Article I - Name and Purpose

Section A:  The name of this organization shall be the Tecumseh FFA Chapter.  The letters, "FFA" and/or the words

“Future Farmers of America” may be used to designate the chapter, its activities, or members thereof.

Section B:  The FFA Mission is:  FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success.

Section C:  The purposes for which this chapter is formed are as follows:

1. To develop competent and assertive agricultural leadership.

2. To increase awareness of the global and technological importance of     agriculture and it’s contribution to our well being.

3. To strengthen the confidence of agriculture students in themselves and their   work.

4. To promote the intelligent choice and establishment of an agricultural career.

5. To encourage achievement in supervised agricultural experience programs.

6. To encourage wise management of economic, environmental and human     resources of the community.

7. To develop interpersonal skills in teamwork, communications, human     relations and social interaction.

8. To build character and promote citizenship, volunteerism and patriotism.

9. To promote cooperation and cooperative attitudes among all people.

10. To promote healthy lifestyles.

11. To encourage excellence in scholarship.

 Article II - Organization

Section A:  The Tecumseh FFA Chapter is a chartered local unit of the Ohio FFA Association, which is chartered by the National FFA Organization.

Section B:  This chapter accepts in full the provisions in the constitution and bylaws of the Ohio FFA Association as well as those of the National FFA Organization.

Article III - Membership

Section A:  Membership in this chapter shall be of three kinds: 1) Active 2) Alumni and 3) Honorary, as defined by the National Constitution.

Section B:  The regular work of this chapter shall be carried out by the active membership.

Section C:  To become an active member and retain membership, a student must:

1.  While in school, be enrolled in at least one agricultural education class per     school year.

2.  Show an interest in the affairs of the organization by attending meetings,     striving for degrees of membership and participating in other organized activities of the chapter.

3.  Pay all current chapter, district, state and national dues.

4.  Display conduct consistent with the ideals and purposes of the National     FFA Organization.

 Section D:  Alumni Membership

1.  Alumni membership shall be open to former active members, collegiate and honorary members, present and former professional agricultural educators,   parents of FFA members, and others interested in and supportive of the FFA.

Section E:  Honorary Membership

1. Honorary membership shall be limited to the Honorary Chapter Degree.

2. The Honorary Chapter Degree should be given to farmers, school     superintendents, principals, members of boards of education, chapter advisors, teachers, staff members in agricultural education, business people and others who are helping to advance agricultural education and the FFA and who have rendered outstanding service to the chapter.

3. Those earning the Honorary Chapter Degree will be determined by a     majority vote of the members present at any regular meeting.

4.  The Honorary Chapter Degree should be presented at the annual Chapter     Banquet.

Article IV - Emblem

Section A:  The emblem of the National FFA Organization shall be the emblem for the chapter.

Section B:  All members shall be entitled to display the emblem.

Article V - Membership, Degrees, and Privileges

Section A: There shall be 2 degrees of active membership based on individual achievement in the chapter. These degrees are the Greenhand Degree and the Chapter FFA Degree,

Section B:  Greenhand Degree, Minimum qualifications for election:

1. Be enrolled in agriculture education and have satisfactory and acceptable     plans for a supervised agricultural experience program.

2. Learn and explain the FFA Creed, motto, salute, and FFA Mission Statement.

3. Describe and explain the meaning of the FFA emblem and colors.

4. Demonstrate a knowledge of the FFA Code of Ethics and the proper use of the FFA Jacket.

5. Demonstrate a knowledge of the history of the organization, the chapter     constitution and bylaws and the chapter Program of Activities.

6. Personally own or have access to the Official FFA Manual and the FFA     Student Handbook.

7. Submit written application for the Greenhand FFA Degree.

8.  Recite from memory the FFA Creed, motto, salute, and Mission Statement.

9.  Achieve at least an 80% on the Greenhand test.

Section C:  Chapter FFA Degree. Minimum qualifications for election:

1. Must have received the Greenhand FFA Degree

2. Must have satisfactorily completed at least one year of instruction in     agricultural education at or above the 9th grade level, have in operation of a     Supervised Agriculture Experience Program and be enrolled in an agriculture education class.

3. Must have participated in the planning of at least three official functions in     the chapter Program of Activities.

4. Have earned and productively invested at least $150 by the member’s own     efforts or worked at least forty-five hours in excess of scheduled class time,  or a combination thereof, and have developed plans for continued growth and improvement in a supervised agricultural experience program.

5. Be able to lead a group discussion for fifteen minutes.

6. Have demonstrated five procedures of parliamentary law.

7. Show progress toward individual achievement in the FFA award programs.

8. Have a satisfactory scholastic record.

9. Submit a written application for the Chapter FFA Degree.

10. Must have participated in at least one Career Development Event.

11. Must have participated in one leadership activity.

Section D:  Degree Process

1.  The executive committee shall review the qualifications of the members and make recommendations to the chapter concerning degree advancement.

2.  The committee’s recommendations must receive a majority vote at any   regular meeting before degrees can be granted.

Section E:  Pins

1.  Greenhand FFA Degree Recipients are entitled to wear the official bronze     emblem pin.

2.  Chapter FFA Degree recipients shall be entitled to wear the silver emblem     pin.

 Article VI - Officers

Section A:  The officers of the chapter shall be as follows: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Reporter,

Sentinel, and Student Advisor. The local Advisor(s) shall be the teacher(s) of Agricultural Education in the school where the chapter is located. Officers shall perform the usual duties of their respective positions.

Section B:  Chapter officers must hold the Chapter FFA Degree unless elevated from an assistant office position.

Section C: Chapter officers must be passing all subjects and have at least a B- average in Ag. Education and at least a B- average in all other coursework.

Section D:  Election process for officer positions is as follows:

1.  Interested members will fill out an application, get the proper signatures and turn in on time.

2.  A nominating committee made up of willing FFA members will interview     those candidates.

3.  The nominating committee will present a slate of officers at the next FFA     meeting where it must receive a majority vote of members to be accepted.

4.  In the event the slate is not accepted, the nominating committee will     reconvene and the process will continue until a slate of officers is accepted.

Section E:  Chapter officers and assistant officers must give 24 hour notice to missing any officer or regular meeting and cannot miss more than 2 meetings without the approval from the executive committee. Each time that an officer acquires two unexcused lates to any official officer function, they will be treated as one unexcused absence. Accumulation of 2 unexcused absences or the equivalent will be terms for dismissal from the officer team with the assistant officer for that position to become the new officer.

Section F:  Members wishing to receive an assistant officer position must acquire at least the Greenhand Degree.

Section G:  The process for determining assistant officers is as follows:

1.  Interested members will fill out an application, get the proper signatures and turn in on time.

2.  The chapter officers will evaluate the applications, interview candidates if     needed and present a slate of officers at the next FFA meeting where it must     receive a majority vote of members to be accepted.

3.  In the event the slate is not accepted, the officers will reconvene and the     process will continue until a slate of officers is accepted.

Section H:  The officers, assistant officers and standing committee chairs shall constitute the chapter executive committee.

This executive committee shall have full power to act as necessary for the chapter.

Article VII - Committees

Section A: There shall be 15 standing committees in the chapter.  These will be the following:

Student Development          Chapter Development           Community Development   

Ag. Career Skills                 Financial                                 Agricultural Awareness

Healthy Lifestyles                Leadership Development       Citizenship

Leadership Activities            Public Relations                      Economic Activities

Scholarship                            Recruitment                            Environmental Activities

Supervised Agricultural Exp.        Support Groups             Human Resources

Article VIII - Meetings

Section A:  Regular chapter meetings shall be held once a month during the school year at such time and place as designated by the Chapter Executive Committee. Special meetings may be called at any time.

Section B:  Delegates shall be elected annually from active membership to represent the chapter at State Convention. Other delegates may be named as necessary to have proper representation at other meetings.

Section C: Standard meeting paraphernalia and agenda shall be used at each meeting. All regular meetings shall open and close with the official ceremonies. Parliamentary Procedure shall be used in transacting all business at each meeting.

Article VIII - Dues

Section A  Local dues of this chapter shall be fixed annually by a majority vote of the active members.

Article IX - Amendments

Section A:  The constitution may be amended or changed by a two thirds vote of the active members present, providing it is not in conflict with the State Association Constitution or that of the National FFA Organization.

Section B:  Bylaws may be adopted to fit the needs of the chapter at any regular chapter meeting by two thirds vote of the active members present providing such bylaws conflict in no way with the constitution and bylaws of either the state association or the national organization.