RC&D SPONSORS:

• County Commissions
• Conservation Districts
• Irrigation Districts
• Tribal Agencies
• Non-Profit Organizations 
• Communities located in:
  • Bon Homme
  • Brule
  • Buffalo
  • Charles Mix
  • Douglas

The Randall RC&D area is located in south central South Dakota along the Missouri River.  The

southern boundary is Nebraska.  Iowa is approximately 100 miles to the east and Wyoming is 200

miles to the west.  The Randall name is derived from Ft. Randall (a U.S. Calvary Post) which was

located near the present town of Pickstown.  The Fort was established in Dakota Territory in 1856

and abandoned in 1892. 

The area contains 2,920,320 acres located in the six counties of Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo,

Charles Mix, Douglas and Gregory.  The Randall RC&D program office is located on Main Street

in Lake Andes and was established in April of 1965.  About 755,000 people live in this area.

Bylaws

OF THE

RANDALL RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND

DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION, INC.

ARTICLE I (Amended 9-24-07)

A.   Name

The name of the organization shall be the “Randall Resource Conservation and Development Association, Inc.”, commonly called the “RC&D Council”.

B.   Area

The area considered as the designated area of this project shall be all of Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Douglas, and Gregory counties.

ARTICLE II – (Amended 3-25-93)(9-24-07)

     Membership

There shall be two kinds of membership in the RC&D Council; Regular and At-large.

Regular Members of the RC&D Council shall be composed of one representative from those units of government of counties, cities and towns, conservation districts, special purpose districts, Tribal Councils, local non-profit organizations and other sub-divisions of State government within the boundaries of the area or operate within the boundaries of the RC&D area who have made application to the Council to become a sponsor and who have paid up to date their annual dues.  Each sponsor shall designate whom they wish to represent them on the Council and this person shall be considered a member of the Council and serve at the discretion of the sponsoring organization.

At-Large Members are individuals from within the council area to whom the RC&D Council has formally extended this category of membership.  At-Large members will possess special knowledge, skills, abilities and experience needed by the council and express a willingness and desire to serve in full membership capacity.  With this membership goes the right to sit on the council and vote.  Up to six At-Large Members shall serve one year terms, which may be renewed by the Council.

ARTICLE III (Amended 9-24-07)

A.    Purpose

This organization is an independent, non-profit, non-

partisan group having as its primary concern the

accelerated development of all natural and human resources in our area consistent with sound conservation and economic principles and in accordance with public laws and statutes as amended.

The purpose of the Randall Resource Conservation and Development Association, Incorporated, shall be exclusively charitable and educational within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and to assist local people and communities in identifying their needs and to meet those needs through a cooperative and coordinated local effort by providing leadership, with private groups and State and Federal agencies providing the necessary assistance.  The natural resources are to be conserved, improved, developed, and utilized to promote additional employment and economic opportunities.  Within this concept, the Council is organized for educational, scientific, charitable and benevolent purpose, or purposes, as follows:

1. To develop and implement an action-oriented plan of resource conservation and development and utilization for Bon Homme, Brule, Buffalo, Charles Mix, Douglas and Gregory counties in an effort to conserve, develop, and utilize wisely their natural and human resources and thereby improve the social, economic and environmental betterment of the area.

2. To create a general awareness on the part of all people of the urgency and need for orderly development, conservation and wise utilization of resources within the area.

3. To secure the required technical, financial, educational and other services required to develop, implement, and carryout a Plan of Work.

4.  Develop land and water resources for agriculture

municipal, or industrial use and for recreation and wildlife.

5.  Provide soil, water and air resource information for a

variety of uses including farming, ranching, recreation, housing, industry, energy production and transportation.

6.  Provide conservation measures for watershed protection and

flood prevention.

7.  Promote rural development.

8.  Reduce pollution of air and water.

9.  Speed up conservation work on individual farms, ranches,

and other private holdings and on public land.

10. Make needed adjustments in land use by converting surplus or poorly suited cropland to a more beneficial use--grass, trees, wildlife, and recreation.

11. Improve and expand recreation facilities, promote historical and scenic attractions.

12. Encourage existing industries to expand and new ones to locate in the area and thus create jobs; encourage industries to process products of the area.

13. Improve markets for crops, livestock, and forest products.

14. Improve or bring to the area needed community facilities such as hospitals, schools, sewage treatment plants, and roads.

15. Encourage training and retraining programs to improve job skills.

16. Encourage use of area measures and the latest technology to control erosion and flooding, reduce sediment, improve land utilization, alternative energy development, agriculture water management, and fish and wildlife and recreation developments.

17. Encourage use of area measures to utilize existing water resources for irrigation development.

The Council may, when deemed necessary by the Boards of County Commissioners, Boards of Supervisors of the Conservation Districts, Municipal Governments, Irrigation Districts, Water Development District, or any other legal body, represent these aforementioned bodies as a contractorial agent for the Economic Opportunity Act and any other State or Federal Act, or Acts.

For such purposes, this Council shall have the power and authority to own or rent and control such buildings, equipment and other facilities as may be required in carrying out such a program.  To purchase and hold, sell and exchange real estate and personal property as may be required.  This Council shall have the power to borrow money and loan money, receive and distribute public and private grants for the express purpose of carrying out its several duties and obligations.  This Council shall also have power to carry out the purpose set forth herein as permitted by the law under which this Council is incorporated.

     B.  Functions

           It will be the duty of the Council to consider all

matters relating to resources, natural and human, in

the RC&D area; to receive, develop and process action proposals and to act on behalf of the RC&D Area Sponsors on matters pertaining to setting priorities on action proposals, approval of RC&D technical and financial assistance for eligible proposals, amending the RC&D Area Plan, developing an annual work plan, setting goals and expediting action on all matters pertaining to wise use of these resources.  As they deem appropriate, the Council may appoint sub-committees to carry out delegated responsibilities and recommend courses of action. All actions pertaining to the setting of priorities, the revision of the work plan, and the sanctioning of RC&D technical and financial assistance may be done at any meeting where a quorum of Council is present.

ARTICLE IV – (Amended 3-25-93)

A.    Meetings.

1.    Regular Meetings.

The Council will meet monthly or as needed.  The Chairperson shall have the right to set the time and place of each meeting.  Normally they will be held the 4^th Thursday at Lake Andes, South Dakota.  Notice of such regular meetings shall be mailed by the Chairperson or Secretary to each member of the Council at least 7 days prior to each meeting.  Unless otherwise specified by the Council, regular meetings shall be open to the public.

Five members of the Council shall constitute a quorum.  “Robert’s Rules of Order”, as interpreted by the Chairperson, shall govern all the meetings of the Council.

2.    Annual Meeting

The first meeting of each new Fiscal Year will be designated the Annual Meeting of the Council at which time election of officers shall be held by the Council.  This meeting shall be open to the public.

3.    Special Meetings

Special meetings of the Council may be scheduled by the Chairperson or upon written request of three members of the Council by the Secretary.

               Members of the Council shall be notified of the place,

date, time, and purpose of such special meetings in the  same manner as in the case of regular meetings.  It shall also be provided that members of the Council, by majority consent, may hold a special meeting at any place, date, and time.  Unless otherwise specified by the Council, special meetings shall be open to the public.

ARTICLE V

     Votes and Alternates

           Each member shall be entitled to one vote on all

matters requiring a vote at meetings of the Council. 

Any member of the official body of a sponsoring organization may act as an alternate in the event a designated member is unable to attend a Council meeting.  This alternate shall be entitled to vote on behalf of the organization he represents.

ARTICLE VI – (Amended 9-24-07)

     Vacancies

           Vacancies on the Council can be filled only by the

designation of the sponsoring organization.  The Council shall be empowered to fill all At-Large vacancies at its discretion.

ARTICLE VII – (Amended 3-25-93)

     Officers, Terms of Officers, and Duties

A.  Officers

At the first meeting of each year, herein designated as

the Annual Meeting, the Council shall elect a

Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, and Secretary-Treasurer,

who shall hold office until the next Annual Meeting of

the Council or until their successors have been

elected.

B.    Terms of Office (Amended 11-30-95)

All officers of the Council shall be elected to terms of one year, such terms to begin immediately upon election at the Annual Meeting and to terminate immediately upon election of a successor.  Only the Chairperson shall be limited to two consecutive terms.

C.    Duties

1.    The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Council, and shall be empowered to sign all instruments on behalf of the Council and otherwise represent the Council.

The Chairperson shall determine the need for and call special meetings of the Council, and may perform such other duties as prescribed by the Council.

2.    The Vice-Chairperson shall in the absence or disability of the chairperson, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the chairperson, and may also perform such other duties as prescribed by the Council.

3.    The Secretary-Treasurer shall in the absence or disability of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chairperson.  The Secretary-Treasurer may perform such other duties as prescribed by the Council.

4.    The Secretary shall provide seven (7) days notice of the Council meetings.  Shall keep the minutes of the Council meeting.  Shall attest to the documents reflecting the Council’s actions as required and may perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Council.

5.    The Treasurer shall have custody over all funds and securities of the Council; shall keep accurate accounts of the receipts and disbursements in the books of the Council; shall deposit such monies as may come to the Council and depositories designated by the Council; shall prepare and may sign vouchers, warrants, and checks in payment of proper claims against the Council as authorized by the Council; shall prepare and submit periodic financial statements and reports of the accounts of the Council; and shall perform such other duties as the Council may prescribe.

ARTICLE VIII

     Amendments

           These by-laws may be amended at any regular meeting or

special meeting of the council by a favorable vote of

at least two-thirds of those Council members present

and voting.  Proposed amendments to these by-laws

shall be submitted to the Secretary by Council members

at least fifteen (15) days prior to the regular or

special meeting at which the proposed amendments are

to be considered by the Council.  A copy of the

proposed amendments shall be sent to each Council

member by the Secretary at least ten (10) days prior

to the meeting at which such amendments are to be

considered by the Council.

ARTICLE IX – (Amended 2-27-86)(9-24-07)

Upon dissolution of the RC&D Council, the RC&D Council officers shall, after paying and making provisions for the payment of all of the liabilities of the RC&D Council, dispose of all assets in such a manner, according to such organization, or organizations, organized and operated exclusively for Resource Conservation and Development or educational purposes, and shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization, or organizations, under the Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as now

in force or afterward amended, as the RC&D Council officers of the RC&D Council shall determine.  Any such assets not so distributed shall be distributed by the Circuit Court of the County in which the registered office of the RC&D Council has been located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization, or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively through such purposes.

                                     Revised 11-30-95

                                     Revised 9-24-2007