(FINAL DRAFT APPROVED: APRIL 19, 2001)

ARTICLE I. ORGANIZATION

SECTION A. NAME. The organization shall be called the Oklahoma Association of Retired Soil Conservation Service / Natural Resources Conservation Service Employees ( OARSCS/NRCSE ).

SECTION B. PURPOSE. The major purposes of the organization are to:

Share experiences and opportunities among members through encouraging membership and participation in and helping other conservation and professional organizations.

SECTION C. MEMBERSHIP. The membership consists of Oklahoma Retired SCS/NRCS Employees or Spouses of Retirees, who voluntarily choose to join. Members may reside in state or out of state.

SECTION D. LEADERSHIP. Elected Officers of the Association will provide the leadership and volunteer help will be solicited from the membership. The officers will be selected by the state membership (See SECTION E.). Current gatherings of local retirees for coffee, fellowship, and other times are encouraged. Information gathered about the membership and important to the Association should be sent to the Secretary/Treasurer of the Association.

SECTION E. OFFICERS. The officers will consist of a President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer. Officers will be elected from nominations, at the September semi-annual statewide meeting. Officers will serve a one-year term beginning, October 1 of the current year, through September 30 of the following year. Officers may be re-elected annually. Principal duties of each officer are as follows:

PRESIDENT: Provides overall direction and guidance for the semi-annual statewide meetings, presides at statewide meetings, and prepares or provides guidance in developing information, releases, and agenda about meetings.

VICE-PRESIDENT: Serves as president during the absence of the president and carries out responsibilities delegated by the president. Works with the Secretary/Treasurer in maintaining current directory of retirees and the Oklahoma membership.

SECRETARY/TREASURER: Maintains a record of the collection and disbursement of funds. Monthly transmits information about activities of retirees to agency heads (State Conservationist and others). Works with the vice-president in maintaining a mailing list of Oklahoma SCS/NRCS retirees and Oklahoma membership. Sends information to the national association of retirees on activities of Oklahoma SCS/NRCS retirees.

SECTION F. FINANCES. The association will operate on the voluntary contribution of funds from members. The funds will be used to assist with postage, newsletters, and other expenses to keep members informed and meet the association’s needs. Members (April 19, 2001) elected, for all members, to contribute $10 per year to the association beginning the 2001-2002 year.

SECTION A. MEETINGS. The statewide semi-annual meetings will be held in the Spring (April) and Fall (September), unless determined otherwise by the membership at one of the meetings. All SCS/NRCS retirees and their spouses, spouses of deceased employees, and present NRCS employees, interested in the Association, will be encouraged to attend. The Association Officers will determine the exact location and dates of the meetings. An effort will be made to coordinate the meetings in locations as desired by the membership and in coordination with other activities.

SECTION B. PROGRAMS. The statewide meetings will be flexible in time and programs as suggested by the membership. General description of a meeting will include refreshments, general program, lunch and lots of fellowship. The Association Officers will develop the general programs for the meetings. The meetings will adjourn with time for all to fellowship.

SECTION C. RETIREE NEWS. Send information about SCS/NRCS retirees or local SCS/NRCS retiree activities to the Secretary/Treasurer as soon as possible.

SECTION A. REVISION OF CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. The Constitution and By-laws of this Association may be revised by a majority vote of the members of the OARSCS/NRCSE Association present, at the next statewide meeting, following the statewide meeting the revision is presented.

SECTION B. ORIGINAL ORGANIZATION. Gratitude to all retirees of the "Saturday Club" and the SCS Retirees who have established this association and set a path for all retirees of either SCS or NRCS to follow into the future. The Oklahoma Association of Retired SCS/NRCS Employees will utilize the original constitution and by-laws established in May 1978 as a reference and foundation for future revisions.