Section I 

This association shall be known as the “Iowa Association of FSA County Office Employees”.  The offices of this association shall be maintained in the city of the Secretary-Treasurer.  (Amended April 1998)

Section II

That in so far as our occupations are entirely dependent upon Iowa Agriculture and the Iowa farmer, and that the very livelihood of each and every member of this association is so dependent we so pledge ourselves to the following objectives:

      1.     To help aid and assist and to the best of our ability, give at all times the

                                    best service that is within our power to provide to the farmers of the

                                    State of Iowa, in order that we might help them:

                              2.     To be better enabled to understand the programs we are charged to

      administer.

3.     To, in each and every instance, that is within our power to do so,

                                    promote the programs which are most applicable to Iowa Agriculture 

                                    and the Iowa Farmer.

4.     To cooperate to the best of our ability, and so far as we are able,

                                    with other agriculture and civic organizations of the State of Iowa

                                    in furthering the cause of making the State a better place to live.

5.     To see that adequate training facilities are provided for all county

                                    office employees.

6.     To assist in the organization of a national association that will in no

      way be contradictory to the principles and beliefs of this

      association, but rather would more emphatically subscribe to that

      high level of agriculture that we all know to exist in the State of

      Iowa.

7.     To be placed on equal basis with privileges of other federal

                                    employees.

8.     We further pledge to cooperate with the Iowa State FSA

      Committee and their staff in any way we may further improve,

      promote, present and administer the FSA programs in the State of

      Iowa.  (Amended March 1996)                                                                  

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

Section I  

To be eligible for membership in this association, a person must be classed as a permanent leave-earning employee of an FSA office in the State of Iowa.  (amended 1986) (Amended 1996)

Section II

He or she must show in good faith that he or she is interested in the purposes and objectives of this association.

Section III

He or she must not be a member of any organization that asserts the right to strike against or advocate the overthrow of the government of the United States, and should he or she become a member of such an organization, membership in this association shall be immediately suspended.

Section IV

Retired FSA or ASCS County Office employees may be invited to  become honorary members of this association.  (Amended 1996)

ARTICLE III - GOVERNMENT

Section I

There shall be nine (9) IASCOE Districts as determined by the IASCOE Board of Directors.

Section II

The governing body of the association shall be vested in an Executive Committee.  Membership on this committee shall be limited to two directors, one representing County Executive Directors or Ag Credit Managers and one representing all other employees in the County Office, from each IASCOE District.  All member to be selected in the manner provided in the by-laws.  The immediate past president shall be an ex-officio member of this board.  

(Amended April 1998)

Section III

There will also be elected alternate directors.  Two alternate directors, one  representative of County Executive Directors or Ag Credit Managers and one representing all other employees in the County Office, shall be elected from each IASCOE district in the manner provided in the by-laws. Alternate directors are to serve in the absence of the directors at any meeting requiring the directors’ presence.  (Amended April 1998)

Section IV

The board of directors shall have the authority to appoint a director or alternate director, if needed, until the next election.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

Section I  

The officers of this association shall consist of a President, a Vice President, and a Secretary-Treasurer, who shall be selected and serve as provided in the by-laws.

ARTICLE V - AMENDMENTS

Section I

This constitution to be amended at any regular or special meeting of the board of directors by vote of two-thirds of the members present, provided, however; that a copy of the proposed amendment(s) shall have been mailed by letter or by notice in the IASCOE  newsletter to all County FSA Offices with members, not later than two weeks immediately proceeding the meeting at which the proposed amendment(s) is presented for vote.

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I - DUES

Section I 

The annual dues for membership in this association to be determined by the board of directors.  The annual dues shall not exceed an amount determined by the general assembly at its annual meeting.  The dues shall be payable in advance in annual installments payable July 1^st.   (Rewritten by amendment 1963.)

Section II  

Any member who is in arrears one month in payment of dues shall be suspended from this association and any member whose dues are in arrears for a period of three months shall automatically cease to be a member of such association.  Such suspended members must reapply for membership as provided in the by-laws and constitution.

Section III  

Honorary members shall not be charged dues.

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

Section I

A person classified as an active, permanent FSA County Office Employee under permanent appointment in the State of Iowa and interested in the objective and purposes of this association shall be eligible to become an active member thereof as prescribed in these by-laws.  (Amended April 1998)

Section II

Upon payment of the prescribed dues, the applicant, after complying with the above membership requirements shall be declared a member of the “Iowa Association of FSA County Office Employees” and be thereto entitled to the benefits and privileges of this association.  (Amended April 1998)

Section III 

Honorary members shall not be entitled to vote or hold office but are rather to be encouraged to participate as ex-officio members.

ARTICLE III - MEETINGS

Section I 

There shall be at least one meeting of this association annually, the time and place shall be at the discretion of the board of directors.  All members shall be notified at least 10 days prior to the meeting. (Amended 1961; re-amended back to original 1963.)

Section II

Special meetings of the association may be called by the President or by written petition of twenty active members.  The time and place of such meetings shall be at the discretion of the President within 10 days from the time the petition is received.

Section III

There shall be at least three regular meetings of the board of directors held annually at such time and place as the board shall designate, except the first meeting shall be held during the Annual Association Meeting and shall be called to order by the immediate past President.  (Amended 1963.)

Section IV 

Special meetings of the board of directors may be called by the President or by written petition of four directors.  The Secretary shall notify all members of the board so they have at least three days prior notice to the time of the meeting.

Section V 

No proxies shall be allowed to vote.  In any regular or special meeting called in the manner provided herein for the calling of special meetings of this association, it shall be the duty of the President of Acting President to determine whether or not a quorum is present at any regular or special meeting.

ARTICLE IV - ELECTION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

Section I 

The term of elected directors and alternate directors shall be two (2) years on a staggered basis, except for appointments made under Article III, Government, Section 4.  (This amendment adopted at the 5^th regular meeting of directors October 12, 1963 at Hotel Kirkwood, Des Moines, Iowa.)

Section II 

All members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by the Association members in the IASCOE Districts.  This election shall be by mail.  Written notice of such election shall be given by the Secretary-Treasurer of the association on or about the first of December each year with ballots to be returned by January 1.  The elected board members shall take office immediately following the annual meeting.  (Amended 1961.)

Section III 

The Board of Directors so elected in the manner prescribed above shall elect a President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer at the first  meeting after the directors assume office.  The officers so elected shall be from the membership on the board. The manner of nomination and election shall be by secret ballot.

Section IV  

No officer shall be eligible to serve for more than two consecutive terms with the exception of the Secretary-Treasurer, who is exempt from the above provision.

Section V 

The President, Vice President, and Secretary-Treasurer shall be from different IASCOE Districts.  

Section VI

In the event that an Officer accepts another position within the state entitling them to maintain full membership with the Association, be it resolved that this Officer may retain their Officer position and complete their elected term.

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS

Section I 

The President shall preside at all meetings, regular and special, of the Association and at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall perform all duties as may be necessary to and pertaining to the office.

Section II 

The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President during any absence and at such times as the President may deem necessary.

Section III   

The Secretary-Treasurer shall be bonded for a minimum of $5,000, issued by an accredited firm and all funds of this Association shall be deposited in an accredited bank in the State of Iowa in the name of the Association.  The Secretary-Treasurer shall conduct the official correspondence of the Association,  keep an accurate record of all transactions of the Association and keep an accurate record of the meetings of the Board of Directors.  The Secretary- Treasurer shall preside at meetings during the absence of the President and Vice President, collect dues from all members and disburse all moneys subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.  The Secretary-Treasurer shall give an accurate financial report of the Association at each regular meeting and perform such duties as the Association Board of Directors  may prescribe. The record books kept by the Secretary –Treasure shall be audited by three (3) members of the Board, appointed by the President at the last annual meeting of the Board each year. (Amended 1963 reducing the bond from $10,000  to  $5,000.)

Section IV  

The Board of Directors shall have control and management of the policies and finances of the Association.  A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum in their meetings and a majority shall proceed with any business of the Board of Directors.              

Section V 

All disbursements of the Association shall be made by check signed by the Treasurer and shall be subject to approval by the Board of Directors.

POLICY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

April 3, 1981
President and Vice President, are the delegates, Secretary-Treasurer, is the alternate delegate to both National Convention and Midwest Area Rally.

Sept. 20, 1991
Membership is based on the number of regular full time employees on the rolls July 1st. Since policy regarding membership at the national level consider membership at 100% when an employee retires or resigns after July 1st, but before December 31st, the IASCOE policy will be the same as that of the national. (Example: Employee on county office payroll July 1st, resigns, hired at state level or retires July 2nd, but before December 31st, the county shall be considered 100% for that year).

Jan. 23, 2004
Pay smaller of ½ of the government mileage rate rounding down to the whole cent, or airfare plus registration, banquet ticket and lodging for two (2) delegates and one (1) alternate delegate or designee to National Convention and Midwest Area Rally.

Jan. 23, 2004
Out Of State Conventions - Pay ½ of the government mileage rate rounding down to the whole cent for one vehicle, lodging for two (2) directors at a single room rate. If two or more directors drive mileage can be divided. Same for lodging. If no director attends but a member or associate member does, he or she can be reimbursed the same rate as a director.

Nov. 12, 2004
NASCOE Award Winners - IASCOE will pay for all expenses NASCOE does not reimburse them for. Examples are: pay smaller of ½ of the government mileage rate rounding down to the whole cent or airfare, registration fee, banquet ticket and lodging (one room).

Last Updated 4-2-05