The purposes for which this Consortium of Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) Programs formed include the following:

1. To assume and maintain an active national role in promoting agricultural literacy programs.
2. To provide input into the selection process of the AITC National Program Leader
   at the United States Department of Agriculture and work closely with the National AITC Program Office.
3. Provide leadership and a professional network for state Agriculture in the Classroom Programs.
4. Work to insure continuity of the Agriculture in the Classroom Program.
5. Identify funding sources for agriculture programs that would meet Consortium objectives.
6. Work in cooperation with other national agricultural leadership and/or literacy programs to achieve common goals and objectives.

The Consortium will recognize four United States Agriculture in the Classroom Regions:

1. Western Region: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.
2. Central Region: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin.
3. Eastern Region: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, District of Columbia.
4. Southern Region: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.

Consortium Executive Committee

1. Each region will select two Consortium members from their region to serve on the Consortium Executive Committee. Each regional representative will have one vote on the Consortium Executive Committee.
2. Executive Committee members will be voted in by the members of their respective regions annually at the annual Consortium meeting.

Bylaws

Membership in the organization shall be made available without regard to race, color, creed or national origin.

1. The President-Elect of the Executive Committee will be selected by the State Consortium representatives annually. The President-Elect will serve for one year, and then become the President the following year.
2. The President will serve for one year and then serve for one year as the past-president.
3. Any Consortium Representative will be eligible for the Office of the President-Elect and can be nominated during the Annual Consortium Meeting. Votes will be tallied by a written ballot, and the nominee with the most votes will become the President-Elect of the Executive Committee.
4. Duties of the President:
   a. conduct meetings and business of the
   Consortium.
   b. serve as the contact between the USDA
   National Director and the Consortium.
   c. serve as the contact between the agricultural
   industry and the Consortium.
5. Duties of the President-Elect:
   a. conduct meetings in the absence of the
   President.
   b. assist the President and accept duties as
   assigned.

1. The Secretary will be elected from the Executive Committee by the Executive Committee.
2. The duties of the Secretary shall be to:
   a. keep accurate minutes.
   b. carry out necessary correspondence.
   c. call meetings to order in the absence of the
   President or President-Elect.
   d. maintain a current copy of the constitution.
   e. count votes.

1. The Treasurer will be elected from the Executive Committee by the Executive Committee.
2. The duties of the Treasurer shall be to:
   a. act as the custodian of the Consortium funds.
   b. invoice states and collect dues.
   c. keep accurate financial records.
   d. serve as Chairman for the financial committee.
   e. keep an accurate list of Consortium members.
   f. file IRS documents as needed

1. The Past President continues as a member of the Executive Committee for one year, to provide guidance and assist the active Executive Committee President.
2. The Past President will have one vote on the Executive Committee.

1. Each Region shall have 2 representatives to the Consortium Executive Committee. Representatives will serve a two year term and will be elected to staggered terms of office. The Secretary and the Treasurer of the Consortium will be regional representatives of the Consortium.
2. The duties of the Regional Representative shall be to:
   a. represent regional interests at Executive
   Committee meetings, and act as a liaison
   in communication between members of the
   region and the Executive Committee.
   b. attend (when possible) meetings of the
   Consortium, and the Consortium Executive
   Committee.
   c. plan, Facilitate, and Host regional meetings
   of the Consortium annually.
   d. assist the officers of the Consortium in fulfilling
   the goals and objectives of the Consortium.

1. No officer will serve more than three consecutive terms.
2. Regional Representatives will be voted upon by their regions and will be subject to their regional rules for selection.

1. The President-Elect of the Consortium will serve on the Executive Committee for 3 years. The first year as the President-Elect (defector vice president), the second year as the President and the third year as the Past President. If at any time during his/her term of office he or she must resign, the Executive Committee must receive his or her resignation two months prior to their departure.
2. If any officer or Regional Representative of the Consortium Executive Committee cannot complete his or her term of office, he/she must submit his/her resignation to the President in writing prior to their departure.
3. If the President cannot complete his or her term of office, he or she must submit a resignation to the President-Elect two months prior to his or her departure.

1. President-Elect: A nomination form will be sent out to each state Consortium member to submit nominations at least 60 days before the Annual Meeting. A list of candidates will be available at least 30 days before the Annual Meeting and sent to the members.
2. President: The President-Elect will become the President and nominees and balloting will be conducted to elect a new President-Elect.
3. Secretary and Treasurer of the Executive Committee: Since these officers are elected by the Executive Committee, the Executive Committee will conduct another election to determine the member who will hold the vacated office.
4. Regional Representatives of the Executive Committee: If a regional representative is unable to fill the term of office, the office will remain vacated until the next annual meeting, when a new representative will be elected to fill the remainder of the term.

1. As member of the Consortium Executive Committee, primary interest will be in developing the National AITC Program.
2. Service in Leadership Roles should not grant the impression of favoritism when being considered for grants and awards. Therefore any Consortium Regional Representative may apply for various grants administered by the consortium but the regional representative may not personally financially benefit from involvement in said grant.
3. The President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and Past President are not eligible to apply for the ACE grant during their term of service.

1. The Consortium Executive Committee may hire professional services to assist them in administering specific programs.
2. Any person/entity who is hired to administer a specific program on behalf of the consortium is ineligible to apply for any grant they administer.
3. The Consortium Executive Committee will review professional services annually to insure adequate administration.

1. When at all possible the Annual Meeting will be held in conjunction with the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference; however, the Annual Meeting may be convened at anytime during the year as deemed necessary by the Executive Committee upon 60 days notice to the Consortium voting membership.
2. The privileges of making motions, debating, and/or voting at the Annual Meeting shall be limited to Consortium Members or their designated alternate upon evidence or receipt of payment of dues.

1. When possible members of the Consortium Executive Committee will meet in Washington D.C. for a fall and spring meeting.
2. The Fall meeting will, when possible, be hosted by the USDA, and the consortium executive committee (President, President-Elect, Past President, Regional Representatives) along with Committee Chairs (as recommended by the Executive Committee) will be invited.
3. The Spring meeting will be hosted by the Consortium, and the Executive Committee will attend along with other members of the Consortium and guests as invited by the Executive Committee.

Outreach Committee

1. The purpose of this committee will be to assist the Consortium with maintaining contact with Congressional leaders.
2. Members of the Consortium and the Outreach Committee will assist Congressional leaders by providing accurate and timely information on AITC programs.

Public Relations Committee

1. The purpose of this committee will be to assist the Consortium with promoting the AITC program in various media sources.
2. Members of this committee will assist the Executive Committee in promoting AITC programs across the nation and in specific regions.

The purpose of the Partners of the AITC Consortium will be to serve in an advisory capacity as part of the Agriculture in the Classroom network. Entities involved with Agriculture in the Classroom and who promote agricultural literacy may be Partners of the AITC Consortium. These entities will include, but not be limited to non-profit organizations, agribusinesses and individuals.

Nominations to Partners will be submitted to the Consortium membership at its annual meeting and will be approved through majority vote of the Consortium.

Representatives from the entities serving on Partners will not have voting privileges; however, they are invited to attend the annual Agriculture in the Classroom Consortium meeting to offer guidance and advice as part of the total Ag in the Classroom network.

Members of Partners will not be required to pay dues, but they are encouraged to be contributors to the Consortium or to the annual Agriculture in the Classroom conference.

Partners of the AITC Consortium will be reviewed annually at the Consortium meeting for continued membership as Partners.