Our original bylaws

Albuquerque Area Master Gardeners
Constitution and Bylaws

We, the Albuquerque Area Master Gardeners, in order to provide plant science and practical horticulture learning opportunities by which local gardeners may become Master Gardeners, to plan and develop advanced training experiences for them, to increase their knowledge of botany and related sciences, to conduct all types of educational or service activities related to home gardening as volunteers cooperating with and with the support of the Bernalillo County Cooperative Extension Service and the Council of Albuquerque Garden Clubs Inc., of which we are a member, and to help promote and support botanical and horticultural beautification and ecological projects planned by the City of Albuquerque and the County of Bernalillo, do hereby establish the Albuquerque Area Master Gardeners Association effective Jan. 1, 1991.
ARTICLE I
Objective;
The objective of the Albuquerque Area Master Gardeners Association (hereinafter to be designated as AAMG) is to develop a corps of Master Gardeners who will assist the Bernalillo County Extension Service and surrounding County Extension Services in providing area residents with horticultural information as developed and approved by New Mexico State University.
ARTICLE II
Membership;
Membership shall be limited to the following; Gardeners who have successfully completed the required training as prescribed by the AAMG and the Bernalillo County Extension Service representative and who have performed the required service hours in the current year or previous year. The Bernalillo County Extension Person who has been assigned the responsibility by the Bernalillo County Cooperative Extension Service for providing this program with assistance and cooperation. He/She shall meet with the AAMG, give guidance, assist with the planning and development of educational programs, and serve as advisor to all Master Gardener activities.
ARTICLE III
Year of Operation
This association’s year of operation shall begin November 1st and continue through October 31. The annual meeting shall be held at the end of the year of operation. A quorum shall be ten (10) percent of the total membership.
ARTICLE IV
Board of Directors;
The functions of AAMG shall be carried out by a Board of Directors composed of the Bernalillo County Extension Service Representative, elected Board members and the immediate past Coordinator. Membership of the AAMG Board of Directors shall be determined by the entire membership at the annual meeting. Election to the Board shall be made from a single slate nominated by a nominating committee composed of the Bernalillo County Extension Service Representative and four (4) Master Gardeners appointed by the current Board Coordinator. Nominations to the Board may be made from the floor at the annual meeting and may also be made by petition. Any petition of nomination for any individual must be signed by at least 10 currently active Master Gardeners in good standing and presented to the current Board at least 30 days prior to the election. All nominees must previously have agreed to serve on the Board and to serve as chairperson of some committee. The number of nominees shall be determined by the number of Officers (4) and committee chairmen needed to fill the desired chairmanships (currently a total of 9). In the event that there are more nominations for the Board than there are vacancies those nominees receiving the most votes up to the number of vacancies shall be elected. All AAMG Board members will chair a committee and are expected to attend all Board meetings. Appointment to a chairmanship shall be made by the Bernalillo County Extension Service Representative and the current Master Gardener coordinator from among those elected. Chairpersons shall, in cooperation with the Bernalillo County Extension Service Representative and Coordinator, recruit Master Gardeners to work with them on their assigned tasks.
ARTICLE V.
Officers;
The Officers of the Board shall be as follows (their duties are further listed under Policies).
Coordinator of the Master Gardeners shall be appointed by the Bernalillo County Extension Service Representative each year for a term of one year but may be reappointed to an additional one year term. The Coordinator shall chair the meetings of the AAMG, the Board and the training sessions and shall coordinate the activities of AAMG and the Master Gardeners.
Vice-Coordinator, shall perform any duties assigned by the coordinator, and in the absence of the coordinator, fill that position and shall be given first consideration for appointment to coordinator whenever that position becomes vacant.
Secretary shall record, distribute and file minutes of meetings and turn the file over to his/her successor promptly at the completion of his/her term of office. He/She shall also keep a record of any policies established by the Board in a separate policy file which shall be reviewed (and updated as needed) at least once annually by the Board. Copies of this Constitution and By-Laws and the policy file shall be provided to each Board member at the time they assume office.
Treasurer, shall collect, record and disburse all monies with the exception of petty cash and refreshment kitty that may be kept by the Coordinator or other assigned person, for current needs. Complete records of petty cash funds must be made annually to the treasurer. The treasurer shall provide the Board with a monthly accounting and shall turn over complete records of the organizations financial status to his/her successor.
ARTICLE VI
Membership Terms
AAMG membership may be terminated by the resignation of the member or by failure of the member to continue the required training and service. AAMG Board membership may be terminated by resignation, by failure to continue AAMG membership, by failure of the member to perform the duties prescribed or by a 2/3 majority vote of the remainder of AAMG Board indicating that this would be in the best interest of the Master Gardener program. Absence from three consecutive AAMG Board meetings without an acceptable explanation may also be cause for removal of that person from AAMG Board membership.
Maximum duration in office for any committee chairperson shall be three (3) years with the exception of a position for which there is no other qualified Master Gardener. They may however be appointed to another position on the board if they are qualified to perform that work. Training and preparing Master Gardeners to fill positions on AAMG Board shall be a constant goal of the Coordinator, the Bernalillo County Extension Service Representative and all others. In the event that a committee chairperson or board member can no longer serve, a replacement shall be appointed by the Bernalillo County Extension Service Representative and the Coordinator.
ARTICLE VII
Changes in these By-Laws may be made by the AAMG after notification to all members of the proposed change at least one month (thirty days) before the vote on the proposed change. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the membership is required for the adoption of changes. This vote must take place at the annual meeting.
ARTICLE VIII
In the event that this organization be dissolved, all assets shall revert to some educational institution such as a school or college. All records shall be turned over to the Extension Service for storage until a replacement group is formed or if that does not occur within a reasonable period, for disposal by the Extension Service.
adopted September 1990
Revised and adopted -------------1993

These By-Laws were amended in 1995 with the change being made that the Coordinator would be elected by the membership at the annual meeting. 

Other changes have been attempted at various times but they have never been legally adopted because the requirement for a 2/3 majority vote of the membership was never met. 

09/29/2006