HSGA’s mission is to support, improve, and strengthen Hawaii’s sheep and goat community by providing a network, coordinating educational and promotional events, and serving as a unified voice for local producers. Our work fosters the breeding, raising, showing, and marketing of sheep and goats, as well as their products, while promoting sound grazing management practices across the islands.
We are Hawaii Sheep & Goat Association
This area has over 200 free information cards to help you learn about nutrition, breeding, health care and more. All cards are created and shown at sheepandgoat.com, a Maryland Small Ruminant website.
Our events feature hands on and lectures on many sheep and goat topics. If you have questions about the infographics, let us know. OR go to www.sheepandgoat.com, a Maryland Small Ruminant website has e-books
Our chat forum offers a marketplace, a place for comments or questions. If you wish to offer farm tours, sell animals, or just chat, here's the place. Photos are also welcome. Check out HSGA's social media too.
HSGA BYLAWS
Draft Revision 01 March 2026
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of the organization shall be Hawai’i Sheep and Goat Association (HSGA); a non-profit (501c3) corporation.
ARTICLE II: MISSION
The mission of HSGA shall be to promote, foster, and encourage the husbandry, breeding, showing, and marketing of sheep/goats and their products. Additionally, the organization shall promote, foster, and encourage the use of ruminants for regenerative agriculture, silvopasture, and land management purposes.
ARTICLE III: OFFICE
The HSGA office shall be located at the postal address of the current HSGA treasurer.
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP
Regular: Any producer of sheep/goats or their products/services may become a regular member.
Associate: Any person, firm, or organization interested in supporting the mission of HSGA may become an associate member.
Corporate: Any family farm, corporate farm, or business may become a corporate member.
Youth: Any minor active in FFA or 4-H may become a youth member.
ARTICLE V: MEMBERSHIP DUES
Payment of annual dues are due by 15 December for the subsequent calendar year. Dues may be submitted by postal service or via Venmo. Dues may not be prorated nor are dues transferrable. Membership dues may be adjusted from time to time by majority vote of the Board.
Current annual membership dues:
- Regular: $50
- Associate: $50
- Corporate: $100
- Youth: $5
ARTICLE VI: MEMBERSHIP PRIVILEGES
All members are entitled to make recommendations and concerns known to the Board. All members are entitled to attend and participate in annual meetings and special meetings either in person or by Zoom; except when personnel matters or litigation is being discussed. Each regular member is entitled to one vote per nominee for the Board of Directors. Corporate members are entitled to one vote by one person designated by the corporation. Associate members and youth members are not entitled to participate in voting.
ARTICLE VII: LIABILITY
No member shall be liable for debts of HSGA except for debts lawfully contracted between the member and HSGA.
ARTICLE VIII: TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
The Board may terminate any member, for cause, by a two-thirds vote of the full Board then serving. The member being considered for termination shall be given the opportunity to defend themselves during a meeting of the Board. If the member chooses to defend themself, then after hearing the member’s testimony, the Board shall vote a second time. Failure to defend oneself constitutes voluntary termination of membership with immediate effect. A terminated member is not entitled to reimbursement of dues.
ARTICLE IX: MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
Annual meeting: An annual meeting of HSGA membership shall be held each year at a place and on a date to be determined by the Board. During the meeting, voting for board members and amendment(s) to the Bylaws shall be conducted. Notice for the annual meeting of no less than thirty days shall be given to all members via email. The meeting shall be available via Zoom.
Special meeting: Special meetings of the membership may be called at any time by: the Board President; any two Directors; or, by written petition of not fewer than ten percent of the members in good standing. A minimum of seventy-two hours notice shall be given for a special meeting except in circumstances for which relevant action must be taken in less than seventy-two hours.
ARTICLE X: QUORUM
A quorum of the membership is a majority of the members in good standing. A quorum of directors is a majority of directors then serving.
ARTICLE XI: ELECTIONS
A nominating committee shall solicit candidates for the Board. Elections shall be conducted during the annual meeting of the membership. Votes may be cast in person or via Zoom. If there are more candidates than vacant Board seats, then the candidates receiving the most votes will be seated on the Board. Proxy voting shall not be allowed.
ARTICLE XII: DIRECTORS
The responsibility and authority for the administration of the affairs of HSGA shall be vested in the Board of Directors. The Board shall be composed of no less than three and no more than nine members in good standing who have been elected by the membership. In the event that a director’s position on the Board is vacated, the Board may fill the vacancy by two-thirds vote of the remaining directors. All directors serve until the next annual meeting. Directors may be reinstated by the membership at each annual meeting.
ARTICLE XIII: OFFICERS
Immediately following the annual election, the board members shall decide among themselves who will serve as officers. The officers shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Technology & Marketing Officer (TMO).
ARTICLE XIV: DUTIES OF OFFICERS
President: The president shall produce the agenda for meetings of the Board and preside over meetings of the Board. In the event of a tie vote, the President shall cast the deciding vote. The president shall be the primary liaison between HSGA and other entities; except when vested in a committee.
Vice-President: The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in his/her absence.
Secretary: The Secretary shall record minutes of all HSGA meetings and provide copies of the minutes to all directors and extension agents within seventy-two hours of each adjourned meeting.
Treasurer: The Treasurer shall pay all invoices due with the approval of the Board and report HSGA’s current financial position to the Board at each Board meeting. The Treasurer shall report the number of members in good standing and number of members who are in arrears at each Board meeting.
TMO: The Technology & Marketing Officer shall keep the HSGA website and social media accounts up to date in accordance with the direction of the Board.
ARTICLE XV: COMMITTEES
The board shall establish committees as needed to conduct the business of HSGA.
ARTICLE XVI: REMOVAL FROM BOARD, OFFICE, OR COMMITTEE
Board members, Officers, and Committee members may be removed, for cause, from their position by a two-thirds vote of the full Board then serving. The member being considered for removal shall be given the opportunity to defend themselves at a Board meeting. Failure to defend oneself constitutes voluntary resignation with immediate effect.
ARTICLE XVII: VACANCIES
Vacancy of a Director’s position may be filled by a two-thirds vote of the full Board then serving. Vacancy of Officers and Committee members shall be filled by majority vote of the Board.
ARTICLE XVIII: COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES
Directors, Officers, and Committee members shall not receive compensation for their services to HSGA. However, the Board shall have the discretion to compensate Directors, Officers, and Committee members for rendering service to HSGA which goes far beyond the service expected of a Director, Officer, or Committee member. The terms of compensation shall be agreed in writing in advance.
ARTICLE XIX: ADVISORS
Representatives of the University of Hawai’i CTAHR are invited to participate in an advisory capacity in all meetings of HSGA. As such, they will have no vote on any matter.
ARTICLE XX: FISCAL YEAR
HSGA’s fiscal year shall be 01 January through 31 December.
ARTICLE XXI: FINANCES
The Board shall adopt an operating budget prior to the start of each fiscal year. The Board shall function within said budget, subject to budget amendments by the Board.
ARTICLE XXII: AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
The Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members participating in a properly noticed meeting. Proposals for amendments may be made by two-thirds of Board members then serving or by petition of ten percent of the membership submitted to the Board.
ARTICLE XXIII: DISSOLUTION
A two-thirds vote of the members present at a duly called meeting shall be required to dissolve the Corporation. After payment of outstanding debts of the Corporation, remaining assets shall be disbursed to other 501c3 corporation(s) in the state of Hawai’i in accordance with applicable IRS and State of Hawai’i regulations.
Hawai’i Sheep and Goat Association • Draft Revision 01 March 2026
Coming Events
2026 Annual Meeting
Join us in Hilo, HI, for a pre-meeting tour, presentation, and panels on expanding grazing strategies, reproductive tools, and dairy goat successes. AG crime updates, and our board election