Welcome to the San Fernando Valley Horse Show Association Constitution.

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this Association shall be the San Fernando Valley Horse Shows Association, hereinafter referred to as the SFVHSA.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The purpose of this Association shall be as follows: (a) To sanction horse shows being held locally; (b) to further augment those associations already established and operating successfully; (c) to establish a training ground for beginner and novice riders of all ages, as well as for green horses; (d) to provide exhibitors with Judges who will not only judge, but who will indicate faults at the exhibitor's request; and (e) to ensure that exhibitors receive awards that create enthusiasm, effort and a sense of accomplishment.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Any interested person is eligible for membership in the SFVHSA. There is no residency requirement. The owners of horses competing for year-end awards must be members. An owner may be an individual or a business. If the owner is a business, the business must be a member. A trainer must be a member for his/her students to compete in medal classes. There are three types of members: Junior, Senior, and Professional. Horse show managers must be Senior members. All members must remain current in their payments with the SFVHSA and its sanctioned show managers for fees related to the SFVHSA. Members whose payments are past due are deemed to be members not in good standing.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

A.    Directors: The SFVHSA shall be governed by a Board of Directors comprised of not fewer than fifteen (15) and not more than twenty (20) persons, who shall be Senior members, elected by members of the present Board.

B.    Officers: The officers of the SFVHSA shall be President, Vice- President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership and Points Chairperson; the officers shall be members of the Board of Directors and shall be elected by the Directors.

C.    Removal from Board: Any director of the SFVHSA who, without good cause, is absent from three or more meetings of the Board of Directors may, at the option of the remaining Directors, be removed from the Board by a majority vote of the remaining Directors. His/Her successor to the office of Director shall be the next nominee in line of balloting. The successor shall serve until the next election of the Board of Directors. The Board may fill additional Board vacancies through appointment.

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

A.    Director Meetings: Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held not less than eight (8) times per year. A majority of the Board members or two-thirds of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.

B.    Membership Meetings: A general membership meeting will be held once a year at the discretion of the Board.

C.    Election Meetings: An election meeting will be held every two years at the discretion of the Board for the purpose of electing officers, or for the purpose of voting on changes in the constitution or the rules.

D.    General Meetings: A general meeting is open to all members of the SFVHSA and qualified representatives of all approved shows. The President may call for a general meeting at any time, provided that ten (10) days' written notice is given to all members.

ARTICLE VI - SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION

Any officer may be removed by two-thirds vote of the regular members in good standing present at any special meeting called for such purpose. No vote on suspension or expulsion may be taken unless at least fifteen (15) days written notice shall have been given to such officer, stating the reasons for his/her proposed suspension or expulsion, and the time and place of the special meeting, addressing the vote on his/her suspension or expulsion.

ARTICLE VII - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

A.    President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the SFVHSA and shall, with the Treasurer, sign all contracts and obligations of the SFVHSA.

B.    Vice President: The Vice President shall be the official host of the SFVHSA, be the person in charge of distributing Horse Show Packets to all SFVHSA shows, chair the Show Committee and, in the absence of the President, may exercise any power or duty of the President.

C.    Secretary: Secretary shall do the following: (i.e., keep an accurate record of all meetings SFVHSA and executive board be prepared to refer to previous meetings, prepare a list of all unfinished business for the use of the President, (iii) keep a current copy of the bylaws and standing rules, (iv) administer all necessary correspondence of the Association, (v) notify officers of their election and each person of his/her appointment on committees, (vi) send notices of Executive Board meetings, and (vii) act as liaison between the officers and members of the SFVHSA

D.    Treasurer: The Treasurer shall do the following; (i) collect all moneys due the SFVHSA, (ii) maintain an account in such bank as the Board of Directors shall designate, (iii) keep proper books, (iv) make a full report covering the financial condition of the SFVHSA at each general meeting, and (v) ensure that all sanctioning fees are collected. Any two of the following will sign SFVHSA checks five officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer or Membership Chairperson.

E.    Membership & Points Chairperson: This Chairperson shall keep accurate records of all show points and prepare point standings lists every two months during the show season, compiling a final point standing for the year-end banquet and awards, and keep a current list of the paid members of the SFVHSA and their membership numbers. Two people may hold the office.

ARTICLE VIII - COMMITTEES

All committees shall be established by and its members nominated by the Board of Directors.

A.    Ad Hoc Committee: (Formerly the 'Public Relations Committee') The Ad Hoc Committee shall handle all publicity, membership materials, newsletters and printing for the Association, and shall be responsible for all contact with individuals or businesses who make inquiries and print point standings or current newsletters. It shall also be duty of this committee to conduct a local, regional, state and national marketing campaign on behalf of the SFVHSA in order to facilitate growth and expansion.

B.    Banquet/Awards Committee: The Banquet/Awards Committee shall handle and coordinate all activities pertaining to the year-end awards banquet.

C.    Show Approval/Standards Committee: (Combination of former Show Committee and Protest Committee - Charges and Hearings) The Show Approval/Standards Committee shall be appointed annually by the President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, to inspect eligibility of show applications, assist in show preparation and in obtaining qualified officials, and shall also review shows dates and grant show requests. This committee shall consist of not fewer than eight (8) members who shall serve as court. Three (3) members of the committee shall constitute a quorum.

D.    It shall also be the duty of this committee to handle all protests, charges and hearings in connection with alleged violation of the rules. The committee will vote on the validity of such protests and charges and issue its decision in writing. Such findings shall be made available to the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors.

E.    Executive Committee: The Executive Committee shall have the power between meetings of the Board of Directors to transact all such business as the Board itself might transact, except the power to amend the Constitution or where authority to act is expressly lin3ited to the Board. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Treasurer and any designated member of the Board of Directors, and the President shall be Chairperson of this committee.

F.    Sponsorship Committee: The Sponsorship Committee shall solicit contributions from public and private sources in order to sponsor the awards for classes or divisions at SFVHSA shows.

G.   Medal Finals Committee: The Medal Finals Committee shall handle and coordinate all activities pertaining to the year-end SFVHSA medal finals. The Board of Directors of the SFVHSA reserves the right and shall have the requisite authority to amend this list of committees, or the responsibilities of any committee listed herein above, as it may deem necessary and advisable.

ARTICLE VIIII - AMENDMENTS

A.    Modification: This constitution may be modified at any General Meeting of the SFVHSA. A vote of two-thirds of the Board at the meeting is necessary for modification of the constitution.

B.    Notice of Modification: This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at a regular or special General Meeting, provided that the proposed addition, alteration or amendment has been published in the bulletin two (2) weeks prior to the meeting.

SFVHSA 2570 East Oakshore Drive Westlake Village, CA 91361
818-773-3039