Declaration of principles and Purposes

Section 1. The Association is organized to interconnect educators in Agriculture and Environment where ever so dispersed in the Asia Pacific Region based on the Principles of Universal Collaboration, Assistance, Responsiveness and Excellence (CARE) in the development and practice of profession.

Section 2. The Association has the following purposes in addition to those stated in the articles of Incorporation:

2.1. Serve as an international alliance for the identification and dissemination of new developments and best practices in the fields of agriculture and environmental education;

2.2. Exchange technical and professional knowledge and information among its members, government leaders and society in general in improving education research, development and practice in the Agriculture and Environment.

2.3. Cooperate, coordinate and/ or collaborate with local, national, regional and international organizations, institutions, and governments in searching for new directions and solutions to problems related to education in agriculture and environment.

Membership

Section 1. The Association shall have three types of members:

1.1. Regular Membership. All individuals mentioned in Article 1, Section I of the constitution shall be qualified to become a regular member. Regular membership is a prerequisite for voting in the Association however, he or she should have been an active paying member for at least two years before holding any elective office in the Association.

1.2. Honorary Membership. Individuals who have demonstrated a concern for education in agriculture and environment and who have achieved recognition therein may be elected by the Board to honorary membership in the Association. They shall be exempted from the payment of membership fees and annual dues.

1.3. Institutional Membership. All institutions or organizations involved in agriculture and environment and its allied fields like fishery, forestry, veterinary medicine, agricultural engineering, environmental studies and other entities practicing agricultural and environment are eligible for this kind of membership. The institutional members will occupy two seats in institutional members will occupy two seats in the Board of Directors but shall be entitled to only one vote.

Likewise, institutional donors upon approval of the Board may be granted automatic institutional membership. The representative of the institutional members shall not become an officer of the Association but only a voting member of the board.

Organizational Structure

Section 1. The Board of Directors. The Association shall be governed by an eleven member Board of Directors who shall act as the highest policy and decision-making body.

Section 2. The Elective Officers. The Board of Directors, who shall be elected at large by the members in attendance at Biennial conference or consultation called with the purpose of the members, shall consist of the following:

The President, the Vice-President , the Secretary, the Joint Secretary, Treasurer and Six Board members, two of whom shall come from the Institutional membership.

Section 3. The Secretariat. The Association shall have a Secretariat headed by an Executive Director. The Executive Director and the staff shall be appointed by the President shall directly implement the day-to-day operations of the Association. They shall be given honoraria or compensation to be determined by the Board. The Executive Director shall be an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors.

Governing Rules

Section 1. Duties and Responsibilities. The duties and responsibilities of the elected and appointed officers are as follows:

1.1. The President shall be the head of the Association who shall see to it that all laws, regulations, by-laws and resolutions of the General Assembly through the Executive Director and other officers are properly executed; preside over-all meetings of the Board of Directors and the General Assembly; sign all occasions and performs all such other duties as are pertaining to his office and as may be authorized by the Board and/ or the General Assembly.

1.2. The Vice-President shall discharge the duties of the President if the latter is absent or is unable to discharge his duties if qualified. The President shall see to it that the Vice-president may be given duties to perform during his incumbency so as to utilize his potentials. In addition, the Vice-president shall chair the Project Development committee and assume the fund raising function. He shall be the President-elect in the succeeding biennial conference.

1.3. The Secretary shall keep a complete record of all the membership and proceedings of all meetings of the Board, and the General Assembly, the Seal, the official documents, follow-up actions, make reports during the meetings, circulate to the members any activity or information and perform all other duties appertaining to his office.

1.4. The Joint Secretary shall assist the Secretary and / in his/ her absence shall assume the duties of the Secretary.

1.5. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds and the said funds shall be deposited in a bank of recognized standing to the credit of the Association and reported thereon, after being properly audited, to the General Assembly/ Board during meetings. He/ She shall post a bond to be fixed by the Board for the faithful compliance of his/her duty.

1.6. The Executive Director shall be the chief operating officer of the Association who shall be responsible in managing its day-to-day operations. He shall receive money due to the association and turn over the same to the Treasurer. He shall be allowed to disburse some funds for the operation of his office and the Association's programs the amount shall be determined by the Board.

1.7. Both the Treasurer and the Executive Director shall be bonded, the premiums of which shall be paid form the funds of the Association. The amount of the bond shall be approved by the Board.

1.8. A membership committee maybe created who shall handle the screening and recruitment of prospective members, the suspension of the same, the determination of qualified voters during the election of the officers in the biennial conference and to do such other things pertaining to the welfare of the Association subject to the approval of the Board.

1.9. A nomination committee that shall be created ho shall be responsible in selecting or soliciting from among the regular membership candidates for election to any office in the Association, provided that the same members should have been active for at least two years. The said nomination shall be submitted to the General assembly during the biennial conference.

1.10. A project development committee that shall be created shall study, recommend and implement upon approval of any project and programs that the Association may undertake. It shall be responsible for any und raising campaigns and solicitation of gifts and donations to support the activities of the Association.

1.11. The honors and awards committee that shall be created shall be responsible in choosing or identifying and recommending deserving members of the biennial honors and awards who had an outstanding performance and/or innovative contributions to the advancement of education in Agriculture and Environment and its related field.

Section 2. Election and tenure of Officers. The election and appointment of the officers of the Association shall be conducted biennially, the manner of which shall be determined by the Board.

2.1. Nominations of candidates may also be done during the biennial meeting in addition to the list made by the nomination committee.

2.2. All officers except those in Section 4 of Article IV shall have only one term of office without prejudice of being elected to another position or to the same position in the next biennial meeting.

2.3. In case of vacancy of any office, the Board is authorized to elect/appoint a member for the duration of the unserved term of the vacant position.

Section 3. Meetings and Quorum.

3.1. In order to transact any business in all meetings a quorum of fifty percent plus one of the Board membership shall be secured. A majority vote of the members present is needed to decide on any the meeting, the dates of which shall be determined by the Board. Special meetings may be called by the President or any three members of the board.

3.2. During the biennial conference; a majority vote at least 5o percent plus one of the registered members of good standing present during the conference shall decide questions. The same number shall constitute a quorum.

Section 4.Sources and Disbursement of Funds. The Association shall be supported by such finds as follows:

4.1. Membership Fees. A one time membership fee of $10.00 per individual and $100.00 per institution per year shall accompany the application of any interested and qualified persons and institution as defined in Article Section I of the Constitution and By-Laws.

4.2. Annual Dues. To maintain membership in the Association, every regular member shall pay an annual due to be prescribed by the Board. Active members are those who are up to date in paying the annual dues. The ANNUAL DUES SHALL BE DETERMINED BY THE BOARD NOT MORE THAN ONCE IN A YEAR.

4.3. Donations, Grants, and Contributions. The Association is authorized to receive and solicit donations, gifts, grants and/ or contributions from members, individual, groups, or institutions to support its activities which shall be properly acknowledged and receipted; and disburse the same to enhance the purposes of the Association. It may also undertake fund raising campaign.

4.4. Investments. The Association may invest unused funds in such bonds or securities as lawful investments, the earning of such may be used under to further support the activities of the Association.

4.5. Annual Budget. A rolling annual budget for two consecutive years shall be prepared and approved by the general membership at the biennial meeting. Within two years of operation the Board may appropriate funds for such projects/ activities within the approved biennial budget.

Section 5. Suspension of Membership. Any member of the Association shall be excluded form the membership for failure to pay his/ her annual dues within six months after his membership expires. Reinstatement of membership shall be made only upon payment of membership fees and the annual dues for the current year of application.

Section 6. Disqualification of officers. Any officer of the Association shall be disqualified to perform his/ her duties by a two-thirds (2/) votes of the Board of Directors if his actions are found to be inimical to the Association. This decision is done after due process conducted by a judicial commission created for the purpose by the board or the general membership.

Section 7. The association shall publish a Resource Digest/ Journal/ Newsletter, and the likes which shall be sent to all active members free of charge. Subscription of such publications shall be open to all interested parties. Advertisements shall be allowed in the Digest/ Journal to support its continued publications of the Association or those that were distributed through the Association shall be available to members at discount rates.

Section 8. Country clusters may be organized under the authority of the Association using the same constitution and by-laws of the Association. The need to organize a country cluster shall be decided by the Board after studies consultations are made on the application to organize such clusters.

Section 9. Association shall adopt the calendar year starting every year.

Book of Regulations

Section 1. The Secretary shall keep a perpetual book of regulations in which all by-laws, amendments or standing resolutions shall be written after adoption, standing resolutions shall be turned over to the next secretary of the Association.

Amendments

Section 1. The constitution and by-laws may be amended only by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present during the biennial general meeting.Section 2. Any general regulation, resolution or policy may be amended or changed only by a two-thirds vote of the Board membership present at the meeting at which the amendment were presented and adopted.