BYLAWS
of
OKLAHOMA EVENTERS, INC.
(Formerly OKLAHOMA COMBINED TRAINING ASSOCIATION, INC.)
ARTICLE 1: TITLE AND OBJECTIVES
Section 1: Title
The organization shall be known as OKLAHOMA EVENTERS, INC. (hereafter called OKE) which shall at all times be operated and conducted as a non-profit foundation, organized under the laws of the State of Oklahoma, Title 18, Oklahoma Statutes, #851-862.
Section 2: Objectives
The objectives of OKE are to promote educational activities and to provide opportunities to support the sport of eventing within the state of Oklahoma.
Section 3: Corporate Year
The corporate year for all purposes shall begin January 1 and end December 31.
ARTICLE 2: MEMBERSHIPS
Section 1: Eligibility
Membership in OKE shall be open to all persons interested in equestrian sports, with particular emphasis on eventing.
Section 2: Classes of Membership
a. Participating Members
1. Senior: Open to adults 18 years of age or older as of January 1 of the membership year. These members have voting privileges at general membership meetings. They are eligible to run for and serve in elected positions on the Board of Directors, to receive year-end awards and all other rights and privileges provided by OKE.
2. Junior: Open to persons under the age of 18 as of January 1 of the membership year. These members are eligible for year-end awards and all rights and privileges provided by OKE. Junior members have voting privileges at general membership meetings. As outlined in the Policies and Procedures, junior members may run for and serve as elected junior representatives to the Board of Directors. As junior representatives, they may share their opinions and participate in discussions of the Board, but may not vote on Board poceedings.
3. Family: Persons eligible for this membership are adults and their spouse along with their minor or dependent children as defined by the IRS. Two votes per family are allowed. All family membership members are eligible for year-end awards.
b. Non-participating Sponsorships
Business Sponsorship: This category affords business sponsors the opportunity to include a standard size business card advertisement in the newsletter and website with a link to their business website as outlined in the Policies and Procedures. Sponsors do not have voting privileges and are not eligible to hold office or receive year-end awards.
Section 3: Membership and Dues
Membership shall be recorded and become effective upon receipt of membership dues by the Treasurer. Dues are payable annually as established by the Policies and Procedures of OKE. At no time may these dues become retroactive.
Section 4: Member in Good Standing
Members owing money to OKE, including dues, are not in good standing.
Checks returned for insufficient funds as well as any charges assessed by the bank account of OKE due to the NSF check will be considered a past due amount. Members shall not be charged any fee for NSF checks in excess of the charges assessed by the bank.
ARTICLE 3: MEETINGS
Section 1: Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the membership of OKE may be held at any time during the year and is scheduled at such time and place as the Board may designate.
Section 2: Annual Meeting Notification
Members shall be notified of the meeting at least 30 days in advance. The date, time and location of this meeting will be published in an official OKE publication at least 30 days prior to the meeting.
Section 3: Special Meetings
a. A special meeting of the membership of OKE may be called by the President, the Board, or by, but not less than, 15 participating members. Such meeting shall be held at a time and place designated by the Board or by the President. If such meeting was called by the membership, then the request must be signed by, but not less than, 15 participating members, delivered to any OKE officer, and convened not more than 60 days from the signing of the request.
b. Notice of the time, place, and purpose of any special meeting shall be sent to each member at least 30 days in advance of said meeting.
c. Special meetings of the Board shall be called by the Secretary when requested to do so by the President. These meetings may be called at any time during the year. Unless waived by all Board members, these meetings require 48 hours notice as well as purpose or agenda.
Section 4: Quorum at Meetings
A simple majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business, excepting that in the absence of a quorum, a lesser number shall have the right to adjourn a meeting to a fixed date thereafter. Decisions of the Board are based upon concurrence of a majority of the Directors present.
Section 5: General Meetings
The Board shall hold regular meetings during the year as established in the Policies and Procedures of OKE, but in no event less than four (4) times during the membership year. All Board meetings are open to the general OKE membership. The place of each such meeting shall be published in the newsletter prior to the meeting.
ARTICLE 4: OFFICERS and BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1: General Powers and Fiduciary Duties
a. The Board of Directors shall act as the governing and policy making body of OKE.
b. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, shall have the power to develop and adopt Policies and Procedures for OKE, consistent with these Bylaws, to support and accomplish the mission of the club. Current Bylaws and Policy and Procedures will be published annually on the OKE website.
c. Each Board member is responsible for acting in the membership’s best interest, and for carrying out the following fiduciary duties: Confidentiality, Loyalty, Obedience, Disclosure, Reasonable Care, Diligence and Accountability.
Section 2: Officer Responsibilities
The officers of OKE shall consist of a President, Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. An individual may hold only one office at any time. The term of office of all Officers is two years.
a. President: The OKE President shall preside at all meetings of the Board and of the membership. The President shall enforce the rules and bylaws of OKE and all OKE committees.
b. Vice President: The Vice President shall fulfill the duties of the President in her/his absence and shall perform other duties as the President of the Board designate.
c. Secretary: The Secretary shall assure that correct minutes are kept of all membership meetings and Board meetings, have custody of all books, records and documents of OKE, except those in the custody of the Treasurer, handle communications pertaining to OKE as directed by the President, and perform other duties as the President or the Board prescribe.
d. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall maintain the financial records of OKE. The Treasurer is responsible for receiving and depositing all money in the OKE bank account. The Treasurer shall disburse all moneys as approved by OKE officers and shall prepare a financial report at the OKE annual meeting.
Section 3: Board of Director Responsibilities
a. The Board of Directors shall consist of all OKE officers and additional at large (non-officer) Senior members. The Board shall not have more that 9 nor less than 7 Directors including all OKE officers. The Board of Directors may establish committees for terms as deemed necessary and following the Policies and Procedures of OKE. In addition to that number there may be at least one but not more than two elected junior representatives
b. Junior Representatives to the Board of Directors: In addition to the 7 to 9 Officers and Board of Directors, there may be at least 1 but not more than 2 elected Junior Representatives to the Board of Directors. These Representatives will attend Board meetings to provide insight from the Junior OKE membership in the decision making process of the Board and to act as liaisons between junior members and the Board, but they shall not have a vote in Board decisions or be able to contractually bind OKE in any financial or legal dealings because of their minor status under the law.
c. Non-Officers on the Board of Directors will be responsible for acting as heads of all OKE committees. Each non-officer on the board of directors will volunteer or shall be assigned to chair/lead at least one committee each year of his/her term.
d. Members of the Board of Directors of OKE shall not receive a salary for their services as a board member, but may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred at the discretion of the Board of Directors. No Board member shall receive any monetary compensation or benefits for their position on the Board.
Section 4: Election of Officers and Board of Directors at Large
a. For all Officer and Board of Directors positions a slate of nominees shall be prepared by the Nominating Committee. That list along with a short biography written by the nominee shall be sent to the members along with notice of the Annual Meeting. At the Annual Meeting nominations from the floor will also be taken. Each nominee must indicate willingness to serve either in person or in writing prior to the election.
b. OKE officers and Board Members at large shall be elected by majority vote of the general membership. The officers of OKE shall consist of a President, Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The officers and board members at large shall be elected at the Annual Meeting and serve a term of two years, or until an election of officers is held, whichever occurs later.
c. For a person to nominate or vote at an Annual Meeting, the person must have been a member in good standing in the current year.
Section5: Removal of Officers, Directors, or Members
a. Any OKE officer or member may be removed from office or membership for cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting OKE members present or by proxy, at any annual or special meeting called for that purpose. Cause is considered to be conduct detrimental to the interests of OKE.
b. Any member of the Board may be removed for cause by a two-thirds vote of the Board. Such action shall not be taken less than 30 days following written notice to all members of the Board. Such notice shall specifically state the proposed action and the reason therefore. Any member of the Board affected hereby shall have the opportunity to address the Board prior to the vote.
Section 6: Replacement of Vacancies
For any elected position, a vacancy created by death, resignation, or any reason whatsoever should be replaced at the next Board meeting. The remaining Board of Directors may elect a replacement from the general membership to serve for the remainder of the term of the vacated office.
ARTICLE 5: ORDER OF BUSINESS
At all regular meetings of the membership and the Board of Directors, the regular order of business shall be:
a. Reading and approval of the minutes
b. Reading and approval of the Treasurer’s report
c. Standing Committee reports
d. Other reports by officers of ad hoc committees
e. Unfinished or Old business
f. New business
g. Motion for Adjournment
ARTICLE 6: VOTING BY THE MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Voting Eligibility
Only members in good standing may vote.
Section 2: Balloting Methods
If a nomination is unopposed, elections may be conducted by acclamation. All other votes shall be conducted by secret ballot.
Section 3: Quorum
Those members of the general membership present shall constitute a quorum.
Section 4: Absentee Ballots
Voting by mail shall be allowed, as well as electronic voting, eg. communication by fax, email, texting, or phone to the designated member of the Nominating Committee.
Section 5: Election Results
Unless otherwise provided herein or in the ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION, the results shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present at the meeting and members voting by mail or electronically as noted above in Article 6, section 4.
ARTICLE 7: AMENDMENT OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATING
Section 1:
The Board shall adopt a resolution setting forth the proposed amendment and directing that it be submitted to a vote at a meeting of members, which may be either an annual or special meeting.
Section 2:
Written notice setting forth the proposed amendment or a summary of the changes to be effected thereby shall be posted in an official OKE publication at least 30 days prior to ballot.
Section 3:
The proposed amendment shall be adopted upon receiving at least two-thirds of the votes which members are entitled to cast as set forth in ARTICLE 6.
ARTICLE 8: AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
Amendment of the Bylaws shall be effected in accordance with the procedures set forth in ARTICLE 7.
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