ARTICLE I
Name and Objectives
Section 1. The name of this organization is the North American Agricultural Journalists. It was founded in 1952
and was formerly the Newspaper Farm Editors of America, and then the National Association of Agricultural
journalists.
Section 2. The objectives of the organization are to promote the professional status of journalists with interest
in agriculture, to encourage high standards of professional competence, to emphasize the importance of
agricultural news in complete news coverage of the American scene and to provide a meeting place for
fellowship and professional improvement.
ARTICLE II
Membership and Dues
Section 1. Active membership in the North American of Agricultural Journalists is open to journalists in North
America who are either full-time employees or freelance writers for, newspapers, magazines, wire or
syndicated services, independent of agricultural organizations and businesses, who report or edit agricultural
news, including markets, for their employers, or active members who are retired from such positions.
Freelance writers who also write for advertising agencies or public relations firms are not eligible to join NAAJ.
Prior to acceptance, prospective freelancers must submit letters of recommendation by two active members.
Section 2. Prospective members shall apply to the executive secretary-treasurer. Those persons not clearly
meeting the criteria as established will be subject to review by the executive committee at the fall and annual
meetings.
Section 3. Associate member. Former active members of the organization who no longer meet the
requirements of Article II, Section 1, may elect to continue as associate members. Associate members will pay
the same annual dues as active members and will have all the privileges of membership except those of
voting in meetings and of holding office.
Section 4. Honorary member. The organization may, upon recommendation of the executive committee, confer
honorary membership upon persons who have made notable contributions to the profession of agricultural
journalism or to this organization. Election of such honorary members, following recommendation by the
executive committee, must be by a two-thirds vote of the active members voting at an annual meeting. Election
of honorary members shall be limited to not more than two each year. Honorary members will pay no dues
and will have all privileges of membership except those of voting and of holding office.
Section 5. Dues. The annual dues of this association, payable by all active and associate members, shall be
$60 per year, unless changed by a two-thirds vote of the members voting at the annual meeting. Dues are due
and payable for the coming year not later than December 31 of each year.
ARTICLE III
Contracts, Check and Deposits
Section 1. The members of this association may authorize any officer, officers, agent or agents to enter into
any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the association upon a
two-thirds vote of the membership present at any regular or special meeting of the membership.
Section 2. All funds of the association not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the
credit of the association in such bank or depository as the executive committee may select.
Section 3. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money in the name of the association shall be
issued by the treasurer with the approval of the president. The certificate of the executive secretary as to the
action of the association shall be sufficient evidence to authorize payment by the executive secretary-treasurer.
ARTICLE IV
Offices of the NAAJ
Section 1. The officers of the association shall be a president, a first vice president, five regional vice
presidents and an executive secretary-treasurer, elected for a term of one year at each annual meeting. Each
shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualified.
Section 2. All officers of NAAJ must be active members in good standing, except for the executive
secretary-treasurer. Members of NAAJ may, by a simple majority vote at the annual meeting, authorize the
president, first vice president and regional vice presidents to form a management committee of at least four
members to hire an executive secretary-treasurer. That management committee shall also be responsible for
establishing standards of performance and for an annual evaluation of the performance of the executive
secretary-treasurer. It will have the power to fire the executive secretary-treasurer for nonperformance of duties
as listed in Section 10 of Article IV. The paid, nonmember executive secretary-treasurer shall be an ex officio
member of the executive committee and the nominating committee that chooses officers. The paid
executive-treasurer can also be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the members of NAAJ at the annual
meeting.
If the executive secretary-treasurer is a hired non-member, the nominating process for NAAJ officers will be
administered by five past presidents who are active members, contacted by the president. It will be the
responsibility of the current president to begin the nominating process at least one month before the annual
meeting.
If the members of NAAJ do not vote to hire a non-member as executive secretary-treasurer, that officer must
also be a member in good standing and shall be elected by the members of NAAJ at the annual meeting. The
nominating committee will then include the executive secretary-treasurer.
Section 3, The president, the first vice president, the regional vice presidents and the executive
secretary-treasurer shall constitute the executive committee of the organization between general meetings,
using usual judgment and prudence and will perform such duties as are assigned to it by these bylaws and by
action of the membership.
Section 4. The nominating committee to select candidates for office in the organization shall be five active
former presidents, contacted by the executive secretary-treasurer.
Section 5. For the purpose of electing regional vice presidents, the following regions were established:
* Northeast - Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New
Jersey, Maryland, Delaware. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Washington, D.C.
* Southeast - Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee,
Kentucky, Mississippi.
* Midwest - Minnesota, Indiana, Wisconsin, Illinois, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri.
* Southwest - Arkansas, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana, Colorado.
* West - Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon. California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Utah. Wyoming.
* Canada - all provinces in Canada.
Section 6. Newly elected officers will take office at the close of the annual meeting at which they are elected.
Section 7. The president shall preside at all meetings and shall be chairman of the executive committee.
Section 8. The first vice president shall preside at meetings in the absence of the president and shall succeed
to the office of president in case of inability of the president to serve out his or her term.
Section 9. The regional vice presidents shall serve as members of the executive committee and are charged
with responsibilities for membership, and association activities in their respective regions.
Section 10. The executive secretary-treasurer shall keep the minutes of the meetings and of the executive
committee. He or she shall keep a register of the membership together with the post office address and
telephone number of each member and in general perform all duties related to the office of secretary. He or
she shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the association,
receive and give receipts for money due and payable to the association, from any source whatsoever, and
deposit all such money in the name of the association in such banks or other depositories as shall be
selected in accordance with the provision of Article III, Section 3, and in general perform all duties incidental to
the office of the treasurer. He or she shall make a financial report to the association during each annual
meeting. He or she shall have an expense account and be paid a stipend subject to review at the annual
meeting.
ARTICLE V
Meetings
Section 1. The annual meeting of NAAJ shall be held each year in the city designated by the president and
approved by the executive committee. Final approval by two-thirds of members present is required. At the
meeting, officers shall be elected, the actions of the executive committee presented for confirmation and such
other business transacted as may be brought before the meeting.
Section 2. Additional general or regional meetings may be called by the president at the instruction of the
executive committee.
ARTICLE VI
State and Regional Associations
Section 1. The NAAJ may encourage the formation of state or regional organizations of agricultural journalists
for mutual improvement and fellowship in their areas.
Section 2. This association may extend official recognition of affiliation to such state or regional organizations,
but reserves the right to withdraw such recognition upon majority vote of the members voting at an annual
meeting.
ARTICLE VII
Amendments
Section 1. These bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed and new bylaws may be adopted at any annual
meeting of the association by a two-thirds vote of members present.
Section 2. However, any proposed change in the form of an amendment, effort to repeal or otherwise, must be
submitted, in writing, to the president at least 60 days in advance of the date of an annual meeting; be
considered by the executive committee and carry a recommendation for approval, rejection or possible change
from that group when it is submitted for action by the NAAJ membership.
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North American Agricultural Journalists Bylaws
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