Middle Tennessee Arabian Horse Association

Current Bylaws (2010)


ARTICLE 1. NAME


The name of this organization will be Middle Tennessee Arabian Horse Association, hereafter call the Club. The Club shall conform to Internal Revenue Code for 501[c] 5 organizations.


ARTICLE 2. OBJECTIVE AND PURPOSE


Section 1. The Club shall conform to the Bylaws and Objectives of the Arabian Horse Association or its successor.

Section 2. The purpose of this Club is to foster and encourage good relations between members and to promote the breeding of registered Arabians, Half-Arabians and Anglo-Arabian Horses, and to encourage the exhibition, use and stimulate interest in the outstanding qualities of the Arabian Horse.

Section 3. In furtherance of the objectives, the Club will hold meetings for the presentation of educational materials and ideas and promote the Arabian Horse through horse shows, lectures, seminars, field trips, trail rides and other appropriate methods.


ARTICLE 3. MEMBERSHIP


Section 1. Any individual may be eligible to join the Club, if he or she is interested in promoting Arabian Horses and is willing to support the Club and its’ goals.

Section 2. Types of Membership:

 

1. Individual Membership with AHA affiliation.  Full MTAHA and AHA membership privileges and voting rights. 
2. Youth Membership with AHA affiliation.  Designated for persons under the age of 18 on January 1 of membership year.  Membership includes AHA affiliation and full MTAHA club privileges, but no voting power.
3. Supporting Membership A Supporting Member is defined as an additional MTAHA membership available to anyone who is related to or legal guardian of an Individual Member who has a full MTAHA and AHA membership. 

      A supporting member must be either related to or the significant other of an Individual    Member or parent or guardian of a Youth Member.  A Supporting Member has no AHA            affiliation and may not hold office in MTAHA.

Supporting Memberships are available in three (3) options:

1.)   MTAHA Youth – any person under the age of 18 whose parent or legal guardian is an Individual Member.  MTAHA Youth Members have full club privileges; however, their parent or legal guardian must exercise their voting right.

2.)   MTAHA Adult – any additional adult family member or significant other.  Full club privileges plus one (1) voting right designated for MTAHA matters only.

3.)   MTAHA Family – available to additional family members of any Individual Member.  MTAHA Family Members collectively share one (1) voting right designated for MTAHA matters.

4. Social Membership A social member is an MTAHA member with full participation privileges in MTAHA (e.g., eligible for high point awards, club member discounts on events) but may not hold office or have a vote.  Free newsletter when available and MTAHA discounts for web site services.

Section 3. Membership shall be effective when dues are submitted to Club or AHA.

Section 4. The membership shall not be limited in number nor shall membership in the Club be transferred to another person.

Section 5. Any member disrupting the harmony of the Club may have his/her membership suspended after thorough investigation and after a copy of the charges are presented to him/her and a special meeting called for that purpose. If a two-third (2/3) vote of the membership present sustains the charges, the membership will be cancelled.

Section 6. Any member may resign from the Club upon giving written notice to the secretary of the Club.



ARTICLE 4. DUES


Section 1. The annual dues of the membership shall be set by a two-third (2/3) majority of the Board of Directors. Any change in the membership dues may be made by the Club membership at the next general meeting.

Section 2. The payment of membership dues shall coincide with the rules and regulations of AHA that pertain to dues. Currently, any dues, which remain unpaid at January 1, will be considered past due. Any member who has not paid his dues within the time allowed shall be dropped automatically from the membership and shall not receive the monthly newsletter nor be allowed to vote in Club matters. Dues shall not be prorated for any portion of the year.


ARTICLE 5. MEETINGS, ELECTIONS AND VOTING


Section 1. The regular Club meeting shall be determined by the Board of Directors. The time and place of the meeting shall either be announced at the regular meeting, the Club newsletter or notice sent at least ten (10) days before time to meet by the Secretary of the Club. There should be a minimum of six meetings per year.

Section 2. The Board of Directors shall meet at such hour and place as may be designated by the Chairman of the Board as frequently as necessary to conduct business of the Club. Notice of such meetings shall be given to all Board members.


Section 3. Special meetings of the Club may be called by the President or by a majority vote of the Members of the Board or by petition signed by at least fifteen percent (15%) of the total voting members. Written notice of such meeting shall be mailed at least ten (10) days prior to the date of the special meeting and said notice shall state the purpose of the special meeting.

Section 4. Each year at least sixty (60) days prior to the Club’s Election Meeting in October, the President of the Club, with approval of the Board of Directors shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of three (3) members. In order to be eligible to run for a club office, one must have been a full individual member in good standing with MTAHA for one year prior to the nomination deadline. The Committee shall report to the Club’s secretary within thirty (30) days, the names of nominees that have been selected for the various elective offices, together with the written consent of the nominees included in the report. Others may be nominated for any office by any member by submitting the name, offices, and consent by the nominee to the Club Secretary no later than thirty (30) days prior to the election so that notice of the upcoming election may be sent to Members of the Club. Only Voting Members of the Club are eligible to serve as Officers of the Club.

Section 5. The Election Meeting of the Membership shall be held in October. Officers and Directors shall be elected at the meeting. The Officers and Directors elected shall commence their duties January 1 of the following year. To be eligible to vote, one must be a member since August 1 prior to the election date

The method for voting in the annual officers’ election, is as follows; members of MTAHA must be present to vote or mail in their randomly numbered ballots which will be sent out prior to the election with sufficient time for return. The ballots must be mailed back and received prior to the election date. No proxy voting or sending ballots in by another person.

Section 6. All votes must be submitted to the Special Committee appointed by the President at the Election Meeting. A report shall be submitted by the Special Committee and all candidates receiving the largest number of votes for the respective offices shall be declared elected. Results are open to review by any member per RROO.

Section 7: Robert Rules of Order (current edition) shall prevail in all matters of club business.


ARTICLE 6. DIRECTORS


Section 1. The business and affairs of the Club shall by managed by a Board of Directors consisting of seven (7) Members, consisting of the immediate past President, the current President and Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer and two other elected Club Members. In the event the Past President is no longer available to serve, three (3) other elected Club Members shall serve. The Board of Directors shall elect a Chairman and a Secretary shall be appointed by the Chairman to take minutes of the meetings.

Section 2. The Board of Directors shall serve for on (1) year and may succeed themselves.

Section 3. Any Members of the Board of Directors who do not take part in the management of the affairs of the Club for a period of three (3) consecutive months shall automatically cease to be a member of the Board and shall be so notified by the Chairman.

Section 4. The Board of Directors shall have the power to fill a vacancy on the Board or of an Officer by appointing a new Member to serve for the unexpired term created by the vacancy.

Section 5. All obligations of the Club shall be paid by check drawn to the account of the Club. These checks must be signed by the President or the Treasurer.

Section 6. There shall be the following permanent standing committees: Show, Awards, Membership and Youth Activities. The Chairmen of these committees shall be appointed by the Board. The Board may appoint other committees from time to time to handle other matters.

Section 7. The President and Treasurer will have the authority to make payment on obligations up to and including $500. A majority of the Board is needed to approve obligations from $501 up to and including $1,000. A majority vote of members attending a meeting will be necessary to approve obligations above those amounts. The Show Chairman will have the authority to approve payment of the obligations for the show. However, the Show Chairman shall submit a budget to the Board for approval.

Section 8. MTAHA shall indemnify and hold all directors, officers, committee members harmless from all liabilities, obligations, claims, causes of action, or expenses of any kind, including attorney fees that may arise or be incurred by them as a result of the performance of their duties for or on behalf of MTAHA, to the full extent allowed under Tennessee law.

Section 9: Each and every decision of the Board of Directors, without exception, shall be subject to a majority vote of the Members present at the next following regular or special meeting of the Members.



ARTICLE 7 DISTRICT AND NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES


Section 1. Delegates to the annual Convention of AHA and to the Region 12 meetings, as enumerated by AHA, shall be selected by vote of the membership at the meeting prior to the reporting of the delegates to AHA. At least one(1) of the Representatives shall be carried over from the previous year, if possible.

Section 2. Expenses incurred by Representatives of the Club in regard to Regional and Arabian Horse Association activities may be fully or partially reimbursed by the Club on approval of the Board of Directors. Proper expense documentation shall be submitted to the Treasurer prior to reimbursements of said expenses.


ARTICLE 8 DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

Section 1: The President shall preside over all Meetings of the Club.
He/She shall designate and appoint any committees which are necessary for the active functions of the general affairs of the Club subject at all times to the approval of the Board of Directors. Other than those duties specifically enumerated within these Bylaws, the President has no other role or powers that are not enjoyed by other Members. Specifically, enactment of policies and procedures, and all other facets of operation of the Club other than those delegated to other Officers shall be within the purview and subject to approval of the Board of Directors.


Section 2. The Vice President shall have the powers and exercise the duties of the President in case of the President’s absence and have other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed for him/her by the President. The Vice-President shall designate time, date and place for the general membership meetings.

Section 3. The Secretary shall keep accurate minutes of all meetings of the Club and send a brief summary each month to the Newsletter Editor. He/She shall keep an accurate record of all Members of the Club on the file and check periodically with Membership Chairman. The Secretary shall handle all necessary correspondence, calendar of events, and if there is no Newsletter Editor, send notice of Club Meetings at least ten (10) days prior to the Club Meetings.


Section 4. The Treasurer, being subject to the Board of Directors, shall collect and receive all monies due or received by the Club and receipt whereof. He/She shall deposit immediately same in bank designated by the Board of Directors. Other payment of bills shall be dispersed as ordered by the Board of Directors requiring receipt of proper vouchers for such disbursements. The books shall at all times be open for inspections and the Treasurer shall report to the Club the condition of the at each meeting and submit a written treasurer’s report to the President. At the discretion of the President and the Board an audit of the account by a Committee appointed by the Board may be called for. Additionally, the Treasurer shall be responsible for the timely filing of the Club’s tax return for the period of the Treasurer’s term.

Section 5. In addition to the duties outline in the preceding sections, the officers shall have such other duties individually or collectively as may be specifically designated by the Board of Directors.


ARTICLE 9 AMENDMENTS


Section 1. Proposed Amendments to the Bylaws may be presented in writing at any regular Meeting of the Board of Directors. When approved by a majority vote of the Board, the proposed amendment shall be submitted for ratification to the General Membership at the next Club meeting. A two-third (2/3) majority vote of the members present at the meeting shall be necessary for ratification.

Section 2. No amendments to the Bylaws are valid if they conflict with Region 12 or the Arabian Horse Association. The Club may be dissolved at any time by written consent of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members.

Section 3. Amended Bylaws (current Bylaws) must be approved by the AHA and a copy kept on file at AHA.

Section 4. In the event of the dissolution of the Club, all assets in the Treasury will go to the Arabian Horse Association after all obligations have been settled.

Section 5. The club shall be incorporated in the State of Tennessee and its principal office shall be at the address of the President. The Treasurer shall act as the agent for the Corporation.


ARTICLE 10 SUPPRESSION

These Bylaws supersede any and all Bylaws in effect heretofore and annul and supersede any and all resolutions inconsistent herewith. The effective date will be June 1, 2010.