South Central District Constitution
2006 Revision
Article I. Name and Function
A. The name of this organization shall be the South Central District of the Iowa FFA Association.
B. The letters “FFA” and/or the words “Future Farmers of America” or “The National FFA Organization” and/or the FFA emblem may be used to officially designate the South Central District, its chapters, and its members.
C. This organization accepts in full provisions of the State and National FFA constitutions, and the by-laws of the State and National FFA Association.
Article II. Executive Committee
A. The executive committee of the South Central District of the Iowa FFA Association shall consist of President, Vice President, Secretary, Reporter, Sentinel, and Advisor.
B. All district officers, except the President, must hold at least the Chapter FFA Degree, be an active FFA member of a chapter within the South Central District, and serve as a district officer while enrolled in high school.
C. The duties of the district officers shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
President: The president will serve as chairman of the executive committee, and coordinate district events and activities.
Vice President: The vice president will assist the president in coordinating the work of the district executive committee.
Secretary: The secretary will keep a record of all meetings of the executive committee, and maintain a secretary’s file, which will contain a record of the year’s events and activities. This file will be given to the new district president no later than two weeks after the president’s election.
Treasurer: The treasurer will prepare an itemized budget for the year’s activities. This budget shall be submitted to the executive committee no later than six weeks following the annual district meeting. The treasurer will collect district dues, and will have sole authority over all district monetary transactions.
Reporter: The reporter will prepare district newsletters and coordinate publicity for district events.
Sentinel: The sentinel will assist the president in maintaining order at district meetings, and will be responsible for keeping district supplies and equipment in proper condition.
D. Each chapter is allowed an unlimited number of applicants for district office.
E. In accordance with the State FFA Constitution, the district advisor will be elected at the annual instructor’s conference.
F. The executive committee shall set the time and place for district officer interviews.
I. ELIGIBILITY
a. Candidates eligible for District Office shall be the following:
i. Active FFA member
ii. Have received their Chapter Degree.
iii. Sophomore or Junior in high school.
b. The number of applicants shall be determined by the respective district.
c. The limitation of the number of terms for district office shall be determined by the respective district.
II. APPLICATION
a. A standard application shall be developed by the Iowa FFA Officer Team.
b. The application shall be distributed to eligible candidates, completed by each candidate, and submitted prior to the interview process.
c. Each district shall set due date for the application.
d. Each candidate shall submit their Supervised Agricultural Experience Records at the time of the interview process for verification of their SAE by the Nomination Committee Advisor.
e. The application shall be a scored component of the process evaluated by multiple individuals before the scored rubric.
f. Applicants shall be used as a reference for the Nomination Committee members during the selection process.
II. NOMINATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS
a. Each district’s Nomination committee shall be 7 members including the Chair and will consist of the following:
i. Current District FFA President shall serve as Chair.
ii. One active high school FFA member from each of the sub-districts.
iii. One current Iowa FFA Officer not native of the district.
iv. The remaining committee members shall be selected from the following list choosing no more than one per area:
1. Past District FFA Officer
2. Retiring District FFA Officer
3. Past Iowa FFA Officer
4. FFA member from the district that has graduated from high school
v. One FFA Advisor shall serve as the Nomination Committee Advisor being ex-officio, non-voting committee member that is not included in the 7 committee members.
III. EXAM
a. An exam testing knowledge related to the district office shall be developed by the Iowa FFA Officer Team.
b. Each candidate shall complete the exam.
c. The exam shall be a scored component of the candidate scoring rubric completed by the Nomination Committee.
IV. INTERVIEWS
a. Round One - One ten minute individual candidate interview consisting of 5 questions from the following categories:
i. Personal
ii. Agricultural/SAE
iii. Leadership
iv. Additional categories can be selected by the Iowa FFA Officer Team
b. Round Two - Group activity where candidates are placed in groups for an interview with the Nomination Committee.
V. SCORING RUBRIC
a. The following Candidate Scoring Rubric shall be used to assist the Nomination Committee in the selection of candidates:
CANDIDATE SCORING RUBRIC
COMPONENTPOINTS
Application20
Test10
Interviews
Individual40 (8 points per question)
Group30
TOTAL100
VI. SELECTION
a. The Nomination Committee shall use the scoring system as a tool to assist them in making their decisions.
b. The Nomination Committee shall slate two candidates per office for the ballet to be presented for vote by the district delegates.
VII. ELECTION
a. The Nomination Committee shall announce the ballot to the district delegates.
b. Nominations shall be called for from the delegate floor for any offices. Eligible candidates who completed the interview process shall only be considered for floor nominations.
c. Nominations shall be closed and the delegates shall proceed with the voting process following a non-sliding ballot voting procedure.
d. Balloted candidates shall present a maximum two-minute speech to the delegate body.
e. Following the candidate speeches, each candidate shall answer two questions generated by the Nomination Committee. Each balloted candidate will answer the same questions. A maximum of a one-minute response shall be given to each candidate to answer each question.
f. Following speeches and questions by the balloted candidates for an office, district delegates shall vote according to the constitutional guidelines.
g. In case of a tie vote, one additional question shall be asked to the balloted candidates the office followed by a re-vote by the district delegates.
Article III.Impeachment and Vacancies
A. District officers, except for the president, may be impeached by a majority vote of the student members of the executive committee with approval of the district advisor.
B. Reasons for impeachment may include, but not be limited to the following: Failure to perform the duties of district office as expressed in the constitution, gross misconduct, unexcused absences from executive committee meetings or district events, or a recommendation to impeach by the district officers’ parents, chapter advisor, or school administration.
C. If the district president is found to be negligent in the performance of his/her duties, the district executive committee, by a majority vote of student members and with the approval of the district advisor, may issue a complaint and/or recommendation to impeach the president to the Iowa FFA Association Executive Committee.
D. When a district office, except president, becomes vacant by resignation, death, or impeachment, the office may or may not by filled at the discretion of the executive committee.
Article IV.Meetings and Conventions
A. A district delegate meeting and leadership conference will be held annually. The district advisor shall determine the date and location of the meeting. The meeting must be held thirty days prior to state convention.
B. Each due paying chapter is limited to send two delegates of the active membership to the meeting to represent the chapter at the annual delegate meeting.
C. The district shall conduct its sessions according to Robert’s Rules of Order and the Official FFA Manual.
D. Emergency meetings may be called by the district executive committee or by agreement of the advisors of ¾ of the active chapters. Executive committee meetings shall be held at the discretion of the executive committee.
E. The delegate body shall have the power to pass resolutions setting the location of district events, approved officers reports, pass constitutional amendments in accordance with Article VIII, Section A of this document, and conduct the general business affairs of the district which are not otherwise delegated by the constitution.
Article V.Expenses
A. The treasurer will submit an itemized budget for all district events other than district convention. This budget is to include every cost associated with the planning of execution of the event, including, but not limited to, district mileage, printing costs, renal fees, and workshop materials, The registration fee for each event must be sufficient so as cover all of the expenses for the event.
B. District officers shall be reimbursed mileage at the rate given by the Iowa FFA Association.
C. Other district expenses, including registration for State Leadership Conference for District Officers, District Convention expenses, and chapter visit costs shall be paid with district dues money.
D. The District Treasurer’s book will run from District Convention to District Convention, with all materials and accounts transferred to the newly elected treasurer within one month of District Convention.
Article VI.Dues
A. The delegate body shall have the power to set the required district dues per chapter by resolution of the majority of delegates. Such resolution will stay effective until further resolution by the delegate body is made.
B. Dues must be paid by October 1 of every year. Any chapter that is delinquent in its dues payment will be ineligible to participate in district-sponsored events until its obligation has been met.
Article VII.Contests
A. Award applications and written materials for contest are due at the state time, and place set by the district advisor. No late materials will be accepted.
B. Proficiency awards, books, and other materials must meet state requirements in order to be eligible for district competition.
C. District Career Development Events shall be held annually. The district advisor will select the career development events to be held each year.
D. Career development events shall follow the rules for the event set forth by the Iowa FFA Board of Directors. It the district initiates career development events independent of the state association, the rules for such events shall be determined by the district advisor or by a rules committee appointed by the district advisor.
Article VIII.Amendments
A. Amendments to this constitution must be submitted in writing to the district secretary prior to the annual district meeting being called to order. A two-thirds vote of all delegates is necessary for the adoption of constitutional amendments. Consideration will not be given to those amendments in conflict with either the State or National FFA Constitution or By-Laws.
B. Amendments may be submitted only by convention delegates or the district executive committee