Incorporated, January 14, 1975, in the State of Maine as a non-profit organization.

Ratified: July 28, 1971

Amended: December 1950; September 1952; September 1954; December 1957; July 1961; July 1964; July 1968; July 1969; July 1979; July 1980; July 1984; August 1985; August 1987.  

Article I.  NAME

The name of this organization shall be The Potato Association of America; hereafter referred to as The Association.
 

Article II.  OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this Association shall be to collect and disseminate scientific information relating to all phases of the potato industry, including research in breeding, production transportation, processing, marketing and utilization of potatoes.
 

Article III.  MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Any person or organization may become a member of this Association upon payment of membership dues fixed by the Executive Committee. Membership may be Individual, Group, Graduate Student, Sustaining, or Honorary Life. Non-member Library subscriptions are available to libraries.

Section 2. Voting privileges shall be limited to members in good standing with each member having one vote.
 

Article IV.  OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of this Association shall be President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Section 2. The duties of the officers shall be those customarily pertaining to these offices.

Section 3. The officers shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which each is elected or appointed, and until a successor is duly elected or appointed.
 

Article V.  EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. The governing body of The Association shall be an Executive Committee which shall consist of the contemporary Officers, the retiring President, the Editor-in-Chief, and the five Directors. The chairmen of all sections shall be Ex-Officio and non-voting members of the Executive Committee.

Section 2. The President shall call meetings of the Executive Committee at his discretion or upon written request of three of its members.

Section 3. The presence of a majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 4. All actions of the Executive Committee of Officers are subject to approval by The Association at the next Annual Meeting, except as specified in Article VIII, Section 3.
 

Article VI.  ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 1. The President, President-Elect, and Vice-President shall be elected for one-year terms at the Annual Meeting. There shall be five (5) Directors who shall serve three-year terms. One Director shall be elected in 1980 and every third year thereafter. Two directors shall be elected in other years. Nominations for Officers and Directors shall be made by a Nominating Committee appointed by the President and additional nominations shall be accepted from the floor at the Annual Meeting or as otherwise directed by the Executive Committee. Voting for the officers shall be by ballot and a plurality shall elect.

Section 2. The Secretary and the Treasurer shall be appointed by the Executive Committee for terms of two years which shall not expire concurrently.

Section 3. The President, President-Elect, and Vice-President shall assume office upon the final adjournment of the Annual Meeting at which they were elected.

Section 4. The Executive Committee may fill by appointment any vacancy occurring within the prescribed term, such appointment to continue for the unexpired balance.

Article VII.  MEETINGS

A general meeting of The Association shall be held annually, unless prevented by a national emergency, at such time and place as the Executive Committee shall direct, unless otherwise ordered by The Association. Special or local meetings may be arranged at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

Article VIII.  SECTIONS, COMMITTEES AND CONDUCT OF ASSOCIATION BUSINESS

Section 1. The President shall appoint such standing and special committees as may be appropriate to conduct the business of the organization.

Section 2. Standing Committees are those whose functions include the general policies and internal relations of the organizations and its relations with other organizations. These Committees shall have a revolving membership and shall submit an annual report to the Executive Committee at the Annual Meeting of The Association.

Section 3. The Executive Committee may undertake and carry out special activities between Annual Meetings including reference of questions to the membership by mail or through special notices in the Journal.

Section 4. Sections may be formed by groups of members with common interests who request Section status of the Executive Committee. Requests approved by the Executive Committee shall be submitted for ratification at the Annual Business Meeting. Sections shall elect a chairman and other leadership as necessary and present an annual report for approval by The Association at each Annual Business Meeting. The Chairman at each section shall be a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Executive Committee and shall serve a maximum of three one-year consecutive terms. Any financial matters of the Sections shall be maintained separately from The Association, including the liability, thereto, excepting those presented to and accepted by the Executive Committee.
 

Article IX.  JOURNAL AND EDITORIAL BOARD

Section 1. The Official publication of The Association shall be the AMERICAN POTATO JOURNAL.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall appoint an Editor-in-Chief. They shall also approve an Editorial Board selected by the Editor-in-Chief as prescribed in the Bylaws. A Business Manager may also be appointed, who may be the Secretary or the Treasurer, at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

Section 3. The Executive Committee may authorize the Editor-in-Chief, or other officers, to employ such assistants as may be necessary for the proper conduct of their work.

Section 4. The Executive Committee may authorize the publication and distribution of other publications and employ the personnel required to edit and manage the distribution of such publications.
 

Article X.  FUNDS

Section 1. The control of the funds of The Association, received from any source, shall be vested in the Executive Committee, to be administered through the appropriate fiscal officers and committees. An audit of the receipts and disbursements shall be made at the end of each fiscal year by a certified public accountant. The reports of the Treasurer or other fiscal officers, together with that of the public accountant, shall be published annually in the official publication.

Section 2. Upon the dissolution of this Association, the real property shall be sold and all monies remaining after the payment of liabilities shall be given to one or more universities or to one or more divisions of the U. S. Department of Agriculture to be used to conduct research and/or publish the results of research of Solanum tuberosum or related species of plants.
 

Article XI.  RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENTS

Section 1. This Constitution shall become effective upon its ratification at the 1984 Annual Meeting and shall supersede the original Constitution and all amendments thereto.

Section 2. This Constitution may be amended at any general meeting of The Association provided that the proposed amendment has been considered by the
Executive Committee, that notice of the proposed amendment has been circulated by the Secretary to members or printed in the American Potato Journal not less than two months prior to the meeting at which time such amendment is to be considered and that it receives an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of those present or entitled to vote.

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The Potato Association of America

"Bylaws"
 

1. Membership and Dues

1. Individual Membership and Dues

Any person who pays annual dues may become an Individual member with all rights and privileges of membership and receive for a period of one year the American Potato Journal and any other publications authorized by the Executive Committee.

Annual dues for all classes of membership shall be set by the Executive Committee.

2. Group Membership

Any organized group, such as a firm, association or other organization, may obtain membership in The Association upon payment of Group membership dues and will receive, for a period of one year, the American Potato Journal and any other publications authorized by the Executive Committee. Participation in Association affairs requires that one individual be designated as representative of the group.

3. Graduate Student Members

Graduate students who are active at time of application may hold membership in the Association upon payment of Graduate Student dues. Students must have the signatures of their Major Professor to certify membership.

4. Sustaining Members

Sustaining membership may be granted to any person, firm, association or organization upon payment of Sustaining membership dues, and will receive, for a period of one year, the American Potato Journal and any other publications authorized by the Executive Committee. Participation in Association affairs requires that one individual be designated as representative for the Sustaining Member.

5. Honorary Life Membership

Honorary life membership may be granted at the discretion of the Executive Committee to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the interests of The Association or the potato industry. Not more than four new Honorary Life members shall be elected at any Annual Meeting. Honorary Life members are entitled to all membership rights and privileges and are not obliged to pay dues.

6. Non-Member Library Subscriptions

Non-member library subscription provides the American Potato Journal to libraries for a period of one year upon payment of a fee set by the Executive Committee, but does not provide any other rights or privileges.

2. American Potato Journal and Other Publications

1. Editorial Board

The policies governing publication of the American Potato Journal and other publications shall be vested in an Editorial Board consisting of an Editor-in-Chief and such associate editors as may be selected at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. The Editorial Board shall have authority to reject any paper deemed unworthy of publication in the Journal or other publications of The Association.

2. The Editor-in-Chief

The Editor-in-Chief and any assistants may receive compensation for services as determined by the Executive Committee.

3. Mailing Charges and Back Numbers

Extra postage for foreign accounts will be set by the Treasurer and Editor-in-Chief with the approval of the Executive Committee. Arrangements for replacement and for the pricing and sale of back numbers and/or volumes of the American Potato Journal shall be determined by the Treasurer and Editor-in-Chief with the approval of the Executive Committee.

3. Duties of Officers

1. President

The President shall preside at business meetings and general sessions of The Association and serve as chairman of the Executive Committee.

2. President-Elect

The President-Elect shall assume the duties of the President in the absence or incapacity of the President and shall coordinate the activities and functions of all committees.

3. Secretary

The Secretary shall keep the Records of The Association at all of the regular or special meetings and a record of meetings of the Executive Committee and shall make necessary arrangements for the Annual or other meetings at the direction of the Executive Committee.

4. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall keep, or cause to be kept, full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to The Association and shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name of and to the credit of The Association in such depositories as may from time to time be designated by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of The Association as may be ordered by the Executive Committee, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements and shall render to the President and Executive Committee whenever they may require it, as well as to the Annual Meeting of The Association, an account of all transactions. A membership Secretary may be employed at The Association's expense and under the Treasurer's supervision to facilitate the business of The Association in the area of records keeping and billing for dues and subscriptions, for page charges and reprints and back issues of the American Potato Journal.

5. Duties of the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall act for The Association in the interim between Annual Meetings; shall fix the date of the Annual Meeting and shall consider matters of general policy in The Association and present their recommendation at the Annual Meetings. The Executive Committee shall meet prior to the Annual Meeting of The Association or at other times approved in Article V, Section 2, of the Constitution.

6. Quorum

Ten members of The Association shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a regularly called Annual or Special Meeting of which at least thirty days notice shall have been given to members.

4. Committees

1. Program Committee

This committee shall be appointed by the President, with the Secretary as Chairman. This committee shall schedule business sessions and symposia for the presentation of papers, exhibits, demonstrations, trips and other functions for the Annual Meetings. The Secretary shall receive titles and abstracts of all papers to be presented at Annual Meetings and shall arrange the program of such meetings. The committee shall also prepare copies of the abstracts of papers for distribution at Annual Meetings.

2. Nominating Committee

This committee shall be appointed by the President. It shall consist of five members with the Past President as Chairman. This committee shall present one (1) nominee for President-Elect, two (2) nominees each for the offices of Vice-President and one or more Directors as necessary at the Annual or other Special Meeting of The Association. Nominees shall be made so as to provide representation from various areas of the Americas and from various fields of interest of the membership of The Association.

3. Membership Committee

This committee shall be appointed by the President and its duties shall be the promotion of membership in The Association.

4. Finance Committee

This committee shall be appointed by the President to work with the Treasurer on monetary mattes and submit a report including a proposed budget at each Annual Meeting.

5. Committee for Local Arrangements

This committee shall be appointed by the President and be combined with the Program Committee and shall work closely with the Program Committee in making local arrangements for Annual Meetings.

6. Honorary Life Membership Committee

The immediate Past President shall be Chairman of the committee which shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Vice-President, the five Directors and the two most recent living Past Presidents.

7. Other Committees

Other committees may be appointed by the President as deemed advisable to study and report on other special fields of activity associated with the potato industry.

5. Miscellaneous

1. Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of The Association shall be from July 1 to the following June 30.

2. Liability

The liability of an officer or member shall be no greater than the amount of the dues paid by the member for the current year.

3. Amending Bylaws

These bylaws may be amended at any Annual Meeting of The Association or at any meeting called for this purpose; provided that any proposed amendments have been considered by the Executive Committee at least two months prior to the Annual Meeting, received Executive Committee approval, been published in the American Potato Journal and that two-thirds of the members present at the Annual Meeting vote in favor of the amendment(s).