(Approved by the Board January 25, 2008)

A. Corporation Name

The name of the Corporation shall be Sandhills Task Force, hereinafter referred to as the Task Force.

B. Task Force Area

The Task Force Area shall encompass the 20,000 square-mile area described geographically as the Nebraska Sandhills. Its specific location includes all or parts of 20 counties which are: Arthur, Blaine, Brown, Cherry, Custer, Garden, Garfield, Grant, Holt, Hooker, Lincoln, Keith, Logan, Loup, McPherson, Morrill, Rock, Sheridan, Thomas, and Wheeler.

C. Purpose

The Task Force shall be organized for the purposes of:

1. Serving as a non-political, non-profit organization specifically formed to promote sound management of Sandhill resources in a way that sustains profitable private ranching, wildlife and vegetative diversity, and associated water supplies

2. Providing direction and support in development of economic and environmental programs that support the concepts outlined in the Sandhills Management Plan.

3. Reviewing and commenting on proposals of importance in an effort to coordinate local, regional, state and federal programs.

4. Facilitating inter-government, inter-agency, and private landowner cooperation through non-political forum concerned with area-wide needs and resources. The Task Force will not infringe upon or usurp the authorities of cooperating parties.

5. Receiving and expending federal, state, private, and local funds, and contracting with above units of government, private organizations, and individuals in a manner consistent with the concepts outlined in the Sandhills Management Plan.

6. Improving the Sandhills area economy and environment by striving for sustaining profitable private ranching, wildlife diversity, and associated water supplies.

7. Furnishing general and technical aid to governments and individuals as they request, to promote and accomplish the concepts outlined in the Sandhills Management Plan.

Management of the Task Force shall be by its Board of Directors.

A. Board of Directors

1. The Board of Directors will be made up of 16 directors. They shall include:

• One director recommended by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

• Three directors recommended by the Nebraska Cattlemen,

• One director recommended by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission,

• One director recommended by a Nebraska Resource Conservation Development and Planning Council whose administrative boundary includes a portion of the Sandhills region,

• One director recommended by the Natural Resource Conservation Service,

• One director who presently or previously served as county supervisor or commissioner within a county listed in Article I, B,

• One director recommended by a private environmental or conservation group, and

• One director selected from outside the Task Force Area as described in Article I.B., and

• Six other directors.

2. At least nine directors shall make their primary livelihood from ranching within the Sandhills, or shall be retired from ranching, in each case hereinafter referred to as Ranchers.

3. Each director shall serve one-year term but may be re-elected to an unlimited number of terms. At each annual meeting, the Board of Directors shall nominate and elect all the directors in accordance with Article II, Section A.

4. A director may resign from the Board of Directors at any time.

5. A director may be removed from the Board of Directors by majority vote of the Board of Directors if the director either (a) is absent from two consecutive meetings of the Board of Directors or (b) no longer qualifies for the position he/she was selected to represent, as described in Article II, Section A.

6. Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors shall be filled by the Board of Directors in accordance with Article II, Section A.

B. Officers:

1. The Officers will be elected annually from the directors by a simple majority vote of the Board. The Officers shall consist of the President, Vice-President and Secretary/Treasurer.

2. Each Officer will serve a term of one year. An officer may be re-elected for the same position for an unlimited number of terms.

3. The President shall (a) be the chief executive officer of the corporation, (b) be accountable to the Board of Directors, (c) in general supervise all of the business and affairs of the corporation, (d) be primarily responsible for providing leadership in the governance and management of the corporation, (e) perform all duties assigned by the Board of Directors from time to time and (f) perform all duties incident to the office of President.

4. The Vice President shall (a) be an executive officer of the corporation, (b) be accountable to the Board of Directors, (c) perform all duties assigned by the President or the Board of Directors from time to time and (d) perform all duties incident to the office of Vice President.

5. The Secretary/Treasurer shall (a) be an executive officer of the corporation, (b) be accountable to the Board of Directors, (c) keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors, be responsible for authenticating records of the corporation, see that all notices are duly given in accordance with these Bylaws or as required by law, have charge of all records of the Board of Directors and in general perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary, (d) keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and comprehensive books and records of the assets of the corporation and its transactions, (e) perform all duties assigned by the President or the Board of Directors from time to time and (f) perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary/Treasurer.

C. Meeting of the Board of Directors:

1. Will be held at least semi-annually. Additional meetings may be called by the President or by a simple majority of the Board. Each director is expected to attend all meetings of the Board of Directors.

2. May or may not be publicly advertised, but will be open to public attendance but not participation (unless approved by the Board).

D. Quorum

A quorum for the purpose of conducting business shall consist of nine directors, five must be Ranchers.

E. Voting

Unless otherwise stated in these Bylaws or the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, or required by Nebraska law, voting, planning, and approval by the Board is by simple majority vote of directors present during a meeting.

F. Parliamentary Procedure

To the extent not otherwise governed by Nebraska law, the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, meetings of the Board of Directors shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.

G. Amendments to the Bylaws

Amendments to the Bylaws will be voted on by the Board (1) after each director has been notified at least 30 days prior to the vote and (2) otherwise in accordance with Nebraska law.

 

The Task Force is formed for the following purposes:

A. Advisory

1. Represent local opinions and concerns on environmental, economic and social issues that pertain to natural resources.

2. Develop strategies or solutions that will help resolve conflicts between private and public interests.

3. Further the general public, public agencies and organization’s understanding of the Sandhills Area and the impacts of resource management practices on the area.

4. Serve as a liaison between private sectors and public agencies or organizations.

5. Review and comment on the work and accomplishments of the Sandhills Habitat Office.

B. Funding

1. Seek and direct the use of funds toward sound management practices that support the concepts outlined in the Sandhills Management Plan.

2. Obligate no expenditures without having adequate funds.

C. Miscellaneous

1. Organize committees as the need arises.

2. Conduct all other activities authorized by the Board of Directors and permitted by Nebraska law.

The Sandhills Task Force will be dissolved by the approval of three-fourths of the Board.