rules of procedure adopted by the Advisory Committee.
| XIII. REVISION OF BYLAWS
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Proposals to revise the Bylaws may be made during any regularly scheduled meeting of the Advisory Committee. Proposed revisions shall be published in the meeting minutes and distributed to all Advisory Committee members. The proposed revisions shall be voted on at the next regularly scheduled Advisory Committee meeting. Approval of revisions requires the presence and a two thirds (2/3) majority of all voting members.
| XIV. MISCELLANEOUS
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| No member of the Advisory Committee shall represent the Advisory Committee or the St. Louis Master Gardener program in making any statement, written or oral, without prior authorization of the Advisory Committee or the Program Coordinators.
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