ADOPTED: August 28, 2024 (revisions to bylaws passed via email vote)

Article 1: Name

The name of this organization is the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Staff Council (MG-CAFE SC).

Article 2: Purpose

The MG-CAFE SC:

• Serves as a liaison between staff members and MG-CAFE Administration, advocating for staff concerns and interests.
• Facilitates activities for the College, such as MG-CAFE Staff Appreciation Day and the fall Round Up festivities.

Article 3: Membership

• For the purposes of MG-CAFE SC, the College is divided into 11 precincts.
• The Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability (RCARS) has one representative.
• The UK Research and Education Center (UKREC) has one representative.
• Three representatives are from Kentucky Cooperative Extension’s professional society, Chi Epsilon Sigma, representing staff in the 120 counties and designated one precinct.

MG-CAFE SC members are appointed by the Dean of MG-CAFE or their designee, with membership rotating among units in each precinct. Department chairs and unit directors are consulted for candidates. Terms are two years long, based on the fiscal year from July 1 to June 30, with staggered terms when possible. Members filling unexpired terms will serve for two years.

Article 4: Officers              

Officers consist of a chair, vice chair, recording secretary, service activities coordinator, and past chair. The chair will be selected by current members of the MG-CAFE SC and approved by the Dean of MG-CAFE or their designee for a two-year term, based on a fiscal year from July 1-June 30. The past chair is the most recent former chair and serves two years as past chair. The recording secretary may be a member of the MG-CAFE SC or a staff member appointed by the Dean who works as staff support for the MG-CAFE SC.

The chair presides over meetings, develops meeting agendas, ensures meeting minutes are posted on the MG-CAFE SC website, and distributes materials to the MG-CAFE SC as needed. The chair maintains the MG-CAFE SC listserv and website or delegates this responsibility to a staff member appointed by the Dean who works as staff support for the MG-CAFE SC. The chair appoints ad hoc committees as appropriate.

A liaison from Agricultural Communications, appointed by the director of Agricultural Communications, attends meetings and assists with social media.

Article 5: Meeting Schedule

The MG-CAFE SC will meet quarterly on campus or other location where off-campus representatives may join the meeting via Zoom. Meal is provided by College Administration for this working meeting.

Other meetings may be called as needed by either the MG-CAFE SC chair or College Administration.

Article 6: Adoption of Bylaws

These bylaws will be reviewed annually by all MG-CAFE SC members and adopted by a majority vote at the May MG-CAFE SC meeting.

Article 7: Amendment of Bylaws

These bylaws can be amended at any regular meeting of the MG-CAFE SC with at least a quorum of MG-CAFE SC members present or can be amended via an email voting process led by the MG-CAFE SC chair. The motion will carry with a two-thirds majority vote. Amendments will be shared with MG-CAFE SC members at least seven days in advance of a meeting.

Article 8: Repository of CAFE Staff Council Bylaws

These bylaws will be posted on the MG-CAFE SC website. Any future changes to the bylaws will also be archived and posted on the MG-CAFE SC website.

Article 9: Annual Report

The MG-CAFE SC will produce an annual report each June, summarizing the activities of the last fiscal year. Officers are responsible for this report, which will be posted on the MG-CAFE SC website.