Preamble

The American Junior Simmental Association, herein after referred to as the AJSA, is the official youth organization of the American Simmental Association. The AJSA and its members shall be subject to all rules and bylaws of the American Simmental Association unless otherwise specified herein. The constitution and bylaws of the AJSA, as ratified by the membership of the AJSA and approved by the Board of Trustees of the American Simmental Association,are to serve as a framework within which the affairs of the AJSA shall be conducted. Amendments to the constitution, as well as all policy decisions made by the AJSA Board of Trustees, shall be subject to final approval by the American Simmental Association Board of Trustees before said decisions become official AJSA policy.

Article I

Name and Purpose

1. To improve and promote the Simmental breed of cattle.
2. To improve and develop the capabilities of youth, both individually and through group participation, in breeding raising, exhibiting and promotion Simmental cattle.
3. To develop and improve scholarship, leadership and community interest among young cattlemen.
4. To encourage high moral character, sportsmanship and clean living among its members.
5. To provide a mechanism whereby junior members may work in conjunction with the American Simmental Association Activities and Events Committee.
6. To assist state associations with their youth programs and activities.
7. To acquaint junior members and state associations with the structure and functions of AJSA and ASA.

Article II

Membership, Voting, Fees and Approval of State Junior Associations.

1. A list of state junior association officers and state youth advisor(s) is submitted to ASA on or before March 31 of each year.
2. All state junior association officers are active members of AJSA.
3. A state membership list is submitted to ASA on or before May31 of each year.
4. The ASA is notified of any amendments to the state constitution.New affiliates must send a complete constitution and bylaws to the ASA.
5. No provision of the state association constitution is in conflict with the AJSA or ASA constitution, bylaws or general rules and regulations.
6. Membership is open to all youth twenty (20) years of age and under, interested in Simmental cattle.

Article III

Trustees, Officers and Executive Committee

1. The active membership from each of the four (4) areas of the organization shall elect annually, by majority vote, two (2) of their number to serve as members of the Board of Trustees fora two-year term. No more than two Trustees from one state can serve on the AJSA Board of Trustees at the same time.
2. Vacancy: In the case of any vacancy on the Board of Trustees,a successor shall be selected from that area by the remaining members of the Board to complete the unexpired term.
3. Powers of the Board: The Board of Trustees shall have the power and authority to:
   
   • Direct the affairs of the organization, including, but not limited to the right to amend or repeal the constitution of the organization, subject to a vote of the membership.
   • Establish guidelines concerning the conduct, management and activities of the organization, the admission, classification,qualification, suspension and expulsion of members, removal of officers, expenditure of money and other details relating to the general purposes of the organization subject to review by the ASA  Activities and Events Committee and approval of the ASA Board of Trustees.

1. President: The President shall preside over all Association meetings, meetings of the Board of Trustees and meetings of the Executive Committee. The President shall appoint all committees.The President shall submit to the members at their annual meeting a report of the status of the Association and its activities during the preceding year. No Trustee of this Association may serve more than one year as President.
   The President shall have such other duties and authority as maybe prescribed elsewhere in this constitution or as determined by the Board of Trustees.
   
   
2. Vice President of Membership Communications: The Vice President of Membership Communications shall attend all meetings of the membership and, in absence, disability or inability of the President to act, perform the duties or exercise the powers of and of the Board of Trustees and shall record or cause to be recorded all votes taken and the minutes of all proceedings in a Minutes Book of the Association to be kept for that purpose. The Vice President of Membership Communications shall, in absence, disability or inability of the President, perform the duties or exercise the powers of the President, and shall perform such other duties as the President shall prescribe. The Vice President of Membership Communications shall also chair the Membership Communications committee.
   
   
3. Vice President of Marketing: The Vice President of Marketing shall, in absence, disability or inability of the President and Vice President of Membership Communications, perform the duties or exercise the powers of the President, and shall perform such other duties as the President shall prescribe. The Vice President of Marketing shall also chair the Marketing committee.
   
   
4. Vice President of Finance: The Vice President of Finance shall perform such duties as prescribed by the President. The Vice President of Finance shall chair the Finance committee.
   
   
5. Vice President of Leadership and Special Events: The Vice President of Leadership and Special Events shall perform such duties as prescribed by the President. The Vice President of Leadership and Special Events shall chair the Leadership and Special Events committee.
   
   
6. Vacancies of elective offices: All vacancies in the elective offices of the organization shall be filled by election from the Board of Trustees for the unexpired term. Those so elected shall serve until the election and acceptance of their duly qualified successors.

1.  The Executive Committee of the organization shall consist of the President, Vice President of Membership Communications, Vice President of Marketing, Vice President of Finance and the Vice President of Leadership and Special Events, elected by the Board of Trustees at its annual meeting. In the event that an area is not represented on the executive committee, there shall be a “regional executive representative,” who shall be a resident of the aforementioned area, elected from the board membership by the Board of Trustees to serve on the executive committee. The term of office of any “regional executive representative” shall be one (1) year or until their successor is elected.
2. Powers of Executive Committee:  All powers of the Board of Trustees shall be, and they are hereby vesting in the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is empowered to direct the affairs of the organization between annual meetings of the membership or meetings of the Board of Trustees.

Article IV

Meetings

1. Meetings: The annual meeting of the membership shall be held at such time and place as may be fixed by the Executive Committee of the organization for the purpose of electing Trustees of the organization and conducting such other business as may be brought before the meeting. Special meetings of the membership may be called at the direction of the President or by a majority  vote of the Board of Trustees.
2. Notice of meetings: Written or printed notice of all meetings,stating the place, date and hour of meeting, and in the case of a special meeting, the purpose of purposes for which the meeting is being called, shall be mailed not less than thirty (30) days before the date of the meeting. Such notice shall be deemed tobe mailed when deposited with the United States Postal  service and  addressed to active members at their address as it appears on the records of the Association.
3. Quorum: A quorum for an annual membership meeting shall consist of the active members, in good standing and present.
4. Parliamentary procedures: Standard parliamentary procedure as defined by Robert’s Rules of Order shall be followed at all meetings of the Association membership.

1. Meetings: An annual meeting of the Board of Trustees shall be held at such time and place as may be fixed by the Executive Committee of the organization for the purpose of electing officers of the organization and conducting such other business as maybe brought before the meeting. Special meetings of the Board of Trustees may be held at such time and place as designated in the notice, whenever called in writing by the directors of the President or by a majority of the Board of Trustees.
2. Notice of meetings: Written or printed notice of all meetings,stating the place, date and hour of the meeting, and in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be mailed not less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting. Such notice shall be deemed to be mailed when deposited with the United States Postal Service and addressed to active members at their address as it appears in the records of the Association.
3. Quorum: A majority of the number of Trustees shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but if at any meeting of the Board there may be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum shall be present.
4. Parliamentary Procedure: Standard parliamentary procedure as defined by Robert’s Rules of Order shall be followed at all meetings of the Board of Trustees.

1. The Executive Committee shall meet whenever called by the President or three (3) of the members of the Committee acting jointly.
2. Quorum: The quorum of the Executive Committee shall be three(3) members.

Article V

Committee

Article VI

Place of Business

Section 1: The official place of business for this organization shall be the American Simmental Association, One Simmental Way,in Bozeman, Montana.

Article VII

Amendments

Section 1: The constitution of the organization may be amended at the annual meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting.
Section 2: Proposed amendments to the constitution may be brought before the annual membership meeting only if previously approved by a majority vote of the AJSA Board of Trustees or the AJSA Executive Committee.