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VERMONT MORGAN HORSE ASSOCIATION, INC. BY-LAWS
ARTICLE l - NAME
This corporation is the Vermont Morgan Horse Association, Inc.
ARTICLE II - OBJECT
The Vermont Morgan Horse Association ("Association") is organized exclusively for
educational purposes. Those educational purposes include, but are not limited to, disseminating the
unique history of the Morgan breed, sponsoring activities to further the public's knowledge of the
Morgan horse as a versatile pleasure, breeding and show animal, and providing scholarship and
educational opportunities for young adults.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Any person interested in Morgan horses may become an active member in good standing
upon written application accompanied by payment, in advance, of one year's dues as voted by the
membership. Memberships may be for individuals, families, and youth. Only members 14 years of
age and older may vote. Family memberships are restricted to immediate members of the family.
"Immediate family" shall be defined as husband, wife, and minor children. "Youth members" shall
be 21 years of age and younger. Youth membership dues shall be one-half of the individual
membership fee. "Lifetime members," upon payment of a fee as determined by the membership,
shall be entitled to all rights and privileges of a regular member for the balance of that person's
lifetime. Thirty days notice to membership to change dues.
ARTICLE IV- OFFICERS
a) The officers of the Association shall be a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Clerk,
VMHA Show manager, and six directors. They shall be elected at the Annual Meeting for terms of
one year, with the exception of the Directors who shall have three year terms, and shall serve until
their successors are elected.
b) The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers and Directors whose terms as
members of the Executive Committee shall be concurrent with their terms as elected officers.
ARTICLE V- DUTIES OF OFFICERS
a) The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association, and act as Chairman of the
Executive Committee. Unless voted by the Association, he shall appoint all committees, except the
Nominating Committee, which shall be appointed by the Executive Committee. He shall call
special meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee and perform all other duties
usually assigned to this office. The President shall be Ex-officio of all committees.
b) The Vice-president, in the absence or inability of the President, shall perform the duties
of the President.
c) The Treasurer shall receive and keep records of all monies, debts, obligations etc. of the
Association. He may sign checks and make disbursements from time to time when authorized by
the Executive Committee, for the purpose of meeting financial obligations of the Association. He
shall give a complete financial report at each Annual Meeting. The fiscal year shall end on the last
day of September.
d) The clerk shall conduct the correspondence of the Association, shall send notice of the
meetings of the Association and the Executive Committee, and shall record all minutes of those
meetings upon the records of the Association.
e) The Executive Committee shall manage the current and ordinary business of the
Association, and shall display ways and means of achieving the object of the Association.
ARTICLE VI -VACANCIES IN ELECTED OFFICES
When a vacancy occurs in any office from any cause before the normal end of the term for
that office, the president shall appoint a member to the office for the unexpired term.
ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS
a) The annual meeting of the Association shall be held between the third weekend in
October and the third weekend in November.
b) Notice of the Annual Meeting shall be sent in writing by the Clerk to all members in
good standing one month before the date of the meeting.
c) Special meetings may be held from time to time upon call by the President and notice in
writing shall be sent to all members in good standing not less than ten days before the date of the
meeting.
d) Meetings of the Executive Committee may be held from time to time upon call by the
President or by request of three members of the Committee. Members of the Committee shall be
notified in writing, by telephone or in person at least twenty-four hours before the time of the
meeting.
e) Notices of meetings shall include the date, hour, place and agenda.
f) Order of business at the Annual Meeting shall be:
Reading of the minutes of previous meeting
Report of the Clerk
Report of the Treasurer
Report of the Executive Committee
Reading of Communications
Unfinished business
Election and Installation of Officers
New Business
Discussions
Adjournment
a) A quorum of the Association consists of fifteen of its members present and voting in
person.
b) A quorum of the Executive Committee consists of five of its members present and voting.
ARTICLE VIII - COMMITTEES
a) The President shall appoint from time to time such standing committees as may be
authorized by a vote of the Association.
b) All committees shall make full report of their activities at the Annual Meeting unless
otherwise instructed by a vote of the Association.
ARTICLE IX - DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY UPON DISSOLUTION
Upon dissolution of the VMHA, its assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt
purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding
section of any future federal tax code) to the University of Vermont for use in its Morgan Horse
related programs, such as the UVM Morgan Horse Farm, provided that the University of Vermont is
exempt under section 501(c)(3), or otherwise eligible to receive the funds, at the time the
dissolution takes place. Alternatively, if the University of Vermont is not eligible to accept the
assets of the VMHA upon its dissolution or if the University of Vermont has no Morgan Horse
related programs, the assets of the VMHA shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a
state or local government, for a public purpose.
ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS
These By-laws may be amended or replaced by vote of two-thirds of the members
represented in person at any meeting of the Association if notice of the meeting states the proposed
amendment or repeal.
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