BY-LAW PROPOSED CHANGES TO BE VOTED ON BY MEMBERS AT ANNUAL MEETING
JUNE, 12 2010
ARTICLE III.
MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
EXSISTING - SECTION 4. Quorum. Two percent ( 2% ) of the first two thousand ( 2,000 ) members and one percent ( 1% ) of the remaining members, present in person, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at meetings of the meetings of the members . If less than a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of those present in person may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice.
PROPOSED CHANGE - SECTION 4 Quorum. Two percent ( 2% ) of the first two thousand ( 2,000 ) members and one percent ( 1% ) of the remaining members, present in person, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at meetings of the members. Members who voted by mail on any issue or candidate to be considered at the meeting shall not be considered in the quorum unless present and registered in person. For that purpose, a separate registration form, not to be used for voting shall be sent to each member with the Notice of Meeting. If less than a quorum is present at any meeting, a majority of those present in person may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice. Any mailed ballots shall be maintained and safe - guarded at the Cooperative to be counted at the next meeting of members.
EXSISTING – SECTION 5. VOTING . Each member shall be entitled to only one vote. The husband or wife of a member who is absent may vote as a member in his or her stead , and it shall not be necessary to have a proxy. All questions shall be decided by a vote of a majority of the members voting thereon in person or by proxy , except as otherwise provided by law , the articles of incorporation or these by – laws.
PROPOSED CHANGE - SECTION 5. VOTING. Each member shall be entitled to only one vote. The husband or wife of a member who is absent may vote as a member in his or her stead. All questions shall be decided by a vote of majority of the members voting thereon in person or by mail , except as otherwise provided by law, the articles of incorporation or these by – laws.
EXISISTING - SECTION 6. PROXIES . A member may vote by proxy executed in writing by the member. Such proxy shall be filed with the Secretary before or at the time of the meeting. No proxy shall be valid after sixty days from the date of its execution. No proxy shall be valid unless it shall designate the particular meeting at which it is to be voted and no proxy shall be voted at any meeting other than the one so designated or an adjournment of such meeting. A member may give his proxy only to another member or to an adult relative living in the same house with such member , and no person may hold more than two proxies at any meeting. The presence of a member at a meeting shall revoke a proxy theretofore executed by him and such member shall be entitled to vote at such meeting in the same manner and with the same effects as if he had not executed a proxy.
PROPOSED CHANGE - SECTION 6. PROXIES. ----- Deleted
EXISITING - SECTION 7. VOTING BY MAIL. At any meeting of the members , an absent member may vote by mail if the member entitled to vote submits a written request to the Cooperative for a mail ballot at least fifteen days prior to the date of the meeting of the members. Any vote by mail must be a written vote signed by the member and any such vote received by mail from such member before the meeting is called to order shall be accepted as the vote of absentee member. The minutes of each meeting shall contain a list of the members voting by mail. Any member submitting a completed mail ballot may not vote at the meeting of the members regarding any matter described in the mail ballot.
PROPOSED CHANGE - SECTION 7. VOTING BY MAIL. Together with the notice of Members’ Meeting, each member shall be sent a ballot package which shall consist of a ballot for each election to take place at the meeting and each proposition to be voted on at the meeting, an inside envelope, and a return mail envelope.
In order to vote by mail the member shall mark the ballot and seal it in the inside envelope which shall not be signed. The inside envelope shall then be sealed in the return envelope, which must be signed by the member or his or her spouse to be a valid vote.
The Cooperative Manager shall cause a computer record to be maintained listing all ballots received at the Cooperative prior to the day of the membership meeting. No registrant at the meeting from whom a ballot has been received shall be given a ballot at the meeting, but that member shall be counted in the quorum.
EXISITING - SECTION 8. ORDER OF BUSINESS.
PROPOSED CHANGE --- BECOMES SECTION 9. ORDER OF BUSINESS.
PROPOSED CHANGE -- SECTION 8. COUNTING OF BALLOTS . After a quorum is established at a meeting of members, the election judges shall be given all mailed in ballots. The return envelopes shall be checked for valid signature. Envelopes which are not properly signed shall be saved unopened. Envelopes which are properly signed shall be opened, the inside envelope removed, and saved. The inside envelopes shall be opened and the ballots counted with those cast at the meeting.
SECTION 9. ORDER OF BUSINESS. The order of business at the annual meeting of the members and , so far as possible , at all other meetings of the members , shall be essentially as follows:
1: Report as to which members are present in person in order to determine the existence of a quorum.
2: Reading of the Notice of Meeting and proof of due publication or mailing thereof , or the waiver or waivers of notice of the meeting , as the case may be.
3: Reading of unapproved minutes of previous meetings of the members and the taking of necessary action thereon.
4: Presentation and consideration of reports of Officers , Directors and Committees.
5: Election of Directors.
6: Unfinished Business.
7: New Business.
8: Adjournment.