Articles of Incorporation

Articles of Incorporation for western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance, Inc.

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS; That we the undersigned by these presents, voluntarily associate ourselves for the purpose of forming a not-for-profit, non-stock membership corporation under the provisions of K.S.A. 17-6001, et seq., and all laws amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto, and we do hereby certify:

Article I

The name of the corporation is: western Kansas Rural Economic Development Alliance, Inc.

Article II

The principal office of the corporation will be 301 West 13th Street, Hays, Ellis County, Kansas. The resident agent will be Ronald J. Sulzman, and his address is 301 West 13th Street, Hays, Kansas.

Article III

Said corporation is organized as an association of persons having the common purpose of promoting regional economic development and other business improvement activities as described in section 501(c)(6) and exempt under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

Article IV

The names and addresses of the persons who are the initial directors of the corporation are as follows:

Lavern Squier, 3009 Cherry Hill Dr., Hays, KS 
Carol Meyer 805 Fleming Garden City, KS 
Kerry Benisch R.R. #1, Box 46A WaKeeney, KS 
Steve Miller 301 W. 13th Hays, KS 
Scott McGinley Box 1180 Dodge City, KS 
Linda Yohon Route #1 Stockton, KS

Article V

No part of the net earnings of the corporation shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to its members, directors, officers or other private persons, except that the corporation will be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in these Articles. No substantial part of the activities of the corporation will be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the corporation will not participate in or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office including the publishing or distribution of statements or the making of oral statements on behalf of or in opposition to a candidate. Notwithstanding any other provision of these Articles, the corporation will not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

Article VI

Upon the dissolution of the corporation, the Board of Directors will, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all of the assets of the corporation exclusively for the purposes of the corporation in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively as an association of persons having the common purpose of promoting regional economic development and other business improvement activities which are described in section 501(c)(6) and exempt under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Directors will determine. Any assets not so disposed of will be disposed of by the district court in the county in which the principal office of the corporation is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations as said court shall determine.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names the 27th day of July, A.D., 1995.

Lavern Squier, Steve Miller, Kerry Benisch, Scott McGinley, Carol Meyer, Linda Yohon