Constitution and Bylaws of

TRI-STATE DRESSAGE CHAPTER

Rocky Mountain Dressage Society, Inc

ARTICLE I

Name

The name of this organization shall be TRI STATE DRESSAGE Chapter of Rocky Mountain Dressage Society. Inc.

ARTICLE II

Objectives

This Chapter is organized and shall be operated exclusively for charitable and/or educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code of 1986, (or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code). These purposes shall be to:

1. Promote and encourage a high standard of accomplishment in dressage through educational programs; in furtherance of this goal, the Chapter will work closely with local, regional, and national organizations to:

a. Improve the general understanding of dressage through educational clinics, forums, and seminars, and to promote these and other activities to affect this goal;

b. Assist and cooperate with local and regional dressage organizations in matters of common concern;

c. Cooperate with other organizations having an interest in training horses, riders, and judges through the principles of dressage.

2. To represent the interests of the Chapter's members in forming the policies of and in managing the Rocky Mountain Dressage Society. Inc.

ARTICLE III

Address

The address of this Chapter shall be determined by the Chapter Executive Board and shall be listed as Tri State Dressage

ARTICLE IV

Membership

Any member in good standing of the RMDS shall be eligible for membership in this Chapter in accordance with the provisions of the RMDS Constitution and By-Laws Article IV.

ARTICLE V

Dues

Section 1. Basic Dues:

Basic dues for this Chapter shall be in the amount specified in the Standing Rules of the Rocky Mountain Dressage Society Article VIII.

Section 2. Supplemental Dues:

Supplemental Dues may be levied on Chapter members by amendment of this Section in accordance with the provisions of Article Xl of this Constitution and By-Laws.

Section 3. Dues Collection:

Chapter Basic or Supplemental dues may be collected, at the discretion of the Chapter Executive Board, other than the annual renewal process with RMIDS or by separate levy by the Chapter.

Section 4. Membership Year:

The Chapter Membership Year shall be the same as the RMDS Membership Year.

ARTICLE VI

Officers

Section 1. Officers:

The Chapter officers shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and Membership Chair .One person can be elected to serve in two (2) positions.

Section 2. Qualification:

Chapter Officers shall be members in good standing.

Section 3. Election and Term:

Chapter Officers shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of Article X for a term of two calendar years or until a successor has been duly elected. The election will occur in November of even numbered years. The officers will take office in January.

Section 4. Vacancies:

In the event of a vacancy in any elected position, the remainder of the term shall be filled by a general election in accordance with the provisions of Article X.

Section 5. Records:

At the conclusion of his/her term of office, each officer shall transfer all records pertaining to his office to the succeeding officer within a period of two (2) weeks.

Section 6. Duties of the President:

The President shall be the chief officer of the Chapter. He/She shall call and preside over all Chapter meetings. He/She shall, with the Secretary, sign all contracts for the Chapter. The President shall act as the Chapter rep representative at all RMDS Executive Board meetings. He/She shall act as the official Chapter spokesman before the public in all matters. He/She shall perform such other duties as is normal for an organization President.

Section 7. Duties of the Vice-President:

In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall exercise any power or duty of the President.

Section 8. Duties of the Secretary:

The Secretary shall give notice to the membership of all Chapter meetings. He/She shall keep accurate summary minutes of each Chapter meeting and report the same at each meeting. He/She shall provide written notice to the RMDS Executive Board of any newly elected Chapter Officers and of the Chapters Delegates t the RMDS Board of Governors. He/She shall provide a written copy of the Chapters Constitution and By Laws whenever the)' are amended to the RMDS Executive Board. In the absence of the President and Vice- President, the Secretary shall exercise any power or duty of the President.

Section 9. Duties of the Treasurer:

The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping the Chapter financial records, maintaining the Chapter accounts, and reporting the Chapter financial status at each Chapter meeting. In the absence of the President, Vice- President and Secretary, the Treasurer shall exercise any power or duty of the President.

Section 10. Duties of the membership chair. To maintain a current membership list of all Tri State Dressage members. To provide a membership list to the RMDS treasurer/membership chair with current updates highlighted. Provide mailing labels to newsletter person arid all other persons so directed by the Executive Board of Tri State. To publish the membership list in the newsletter as needed.

Section 11. Removal from Office:

Any Chapter office shall be declared vacant upon the petition of 40% or more of the Chapter members. This petition must be delivered to the President or, if the petition is to vacate the office of President, to the Vice- President. The vacated office shall be filled by election in accordance with the provisions of Article X.

ARTICLE VII

Chapter Executive Board

Section 1: Members:

The Chapter Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers of the Chapter.

Section 2. Responsibilities:

The Chapter Executive Board shall be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the TRISI ATE Chapter and for the implementation of motions adopted by the membership.

Section 3. Meetings:

The Chapter Executive Board shall meet as necessary to fulfill its responsibilities. Such meetings shall be informal and shall not require the keeping of minutes.

ARTICLE VIII

Meetings

Section 1. Regular Meetings:

The chapter shall hold four (4) meetings each year, with at least one open business meeting

Section 2. Special Meetings:

The President shall have the power to call special meetings of the Chapter at any time and must do so when requested in writing by 20% or more of the Chapter members. Such meetings shall be open to all Chapter members. Written notice of the date, time, place, and purpose of a Special Meeting shall be sent to the membership at least one (1) week in advance of the meeting.

Section 3. Quorums:

The quorum for any Chapter meeting shall be one-half (1/2) of the Executive Board plus 3 additional members.

Section 4. Adoption of Motions:

Except as otherwise specified in these By-Laws, a majority vote of the members present and voting shall be required for adoption of a motion at a properly called meeting of this Chapter

ARTICLE IX

Delegates to the RMDS Board of Governors

Section 1. Selection:

Delegates to the RMDS Board of Governors shall be elected by the Chapter and shall meet requirements specified by the RMDS Constitution and By-Laws

Section 2. Decreased Voting Rights:

In the event the Chapter's voting rights at a RMDS Board of Governors meeting is less than the number of elected Delegates, the Chapter President shall select from the elected Delegates those who will represent the Chapter at the RMDS Board of Governors.

Section 3. Increased Voting Rights:

In the event the Chapter's voting rights at RMDS Board of Governors meetings is greater than the number of elected Delegates, the Chapter President may either appoint additional Delegates or distribute the voting rights amongst the elected Delegates.

ARTICLE X

Elections

Elections shall be held every two years at the November regular meeting for the purpose of choosing Chapter Officers and Delegates to the RMDS Board of Governors. In the event of a vacancy in a Chapter office, elections shall be held to fill the office at any regular meeting or any special meeting, provided a notice of the pending election was stated in the written notice of the special meeting.

Because of the large geographic area covered by Tri State, voting for officers may occur by ballot. This procedure is covered in Rules and Regulations.

ARTICLE XI

Amendments

These By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Chapter by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present, provided written notice of the purport of the proposed amendment was provided to the membership at least thirty (30) days but not more than sixty (60) days prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE XII

Dissolution

Upon dissolution of this Chapter, all of its assets shall be paid or transferred to one or more exempt organization of the kind described in Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.

ARTICLE XIII

Parliamentary Authority

Roberts Rules of Order. Newly Revised shall govern all meetings of the Chapter to the extent they do not conflict with these By-Laws.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

TRI-STATE DRESSAGE CHAPTER

Amended 10/20/98, 3/17/99, 11/30/99, 2/16/00

Revision date: 10/20/00, 9/23/03

Sec. 1 COMMITTEES: Committees will be appointed and dissolved as needed and when their appointed task is completed. There are no permanent standing committees.

Sec. 2 CLINICS: Clinics will be held for the membership and should the membership not fill the clinic, the clinic will be open to anyone member or not who wishes to enter. In case of inclement weather, the clinician may be moved so as to decrease any risk in hauling horses. Any one entered in the clinic that is not able to travel to the clinic because of unreasonable and adverse weather conditions will have their monies refunded. Amended meeting of 11/30/99: The clinic committee has final discretion of interpretation of the rules in these matters. Amended meeting of 2/16/00 as an addition: Should any other situation arise that affects the clinic, the clinician and at least one member of the Clinic Committee will make the final decision.

Sec. 3 USE OF HELMETS: All riders in Tri-State clinics including instructors will wear ASTM/SEI certified safety helmets with chin straps securely fastened when mounted on a horse.

Sec. 4 ELECTIONS: Should the officers deem a special election or the membership by a written request with 20% of the membership signing, request an election by ballot, the following will occur. Ballots shall be mailed by the secretary to voting membership not less than 10 days before the stated election. Ballots shall contain the names of each individual nominated for each office with a space for a write-in name for each office. Ballots shall be returned by mail to the secretary by the date of the meeting at which the ballots will be counted. The ballots will remain sealed until the meeting. The secretary or others will be appointed by the officers to tally the votes. A simple majority will prevail.

Sec. 5 MEETING AGENDA: All items wished to be brought forward at a meeting of Tri-State will be submitted either by Fax, email, written or verbally to one of the officers at least five days prior to the meeting.

Section 6. AWARDS. (Amendments 10/98 and 8/99) An awards committee will be appointed to declare a budget for year end awards for the chapter. The committee will choose the manner of the awards (items, plaques, etc.) There will be a high point horse and rider combination for each level for juniors and seniors. They will start at introductory level and go through Grand Prix. The horse/rider combination must have an average 55% score from RMDS recognized shows to qualify. Average scores are based on two shows, two different judges, four rides, one of which must be the highest test of that particular level.

The awards committee also has the leeway to introduce other or unusual awards if they are considered to in be keeping with the sport and in the definition of "good sportsmanship".

Sec. 7 SHOW MANAGERS AND SECRETARIES: These individuals will be recognized in the fall of the year preceding the show so as to make the Omnibus deadline

Sec. 8 ADVERTISING IN NEWSLETTER : Advertising by members for 25 words or less will be free; anything over the 25 word limit within reason Maximum one (1) page) will cost $10 to cover copying and extra postage Non members will pay $5 for an ad under 25 words and $15 for a full page ad.

Sec 9. TRI STATE DRESSAGE TREASURY: All income and expense monies will be processed through the treasurer and will be accompanied by a voucher explaining the income/expense (blanks available from any officer). The Tri State Dressage treasury money will only be spent as directed by the BOD or the membership. A basic general budget will be presented to the membership each year.

Copyright © 2008 by TriState Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Dressage Society. All rights reserved.
Web master:Email