The following updates have been proposed to the Portage County Agricultural Society Constitution and By-Laws by the Constitution Review committee. These changes will be presented for adoption at the Annual Meeting of Membership on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at 8pm (or immediately following the November board meeting, whichever is earlier).

Markup Version of Proposed Changes

Proposed Changes

1. Article III – Membership
   1. Section 1 – 
      1. Modify the first sentence to use Redbook wording (Section 901-5-06) regarding proof of identification and cost of membership
      2. Move portion of sentence regarding date to be purchased by to new Section 3 under this article
      3. Remove wording regarding voting rights (moved to Section 2 under this article)
   2. Section 2 – Added new section (push current Section 2 to Section 4) – Further clarify who may purchase a membership and what privileges it affords that member.
   3. Section 3 – Added new section to clarify when memberships will be available to purchase and where the available times will be published. Changed the date from September 15th to the 3rd Wednesday of the election year to line up with days the office is open in September.
   4. Section 4 (old Section 2) Change to direct wording from Redbook (Section 1711.01 (E))
2. Article V – Board of Directors
   1. Section 1 – Modified wording to be clearer.
   2. Section 3 (a) – Move to new Article VI Section 1 – b becomes a
   3. Section 3 (c) becomes (b) – Modified to change the requirement to become a director to 6 meetings in the previous 12 and add requirement for volunteering 12 hours in the election year
   4. Section 4 (old) moved to new Article VI
   5. Section 4 (new) – add requirements regarding eligibility for re-election. 
   6. Section 5 – Replace with direct wording from Redbook (Section 901-5-06 (C))
   7. Section 6 – Replace with direct wording from Redbook (Section 1711.07 (B))
3. Article VI – Annual Election of Directors (New)
   1. Section 1 – Moved from Article V, old Section 4 here. Added clarification as to where the announcement of the election date/time will be made.
   2. Section 2 – (from Article V, Section 3. Modify filing date of director petition to the 3rd Wednesday in September of the election year to align with days office is open in September.
   3. Section 3 – (from Article 5 in Bylaws) – Added additional wording from Redbook (Section 901-5-05)
4. Article VII – Annual Meeting of Membership (old Article VI)
   1. Section 1 – Added section number and re-worded.
5. Article VIII Reorganization Meeting  (old Article VII) (added Meeting to name)
   1. Section 1 – Modified wording using wording from Redbook (901-5-06)
   2. Section 2 – Added new section 2 to clarify which officer positions must be filled by a director.
   3. Section 3 (old 2) – Modified start of sentence to remove reference to November, which is already in Section 1.
   4. Renumbered remaining sections.
6. Article IX – Officers (old Article VIII)
   1. Section 1 – Replace with direct wording from Redbook (Section 1711.08)
   2. Section 2 – Remove requirement that all officers must be members of the Society (handled in Section 3) and change to state the term of office (from Section 1)
   3. Section 3 – Replaced with direct wording from Redbook (Section 1711.08) and added that the Secretary and Treasurer do not need to be members of the Society (to allow for outside of county hiring)
   4. Section 4 (new) – Added. direct wording from Redbook (Section 1711.08)
   5. Section 4 (old) – renumbered to Section 5
7. Article X – Fair Dates (old Article IX)
8. Article XI – Meetings (old Article X)
   1. Section 1 – Change wording to indicate that meeting dates are determined by the board. Remove reference to Executive Committee (moved to new Article XII)
9. Article XII – Executive Committee (new)
   1. Re-worded to add a selection and rotation process to the previous wording
10. Article XIV – Society Constitution (old Article XII)
    1. Split Section 1 to 2 Sections
    2. Section 3 (old 2) – Modified wording to draw specifics from Redbook (Section 901-5-08)
11. Renumber remaining Articles

By-Laws

1. Article I – Remove, covered in Constitution
2. Article II – Remove, covered in Constitution
3. Article III – Remove, covered in Constitution
4. Article IV – Remove, covered in Constitution (modified)
5. Article V – Election, covered in Constitution
6. Article VI – Directors
   1. Section 1 – modify to allow a director’s business at the fair but to stipulate that a director may not work for a business or organization during fair week.  
   2. Section 2 – remove. A director should be able to have their business represented at other events outside fair weeks without obtaining board approval
7. Article VIII – Honorary Directors – remove. This is covered by a policy.
8. Renumber all remaining by-laws