AGJA Proposed Bylaw Changes
Posted May 31, 2016
Voting will take place at the 2016 AGJA Dirt Road Classic in Stillwater, Oklahoma
Attention AGJA Members:
After review of the AGJA Rules and Bylaws at a spring board meeting at YBIC and over several conference calls, the AGJA Board of Directors has proposed the following changes. Minutes from those meetings can be requested by contacting AGA Junior Program Coordinator, Mary Bea Martin, at 303-465-2333.
Proposed Change 1:
Currently Bylaws Article III Section 3.10 reads:
3.10 Nominating Procedure: Candidates for election to the Board of Directors shall submit an application including information regarding their desire to become a Board Member and their background in the Association and the livestock industry to the Board of Directors prior to the Annual Meeting and consent to be interviewed by the Board of Directors. The Applications shall be presented to the membership and the Applicants nominated. Nominations for the Board of Directors may also be made from the floor during the Annual Meeting. Elections shall be decided by a simple majority of those members present and voting at the Annual Meeting. There shall be no proxy voting or voting by mail.
The AGJA Board of Directors suggests the following bylaw change in regards to section 3.10. Strike out the words “Annual Meeting” and insert “Opening Ceremonies at Jr. Classic” in sentence 3, so that the sentence now reads Nominations for the Board of Directors may also be made from the floor during the Opening Ceremonies at Jr. Classic.
Proposed Change 2:
Currently Bylaws Article III Section 3.11 and 3.14 read:
3.11 Vacancy: In the event of a vacancy caused by the resignation of an officer of the Association, such vacancy shall be filled by the Board of Directors to fill the unexpired term of such officer. In the event of a Vacancy in the office of Director by resignation or ineligibility, the office shall remain vacant until the next Annual Meeting of members at which time said vacancy shall be filled during the annual election of directors.
3.14 Vacancies: Vacancies in the membership of the Board of Directors resulting from any cause, may be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board of Directors at their next regular meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose. A member appointed to fill a vacancy created by any reason, shall serve for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in office and until his successor has been elected and qualified.
The AGJA Board of Directors suggests the following bylaw changes in regards to sections 3.11 and 3.14. Strike out the second sentence of 3.11 and insert “In the event of a vacancy in the office of Director, the Board of Directors may appoint a member to serve on the board until the next annual election at which time said vacancy shall be filled by election for the unexpired term.” Eliminate 3.14 from the by-laws.
With these changes, section 3.11 would read: “In the event of a vacancy caused by the resignation of an officer of the Association, such vacancy shall be filled by the Board of Directors to fill the unexpired term of such officer. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Director, the Board of Directors may appoint a member to serve on the board until the next annual election at which time said vacancy shall be filled by election for the unexpired term.”
Proposed Change 3:
Currently Rules Article I Section 1.1 reads:
1.1 Annual Membership: The Annual Membership fee is $20.00 per year and due January 1. The Annual Membership fee shall be assessed 60 days prior to January 1. Memberships will be inactivated for nonpayment after January 1. Business with the AGA will be billed at non-member rates if either annual junior dues or herd assessments have not been paid for the current year.
The AGJA Board of Directors suggests striking out “is $20.00 per year” in the first sentence and replace it with “will be decided on by the Jr. Board” so that the rule now reads: 1.1 Annual Membership: The Annual Membership fee will be decided on by the Jr. Board and due January 1. The Annual Membership fee shall be assessed 60 days prior to January 1. Memberships will be inactivated for nonpayment after January 1. Business with the AGA will be billed at non-member rates if either annual junior dues or herd assessments have not been paid for the current year.
Proposed Change 4:
Currently Rules Article IV Section 4.2 reads:
4.2 Ownership Rules: Ownership deadline for animals is June 1 of the year shown for both national Classic and regional shows. Exception is if a regional show is held prior to June 1, then the ownership must be by May 1. Animals must be owned solely by the exhibitor or the exhibitor’s immediate family or ranch. Animals may be co-owned with an immediate family member or the family’s ranch.
The AGJA Board of Directors suggests the following bylaw change in regards to section 4.2. Strike out “Ownership deadline for animals is June 1 of the year shown for both national Classic and regional shows. Exception is if a regional show is held prior to June 1, then the ownership must be by May 1,” and insert “Ownership deadline for animals will be the same as the entry deadline and announced prior to the show,” in the first two sentences. Also strike out “ or the exhibitor’s immediate family or ranch,” in the third sentence. With the proposed changes the new bylaw would read: Ownership deadline for animals will be the same as the entry deadline and announced prior to the show. Animals must be owned solely by the exhibitor. Animals may be co-owned with an immediate family member or the family’s ranch.
Proposed Change 5:
Currently Rules Article IV Section 4.5 reads:
4.5 Parent Verification: The grand champion breeding female, reserve champion breeding female, champion and reserve bred & owned females, and champion and reserve bred & owned bulls, may be parent-verified through DNA testing. All premium money will be forfeited if an animal does not meet minimum percent Gelbvieh based on parent verification.
The AGJA Board of Directors suggests the following change to 4.5. Insert “,and champion and reserve market steers” after bulls in the first sentence so that the first sentence in the rule would read, “The grand champion breeding female, reserve champion breeding female, champion and reserve bred & owned females, and champion and reserve bred & owned bulls, and champion and reserve market steers may be parent-verified through DNA testing.
Proposed Change 6:
Currently Rules Article IV Section 4.7 reads:
4.7 Female Show: Females shown must be registered with the American Gelbvieh Association and at least 75% Gelbvieh. All entries must conform to the registration requirements of the American Gelbvieh Association.
The AGJA Board of Directors suggests striking out “and at least 75% Gelbvieh.” and inserting “to show in the Gelbvieh or Balancer show.” so that the rule would read: 4.7 Female Show: Females shown must be registered with the American Gelbvieh Association to show in the Gelbvieh or Balancer show. All entries must conform to the registration requirements of the American Gelbvieh Association.
Proposed Change 7:
Currently Rules Article IV Section 4.8 reads:
4.8 Bred & Owned Bull Show: All entries must conform to the bred & owned ownership rule (the exhibitor must have solely owned the entry’s dam at the time of conception and be listed as the single breeder on the entry’s registration certificate). Bulls shown must be 88% Gelbvieh or higher.
The AGJA Board of Directors suggests striking out the last sentence of 4.8 and inserting “Bulls shown in the Gelbvieh or Balancer show must conform to the registration requirements of the American Gelbvieh Association.” This would make the rule read: 4.8 Bred & Owned Bull Show: All entries must conform to the bred & owned ownership rule (the exhibitor must have solely owned the entry’s dam at the time of conception and be listed as the single breeder on the entry’s registration certificate). Bulls shown in the Bred and Owned Gelbvieh or Balancer show must conform to the registration requirements of the American Gelbvieh Association.
Proposed Change 8:
Currently Rules Article IV Section 4.9 reads:
4.9 Steer Show: All steers must be 50% Gelbvieh or more or a registered Balancer (25% to 75% Gelbvieh). Balancer steers must be accompanied by an AGA Balancer Performance Pedigree at check-in. Non-Balancer steers must have a steer affidavit from AGJA completed by the steer breeder stating parentage and the percent Gelbvieh (50% or higher).
The AGJA Board of Directors suggests striking out all of section 4.9 and inserting “All steers must be at least 25% Gelbvieh to show. A registration certificate, performance pedigree, or steer affidavit must be submitted at time of entry.” The new rule would then read: 4.9 Steer Show: All steers must be at least 25% Gelbvieh to show. A registration certificate, performance pedigree, or steer affidavit must be submitted at time of entry.
Proposed Change 9:
The AGJA Board of Directors then asks to renumber the rules and bylaws so that there are no repeats or skips in the numbering system.
Voting on these bylaws changes will take place at a special business meeting called during Opening Ceremonies at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 3, 2016 in Stillwater, Oklahoma at the Dirt Road Classic. Any questions regarding these proposed bylaws changes should be directed to current AGJA Directors, whose contact information is listed below.
Sydney Bigger, President: 309-221-6262
Michael Ring, Vice President: 815-757-3021
Kyle Vehige, Vice President of Leadership: 573-897-3303
Tiana Garcia, Secretary: 719-691-9691
Tanner Aherin, Treasurer: 785-320-1270
Callahan Grund, Director: 785-821-1082
Carter Mitchel, Director: 660-492-3966
Aubree Beenken, Director: 319-239-2969
Colton Spencer, Director: 417-440-0704
Kelsey Sheeley, Ex-Officio: 937-403-3272