UBA Membership Information
The United Biofuels of America (UBA) is a consortium or Biofuel Feedstock producers, refineries, technology companies and investors focused on feestock to biofuel capacity to meet the biofuel demands of the Americas.
UBA membership is open to companies, non-profits, and universities involved with various biofuel activities including farming biofuel feedstock, biofuel research, refining of feedstock into biofuel, sales of biofuel, and distribution of biofuel. As an international organization, UBA is open to all organizations involved in biofuels, however, the primary focus of UBA is on the development of biofuels in the Americas, to include North, South, and Central American countries.
Eligibility
A Voting Membership on the UBA is available to any biodiesel Feedstock Producer, Feedstock Producer Organization, Biodiesel Producer, or Biodiesel Marketer that is dedicated to the corporate purpose, pays the required dues, complies with the Articles, Bylaws, and Policies and Procedures of the National Biodiesel Board, and operates in a manner consistent with UBA goals.
Membership Approval Procedure
Upon receipt of a completed UBA Membership Application Form, and a check for the appropriate Minimum Annual Dues, UBA shall act expeditiously on the application pursuant to the procedure detailed in the UBA Directorship Admission Policy.
Membership Classes
Associate Member $350.00 USD
Directorate Membership $1000.00 USD
Delegates and Alternates
Voting Members. In order to operate knowledgeably, efficiently and consistently in the best interests of the biodiesel industry, that dues-paying legal entity must appoint only one individual to serve it consistently at UBA meetings.
That designated individual will be its Voting Delegate. This person must be an officer or agent of the dues-paying entity with full authority to vote on all matters coming before the Voting Members of the UBA. Each Voting Member elected shall have the option to designate an Alternate in writing within thirty (30) calendar days of the election.
Meeting Attendance
Faithful attendance at meetings is necessary for the UBA to act faithfully for the benefit of the industry. Proper attendance at an UBA meeting that fails for lack of a quorum is a waste of time for those Members who took the time to faithfully attend, and accomplishes nothing for the industry. Important Notice: An UBA Member, through its Voting Delegate or Alternate, is strongly encouraged to attend all meetings, and expected to attend at least half of all UBA meetings.
UBA Structure
These Bylaws are made a part of the United Biofuels of America Consortium (UBA) membership agreements and shall govern the organization and operation of the Consortium with respect to administration, membership, reports, confidentiality of information, and rights in documents produced by the consortium. Any changes to these Bylaws must be approved by two-thirds of the Consortium members in good standing at the time the proposal for change is made.
The Consortium will be administered by the board of directors. The functions and responsibilities of individuals and committees in the Consortium are as follows:
1. Consortium President
The principal officer of the Consortium will be the Consortium President. The President is elected at the UBA annual meeting by the Consortium membership. The primary responsibilities of the President are to oversee the day-to-day administrative operations of the Consortium and to work with the board to develop plans to ensure that the mission and goals of the Consortium are met. The President is responsible for the development and implementation of the Consortium annual plan. The annual plan specifies the purpose of monthly meetings, sets milestones thoughout the year, specifies specific goals for the year and assigns tasks to working group leads.
2. Consortium Vice President
The Vice President is elected at the UBA annual meeting by the Consortium membership. The Consortium Vice President is responsible for assisting the President with the development and implementation of the annual plan. The Vice President assists the President with the plan implementation by carrying out administrative duties and filling in when the President is absent.
3. Consortium Secretary
The Secretary is elected at the UBA annual meeting by the Consortium membership. The Secretary is responsible for taking meeting minutes, distributing minutes to members, and following up on action items.
4. Consortium Treasurer
The Treasurer is elected at the UBA annual meeting by the Consortium membership. The Treasurer is responsible for collecting membership dues, disbursing funds, and accounting for expenditures.
MONTHLY MEETINGS
The monthly meetings will serve several purposes. The board will take a roll call of members and will review minutes from the prior meeting. Members will discuss current business items which may include formation of new working groups, acceptance of new members, and reports from working group leads. Following the review of general business items, members will divide into working groups to discuss working group topics. Periodically, monthly meetings will be held in connection with conferences and clinics.
ANNUAL MEETING
The annual meeting will serve as a forum for Members to become familiar with the on-going activities of the Consortium. The purpose of the annual meeting is to present results from working groups and to present the activities of the Consortium over the prior year. The Treasurer will report on the disbursement of funds during the year. The President will present the plan for the following year. Officers will also be elected at this meeting.
REPORTING
A confidential written report detailing all activities generated involving the use of Membership dues during the previous year will be furnished to all Consortium Members before the annual meeting. A password protected web site will also be established to provide current information to all Consortium Members.
Member Benefits
The following is intended only as a summary since each class of membership merits benefits that may not be appropriate to other classes.
- UBA Contract Farming Product, Consulting, and Contract Farming rates
- Guarranteed production contracts
- Opportunity to impact the future direction of the biodiesel industry by attending industry development meetings and receiving member-only communications
- Opportunity to represent UBA at strategic meetings, hearings, tradeshows and other events
- Receive frequent updates on state & federal biodiesel legislation
- Access to the “Members-Only†section of the UBA website
- Receive notifications of legislative updates, tradeshows, exhibit opportunities and other events of interest to the industry
- Be promoted through the UBA Communications Department (through UBA press releases and media events)
- Be listed in all UBA publications & on the UBA website
- Fuel suppliers are provided with leads & updated distribution lists of fuel Producers & Distributors from the UBA website
- Access to UBA promotional materials such as publications, information kits, signs, and tradeshow materials at cost
- Discounted rates for IT services including website design and hosting
- Marketing & technical support through expert advice
- Biodiesel industry/petroleum coordination support
- Frequent OEM updates/position statements from all major equipment manufacturers
- Nationwide biodiesel education support
- Use of the UBA Logo
- Significant marketing power through networking activities
Regulatory Management
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The Regulatory Team monitors and analyzes both the regulatory and legislative landscapes concerning biodiesel. The team identifies barriers and opportunities to expanding the use of biodiesel. In carrying out that function, the team tracks an average of over 300 pieces of legislation nationwide. They then provide access to those bills through the members only website, allowing members to focus just on their state, region or area of interest. |
The team also updates members with regular memos summarizing current events. Memos include biodiesel specific legislation, passed legislation, new incentives and regulatory developments.
The Members Only section of our website also provides access to current laws and incentives nationwide. These pages includes easy to read summaries, point and click access as well as some historical background. The site strives to be a one-stop place of up-to-date information that can be used by members to further business planning or strengthen existing markets.
Lastly, the team provides personal service in the form of customized memo’s, answering individual questions and providing analysis and strategy.
IT Services through UBAIT
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TheUnited Biofuel of America’s IT Division (UBAIT) provides technology services such as website design/hosting, print/graphic design, CD-Rom production and more. UBA members are eligible to receive the following member discounts and special rates on IT services through UBAIT.
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