FUTURE FARMERS OF
(Adopted at State Meeting,
ARTICLE I
NAME AND PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
SECTION A
The name of this organization shall be “The Georgia Association of Future Farmers of America.” Members are hereinafter referred to as “Future Farmers of America.” The letters “FFA” may be officially used to designate the organization, its units, or members thereof.
SECTION B
The objects and purposes of the organization are set forth in Section 3 of the organization’s charter, Public Law 81-740. The organization shall cooperate with national and state governing agencies and officials for vocational education in accomplishing these objects and purposes and the following aims and activities, which the governing body has determined, pursuant to Section 3 (8) of the organization’s charter, to be appropriate aims and activities within the framework of objects and purposes established by the organization’s charter:
1. To be an integral part of the organized instructional programs in agricultural education which prepares students for a wide range of careers in agriculture, agribusiness, and other agriculture related occupations.
2. To build the confidence of students in themselves and their work by developing desirable work habits and the effective use of their time by learning to assume responsibility; and by developing competencies in communications, human relations and other social abilities leading to an intelligent choice of careers and successful employment or entrepreneurship in the agriculture industry.
3. To provide agriculture-related program and activities which will develop pride and responsibility, leadership, character, scholarship, citizenship, patriotism, thrift, and the improvement in community life by encouraging members to improve the home and its surroundings and to develop and improve the community, including its economic, environmental and human resources.
4. To recognize achievement in supervised agricultural experience programs, scholarship, leadership and other individual and group achievements by providing awards to deserving members.
ARTICLE II
ORGANIZATION
SECTION A
The Georgia Association of Future Farmers of America is a state organization of affiliated local chapters in schools having organized instruction in agricultural education under the provisions of the National Vocational Education Acts.
SECTION B
Local Future Farmer Chapters shall be organized only in schools where systematic instruction in agricultural education is given under the provisions of the National Vocational Education Acts.
SECTION C
Students shall meet, organize, adopt a constitution (not in conflict with the state constitution), elect officers, set up a program of work, and then apply to the state advisor for membership in the state organization. After this application has been approved by the state advisor and a charter issued, the members of the local chapter may then be known as Future Farmers of America.
SECTION D
Each chapter shall consider itself a unit in the state organization. It shall use the state constitution as a
guide in making its own constitution.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION A
ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP: Any student who is regularly enrolled in agricultural education is entitled to become an active member. A member may retain his active membership until November following the fourth National FFA Convention after graduating from high school.
SECTION B
ALUMNI MEMBERSHIP:
Following the termination of active membership status, a member becomes
eligible for membership in the
SECTION C
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP: Instructors, school
principals, superintendents, businessmen, farmers, and others who are helping
to promote the Future Farmer organization may be elected to honorary membership
by a majority vote of the members present at any meeting. Honorary membership
shall be limited to the Honorary Chapter FFA Degree in the local chapter and
Honorary State FFA Degree in the state association.
ARTICLE IV
MEMBERSHIP GRADES AND PRIVILEGES
SECTION A
There shall be five grades of active membership based upon
achievements. These grades are: (a) Discovery FFA Degree, (b) Greenhand FFA Degree, (c) Chapter FFA Degree, (d) State FFA
Degree and (e) American FFA Degree.
SECTION B
The Discovery FFA Degree: On meeting the minimum
qualifications as set forth in the National Constitution, the Discovery FFA
Degree may be conferred by the chapter.
SECTION C
The Greenhand FFA Degree: On meeting the minimum qualifications as set
forth in the National Constitution, the Greenhand FFA
Degree may be conferred by the chapter.
SECTION D
Chapter FFA Degree:
On meeting the minimum qualifications as set forth in the National
Constitution, the Chapter FFA Degree may be conferred by the chapter.
SECTION E
State FFA Degree: On
meeting the minimum qualifications as set forth in the National Constitution,
the State FFA Degree may be conferred by the State Association.
SECTION F
American FFA Degree:
On meeting the minimum qualifications as set forth in the National
Constitution, the American FFA Degree may be conferred by the National
Organization.
NOTE: Only members
who have been elected to the State FFA Degree are eligible to hold state
offices. One year after the local
organization has been chartered, all local officers
shall have attained the “Chapter FFA Degree”.
Honorary members are eligible to election to any degree
provided they have done outstanding work in promoting agricultural education
and the Future Farmers of America.
ARTICLE V
SECTION A
The officers of the Georgia FFA Association shall be a president, a student secretary, an executive secretary-treasurer, an advisor, and six (6) vice presidents. There shall be a minimum of one vice president from each of the three supervisory regions of the state. The president and the student secretary shall be selected from the state at large. The state officers shall be elected annually by a majority vote of the delegates present at the regular state convention.
SECTION B
The executive committee shall consist of the state officers. This committee shall perform the usual duties of an executive committee; review and approve receipts and disbursements, appoint a nominating committee, and be responsible for the welfare of the organization.
SECTION C
(1) The officers of the state organization shall be selected at the regular annual state meetings. Each chapter in the state shall be allowed to cast two votes for state officers, providing they are in good standing. The delegates shall represent the local chapter in balloting for officers and for members who are nominated to be advanced to the State FFA Degree.
(2) Officers of the local chapters shall be elected at regular meetings of the local chapter held in May of each year and shall hold office for one year.
ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS
SECTION A
A meeting of the State organization shall be held annually; time and place to be determined. The state meeting shall be held prior to the National Convention of the Future Farmers of America.
SECTION B
Local chapters shall hold their meetings monthly, or more often, and at such time and place as may be decided by the executive committee of the local chapter.
ARTICLE VII
DUES
SECTION A
The state dues shall be fixed by the state by a majority vote of the delegates present at the State Convention of the Future Farmers of America. Dues shall be mailed to the State Executive Secretary soon after they are initiated and no later than May 1. The state dues shall include membership dues in the national organization.
SECTION B
The dues of any local chapter shall be fixed by a
majority vote of the membership of that chapter.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
SECTION A
Proposed amendments to the Georgia FFA Constitution and Bylaws may be submitted by any Georgia FFA chapter in good standing with the Georgia FFA Association. All proposed amendments to the Georgia FFA Constitution and Bylaws from a Chapter must be submitted in writing to the State Executive Secretary by February 15 for review by the board of the State Officers. All proposed amendments to the Georgia FFA Constitution and Bylaws must be submitted in writing by the State FFA Executive Secretary to all Georgia FFA Chapters at least 30 days prior to the State FFA convention. The Board of the State Officers shall present their recommendations concerning each amendment to the delegates at the State Convention. An amendment to the Georgia FFA Constitution may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the official delegates at the Georgia FFA Convention. An amendment to the Bylaws shall require a majority vote of the official delegates at the Georgia FFA Convention. Amendments to the Bylaws must not conflict with the Georgia FFA Constitution.
SECTION B
By-laws may be adopted to fit the needs of any local chapter, providing they do not conflict with the state constitution. The state constitution may be the constitution of all local chapters. A certain amount of flexibility is necessary to the proper functioning of chapters because of their varying activities. This flexibility may be attained through by-laws for each chapter.
ARTICLE IX
INSIGNIA
SECTION A
The emblem of the National FFA Organization shall be made up
of five symbols, namely: (1) the plow, representing the tillage of the soil,
the basis of modern agriculture; (2) the owl, representing wisdom; (3) the
rising sun, representing progress; (4) a cross-section of an ear of corn,
representing common agricultural interests, since corn is native to America and
is grown in every state; and (5) an American eagle surmounting the
cross-section of the ear of corn indicating the national scope of the
organization. The emblem shall also
carry the three letters “F F A” and the words
“Agricultural Education”.
SECTION B
All-active, alumni and honorary members shall be entitled to wear the insignia. All Greenhand FFA Degree recipients are entitled to wear bronze insignia. All chapter FFA Degree recipients are entitled to wear a silver insignia. All members elected to the State FFA Degree are entitled to wear the gold emblem charm on a key and American FFA Degree recipients shall be entitled to wear the official gold emblem key.
I. The Duties of the State Officers:
A. The President: It shall be the duty of the president to preside over all meetings of the Georgia FFA Association. The president shall call one meeting of the delegates of local FFA chapters each year. The president shall appoint all committees and may serve as an ex officio member of these committees.
B. Vice-Presidents: The vice presidents shall assume all of the duties of the president in the event that the office of president becomes vacant by resignation or otherwise. Vice President shall preside over all meetings in the absence of the President and shall assume the duties of the President.
C. The Student Secretary: The student secretary shall perform the duties common to such an office, such as keeping an accurate record of all the meetings, a copy of which shall be given to the executive secretary for the permanent files and one copy for their own files. Secretary shall perform such other duties as directed to perform by the Executive Secretary or the executive committee.
D. The
Executive Secretary-Treasurer: Shall
issue charters to local chapters and shall act as publicity agent for the
organization and keep records of the membership and progress of the
organization. Shall review all reports
from the local chapters and shall act as the custodian of the funds of the
organization, collect state dues, keep an accurate record of all receipts, bank
deposits and disbursements, making an annual report on matters to the delegates
at the state meetings, and such other supplementary reports as may be
necessary. Shall pay out of the treasury
such funds as are ordered paid by the executive committee. Shall furnish the auditing committee with an
annual bank statement signed by an officer of the bank in which the funds are
kept. Shall furnish a suitable
bond. Shall submit a budget of proposed
expenditures to the executive committee annually. Shall be in charge of arrangements for the
state meeting and perform such other duties as may pertain to the furtherance
of the organization. Shall review all
applications for the Georgia FFA Degree and prepare a brief of the
qualifications of the candidates to be submitted to the delegates of the state
meeting.
D. The Advisor: The Advisor is a member of the executive committee and an ex-officio member of all committees. It is the advisor’s duty to advise committees on matters of policy and assist the state officers in conducting meetings and programs. The advisor shall countersign all checks drawn on the Georgia Association of FFA funds.
II. Method of Electing State Officers:
The election of officers shall be by ballot and by a majority vote of the delegates present at the State Convention. Each chapter represented at the State Convention shall be allowed to cast two votes for state officers. The Executive Committee, consisting of the state officers, shall appoint a nominating committee.
III. Method of Issuing Charters to Chapters:
The secretaries of the local chapters shall submit with their application for a chapter the following information:
1. A copy of their program of work.
2. The names and grades of membership of all members of the local chapter.
3. The name, grade of membership, and address of each officer of the local chapter.
4. State dues for each member.
The state executive committee of the Georgia FFA Association shall have power to suspend such charters upon receipt of evidence of infringement of the provisions of the state constitution by the local chapter.
IV. Procedure for Choosing Candidates for the State FFA Degree:
1. Local chapters may submit any number of candidates for the State FFA Degree.
2. Election of the State FFA Degree shall be from the candidates at large.
3. Not more than three percent of the total state membership shall be elected to this degree annually.
4. Application for the State FFA Degree shall be forwarded by the local advisor to the state executive secretary at least 30 days prior to the annual state meeting.
5. Applications must be submitted on the regulation forms.
V. Reports of the State Executive Secretary:
Each local secretary shall submit the following information to the state executive secretary:
1. An annual statement of the names of local officers, names of delegates to the state meeting and names of those receiving “Chapter FFA Degree.”
2. An annual report on forms furnished to the local secretary by the state secretary showing:
a. Revised list of members in local chapter and grade of membership.
b. Such other information as may be deemed advisable and called for by the state executive secretary.
VI. Committees:
The state president of the Georgia FFA Association shall appoint all committees. The advisor is an ex-officio member of all committees. Only such committees as are needed to carry on the work of the association shall be appointed.
VII. Procedures for Determining Standing of Local Chapter and Members:
A local chapter shall be considered in good standing with the State Association when the following conditions are met:
1. All current annual state dues paid into the state treasury by the date specified by
the executive committee.
2. All reports submitted to the State Advisor as requested.
3. Local constitution not in conflict with the State and National Constitution in any of its provisions.
4. The chapter was represented by two official voting delegates at the State FFA Convention during the immediately preceding school year.
An active member shall be considered in good standing when member attends local chapter meetings with reasonable regularity, shows an interest in, and takes part in the affairs of the chapter, and pays dues regularly.
In case any local chapter is not in good standing, the chapter will be placed on probation and the appropriate school officials notified by the Georgia FFA Executive Secretary. In the event that the chapter does not fulfill the requirements to be in good standing following probationary period, the charter will automatically be suspended for the school year and participation in any FFA activity above the chapter level will be denied. Chapters having only one FFA advisor will be extended a one year grace period for the year following a change in chapter advisor.
VIII. State Advisory Council:
There shall be a State Advisory Council of the
Georgia Association of Future Farmers of America, composed of the State FFA
Advisor, three Region Agricultural Education Coordinators, one teacher educator
from the