Missouri Arabian Horse Association      

Our Officers:

President:  Tony Reid                 

Vice President:  Sandi Lewis

Treasurer:  Kathryn Lewis

Secretary:  Mindi Montgomery

Youth Director:  Jessica Dean

Directors:  Harry Kemper & Kristi Herbst

Past President:  Sue Jones

Show Chairperson:  Adam Leigh

Newsletter Editor:  Pam Rodden

Committees:

Membership:  Pam Rodden

Website:  Adam  Leigh

High Point:  Tony Reid

Youth:  Jessica Dean

Our Bylaws

MISSOURI ARABIAN HORSE

ASSOCIATION BYLAWS

Article I - Name

This organization is a NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION duly organized under the provisions of Chapter 355 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri, and may be called the MISSOURI ARABIAN HORSE ASSOCIATION, INC. or MAHA.

Article II - Purposes & Objectives

Its purposes are:

1.  To aid and encourage the breeding, raising, use and/or exhibition of purebred, partbred and Anglo-Arabian horses (hereinafter collectively called “Arabians”)

2. To initiate, sponsor and/or promote competitions (e.g. shows or competitive and endurance rides) for Arabians

3. To promote, encourage and/or organize youth/equine related activities 

4. To collect and disseminate information of interest to the members and/or the public

5. To promote the improvement and training of Arabians and prevention of cruelty to equines

6. To foster social, athletic, welfare and recreational activities utilizing or involving Arabians and obtain facilities therefor

7. To engage in any other lawful activity beneficial to Arabians or the members.

Article III - Membership

      Any person who is not on the current suspension list of the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) & Arabian Horse Association (AHA), or any other breed registry, and is interested in promoting or engaging in the objectives of the Association, shall be eligible for membership upon payment of annual dues and completion of the MAHA Membership Application. Ownership of a horse is not a requirement for membership. There shall be the following types of memberships:

      1. Affiliate Senior Member - An individual 18 years of age or older, as determined by the rules of IAHA. An Affiliate Senior Member is entitled to one vote at elections of MAHA and a membership in the International Arabian Horse Association.

      2. Family Membership - Two persons 18 years of age or older as determined by the rules of AHA, residing in the same household. Each member is entitled to one vote and is a member in the Arabian Horse Association.

      3. Associate Senior Member - A person 18 years of age and over, as determined by the rules of IAHA. Does not include membership in the International Arabian Horse Association. Does not entitle member to vote on any business brought before MAHA that involves IAHA, unless a member of IAHA directly or a member of IAHA through another club. An Associate Senior Member is entitled to one vote on all other business and has other rights and privileges the same as Affiliate Members.

      4. Affiliate Junior Member - A person who is less than 18 years old as determined by the rules of AHA. An Affiliate Junior member is a Junior member of the Arabian Horse Association, has all rights and privileges of a Senior Member except a Junior Member shall not be entitled to vote or hold office.

      5. Associate Junior Membership - A person who is less than 18 years old as determined by the rules of AHA, Will not be entitled to membership in the Arabian Horse Association, but shall have all other rights and privileges of a Junior Member.

Membership applications may be obtained from the Secretary or Newsletter Editor. The Membership Year shall be from November 1st to October 31st, or in accordance with IAHA rules.

Article IV - Management

      The management of the corporation shall be vested in a Board of Directors which shall consist of:

      1. The four (4) officers designated in Article VI

      2. The immediate Past President

      3. The Annual Class A Show Chairperson

      4. The Newsletter Editor

      5. If there are active Chapters, the Chairperson of each such Chapter or in his/her absence the Vice Chairperson, and one (1) representative for each fifteen (15) non-junior members belonging to such Chapter.

      6. If Chapters are not in effect, two directors to be elected at large from the membership. Members of the Board are expected to attend all Board meetings. Any member of the Board of Directors missing two (2) consecutive Board meetings without adequate reason may be subject to dismissal from the Board upon approval of a majority of the Board of Directors present at a duly constituted meeting.

      Should any elected position on the Board become vacant for any reason the vacancy shall be filled by a Chapter election if such vacancy is in a Chapter Chair or representative position, or otherwise by appointment by the President with Board approval. Board approval in such instance is to be sought through the most expedient means, including the use of a unanimous consent or telephone conference meeting where all voting directors may hear each other. The individual so appointed shall serve until the next general election. In any given year in which the President succeeds himself or herself so that the position of Immediate Past President is vacant, the President may appoint, with Board approval, any past president to fill that position. A simple majority of the Board members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business. Proxies shall not be recognized for Board votes.

Article V - Meetings

      There shall be at least four (4) Board meetings held each year, with additional meetings as may be called by the President or two (2) other Board members. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be open to all members of the Association. Members may question and/or comment on business before the Board at the discretion of the President, but shall not be allowed to vote.

      There shall be at least two (2) general membership meetings held each year, one of which shall be held on the last Sunday of the last month in the membership year with other general meetings being called by the Board or the President. Membership votes may be made in person or by notarized, written proxy. Absentee ballots, which may be obtained by any non-junior member from the Secretary and must be returned to the Secretary prior to the vote to which they relate, shall be valid at general meetings. All meetings, both of the Board and the Membership, shall be conducted according to Roberts’ Rules of Order.

Article VI - Officers

      There shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. All officers must be a member in good standing of both AHA and MAHA. The PRESIDENT, or in his/her absence the VICE-PRESIDENT, shall preside at all meetings, decide questions of order, and with the Board of Directors oversee the management of the Missouri Arabian Horse Association according to these By-Laws. The President is authorized to sign checks in the absence or disability of the Treasurer. 

      The SECRETARY shall keep the minutes of each Board and Membership Meeting and submit a written report to the President and to the Newsletter Editor for publication. All minutes shall be so submitted within two (2) weeks after the meeting to which they relate. Minutes of Board meetings shall contain names of Board members and committee chairpersons present. The Secretary shall advise Board of Directors of any member missing two (2) consecutive Board meetings. The Secretary shall receive and maintain file of all Chapter minutes.

      Within a week after the annual meeting and election of officers, secretary shall send to Arabian Horse Association and Region 11 (or such other Region as Missouri may be considered to be a part, from time-to-time) officers, names, addresses and telephone numbers of newly elected officers and committee chairpersons of the Association. Must be a member of AHA.

      The TREASURER shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the organization. The treasurer shall deposit all monies and disburse funds of the organization as may be ordered by the Board of Directors. All checks received are to be deposited within two (2) weeks of receipt by the Treasurer with Futurity, Incentive Program and High Point monies being placed in separate accounts.

      The treasurer shall give an account of all his/her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the association in a form approved by the Board at each Board and General Membership meeting. The books may be subject to an audit or verification on demand of the Board of Directors by a person or persons appointed by the Board. The Association shall carry a Fidelity Bond on the Treasurer.

      The treasurer shall present to the General Membership at the last general membership meeting of the membership year, a budget based on the current year's income and expenses.

Article VII - Elections

      The election of officers and directors at large, if applicable, for the succeeding year shall be held at the last general meeting of the members in a Membership Year. All officers and directors at large shall be elected for a one-year term, commencing at the beginning of the immediately succeeding Membership Year. All officers and directors at large shall serve until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified. A nominating committee, appointed by the President and approved by the Board, shall present a single slate of officers to the membership a minimum of fifteen (15) days prior to the election. At the election, any member may nominate other candidates from the floor. Each member shall be allowed one vote per office. All members nominated for an office or position on the Board shall have renewed membership by the date of the meeting at which the election is held. If active Chapters have been elected for a succeeding year, each such active Chapter shall elect its officers and its representatives to serve on the Board during such succeeding year, according to Article IV, Management, Item 2, at a meeting of the Chapter immediately following the General Membership Meeting at which the election is held, and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of such representatives shall be conveyed by the Chapter Chairperson to the Secretary of the Association within two (2)days following the conclusion of such meeting.

Article VIII - Dues

      The amount of dues for the following year shall be established at the last general meeting in each Membership Year. Dues are payable October 31st of each year. Members who pay their dues after that date will be assessed a late fee, to be established by the Board from time-to-time.

Article IX - Agenda

      At least fifteen (15) days prior to any general or regular meeting, an agenda is to be distributed to all members. Only Board members and committee chairpersons need to be notified of and receive agendas for Board meetings. The general membership must be notified of all general meetings through the newsletter or by a separate mailing. The agenda shall list those items to be discussed. Items of an emergency nature that require action by the Board or general membership, but are not listed on the agenda, may be considered, provided that approval of such items receive a 2/3 affirmative vote of those in attendance.

Article X - Chapters

      The Association may be divided into Chapters for the succeeding year, upon a two-thirds vote of the Members attending the last general membership meeting in a given Membership year.

      To be considered active, a Chapter must have at least five (5) members, hold at least four (4) meetings each year, and elect a Chapter Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson and Secretary.

      Should Chapters be in effect, any member of the Association may belong to any Chapter. Each Chapter may sponsor projects of interest to such Chapter, so long as such projects are in furtherance of the purposes of MAHA. At the beginning of each Membership Year in which Chapters are in effect, each active Chapter shall be credited with $500, if funds are available, to expend for Chapter functions. All proceeds from Chapter projects shall belong to the Association.

      Members of a Chapter shall be notified of Chapter meetings at least 5 days in advance.

      The CHAPTER CHAIRPERSON shall preside at all Chapter meetings, be an ex-officio member of all Chapter committees, and shall serve as a member on the Board of Directors of the Association.

      The VICE-CHAIRPERSON shall assume the duties of the Chairperson in the absence of such Chairperson.

      The SECRETARY shall keep and forward within two (2) weeks, minutes of all Chapter meetings to the Association Secretary and the Newsletter Editor. These minutes shall contain a record of attendance and a report of all actions of the Chapter, including expenditures and income.

Chapter Committee Chairpersons - shall be appointed by the Chapter Chairperson, as necessary. All Chapter Committee Chairpersons shall report on the action of his/her committee at all meetings of the Chapter, and a record of all Committee functions and reports are to be made a part of the minutes of the Chapter meetings.

ARTICLE XI - Duties of Standing Committees -

There shall be the following standing committees of the Association, which shall perform the designated functions.

FUTURITY - Keeps the records of nominations of mares and renominations of foals, making certain participants receive information allowing renomination at required times, and that owners are members of MAHA. Maintains records of each year's fees and deposits monies in Futurity account, forwarding receipt thereof to the Treasurer. All duties are performed in accordance with official MAHA Purebred and Half-Arabian Futurity Rules.

HIGH POINT - Organized nominations according to division. Deposits monies in High Point account forwarding receipt thereof to the Treasurer. Keeps records of points submitted and reports to Newsletter Editor each month. Purchases such awards as are approved by the Board, and makes presentation of awards. All duties are performed in accordance with official MAHA High Point Rules.

DIRECTORY - Handles all details of assembling material for MAHA yearly directory, as per Board approval, working closely with printer on layout, proof-reading and distribution.

MEMBERSHIP - Keeps accurate, up-to-date records of all members' names, addresses and other pertinent information, including changes of address. Sends membership information to Arabian Horse Association, issues membership cards to affiliate members. Furnishes membership lists to Treasurer and Newsletter Editor. Maintains contact with printer to assure accuracy of newsletter mailing list. Must be a member of IAHA.

TRAIL RIDING - Schedules, organizes and conducts with Board approval MAHA-sponsored social trail rides.

COMPETITIVE AND ENDURANCE - To organize and promote distance riding in the form of competitive and endurance rides.

YOUTH - Maintains contact with MAHA Junior members for purposes of organizing and promoting youth/equine-related activities. Must be a member of AHA.

CLASS "A" AND AMATEUR SHOWS - Plans, organizes and supervises, with the aid of a Show Committee and Board approval, yearly MAHA shows. Makes regular reports to the Board and furnishes final financial report to the Board at the first meeting following a show. Serves as a member of the Board of Directors.

NEWSLETTER EDITOR - Is the recipient of all pertinent news and advertisements submitted by members and is responsible for supervising the printing thereof. Serves as a member of the Board of Directors. Must be a member of IAHA.

AHA & Regional Convention Delegates - Elected at general meeting from names submitted by from the floor. Shall report to general membership at meeting following convention.

HISTORIAN - Shall keep a copy of all old newsletters and directories.

ADVERTISING COMMITTEE - Shall be responsible for securing advertising for the newsletter, directory, show premium lists and show programs.

FUND RAISING - To initiate fund-raising projects with Board approval.

SHOW ME BREEDERS INCENTIVE PROGRAM - Keeps records of nominations of stallions and foals, making certain offspring are renominated at required times, and that owners are members of MAHA. Maintains records of each year's fees and deposits monies in the Incentive Program account, forwarding receipts therefor to Treasurer. All duties are performed in accordance with official MAHA Show-Me Breeders Incentive Program Rules.

Chairpersons of each committee shall be appointed by the President at the beginning of the Membership Year. All persons appointed thereto must be members in good standing of MAHA. The Chairperson shall be responsible for engaging members and overseeing the business of the committee. The Board may establish additional standing committees, from time-to-time, by resolution, without amending these By-Laws .

ARTICLE XII - Amendments

      These By-Laws may be amended by a vote of 2/3 of the members voting at a general meeting. These By-Laws to be effective October 30, 1994 as amended.

NOTICE:Your dues or contributions to this Association are not deductible as charitable contributions. Please consult with your tax advisor to determine whether they may be deducted under other provisions of the law (such as the provisions relating to deductibility of business expenses).