Forming a Chapter of
the Ohio Ecological Food and
Farm Association
Forming an OEFFA chapter
is a great way to get to
know people in your area
that have an interest in
sustainable or organic agriculture.
While many chapter activities
are social, such as potlucks,
chapters serve a variety
of other purposes, including,
but not limited to:
- Bulk orders of seeds, plants
or supplies.
- Educational workshops or
tours.
- Support funds for other
projects.
- Finding customers or farmers.
In 1998, the OEFFA board adopted
the chapter structure to stimulate
local activities and encourage
members to more fully participate
in determining organizational
direction. By providing members
with the capacity to organize
local activities and priorities,
chapters help OEFFA serve local
needs by helping members serve
themselves and each other.
Process
Any 10 paid OEFFA members can
form a chapter. Family memberships
count as 2 members towards
the goal of 10. Individuals
wishing to start a chapter
should determine the philosophical
or geographical definitions
of their chapter. The initiating
members then reserve a meeting
space and time, and ask the
state office to help contact
target chapter members. A map,
time, date, phone number for
additional information, and
the text of the announcement
are required to send the mailing.
Please allow at least four
weeks to ensure that announcements
can be prepared, mailed, and
received in time.
Area members decide at the
meeting if they would like
to form a chapter. New chapters
must select a President and
a Clerk-Treasurer. Each chapter
must agree to hold quarterly
meetings of members, to adopt
the same fiscal year as the
Corporation, and to operate
in accordance with the by-laws
of the Corporation. In addition,
chapters must choose a representative
to the OEFFA State Board.
Organizers then send a list
of Chapter members and officers
to the OEFFA Board President
or Secretary, along with a
written request for formal
recognition as a Chapter. Chapter
leadership will be notified
within seven days of the vote
to approve or reject the request.
Assistance
OEFFA will provide administrative
assistance, such as developing
mailings for meetings and providing
postage as a service of membership.
In some instances, chapters
may use OEFFA's non profit
status to purchase educational
activity materials. Start up
grants in amounts approved
by the state Board and annual
operating grants based on a
percentage of dues are also
available for Chapter activities.
Contact the office or a board
member for more information.
Chapters cannot
use OEFFA's tax exempt status
to solicit donations to fund
chapter activities. All tax
exempt Chapter fund raising
efforts must be joint efforts
sanctioned and administered
by the state office and board.
Chapters are encouraged to
establish their own bank accounts
to manage chapter funds.
Dissolution of a Chapter
A local
chapter may be dissolved by
a vote of two thirds of its
members. A local chapter may
also be dissolved by a vote
of two thirds of the Board
of Trustees for violation of
these by-laws or for actions
that are detrimental to the
goals or reputation of the
Corporation. Upon such dissolution,
all assets of the chapter shall
pass to the Corporation.
Existing Chapters