About Us
Your Involvement | Our Objective in Action | Legislative Policy | Our Board | Our By-Laws
Michigan Hemp 
About Us
Other pages in this category:
Membership/Join MIHEMP | Contact Us
The Michigan Industrial Hemp Education and Marketing Project has the stated goal of “Working to expand hemp as a natural resource for industrial and private enterprise.”
Our mission is to educate the public and state government officials about Industrial Hemp and try to clear up the myths and teach the facts through meetings and seminars and setting up booths at public events. We also will be working to connect consumers and vendors of hemp products in Michigan and in the United States.
We are a Michigan non profit orginization and funded through membership dues, fund raising events, and donations. If you are interested in helping out or becoming a member please do not hesitate to contact us.
Your Involvement
Membership dues are $10.00 year for basic membership and $15.00 for an enhanced membership, which includes a personalized, email address .
Enhanced membership includes a “@mi-hemp.org”, “@mihemp.org” or (most common) “@mihemp.org” email address for 5 years (renewals will still be only $10.00/annum during this time) and both regular and enhanced membership includes access to a discussion board.
Interested non-members may also subscribe to infrequent email alerts.
Our Objective in Action
Looking to directly work the halls and offices of Lansing, our direct geographically focused action plan involves YOU in the legislative process. With your 9-digit zip code, we will target both who your State Senator and State Representative in Lansing are. When we meet with your legislators, we will alert you with their contact information, allowing you to contact them to voice your support for our efforts.
In addition, we will let your legislators know how many members are in their district (though we never share your information; numerical information only. See our Privacy Policy). Obviously the more members we have in each district, the more powerful our voice can be in making positive change.
Legislative Policy
During the next several months we will be pushing forth an agenda to enact legislation allowing for the legal, regulated use of industrial hemp to be grown only for fiber, seed, biomass, etc., and NOT for recreational or medicinal purposes. Remember, the best industrial hemp produces the least valuable medicinal and recreational product, and this organization does not condone the use of such output.
The details of this policy will change over time, and as we communicate with statewide agencies, farmers, law enforcement officials, manufacturers, entrepreneurs and elected officials, details will change. The details — and thus the text — are dynamic, so check here often. Members will have access to two forums for their input.
Currently, the Legislative Policy linked below is in the House Committe on Commerce. Contact your legislator to let them know you support this Resolution (remember, this is a Resolution, and does not change the “on-the-book” laws. That change will be possible in the next few months).
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Texts of our Legislative PoliciesCurrent Versions: HR 314: A resolution urging Congress … Download Here |
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Our Board of Directors
Executive Director & Treasurer – Everett Swift
Everett Swift is the Executive Director of the Michigan Industrial Hemp Education and Marketing Project, MI-HEMP (and created the convenient initialism). The organization was formed in 2008 with 5 other members, who all unanimously voted to place Everett in the important position of E.D.
He successfully made the County Commissioner Board of his county debate his Hemp Resolution 3 times. These efforts are improving the outreach and familiarity of hemp and its industrial and ecological uses among the populous and elected officials.
He ran for State Representative in 2008 and is currently trying to obtain a seat on the County Commissioner Board of Montmorency County.
He currently lives in Hillman, MI, but has traveled the state extensively in promotion of the cause.
Everett Swift — Executive Director
MIHEMP
17535 County Rd 451
Hillman, MI 49746-9520
989.884.1139
eswift@mihemp.org
Executive Board Member/ Seat Vacant as of 1412.10
Do you want to serve or do you know someone who does? Contact our Executive Director.
Executive Board Member – Bruce Hartdegen
With a BBA in Management and a professional background in personal financial planning, retail management, payroll administration, real estate management and lease administration, Bruce has been an active supporter in the preservation of individual liberties through the Campaign For Liberty and other pro-individual rights organizations.
Bruce is also a member of the Michigan Antique Radio Club and the Western Wayne County Conservation Association (WWCCA), where he organized a statewide Michigan, pro-rights event for the WWCCA membership and the general public.
734-748-0438
bangzoom@michiganhemp.org
Executive Board Member/ Seat Vacant as of 1412.10
Do you want to serve or do you know someone who does? Contact our Executive Director.
Director of Communications – Paul Pearson
With at least 14 years of Web design and corporate communications experience, Paul Pearson was a founding partner of MIHEMP with Everett Swift 4 other dedicated activists.
He works with the Board to create and write EMails, Press Releases and other communications for MIHEMP, and is the Webmaster of this site.
His main profession is owner of a medical transportation company, although he is also a phlebotomist and assistant nurse.
Dedicated to the cause, his hemp-related appearances in media include Casper Leitch’s “Time 4 Hemp” podcast, The Peter Werbe Show on Detroit’s WRIF Radio, Fox-2 News Detroit and others. His writings have have appeared in over 20 magazines and newspapers, including the New York Times, Life, Nature, American Atheist, Skeptic, and others. His fiction and literature have been printed in 2 books of collected fiction and essays.
He was the lead researcher and author of MIHEMP’s Auto Report on Hemp in the Automotive Industry.
He is also a spokesperson for several organizations devoted to state/church separation issues, edits 3 blogs, runs his Website construction and media/graphics company, is an activist for several causes, and lives with his wife in Houston, TX.
313.622.3429
paul@michiganhemp.org
Our By-Laws
Our By-Laws as a .pdf
Our By-Laws were adapted originally in 2008 and are under revision every year.
MIHEMP Bylaws
Article I. PURPOSE
A. It shall be the purpose of this Organization to promote a better understanding of the following:
1. The current status of laws concerning Industrial Hemp in the state of Michigan and in the United States at large.
2. To educate the public, State Government, agricultural community and business leaders about the potential benefit Industrial Hemp could have on the Michigan economy, farming and manufacturing environment.
3. To promote the market of Hemp products in Michigan and help venders of hemp products connect to a customer base.
Article II. MEMBERSHIP
A. The membership shall be divided into Active and Associate Members.
1. Only individuals whose chapter dues are up to date or who have performed an agreed upon service are considered active members.
2. All others interested in furthering the purpose of the Organization, including paid members of the Organization who are not Active Members, shall be Associate Members.
We welcome volunteer efforts and contributions from nonmembers as well as Members.
However, Associate Members may not hold office, vote, preside, officiate, or solicit funds on behalf of the organization.
They may do so with the expressed consent of the board as an Adviser (see below).
B. It shall be the option of any Member to have his or her name listed on the open rolls of the organization as John or Jane Doe (or a variation) and to be listed in a closed membership book for the purpose of Membership Certification. This book shall be available only to officers of the Organization, or to those authorized by full Board approval for a specific purpose and/or time.
Article III. BOARD
1. General Powers. The business, property, and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by the Board of Directors. The terms “Director” and Board Member shall be synonymous.
2. Number. There shall be not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) directors on the board as shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors.
3. Tenure. Each Director of the Corporation shall hold office until the Director’s death, resignation, or removal.
4. Resignation. Any Director may resign at any time by providing written notice to the Corporation. The resignation will be effective on receipt of the notice or at a later time designated in the notice.
5. Removal. Any Director may be removed with cause by the remaining Directors on the Board.
6. Board Vacancies. A vacancy on the board may be filled with a person selected by the remaining Directors of the Board.
7. Annual Meeting. An annual meeting shall be held each year, no more than 12 months should lapse between annual meetings. If the annual meeting is not held within the required time the Board shall cause the meeting to be held as soon thereafter as is convenient.
8. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held at the time and place as determined by resolution of the Board without notice other than the resolution.
9. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the board may be called by the President (a.k.a. Executive Director) or any two Directors at a time and place as determined by those persons authorized to call special meetings. Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be given to each director in any manner at least three days before the meeting.
10. Waiver of Notice. The attendance of a Director at a board meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting, except where a Director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. In addition, the Director may submit a signed waiver of notice that shall constitute a waiver of notice of the meeting.
11. Meeting by Telephone or Similar Equipment. A Director may participate in a meeting by conference telephone or any similar communications equipment through which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in a meeting pursuant to this section constitutes presence in person at the meeting.
12. Quorum. A majority of the Directors then in office constitutes a quorum for the transaction of any business at any meeting of the board. Actions voted on by a majority of Directors present at a meeting where a quorum is present shall constitute authorized actions of the board.
13. Consent to Corporate Actions. Any action required or permitted to be taken pursuant to authorization of the Board may be taken without a meeting if, before or after the action, all Directors consent to the action in writing. Written consents shall be filed with the minutes of the Board’s proceeding.
Article IV. COMMITTEES
1. General Powers. The Board, by resolution adopted by a vote of a majority of its Directors, may designate one or more committees, each committee consisting of one or more Directors. The Board may also designate one or more Directors as alternate committee members who may replace an absent or disqualified member at a committee meeting. If a committee member is absent or disqualified from voting, then members present at a meeting who are not disqualified from voting may, whether or not they constitute a quorum, unanimously appoint an alternate committee member to act at the committee meeting in place of the absent or disqualified member. All committees designated by the board shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. A committee designated by the Board may exercise any powers of the board in managing the Corporation’s business and affairs, to the extent provided by resolution of the Board.
However, no committee shall have the power to
(a) amend the Articles of Incorporation;
(b) adopt an agreement of merger or consolidation;
(c) amend the By-Laws of the Corporation;
(d) fill vacancies on the board; or
(e) fix compensation of the Directors for serving on the Board or on a committee.
2. Meetings. Committees shall meet as directed by the Board, and their meetings shall be governed by the rules provided in Article III for meetings of the Board. Minutes shall be recorded at each committee meeting and shall be presented to the Board.
3. Consent to Committee Actions. Any action required or permitted to be taken pursuant to authorization of a committee may be taken without a meeting if, before or after the action, all members of the committee consent to the action in writing. Written consents shall be filed with the minutes of the committee’s proceedings.
Article V. OFFICES
These are descriptions of duties and are meant to be used as guidelines and not absolute and specific limitations or obligations of responsibility or authority. The Board shall endeavor at all times to act as a team and be ready and willing to share information and duties. To this end Active Members shall cross-train and assist wherever possible.
1. Director (a.k.a. Executive Director): is the spokesperson for the organization. The Director presides at all meetings, and promotes an effective liaison with other organizations, politicians, the media, the public, and the office of MIHEMP.
2. Assistant Director: serves as Acting Director when the Director is unable to do so, and assists the Director in his or her duties.
3. Secretary: keeps and safeguards both open and closed Membership rosters, takes the minutes of meetings.
4. Treasurer: is responsible for accounting, banking and disbursement of funds.
Article VI. AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS
The By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the Board of Directors present in person or by proxy at the annual meeting, at a special meeting called for that purpose, or by written consent.
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Download MIHEMP's Auto Report: Hemp in the Automotive Industry
With imminent passage of HB 5439 and HB 5540, now is the best time for legislators and constituents to educate themselves on the many uses of Industrial Hemp.
