ARTICLE ONE - NAME

This organization shall be known as the Bridgton Farmers’ Market Association

ARTICLE TWO - PURPOSE

The purpose of this Association is to improve the marketing of local farm, garden and artisan products in the lake region area (defined as within 35 miles of Bridgton) and to stimulate public interest in the consumption of local farm

and garden products.

ARTICLE THREE - MEMBERSHIP

Any home gardener or farmer on a farm not exceeding 40 acres, excluding pasturage and sugar bush or any artisan whose art is created within 35 miles of Bridgton, shall be eligible for membership in the organization after agreeing to

abide by the bylaws, rules and regulations, is voted in by existing members and has the necessary licenses and liability insurance. The work of any applying artisans must also be juried by the association.

Any home gardener or farmer on a farm not exceeding 40 acres, excluding pasturage and sugar bush or any artisan whose art is created within 35 miles of Bridgton, shall be eligible for membership in the organization after agreeing to

ARTICLE FOUR - OFFICERS AND STEERING COMMITTEE

The officers shall consist of Market Manager, Assistant Market Manager, Secretary,  Treasurer and Community Liason.

Steering Committee: These officers, together with two other elected members shall constitute the Steering Committee. No farm shall have more than one representative on the committee. The officers shall serve for one

year, or until qualified successors have been elected.

Duties of officers and steering committee are as follows:

Market Manager and Assistant Market Manager: The Market Manager shall preside at all meetings of the Association and Steering Committee. S/he shall request the Secretary to call regular or special meetings and attend to all duties expected of such office. The Market Manager shall also appoint committees, including advertising and promotion. The Market Manager shall also be allowed to sign checks. The Assistant Market Manager shall attend to the duties of Market Manager in his or her absence or inability to serve. The Market Manager and Assistant Market Manager shall be in charge of public relations as well as enforcing collection of dues and adherence to market rules. The Market Manager and/or Assistant Market Manager is expected to be available on all market days.

Secretary: The Secretary shall keep a record of all meetings and send out notices whenever requested to do so by the Market Manager.

Treasurer: The Treasurer shall keep a record of all dues and other money received from the market operation. S/he shall record any money paid out and report on the foregoing whenever requested to do so. S/he shall deposit all monies received in the Association account.

Community Liaison:  The Community Liaison shall be a volunteer from the community, not a market vendor, who acts as the market's direct connection to the community of Bridgton. The liaison shall take care of connecting the market with prospective sponsors and shall be the representative of the members of the community, along with facilitating any other ways to deepen the connection between the community of Bridgton and the Bridgton Farmers' Market."

Steering Committee: The Steering Committee shall meet on the call of the Market Manager, or in his or her absence, of the Assistant Market Manager. The Steering Committee shall arrange for all meetings, and have general charge of

the Association activities, including power to authorize the Treasurer to pay bills approved by the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee may sponsor advertising by newspapers, radio or television and request

support from various municipalities for promoting the successful operation and expansion of the market. At the request of the Market Manager or Assistant Market Manager, the Steering Committee shall investigate any suspicion

of questionable practices employed by any seller. If verified, they are authorized to immediately enforce corrective action. The Steering Committee may appoint committees as needed.

ARTICLE FIVE - MEETINGS

An Association meeting to nominate and elect members of the Steering Committee shall be held in November of each year. Members in good standing shall have the privilege of voting at all Association meetings. Each farm

membership shall have one vote. Fifty percent of the membership shall constitute a quorum. Members shall be notified of the meeting at least one month prior to the annual meeting. Proxy votes are accepted on agenda items

only.

ARTICLE SIX - RECORDS

Every member shall have the right to examine, for any reasonable purpose, the books, records, roster of membership and other appropriate records of the Association.

ARTICLE SEVEN - DUES AND LIQUIDATION

Section One: The annual dues shall be determined by the Steering Committee annually, payable to the Treasurer or an officer acting in his or her absence. The Steering Committee may also set a per day fee for market attendance.

Section Two: Any member of the Association, whose dues falls in arrears shall, after proper notification by the Treasurer, be automatically dropped from membership in the organization unless immediate payment of such dues is

made.

Section Three: In the event of liquidation or dissolution, all remaining funds in the Association’s treasury shall be distributed on a patronage basis to members, regardless of chronology of such patronage, on the basis of their

respective patronage contributions as shown on the books and records of the association insofar as practicable, after satisfying all debts and other obligations of the Association.

ARTICLE EIGHT - AMENDMENTS

The articles outlined may be amended by a two-thirds majority of members present at any regular or special meeting, providing that the notice of such revision or amendment was included in the call of the meeting, or else that the

matter had been duly presented at a previous meeting.