MHDVA
BY-LAWS
Revised November 1997
Article I. Name and Purpose
Section1. The name of the association shall be
the Michigan Horse Drawn Vehicle Association Incorporated, here in after
referred to as the Association.
Section 2. It
shall be the purpose of the Association to aim for the preservation and
maintenance of carriages; carriage literature and related items; to
established and maintain a non-profit medium for the exchange of information
regarding horse-drawn vehicles and the development of the driving horse; to
serve as an accurate and technical source of information for the benefit of
its members and the general public; to operate this corporation exclusively
for scientific, historic, literary, and educational purposes; to see that no
part of its net earnings, if any, shall inures to the benefit of the
private individual; to encourage the use of carriages and other animal drawn
vehicles for the promotion of public interest in their contributions to our
cultural, social and economic history.
Section 3. To
promote knowledge of, and safety in, horse related activities.
Article II Meetings
Section 1. The
Annual Meeting shall be held on the first Sunday of November at 2:00 P.M. To
conduct any business at the Annual Meeting, other than elections, a quorum
will be 10% of the paid membership as of October 31, the year of the Annual
Meeting.
Section 2.
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at a time and place
to be determined by the Board. At least four regular meetings of the Board
shall be held in four different months at a time and place to be determined
by the board.
Section 3. Any
Board member missing 3 consecutive meetings without an excuse (contacting
the Secretary Prior to the Board meeting) shall automatically no longer be
on the Board.
Section 4.
Each committee chairperson is encouraged to attend all Board meetings.
Section 5.
Special meetings of the membership can be called by the Board or by petition
signed by 25% of the membership. The membership must be notified by mail at
least seven days before any special meeting.
Article III. Board of Directors
Section 1.
The Association shall have 12 directors.
Section 2. The
Board of Directors will elect officers and appoint committee heads at a
meeting following the Annual Meeting.
Section 3. The
term of office of each director shall be three years. New terms begin
December 1, following the Annual Meeting.
Section 4
The Board shall have
the authority to conduct the business of the Association.
Section 5
Each director shall
have one vote.
Section 6.
Any director may be removed from office by a tow-thirds majority of the
rest of the Board of Directors.
Section 7. All
monies spent should be approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 8 In case of the removal or resignation
of a Director, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the Board for
the remainder of the term.
Article IV Method of Election
Section 1.
The Nominating Committee shall present at least four names for the Position
of Director. The general membership shall be notified at least 60 days prior
to the Annual Meeting that the Board is accepting nominations until
September 15. From that slate, the general membership will elect 4 Directors
to serve a 3 year term. The ballots will be sent to the general membership
and returned to the Nomination Chairperson to be tabulated at the Annual
Meeting. The results will be announced at the Meeting.
Article V The Office of President.
Section 1.
The President shall preside over all meetings of the Association and
conduct all business in accordance with Roberts Rules of order.
Section2. The President may, at her/his option,
select a member to act as Parliamentarian should the need arise.
Section 3. The
President shall be an ex-officio member of any and all committees that may
be formed by the Association.
Section 4. The
President shall conduct the routine business of the Association between
meetings and shall have the authority to convene a special meeting of the
Board of Directors as needed.
Section 5. The
President must be a member of the Board of Directors at the time he/she
serves as President.
Article VI. The office of Vice
President.
Section 1. The
Vice President shall act in the stead of the President should he/she
be unable to carry out the duties of President.
Section 2. The
Vice-President must be a member of the Board of Directors at the time he/she
serves as Vice-President.
Article VII. The Office of
Secretary.
Section 1.
The Secretary shall record and keep all minutes and records of the meetings
of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. The
Secretary shall handle all correspondence for the Association.
Section 3. The
Secretary Shall maintain a file of all the
committee reports.
Section 4. The
Secretary shall refer all correspondence to the appropriate committee.
Section 5. The
Secretary shall maintain a current membership roster.
Article VIII. The Office of
Treasurer.
Section 1.
The Treasurer shall have custody of all the funds of the Association in
such bank or depository as the Board of Directors may from time to time
designate.
Section 2
The Treasurer shall l
make all disbursements for the purpose of the Association.
Section 3.
All checks shall be signed by the Treasurer and one other officer of the
association.
Section 4. At
each Board of Directors meeting and Annual Meeting. The Treasurer shall give
an accounting of all income and disbursements.
Article IX
The Association shall have
the following standing committees.
Section 1.
Membership Committee The Membership Committee shall be responsible
for: collecting membership dues, maintaining a membership filed, at each
Board Meeting turn over the collected dues to the Treasurer, and conduct a
constant campaign for increasing membership.
Section 2.
Publicity Committee - The publicity Committee shall maintain a good
Public Relations program for the Association, working with various local
media i.e. newspapers, radio, TV, poster, etc.
Section 3.
Newsletter Committee The Newsletter Committee shall be responsible for
publishing a quarterly newsletter, if funds are available, and keeping
members informed on current activities.
Section 4. Events
Committee The
Events Committee shall be responsible for scheduling activities which
further the aims of the Association.
Section 5. Ways
and Means Committee _ The Ways and Means Committee shall be responsible
for raising funds for the association.
Section 6. By-Laws
Committee The by-Laws Committee shall review annually (or more if
necessary) the By-Laws of the Association and propose any necessary changes.
Section 7.
Nominating Committee -
The Nominating Committee shall be composed of three
members to serve for one year. The chairperson of this Committee shall be a
Board member and shall select two non-Board members of the Association to
assist in preparing a nomination slate.
Section 8.
Technical and Historical Information Committee.-
The Technical and Historical Information Committee shall be responsible
for restoration of period carriages and costumes. This committee could also
serve as historian of the Association.
Section 9. Life
Member Committee The chairperson of this Committee should be a life
member of the Association. In the event that this is not possible an
existing Board Member may be appointed. The Committee determines the
criteria for selection of Life Members. Life Members do not pay dues but
have all of the privileges of a dues paying member.
Article X Amendments to the
By-Laws.
Section 1. The
By-Laws of the Association shall be amended only at the Annual Meeting by a
two-thirds vote of the members present.
Section 2.
Any amendments to the By-Laws will be presented in writing to the
membership at least 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting
Article XI Membership.
Section 1. The
Association is open to membership by family, or individual. A family is
defined as husband and wife with children age 18 and under living at the
same address with their parents.
Section 2.
Anyone desiring to become a member of the Association shall submit his/her
name and information on the Association application and remit, along with
the yearly dues, to the membership Committee Chairperson.
Article XII. Voting.
Section 1.
Though it is understood that a membership may include all members of a
family, each membership will be entitled to one vote at the general
election.
Article XIII Dues.
Section 1. The
Dues of the Association shall be fixed at the Annual Meeting by a majority
vote of those members present and shall remain at that level unless changed
a the next Annual Meeting.
Section 2.
Dues are due by January 1, of each year.
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