1. Tab 6
To be adopted by all 4-H Clubs:
BYLAWS
OF THE
__________________________ 4-H CLUB
ARTICLE I – NAME, MISSION AND PURPOSE
Section 1. Name. The name of this organization shall be the __________ 4-H Club (the
“Club”). The Club is an unincorporated association affiliated with the New Hampshire 4-H
Association, Inc., a New Hampshire voluntary corporation and recognized Section 501(c)(3) tax-
exempt organization (the “State Association”).
Section 2. Places of Business. The Club meets in _____________________________
County. The Club shall report to and be assisted by 4-H Youth Development staff of the County
Cooperative Extension office of the University of New Hampshire (the “County Extension
Office”).
Section 3. Purpose and Mission of the Club. The purpose of the Club shall be to
improve the lives of its members and to improve the community through participation in the
New Hampshire 4-H Youth Development Program of the University of New Hampshire
Cooperative Extension (the “Cooperative Extension”) as set forth in the Cooperative Extension
4-H Policy Manual1 (the “NH 4-H Policy Manual”). The Club provides positive experiences for
all youth to develop their individual potential as caring and contributing members of an ever-
changing world by developing and fostering youth leadership, citizenship, and life skills.
Education is also a primary purpose focusing on the mastery of knowledge, skills and core
competencies.
Section 4. Pledge. The Club pledge shall be:
I pledge…
My Head to clearer thinking,
My Heart to greater loyalty,
My Hands to larger service, and
My Health to better living, for
My club, my community, my country, and my world.
ARTICLE II – AFFILIATION WITH THE STATE ASSOCIATION
AND USE OF THE 4-H NAME AND EMBLEM
Section 1. Tax-exempt. The Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status of the Club is derived
from the State Association by means of its inclusion in the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”)
Group Exemption Number (“GEN”) assigned to the State Association.
1
New Hampshire 4-H Policy Manual found at: http://extension.unh.edu/resources.

2. Section 2. Compliance with Policies and Procedures. The Club is operated in
accordance with the policies and procedures of the State Association, the University of New
Hampshire and the Cooperative Extension, and shall remain under the control and supervision of
the Board of Directors of the State Association through the County Extension Office staff. The
Club shall comply with all applicable federal, State and local laws, and conform to all policies
and best practices of the Cooperative Extension and its 4-H Youth Development Program.
Section 3. Use of the 4-H Name and Emblem. The Club emblem shall be a green four-
leaf clover bearing a white “H” on each leaflet (the “4-H Name and Emblem”). All uses of the
4-H Name and Emblem shall be subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the NH 4-H
Policy Manual.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Club shall be open to all youth who are between five (5) and eighteen (18)
years of age as of January 1st of the current program year and membership shall be open to all
persons regardless of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, or sexual
orientation. The classes, rights, obligations, and terms and conditions of membership are set
forth in the NH 4-H Policy Manual. The Club shall be supported by a minimum of one (1) adult
volunteer who has been screened and pre-approved by County Extension Office staff (the “Adult
Volunteer Leaders”).
ARTICLE IV – OPERATIONS
The Club shall operate in all respects in accordance with the policies, procedures and
requirements set forth in the NH 4-H Policy Manual and any operating guidelines specific to the
Club which are attached to these Bylaws and do not violate these Bylaws, New Hampshire law
or the Code.
ARTICLE V – OFFICERS
[NOTE: OFFICER TITLES CAN MIRROR EXISTING
AND UNIQUE LEADERSHIP ROLES]
The officers of the Club shall include a President, Vice-president, Treasurer, Secretary and
Historian. The officers of the Club shall be elected at the first regular meeting of the current
program year. The officers shall hold office for one (1) year or until their successors are duly
elected by the membership. One (1) person may hold the offices and perform the duties of more
than one (1) of said offices however each individual has only one vote. Their duties shall be as
follows:
• The President shall be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Club and will
preside at all meetings, uphold these Bylaws and adhere to the NH 4-H Policy Manual.
• The Vice-president shall preside over the Club in the absence of the President. The Vice-
president shall assist the President with the management of the Club.

3. • The Treasurer shall be responsible for all of the Club’s funds and property. The
Treasurer will give a report of the Club’s finances at each meeting.
• The Secretary shall write minutes of each meeting and report at the next meeting. The
Secretary will also keep attendance records and write the Club’s correspondence. The
Secretary shall also collect newspaper and county newsletter clippings, and photos for the
Club’s scrapbook, bulletin board, history, and/or web page.
• The Historian shall be responsible for creating a record of the Club’s activities.
• The Adult Volunteer Leaders shall advise and support the Club leadership team in
making decisions for and by the Club and developing the Club’s programs.
If a different youth leadership structure is used, it must be described here.
ARTICLE VI – MEETINGS
Section 1. Meetings. Meetings of the Club shall be managed in all respects in
accordance with the policies, procedures and requirements set forth in the NH 4-H Policy
Manual and if applicable, operating procedures specific to the Club but which do not go beyond
what is permissible pursuant to the Bylaws and New Hampshire law.
Section 2. Place of Meeting. All meetings of the Club shall be held at such time and
place as determined by the Club or as shall be specified in meeting notices.
Section 3. Special Meetings. A special meeting of the Club for any purpose may be
called at any time by the President, or a Vice President, or by a majority of the members, or in
writing to the Secretary by at least one (1) member. Written notice of the meeting, stating the
purpose for which it is called, shall be served personally, or by mail, or electronic mail, not less
than ten (10) days before the date set for such meeting. If mailed, it shall be sent to every
member at their address. No business other than that specified in the meeting notice shall be
transacted at any special meeting of the members.
Section 4. Quorum. At each meeting of the members, the presence of a majority of all of
the Club’s members, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business except where
otherwise provided by law. In the absence of a quorum business may be discussed and recorded
in the minutes but no official voting or final decisions can be made until a quorum is present.
Section 6. Voting. At any meeting of members at which a quorum is present, a majority
represented shall decide any question brought before such meeting unless a larger or different
vote or proportion is required by law or these By-laws.
Section 7. Participation in Meeting By Electronic Device. A member may participate in
a meeting by means of telephone conference or similar communication equipment enabling all of
the members participating in the meeting to hear one another. Participation in a meeting
pursuant to this Section 7 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 8. Members' Action Without Meeting. Any action which may be taken at a
meeting of the members may be taken by all of the members without a meeting if consent in

4. writing, by email or other electronic transmissions intended to constitute the consent and
signature of the sender. The Secretary shall file such consent or consents with the minutes of the
meetings of the members.
ARTICLE VII – FISCAL YEAR AND FINANCES
Section 1. General. The Club will manage its finances in accordance with the NH 4-H
Policy Manual and under the direction and supervision of the State Association through the
County Extension Office Staff.
Section 2. Fundraising. Fundraising efforts using the 4-H Name and Emblem shall be
conducted in accordance with the terms and conditions of the NH 4-H Policy Manual and shall
be subject to the prior approval of the State Association through the County Extension Office
staff.
Section 3. Tax Exemption. The Club may receive tax-deductible contributions in
accordance with appropriate sections of the current Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(the “Code”) and any future tax code.
Section 4. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Club shall be January 1 to December 31 of
each year, commencing July 1, 2012.
ARTICLE VIII - CONFLICT OF INTEREST
A transaction between a 4-H Club Leader, family member of a 4-H member or enrolled
volunteers and the 4-H Club itself that exceeds $500 could be a conflict of interest under New
Hampshire law. If such a transaction is being proposed, then the potential conflict of interest
shall be disclosed in writing to the 4-H Club Leadership and enrolled volunteers and must be
approved by a 2/3rds majority of the 4-H Club members. The interested individual should
abstain from voting on the potential transaction. When voting, the 4-H Club should consider
whether the potential conflict of interest transaction is in the best interests of the 4-H Club and
should determine that the value of the transaction is no more than fair market value. All conflict
of interest transactions shall be reported to the County Extension Office as well as support that
the procedures set forth in this Article have been followed prior to the occurrence of the
transaction.
ARTICLE IX – AMENDMENT TO THESE BYLAWS
These Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Club by a two-thirds (2/3rds)
majority vote of the quorum set forth in Article VI, Section 4 of these Bylaws, provided that the
proposed amendment is submitted in writing with the meeting notice. Any amendments to these
Bylaws must be in accordance with the policies of the 4-H Policy Manual and must receive prior
approval by the Cooperative Extension County Office. The provisions of the Bylaws of the Club

5. shall not be in conflict with the Bylaws and Articles of Agreement of the State Association.2 The
Secretary shall submit a copy of revised Bylaws to the Cooperative Extension County Office
within thirty (30) days of their adoption.
ARTICLE X – DISSOLUTION
In the event of the dissolution of the Club, in any manner or for any reason whatsoever, its
remaining assets after payment of all debts and obligations of the Club, if any, shall be
distributed for one (1) or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the
Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code, to any other 4-H organization
affiliated with the State Association or the 4-H Foundation of New Hampshire.
Adopted this ___ day of ____________, 2012.
Attest:
____________________
Secretary
____________________
Adult Volunteer Leader
2