(Rev. 2015)
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS
OF THE
LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF FFA, INCORPORATED
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I. NAME AND PURPOSE OF THE ORGANIZATION
Section A. The name of this organization shall be the “Louisiana Association of FFA, Incorporated.” Members are hereinafter referred to as “National FFA Organization.” The letters “FFA” may be officially used to designate the organization, its units, or members thereof.
Section B. The purposes for which this organization was formed are:
1. To develop competent and aggressive agricultural leadership.
2. To increase awareness of the global and technological importance of agriculture and its 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 member 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 Louisiana Association of FFA, Incorporated, is a chartered State Association of the National FFA Organization, the national organization for students of agricultural education. The Louisiana Association of FFA, Incorporated, shall be composed of local chapters. Collegiate chapters may also be organized under the direct jurisdiction of the Louisiana Association of FFA, Incorporated.
FFA Constitution
Page XXX
Section B. Active chapters of the Louisiana Association of FFA, Incorporated, for students enrolled in agriculture shall be chartered only in educational systems or institutions approved or sanctioned by the state association. Such chapters shall operate as an integral part of the instructional program of agricultural education under the responsibility of the local school system.
Section C. Collegiate chapters with membership open to former FFA members and other agricultural majors may be established in the institutions recognized for the training of teachers of agricultural education. The purpose of these chapters shall be to promote agriculture and to provide training for future agricultural educators.
Section D. Students shall meet, organize, adopt the State Constitution as their own, elect officers, set up a calendar of activities, and then apply to the State office for membership in the State Association upon receipt of a charter from the State Association, the chapter and the members thereof will be recognized as a part of the National FFA Organization.
Section E. Each local chapter shall consider itself a unit in the State Association. It shall use the State Constitution as its own constitution and have a like number of officers and similar committees performing the same duties for the local chapter that the State Officers and Committees perform for the State organization.
Section F. The general plans and provisions under which a collegiate chapter may operate shall be included in the by-laws attached to this constitution.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Section A. Membership in this organization shall be of four kinds: 1-Active, 2-Alumni, 3-Collegiate, and 4- Honorary.
Section B Active Membership - To be eligible for active membership in a chartered FFA chapter, a student must be enrolled in a secondary agricultural education program. State associations may consider “secondary agricultural education programs” to be grades 7-12.
To become an active member and retain membership, a student must:
1. While in school, be enrolled in at least one agricultural education course during the school year and/or follow a planned course of study; either course must include a supervised agricultural experience program, the objective of which is preparation for an agricultural career.
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 state and national dues by the date determined by the chapter.
4. Display conduct consistent with the ideals and purposes of the National FFA Organization. Any student not over 23 years of age who is regularly enrolled in an agricultural education program is entitled to become an active member of any chartered FFA chapter. Such students may maintain their active membership by meeting the national membership requirements. The student may maintain active membership until November 30, following the fourth National FFA Convention after graduating from High School.
To become an active member and retain membership, a student must:
1. While in school, be enrolled in a least one agricultural education course during the school year and/or follow a planned course of study. Either course must include a supervised agricultural experience program, the objective of which is preparation for a career in agriculture.
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 state and national dues by the date determined by the chapter.
4. Display conduct consistent with the ideals and purposes of the National FFA Organization.
Approved effective with the 2011-2012 school year and these changes should increase FFA membership in Louisiana:
1. In addition to number 1 above, it will read: “A student may continue to be an FFA member by skipping enrollment in an agricultural education course for one academic year (that includes skipping enrollment during the 9th grade for students coming from middle school chapters). Students will not be able to skip the sequential or prerequisite agriculture course. For example, a student cannot skip Ag I to take Ag 2. The student must maintain an SAE using either the Louisiana FFA record book or a record book approved by the local chapter and the state FFA executive secretary and the student must continue to attend FFA meetings. A student must have periodic meetings with the agriscience teacher at school to develop and maintain a journal and a plan of action.
2. For “Home Schooled” students, the parent, the teacher and the school principal must agree to the same rule as stated in the first paragraph. During the year that is skipped, the student and the FFA advisor must continue to work with that students’ SAE and the student may continue to be part of all FFA activities such as CDEs, serving as a chapter officer and applying for proficiency awards.
3. Mandate that only one year of agriculture in the classroom can be substituted within a two year period. (2011)
Section C. Alumni Membership - Open to former active FFA members, agricultural educators, parents of FFA members, and others interested in, and supporting, the FFA.
Section D. Collegiate Membership - The may include any students who are enrolled in agricultural courses or who are pursuing career objective in the industry of agriculture and former active FFA members of chartered local chapters who may be enrolled in the institutions having a collegiate chapter.
Collegiate chapters may be chartered by the state association in two- or four-year postsecondary institutions where agricultural courses are taught. Each chartered collegiate chapter may adopt a constitution which shall not conflict with that of the national organization or the respective state association. They may also elect officers and establish a Program of Activities. Collegiate chapter members shall pay National FFA Organization dues. (2011)
Section E. Honorary Membership - Farmers, supervisors, school superintendents, principals, members of board of education, instructors, teachers of agriculture, businessmen, and others who are helping to advance agricultural education and FFA, and who have rendered outstanding service may be elected to honorary membership by a majority vote of the members present at any regular meeting or convention. Honorary membership shall be limited to the Honorary Chapter FFA Degree in local chapter and the Honorary State Degree in the State Association.
ARTICLE IV. ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP DEGREES AND PRIVILEGES
Section A. There shall be five degrees of active membership based on individual achievement. These are the Discovery FFA Degree, Greenhand FFA Degree, the Chapter FFA Degree, the State FFA Degree, and the American FFA Degree. The national organization shall set the minimum requirements for each degree. The Discovery FFA Degree is intended for use in local chapters where middle school/junior high school membership is offered. Receipt of this degree is not necessary in order to obtain the Greenhand FFA Degree or subsequent degrees.
Section B. Discovery FFA Degree - Minimum qualifications for election:
To be eligible to receive the Discovery FFA Degree from a chapter, the member must meet the following requirements:
1. Be enrolled in agricultural education class for at least a portion of the school year while in grades 7 - 8.
2. Have become a dues paying member of the FFA at local, state, and national levels.
3. Participate in at least one local FFA chapter activity outside of scheduled class time.
4. Have knowledge of agriculturally related career, ownership, and entrepreneurial opportunities.
5. Be familiar with the local FFA chapter program of activities.
6. Submit written application for the degree.
Section C. Greenhand FFA Degree - Minimum qualifications for election:
1. Be regularly enrolled in a class in agricultural education and have satisfactory and acceptable plans for a program of supervised agricultural experience.
2. Learn and explain the FFA Creed, Motto, and Salute.
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 an 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.
Section D. Chapter FFA Degree - Minimum qualifications for election:
1. Must have received the Greenhand FFA Degree.
2. Must have satisfactorily completed at least one year or 180 hours of systematic school instruction in agricultural education at or above the ninth grade level, have in operation an approved supervised agricultural experience program and be regularly enrolled in an agricultural education course.
3. Have participate din the planning and conducting of at least three official functions in the chapter Program of activities.
4. Have a satisfactory scholastic record.
5. Be familiar with parliamentary procedure.
6. Be able to lead a group discussion for fifteen minutes.
7. Must have earned and productively invested at least $1,500 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.
8. Submit a written application for the Chapter FFA Degree.
Section E. State FFA Degree - Minimum qualifications for election:
1. Must have held the Chapter FFA Degree for at least one year immediately preceding election to the State FFA Degree, have been an active member of the FFA for at least two years (24 months) at the time of receiving the degree.
2. Must have satisfactorily completed the equivalent of at least two years (360 hours) of systematic instruction in agricultural education at or above the ninth grade level, have in operation an approved supervised agricultural experience program.
3. Be familiar with the purposes and program of activities for the State Association and National Organization.
4. Demonstrate at least ten procedures of parliamentary procedure.
5. Be able to give a six-minute speech on a topic relating to agriculture or the FFA.
6. Must have earned and productively invested at least $1,000.00 net income by the member’s own efforts from their supervised agricultural experience program or worked other than scheduled class time at least 300 hours in a supervised agriculture experience program or a combination thereof.
7. Show leadership ability by serving as an officer, committee chairperson, or participating member of a chapter committee.
8. Has demonstrated competency in an agricultural occupation and has a satisfactory scholastic record as certified by the agriculture education instructor and principal or superintendent.
9. Must have participated in the planning and completion of the chapter Program of activities and in at least five activities above the chapter level.
Have participated in at least 25 hours of community service activities. These hours are in addition to and cannot be duplicated as paid or unpaid SAE hours. (Effective January 1, 2011)
10. Not more than two percent of the total State membership may be elected to the State FFA Degree. Written records of achievement verified by the local advisor shall be submitted to the State Advisor by the local Executive Committee at least one month prior to the State Convention or no later than the deadline set by the state office. The State Executive Committee will nominate at the regular State Convention the candidates who have been found most worth to receive the honor. The delegates shall then proceed to elect the candidates to the third degree.
Section F. American FFA Degree - Minimum qualifications for election:
1. Must have held each of the three prerequisite degrees prior to the American FFA Degree, have been an active member of the FFA for the immediate past 36 months, and have a record of satisfactory participation in the activities of the local chapter and State Association.
2. Must have satisfactorily completed at least three school years (560 hours) of systematic secondary instruction in agricultural education, or have completed all of the agricultural education offered in the school last attended, have been out of high school for at least 12 months prior to the convention at which the degree is granted.
3. Have in operation and have maintained records to substantiate an outstanding supervised agricultural experience program, through which a member has exhibited comprehensive planning, and managerial and financial expertise. Productive projects must show comprehensive planning, continuation, growth, and increase in scope.
4. During the period covered by the application, the candidate must meet the current dollars earned and/or time invested requirements as stated in the National FFA Constitution.
5. Must have a record of outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement and have achieved high school scholastic record of “C” or better as certified by the local school principal or superintendent.