Our goal is to provide the necessary information, supplies, and training to support hydroponics as a solution to global hunger and malnutrition.

ARTICLE I: Name and Credentials
International Hydroponics Institute is registered with the State of Oregon as a 501-C(3) non-profit corporation and Non-Government Organization (NGO) since 1995.

ARTICLE II: Purpose of Corporation
The purpose of the Institute is to support any and all efforts to introduce the technology of hydroponics as a method for people to provide their own food or begin cottage industry to provide family income. Specific tasks are :

  1) Providing an online internet resource center to help establish technological standards for hydroponics.
  2) Contribute to providing a global inventory of existing hydroponic projects and community centers.
  3) Providing an historical record of hydroponic projects and outcomes.
  4) Providing an international organization that works to train and establish training centers for teaching hydroponics. 
  5) Obtaining and maintaining a global database of information regarding safe material and methods for hydroponics.
  6) Providing tools, technologies and planning concepts to establish individual and community gardens.
  7) Providing education and educational support to children through our online classes, a web based school, and our Scholarship fund, dedicated to providing resources for schools and school children. 
 

ARTICLE III: Membership
Section 1) Types of Members
The membership of the Institute shall consist of three types: community, research and honorary. Consideration for membership to the Institute shall not be denied to any because of sex, race, religion, creed, national origin, handicap or martial status.

Section 2) Community Members.  Any community or family group can become a member of the Institute for Simplified Hydroponics. Community members shall be community based affiliates, or localized affiliate. Recognizing that, examples of Community could include an industry, a village, a school, and a country. The Community based membership includes a group dedicated to establishing simplified hydroponic gardens in their area.

Section 3) Research Members.  Any affiliate whose purpose is to engage in research on hydroponics changes issues.

Section 4) Honorary Members.  Selected by Board.

Section 5) Terms of Members.
Terms for community members will be one calendar year. Research and Honorary members will be continuous during their enrollment in a Corporation facility unless terminated by the Board of Directors. 
 

ARTICLE IV: Membership Fees
Annual membership dues to the Institute will be based on the following fees:
     Community members - $15 per year
     Research members - $50 per year 
     Corporate members - $250 per year
 

ARTICLE V: Finances
The Institute shall submit an annual report and copy of IRS reports to the Board.
 

ARTICLE VI: Officers 
Section 1) Qualifications and Term of Office:
  a) At the first business meeting in the spring term of every even year, the chapter shall elect the following officers: President, Secretary and Treasurer. These officers shall serve during the subsequent two calendar years.
  b) To be eligible for election to a Chapter office, a nominee shall:
      1) Send a letter or e-mail message verifying availability for the position
      2) Desire to advance the technology of simplified hydroponics

Section 2) President: 
The President shall preside over all meetings of members and of the Board of Directors and shall perform all the duties usually devolving upon a presiding officer and those authorized in these Bylaws.

Section 2) Secretary
  a) The Secretary shall maintain minutes of the boards meetings and the web based meetings.

Section 3) Treasurer
  a) The Treasurer shall see that quarterly financial statements are prepared showing the current financial condition of the Corporation and, at the end of the calendar year.
  b) Shall see that financial information is provided whenever requested by the Board of Directors, member agencies or community members.

Section 4) Any officer may be impeached for failure to perform proscribed duties and/or abuse of powers, by a two thirds majority vote of the members at a regular business meeting.

Section 5) If the office of President becomes vacant for any reason during the elected term, the Secretary shall become the President for the remainder of the term, thereby creating a vacancy as Secretary.

Section 6) If any elected office other than that of the President becomes vacant, the President shall nominate a consenting member. A majority vote is required to confirm a new officer. If confirmation is unsuccessful, the process is repeated with a new nominee until confirmation is achieved. 
 

ARTICLE VII: Nominations and Elections
Section 1) every two years, the executive board shall appoint a nominating committee consisting of a Chairperson and at least two other members
 

ARTICLE VIII: Corporation Board
Section 1) The Corporation Board shall consist of: 
  b) The President and elected officials
  c) Those 5 board members selected at each biannual meeting from each Institute affiliate

Section 2) An annual meeting of the Board is required by the Charter
  a) Additional Board meetings can be called as deemed necessary by elected
officers by a 2/3 vote
  b) All Board meetings will be conducted on the Internet over a one week period in full public view

Section 3) Votes of the Corporation Board shall consist of:
  a) A quorum of at least 2/3 corporation board members present;
  b) A simple majority vote
Section 4) The purpose of Corporation board meetings is to deal with issues that require:
  a) Attention prior to the annual members meeting;
  b) To appoint a nominating committee;
  c) To approve participation in ongoing projects and issues
 

ARTICLE IX: Projects and Committees
Section 1) Each project or committee shall be formed with a clear list of objectives, goals, and responsibilities. However, the following responsibilities are common to all committees: 
  a) A timely response to all correspondence; 
  b) Thank you letters to people that have provided a service to the committee,
  c) A quarterly internet report to the membership at a regular business meeting

Section 2) Each project or committee shall have a chairperson and at least two other members. The quarterly report is presented by the chairperson.

Section 3) The members of the standing committees shall be appointed annually and shall consist of:
  a) The annual report committee (current and newly elected officers, chaired by the current president)

Section 4) All committees, other than the standing committees, shall be chartered with formal expiration conditions.
 

ARTICLE X: Voting
Section 1) All voting shall be by ballot through internet connection
  a) Election of officers shall be by secret ballot

Section 2) A majority vote shall consist of:
  a) A quorum of at least five (5) members present
  b) A simple majority
 

ARTICLE XI: Meetings
Section 1) Meetings of the International Hydroponics Institute shall be of the following types:
  a) Annual All Member Meetings: where the normal business of the Institute is conducted;
  b) Executive board meetings: where the executive board of the Institute resolve current issues or select a nominating committee;
  c) Other: non business meetings such as workshops, social gatherings, speakers to the membership, recruiters
  d) Any other official meeting called by members to raise issues and concerns

Section 2) At or before the first business meeting of each term, the date, time and type of each of the terms meetings shall be set by the Vice President (see article VI, section Vice President)

Section 3) Non-scheduled meetings may be called for emergency purposes with:

Section 4) The length of annual meetings shall be limited to one week and conducted on the internet. The length may be extended for a fixed period by a movement and majority vote.
 

ARTICLE XII: Limitations and Dissolution
Section 1) Limitations
  a) The Institute shall operate only under the Articles of Incorporation by the State of Oregon in 1995 and the US Government on August 21, 1995
  b) No part of the net income of the Institute shall inure to the benefit of any private individual or company 
  c) The Institute shall not at any time possess powers, exercise authority or engage in activities which are not permitted to be possessed, exercised or engaged in by an organization exempt from Federal Income Tax (see Section 509 (a) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Revenue Law). 

Section 2) If the Institute should return its charter, all funds or other property remaining after payment of debts and obligations of the Institute shall be transferred to and paid to the United National Development Fund.
 

ARTICLE XIII: Affiliations
The Institute is allowed to have subsidiaries in other countries or regional areas that operate under the same goals and guidelines. These affiliates maintain separate bank accounts and autonomy on projects in their areas. 
 

ARTICLE XIV: Amendments 
Amendments to these by-laws may be proposed by any member by submitting a written proposal to the Secretary. To be adopted, the proposal must be read, discussed and passed by a 2/3 vote of the members at the annual meeting. 
 

ARTICLE XV: Ratification
These Bylaws shall become effective immediately after they have been adopted by a two thirds majority vote of the members attending the annual meeting of the Institute for Simplified Hydroponics.