Bylaws


ARTICLE I

Membership

 

Section 1. There shall be three categories of membership:

 

      (a) U.S. Packer – Firms with headquarters in the United States that process, package and sell honey or honey products.

      (b) U.S Importer – Firms with offices in the United States that import and resell honey to U.S. Packers or to end users. These firms must have an office and staff in the U.S. This provision does not apply to International Members approved for membership prior to June 2, 2016.

      (c) Associate –Firms that provide a service to the honey industry.

 

Section 2. Membership of U.S.-based Packers and U.S.-based Importers is not limited. International firms without headquarters in the U.S. that were approved for membership prior to June 2, 2016 may remain members until such time as they resign or are no longer members in good standing.

 

Section 3.  All companies applying for membership must have had a U.S. office and been in business in the U.S. honey industry for two years prior to being eligible for membership.

 

ARTICLE II

Application for Membership

 

Section 1. An application for membership in the Association must be accompanied by a check or credit card payment for the current year's dues. All applications must include the name of at least one member in good standing as sponsor and must contain an agreement to abide by the Bylaws of the National Honey Packers and Dealers Association, Inc., resolutions adopted by the members and all applicable federal and state laws and regulations governing the food industry in general and the honey industry in particular.

 

Section 2. Upon receipt of an application for membership, the Executive Vice President shall submit the name of the applicant, with all pertinent information appearing on the application, to the Membership for approval.

 

ARTICLE III

Dues and Assessments

 

Section 1. The amount of dues and dues assessments payable by each member of the Association shall be fixed from time to time by the Membership in accordance with the budgetary requirements of the Association.

 

Section 2. Flat rate dues are payable on or before the first day of February each year. Variable rate dues, based upon pounds handled are payable on a quarterly basis.

 

Section 3. When any member is in arrears in the payment of dues or assessments to the Association for 90 days, the Executive Vice President shall send the member a notice of suspension. Upon receipt of such notice, the member shall lose voting rights and benefits normally accrued to a member. Any member so suspended shall be automatically reinstated by the payment of such dues and assessments. If payment is not made the firm’s membership is terminated.

 

ARTICLE IV

Definition of "Good Standing"

 

Section 1. Wherever used in these Bylaws, with respect to members, the words "good standing" shall mean that the individual member has not been suspended pursuant to Article III of these Bylaws, nor expelled pursuant to Article VI of these Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE V

Resignation

 

Section 1. Resignation of a member must be submitted in writing to the Executive Vice President and shall be submitted and acted upon at the next meeting of the Membership. No withdrawal or resignation shall be accepted if the member seeking to withdraw is in debt to the Association on account of dues or assessments.

 

ARTICLE VI

Expulsion

 

Section 1.        (a) Upon two-thirds vote of the Membership, a member may be expelled for conduct that is prejudicial to the interest of the Association or upon conviction for the violation of a federal or state law or regulation governing the food industry.

 

                (b) Before expulsion, the member must be given the opportunity for a hearing before the Membership. All charges must be sent to the member at least thirty days before the hearing date. At the hearing, the member may appear alone, with, or by an attorney to respond to all charges. If the member chooses not to appear, the Membership will vote on the evidence presented.

 

Section 2. An expelled member may be reinstated by a majority vote of the Membership upon such terms and conditions it deems appropriate.

 

ARTICLE VII

Rights of Members

 

Section 1.        Members in good standing are entitled to all rights and privileges granted by the Bylaws.

 

Section 2.        (a) All members have the right to propose programs, actions or decisions to be undertaken or initiated by the association but only U.S.-based Packers, and U.S.-based Importers, in good standing, have the right to vote. All International Members who have paid dues and assessments for three years prior to 2000 will also have the right to vote.

 

                (b) Structure of association: The voting members of NHPDA will formulate the association’s policies and will have the same powers as a board of directors. Generally, a majority of the voting members of the association shall be necessary to adopt positions of the association. However a majority of the packers alone can adopt an association position. If the importers do no concur by a majority vote and if funds are required to implement the packer position then those funds shall come from a special assessment on the packers.

 

                (c) If a majority of the importers support a position that is not supported by a majority of the packers then that position will not be a position of the association but it shall be identified as an “NHPDA Importer Member Position” and any funds necessary to implement the position will come from a special assessment on the importers.

 

Section 3. Associate Members in good standing shall have all of the privileges of the other classes of membership except the right to vote. There may be portions of NHPDA meetings during which some or all Associate Members will be requested to leave, based on the content of the impending discussion.

 

ARTICLE VIII

Direction of the Association

 

Section 1. Direction of the Association shall be the responsibility of the Membership.

 

Section 2. The Membership shall have supervision, control and direction of the affairs of the Association, shall determine its policies or changes therein within the limitation of these Bylaws, shall actively pursue its purposes and shall have discretion in the disbursement of its funds. It may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as shall be deemed advisable and may, in the execution of the powers granted, appoint such agents as it may consider necessary.

 

Section 3. The Membership shall hold regular meetings at the times designated at the Annual Meeting of the Association. The Membership shall also meet upon the call of the President at such times and places as he may designate. It shall also meet upon the demand of a majority of the members. Notice of the meetings shall be sent by mail to each member at least ten (10) days in advance.

 

Section 4.        (a) Executive Committee: Between meetings of the Membership, unless otherwise provided by a resolution of the Membership, the management of the association shall devolve upon the Executive Committee consisting of the President, Vice President, Secretary/ Treasurer, Executive Vice President and two additional members elected by the membership, one of whom should be an importer. Upon a vote of the membership, the President can be given the power to appoint members to the Executive Committee. Non-officer members of the Executive Committee shall be elected to one two-year term and may not be re-elected to succeed themselves. They are, however, eligible to be elected as officers. Upon completion of their term as officers, members shall not be eligible for election to the Executive Committee for at least two years.

 

                (b) The Executive Committee shall only conduct business in place of the Membership where timeliness is critical. The Membership shall be apprized of actions taken by the Executive Committee as soon as practicable.

 

                (c) The Executive Committee shall carry out the policies of the association. Before making any major decision or approving an expenditure of more than $3,000, it shall give at least 24 hours notice by fax or e-mail to the members so that they can register their views on the issue at hand.

 

Section 5. Quorum: Four members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.

 

ARTICLE IX

Election of Officers

 

Section 1.        (a) All officers who are required to be elected in any year shall be elected by the members at the Annual Meeting of the Association.

 

                (b) The following officers shall be thus elected: The President, Vice President, and Secretary/Treasurer.

 

Officers, other than the Executive Vice President, shall be elected to a one-year term and may be re-elected to up to three additional one-year terms. After serving his/her terms, the Vice President may be elected to the presidency and the Secretary/Treasurer may be elected to the serve as Vice President or President. 

 

                (c) The Membership shall also appoint an Executive Vice President who shall serve at the pleasure of the membership.

 

Section 2. Duties of the President:  (a) The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association.

 

                (b) The President shall arrange the respective programs of all meetings of the Association and of the Membership and shall direct the execution of all Resolutions of these bodies.

 

                (c) The President shall appoint all Committees.

 

                (d) The President shall present a written report of his administration at the Annual Meeting.

 

Section 3. Duties of the Vice President:  In the absence of the President or in the event of his/her inability to act, the Vice President shall perform the duties of the President.

 

Section 4. Duties of the Secretary-Treasurer:  The Secretary-Treasurer shall present a balance sheet and financial statement as of the close of each fiscal year to the Membership. He/she shall perform such other duties pertaining to his office as the Membership may direct.

 

Section 5. Duties of the Executive Vice President:  (a) The Executive Vice President shall be the custodian of all records of the Association, including financial records and the record of the proceedings of all meetings of the Association and of the Membership. He/she shall keep a detailed record of the names and addresses of and data pertaining to the members. He/she shall attend promptly to all correspondence and issue all official communications. He/she shall examine and refer to the Members all applications for membership.

                (b) The Executive Vice President shall collect all Association dues and moneys and keep detailed records thereof.

                (c) The Executive Vice President shall carry out and perform such other duties pertaining to his/her office as may be required by the President or by the Membership.

 

ARTICLE X

Committees

 

Section 1. All committees shall be appointed by the President.

 

Section 2. The President may appoint task forces for such periods of time as he deems necessary for the proper conduct of the affairs of the Association.

 

ARTICLE XI

Meetings of the Association

 

Section 1. The Convention and/or Annual Meeting of the Association shall be held at such time and place as designated by the Membership.

 

Section 2. Special Meetings of the Association may be called at any time by the President upon his own motion or upon the written request of at least two-thirds of the Members.

 

Section 3. Notice of each Annual and Special Meeting shall be given in writing by the Executive Vice President to each member not less than thirty days before such meeting.

 

Section 4. All questions of parliamentary procedure shall be determined in accordance with "Roberts Rules of Order, Revised", except as otherwise provided by the Bylaws.

 

Section 5. Quorum:  Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Members entitled to vote, being present in person at any meeting of the Association or answering a 30-day letter ballot, shall constitute a quorum.

 

Section 6. Meetings:  Only members of NHPDA will have a right to attend association meetings. The members may decide to open a particular meeting to non-members. They may also decide to have joint meetings with other industry groups. The President or Executive Vice President may invite non-members who are collaborating with the association on particular projects to attend a meeting.

 

ARTICLE XII

Amendments

 

Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present, in person or by proxy, who are entitled to vote, at any annual or special meeting of the Association; or by the same vote taken by a 30-day letter ballot as the Executive Committee may determine.

 

Section 2. Thirty (30) days written notice shall be given each voting member of the Association before a vote shall be taken on any proposed amendment to the Bylaws.

Last Updated March 19, 2020


National Honey Packers & Dealers Association
3301 Route 66, Suite 205, Bldg. C, Neptune, NJ 07753
(732) 922-3008 • Fax: (732) 922-3590 • info@nhpda.org

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