[MassChestnutOrchards] RI Status in MA Chapter?

[Mirick, John O.]

I pulled our Articles of Incorporation.  Let me give a more specific response.


Our official name is "The Massachusetts Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation, Corp."

We can vote to change the name to "The Massachusetts-Rhode Island Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation, Corp." and then file a change of name certificate with the Secretary of the Commonwealth (I think that there's a $100 filing fee).  To comply with statute and by-laws, for a name change we need to give notice to the board that the name change will be on the agenda.  Adoption of name change requires majority vote.


Our purpose is assist in the work of the American Chestnut Foundation in bringing about a revival and a renewal of the American chestnut tree as a prominent part of the forests of the United States of America......   

There is no geographic restriction in the purpose clause.  So we can work to accomplish our purpose in Rhode Island as well as in Massachusetts, without any need to revise our Articles of Incorporation.


As currently written, the by-laws limit us to 17 directors, elected for 2 year terms.  With a formal expansion to include Rhode Island, we might want a larger number.  The Board can increase the number of directors (again, requires notice and majority vote).  

Personally, I'd like to see us move to 3 year terms which helps to insure continuity.  With Rhode Island formally included, perhaps we should be considering 21 directors, which would mean 7 positions to be filled (or continued) each year. 


John



JOHN O. MIRICK | Partner
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-----Original Message-----
From: Mirick, John O. 
Sent: Wednesday, January 06, 2010 12:26 PM
To: 'Yvonne Federowicz'; 'kendra at acf.org'; 'masschestnutorchards at masschestnut.org'
Cc: 'meghan Jordan'
Subject: RE: Re: [MassChestnutOrchards] RI Status in MA Chapter?

A change of name is a mildly complicated formality.  I think that our articles of organization as currently stated allow us to encompass activities in RI.

Let's discuss at January Board meeting.

John

Sent by Good Messaging (www.good.com)


 -----Original Message-----
From: 	Yvonne Federowicz [mailto:Yvonne_Federowicz at brown.edu]
Sent:	Wednesday, January 06, 2010 11:33 AM Eastern Standard Time
To:	kendra at acf.org; masschestnutorchards at masschestnut.org
Cc:	'meghan Jordan'; Mirick, John O.
Subject:	Re: [MassChestnutOrchards] RI Status in MA Chapter?

Hi Kendra, Meghan and members,

We have brought up our need to change our paperwork to include RI.  It seems fairly official but not in writing (yet) -does anyone else have comments on this?

Perhaps we can ask John Mirick if there is any trouble with simply changing the name and a few lines in our MA-based charter to make the inclusion, and if we can skip doing anything official with RI government?


Thanks, Yvonne



On 1/6/10 11:11 AM, "Kendra Gurney" <kendra at acf.org> wrote:



	Hi Folks -
	 
	TACF staff are looking to update some of our "standard" publications, like the membership brochure, and I was wondering - how "official" is the RI inclusion in the MA chapter?  Has there been any change to the chapter's by-laws or name to officially include RI within the MA chapter?  I ask because we do have 2 joint chapters, VT/NH and the Carolinas, and if the MA chapter should be listed as MA/RI we would want to make that change in our documents.  I know functionally RI is a part of the MA chapter, but wasn't sure if that inclusion needs to be mentioned in the chapter name or not.  Any clarification would be greatly appreciated.
	 
	Thanks!
	 
	Kendra
	 
	Kendra Gurney
	The American Chestnut Foundation®
	New England Regional Science Coordinator
	USFS Northern Research Station
	705 Spear Street
	South Burlington, VT 05403
	Tel: 802.951.6771 x1350 Fax: 802.951.6368
	Cell: 802.999.8706
	Kendra at acf.org <mailto:Kendra at acf.org> or kgurney at uvm.edu <kgurney at uvm.edu> 
	 
	 
	
	
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