Market Bylaws
ARTICLE 1: NAME
This organization shall be called the Brunswick Winter Market
ARTICLE 2: MISSION
The Mission of this organization is to provide a wintertime outlet for local Maine agricultural and related products and to help promote small-scale agricultural and rural enterprise, as well as local non-profit organizations with similar priorities. By offering local food and goods to local people, we seek to provide a community gathering place that nurtures awareness of the rural agricultural lifestyle.
The Brunswick Winter Market consists of local small growers of vegetables and related agricultural products; local producers of "value added" items including, but not limited to: baked goods, pickles, preserves, etc.; local people involved in catching, processing and distributing Maine seafood products; local craftspeople and any other category deemed acceptable to the voting membership.
It is recognized that although members sell as individuals, the Brunswick Winter Market is a cohesive unit, the success of which depends on the cooperation and joint effort of the vendors as a whole.
ARTICLE 3: MEMBERSHIP.
A: A member in good standing of the Brunswick Winter Market shall be any vendor (production unit) who:
Has been accepted into the organization by the positive vote of the membership.
Has completed a probationary period of one (1) market season.
Is current on all rental fees and other monies required by the business of the Brunswick Winter Market.
Agrees to abide by the established Rules and By-Laws of the Brunswick Winter Market.
B. Membership in the Brunswick Winter Market is by application. New applicants will be invited to meet the Market membership during the annual September meeting to present their products in a bid to win a space in the coming Market season when their acceptance will be voted on by the membership. Those with the highest tally will be approved as probational members as space allows. Acceptance of probationary members will be determined by a vote at the Annual Meeting in April. The Membership reserves the right to leave a space vacant.
C: Only members in good standing shall have the right to vote in Market meetings. Each production unit shall have one (1) vote.
D: Membership in the Brunswick Winter Market is open to all Maine Producers without regard to age, sex, race, creed or sexual orientation.
ARTICLE 4: OFFICERS AND STEERING COMMITTEE
The offices of the Brunswick Winter Market shall consist of President, Market Manager and Secretary/Treasurer.
The Steering Committee shall consist of the above seats as well as four (4) members-at-large. All roles shall be served for a term of one (1) year.
A: President
The President shall preside over all meetings of the Market and the Steering Committee, he/she shall also be responsible for calling any special meetings. The President shall be in charge of public relations pertaining to the Market, focusing especially on the advertisement, publicity and promotion of the market. The President shall receive all new applications and notify those applicants of the date of the September New Applicants meeting.
B: Market Manager
The Market Manager shall attend to the duties of the President in his/her absence.
He/She shall also be responsible for enforcing the adherence to Market Rules and Policy. The Market Manager shall supervise the day-to-day operation of the Market. The Market Manager will fill available vacancies due either a short absence or a vendor leaving the Market, with non-profit entities or from the vendor wait list.
C: Secretary/Treasurer
The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep a record of all meetings. He/She shall maintain the roster of current membership. He/She shall also keep a record of all money received for the operation of the market and collect any required money. He/She shall provide a Treasurer's report during the meeting at the end of the Market season. He/She shall record minutes of all Market meetings and distribute them to the membership within one (1) week after the meeting.
D: Steering Committee
These aforementioned officers, together with four (4) elected members-at-large shall comprise the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee shall meet at the call of the President, or in his/her absence, the call of the Market Manager. The Steering Committee shall have general charge of all Market activities, including the power to authorize the Secretary/Treasurer to pay bills approved by the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee may sponsor any advertising or promotion and may request support from various municipalities and other entities for promoting the successful operation and expansion of the market. At the request of the Market Manager, the Steering Committee shall investigate any suspicion of questionable practices employed by any vendor. The Steering Committee shall also be responsible for maintaining a current set of Rules for the operation of the market. In the case of a vacancy within the Steering Committee, the Steering Committee shall have the power to appoint an interim replacement for no longer than two (2) months, or until the vacancy is filled by vote of the membership.
ARTICLE 5: MEETINGS
A: Annual Meeting
There shall be an annual meeting of the full Market Membership, at which time a new board shall be elected, the Market bylaws and rules may be reviewed and/or amended, and the Secretary/Treasurer will give his/her report. This meeting shall be held during the last Market day in April. Notice of the meeting and a meeting agenda, including any proposed amendments, must be sent so that members receive notice at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.
B. September New Applicant Meeting
Vendors will be notified of the September New Applicant meeting two (2)weeks in advance. At this meeting applicants will have the opportunity to make a presentation to the Market membership after which all members in good standing will vote on which applicants will fill the available spaces. Any requests to expand current spaces will be addressed.
C.: Special Meetings
1: A special meeting may be called by the President, or the Market Manager in the case of the President’s absence, to conduct necessary business of the market, including reviewing new applications, filling a vacancy on the Steering Committee, amending the bylaws, or creating a temporary sub-committee. A meeting agenda, including any proposed amendments, must be sent so that members receive notice at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.
2: A Special Meeting may be called by a written petition signed by at least 20% of the membership, providing that all signatures are of members in good standing. Such a petition must be presented to the Steering Committee, who shall send out a meeting agenda, including any proposed amendments, so that members receive notice at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.
C: Voting
All general business brought before the Market at a duly authorized meeting shall be decided by a majority vote. Votes shall carry by a simple majority of those present at the meeting. In the event of a tie the result shall be considered negative. Members in good standing shall have the privilege of voting in all meetings of the Market’s general membership. Each member entity shall have one (1) vote.
ARTICLE 6: MARKET EXPENSES AND FEES
A: All expenses pertaining to the operation and promotion of the market shall dealt with individually. Members shall be notified of their obligations by the Steering Committee. All money shall be collected by the Secretary/Treasurer.
B: In addition to any other obligations, there shall be a stall fee determined by the landlord of the locale the Market occupies. Notice of amount and payment due dates shall be communicated to the membership via email.
C: Any member whose financial obligations fall in arrears shall be notified by the Market Manager. Failure to pay any required monies shall result in the immediate loss of the right to vote in all Market matters, as well as the right to serve in any elected Market position. Continuing in arrears may result in the loss of membership status at the decision of the Steering Committee.
D: In the event of dissolution, any remaining money shall be disposed of in accordance with the wishes of the majority of the members, after satisfying all debts and other obligations of the Market.
ARTICLE 7: RECORDS
Each member shall have the right to examine, for any purpose, the books, records, roster of membership, and other records of the Market.
ARTICLE 8: AMENDMENTS
The articles outlined heretofore may be amended by a simple majority vote of members in good standing at any regular or special meeting, and that a meeting agenda, including any proposed amendments, is sent so that members receive notice at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.
Created 02-10-2010
Revised 08-22-2010
Revised 04-19-2018
This organization shall be called the Brunswick Winter Market
ARTICLE 2: MISSION
The Mission of this organization is to provide a wintertime outlet for local Maine agricultural and related products and to help promote small-scale agricultural and rural enterprise, as well as local non-profit organizations with similar priorities. By offering local food and goods to local people, we seek to provide a community gathering place that nurtures awareness of the rural agricultural lifestyle.
The Brunswick Winter Market consists of local small growers of vegetables and related agricultural products; local producers of "value added" items including, but not limited to: baked goods, pickles, preserves, etc.; local people involved in catching, processing and distributing Maine seafood products; local craftspeople and any other category deemed acceptable to the voting membership.
It is recognized that although members sell as individuals, the Brunswick Winter Market is a cohesive unit, the success of which depends on the cooperation and joint effort of the vendors as a whole.
ARTICLE 3: MEMBERSHIP.
A: A member in good standing of the Brunswick Winter Market shall be any vendor (production unit) who:
Has been accepted into the organization by the positive vote of the membership.
Has completed a probationary period of one (1) market season.
Is current on all rental fees and other monies required by the business of the Brunswick Winter Market.
Agrees to abide by the established Rules and By-Laws of the Brunswick Winter Market.
B. Membership in the Brunswick Winter Market is by application. New applicants will be invited to meet the Market membership during the annual September meeting to present their products in a bid to win a space in the coming Market season when their acceptance will be voted on by the membership. Those with the highest tally will be approved as probational members as space allows. Acceptance of probationary members will be determined by a vote at the Annual Meeting in April. The Membership reserves the right to leave a space vacant.
C: Only members in good standing shall have the right to vote in Market meetings. Each production unit shall have one (1) vote.
D: Membership in the Brunswick Winter Market is open to all Maine Producers without regard to age, sex, race, creed or sexual orientation.
ARTICLE 4: OFFICERS AND STEERING COMMITTEE
The offices of the Brunswick Winter Market shall consist of President, Market Manager and Secretary/Treasurer.
The Steering Committee shall consist of the above seats as well as four (4) members-at-large. All roles shall be served for a term of one (1) year.
A: President
The President shall preside over all meetings of the Market and the Steering Committee, he/she shall also be responsible for calling any special meetings. The President shall be in charge of public relations pertaining to the Market, focusing especially on the advertisement, publicity and promotion of the market. The President shall receive all new applications and notify those applicants of the date of the September New Applicants meeting.
B: Market Manager
The Market Manager shall attend to the duties of the President in his/her absence.
He/She shall also be responsible for enforcing the adherence to Market Rules and Policy. The Market Manager shall supervise the day-to-day operation of the Market. The Market Manager will fill available vacancies due either a short absence or a vendor leaving the Market, with non-profit entities or from the vendor wait list.
C: Secretary/Treasurer
The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep a record of all meetings. He/She shall maintain the roster of current membership. He/She shall also keep a record of all money received for the operation of the market and collect any required money. He/She shall provide a Treasurer's report during the meeting at the end of the Market season. He/She shall record minutes of all Market meetings and distribute them to the membership within one (1) week after the meeting.
D: Steering Committee
These aforementioned officers, together with four (4) elected members-at-large shall comprise the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee shall meet at the call of the President, or in his/her absence, the call of the Market Manager. The Steering Committee shall have general charge of all Market activities, including the power to authorize the Secretary/Treasurer to pay bills approved by the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee may sponsor any advertising or promotion and may request support from various municipalities and other entities for promoting the successful operation and expansion of the market. At the request of the Market Manager, the Steering Committee shall investigate any suspicion of questionable practices employed by any vendor. The Steering Committee shall also be responsible for maintaining a current set of Rules for the operation of the market. In the case of a vacancy within the Steering Committee, the Steering Committee shall have the power to appoint an interim replacement for no longer than two (2) months, or until the vacancy is filled by vote of the membership.
ARTICLE 5: MEETINGS
A: Annual Meeting
There shall be an annual meeting of the full Market Membership, at which time a new board shall be elected, the Market bylaws and rules may be reviewed and/or amended, and the Secretary/Treasurer will give his/her report. This meeting shall be held during the last Market day in April. Notice of the meeting and a meeting agenda, including any proposed amendments, must be sent so that members receive notice at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.
B. September New Applicant Meeting
Vendors will be notified of the September New Applicant meeting two (2)weeks in advance. At this meeting applicants will have the opportunity to make a presentation to the Market membership after which all members in good standing will vote on which applicants will fill the available spaces. Any requests to expand current spaces will be addressed.
C.: Special Meetings
1: A special meeting may be called by the President, or the Market Manager in the case of the President’s absence, to conduct necessary business of the market, including reviewing new applications, filling a vacancy on the Steering Committee, amending the bylaws, or creating a temporary sub-committee. A meeting agenda, including any proposed amendments, must be sent so that members receive notice at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.
2: A Special Meeting may be called by a written petition signed by at least 20% of the membership, providing that all signatures are of members in good standing. Such a petition must be presented to the Steering Committee, who shall send out a meeting agenda, including any proposed amendments, so that members receive notice at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.
C: Voting
All general business brought before the Market at a duly authorized meeting shall be decided by a majority vote. Votes shall carry by a simple majority of those present at the meeting. In the event of a tie the result shall be considered negative. Members in good standing shall have the privilege of voting in all meetings of the Market’s general membership. Each member entity shall have one (1) vote.
ARTICLE 6: MARKET EXPENSES AND FEES
A: All expenses pertaining to the operation and promotion of the market shall dealt with individually. Members shall be notified of their obligations by the Steering Committee. All money shall be collected by the Secretary/Treasurer.
B: In addition to any other obligations, there shall be a stall fee determined by the landlord of the locale the Market occupies. Notice of amount and payment due dates shall be communicated to the membership via email.
C: Any member whose financial obligations fall in arrears shall be notified by the Market Manager. Failure to pay any required monies shall result in the immediate loss of the right to vote in all Market matters, as well as the right to serve in any elected Market position. Continuing in arrears may result in the loss of membership status at the decision of the Steering Committee.
D: In the event of dissolution, any remaining money shall be disposed of in accordance with the wishes of the majority of the members, after satisfying all debts and other obligations of the Market.
ARTICLE 7: RECORDS
Each member shall have the right to examine, for any purpose, the books, records, roster of membership, and other records of the Market.
ARTICLE 8: AMENDMENTS
The articles outlined heretofore may be amended by a simple majority vote of members in good standing at any regular or special meeting, and that a meeting agenda, including any proposed amendments, is sent so that members receive notice at least two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.
Created 02-10-2010
Revised 08-22-2010
Revised 04-19-2018
