WENAS VALLEY CHAPTER OF BACKCOUNTRY HORSEMEN OF WASHINGTON, INC.
BYLAWS
Bylaws ARTICLE I - NAME
Section 1 This organization shall be called ÒWENAS VALLEY CHAPTER OF BACKCOUNTRY HORSEMEN OF WASHINGTON, INC.Ó hereinafter referred to as The Wenas Valley Chapter. The Wenas Valley Chapter is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation in the State of Washington.
Section 2 The Wenas Valley Chapter is a Regional Chapter of ÒBACKCOUNTRY HORSEMEN OF WASHINGTON, INC.,Ó hereinafter referred to as BCHW. Section 3 The Wenas Valley Chapter is formed for BCHW members who reside in the State of Washington and are interested in participating in issues and activities through a local Chapter.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
Section 1 The Wenas Valley Chapter shall be a regional representative of BCHW working toward perpetuation of the legal and moral claim of the right by American Citizens to use horses and mules on public lands for recreation.
Section 2 The Wenas Valley Chapter shall work toward uniting local horsemen as a viable contracting group to work with local governmental and public agencies to achieve the goals and objectives of BCHW.
Section 3 The Wenas Valley Chapter shall work toward educating and informing horsemen of the impact of horse use on backcountry lands, especially fragile areas, to minimize or prevent irreparable damages to such areas; to encourage responsible citizen involvement in governmental actions affecting such public lands; and to demonstrate that horsemen are citizens concerned about protecting the environment, as well as sustaining equilibrium for the community and the backcountry.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 Membership of the Wenas Valley Chapter is open to all members, in good standing, of BCHW. Application shall be made to the Wenas Valley Chapter Treasurer, by presenting a current BCHW membership card and paying Chapter dues, or by application for membership in BCHW by providing name, address and signed liability release for membership records and paying current dues for State and Chapter.
Section 2 The Treasurer must receive membership dues 30 days prior to the General Meeting to be eligible to vote. Section 3 Wenas Valley Chapter Dues may be assessed as deemed necessary by the membership.
ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS OF THE MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 General membership meetings shall be held on a monthly basis for the benefit of the membership, with a minimum of ten (10) meetings per year, hereinafter called General Membership Meetings. The meetings may have guest speakers and/or education presentations for the members, with only that business which must have general membership action to conduct. The meetings will be held at a time and location decided by a majority of the members at the General Membership Meeting.
Section 2 Special meetings of the membership may be scheduled, by the President, as needed. Notice will be given of Special Meetings.
Section 3 Any reports that are to be given at a General Membership Meeting by officer, committee, or individual shall be brought to the attention of the President at the Board Meeting prior to the General Membership Meeting, as necessary.
Section 4 The Board shall hold a minimum of ten (10) meetings per year, hereinafter called Board Meetings, to conduct the business of the Wenas Valley Chapter, such as calendar events, budget and fiscal payments and agency coordination. The Board Meetings shall be held at a time and location decided by a majority vote of the Board. All Board members, either elected or appointed will be allowed to vote. Any monetary decisions exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) must be brought before the General Membership for a vote.
Section 5 The Board shall consist of all elected and appointed officers. Board Meetings are open to Board members only. Members may be invited by the Board to present information only.
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS, DIRECTOR AND THEIR DUTIES
Section 1 The Wenas Valley Chapter shall elect officers to include President, Vice President, State Director, Alternate State Director, Trail Boss (1), and Trail Boss (2). The election of officers will be at the November meeting. The term of office shall be the fiscal year, with the exception of the State Director, whose term shall be two (2) fiscal years. All elected officers are not to exceed two (2) consecutive terms.
Section 2 The President shall preside at all Business Meetings and shall appoint committees, with the approval of the Board, that may be necessary and appropriate to conduct the business of the Wenas Valley Chapter, such as, but not limited to, Publicity, Newsletter Editor, Education, Legislative, and Volunteer Coordinator. The President shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees.
Section 3 The Vice President shall assist the President as needed and is to preside at meetings when the President is absent.
Section 4 The Secretary shall take care of correspondence and record the minutes of the Board Meetings and General Business Membership Meetings, and keep other records required for the operation of the Wenas Valley Chapter. The Secretary is appointed by the Board and to be appointed each year by the Board.
Section 5 The Treasurer shall keep records of income, expenses, disbursements, membership and other records required. Monthly reports shall be given of income and expenses. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to file the required form with the State of Washington to continue the nonprofit status of the Wenas Valley Chapter each year. The Treasurer is appointed by the Board and to be appointed each year by the Board.
Section 6 The Trail Bosses are responsible to oversee trail activities and will have the final judgment in matters of trail condition, safety, horsemanship, and personal conduct. Duties and jurisdiction will be divided among the Trail Bosses according to the needs, knowledge of areas, and experience, and as directed by the President.
Section 7 The State Director and Alternate Director shall be elected by the Wenas Valley Chapter to serve as a Director of BCHW in accordance with the bylaws of BCHW. The Director needs to attend all the BCHW Board Meetings or prepare and send the Alternate Director in their place.
Section 8 The Publicity Chairperson shall compile and edit material for advertisement and/or information for members, to include flyers announcing upcoming events, articles for the Trailhead News in cooperation with the Wenas Valley Chapter Newsletter editor; also submit articles and/or photos to newspapers to promote chapter activities. The Publicity Chairperson is appointed by the Board and to be appointed each year by the Board.
Section 9 The Wenas Valley Chapter Newsletter Editor will be responsible for getting the newsletter out to all members in a timely fashion before the next meeting each month. The newsletter will have the minutes of the last meeting and other pertinent information regarding rides, work party information and other activities. The Editor will work with the Publicity Chairperson to submit articles to the Trailhead News. The Newsletter Editor is appointed by the Board and to be appointed each year by the Board.
Section 10 The Education Chairperson will be responsible for educating members and the public on the Backcountry HorsemenÕs policies on LEAVE NO TRACE ethics and safety issues. The Chairperson will work with the State Education Chairperson. The Education Chairperson is appointed by the Board and to be appointed each year by the Board.
Section 11 The Chapter Historian shall maintain historical information, including photos, newspaper events/articles and scrapbooks. The Chapter Historian is appointed by the Board and to be appointed each year by the Board.
Section 12 Volunteer Coordinator shall maintain records of volunteer hours for the Wenas Valley Chapter, have available appropriate forms for work party leaders and members, assist in the completion of group or project records; shall compile data and send copies to the State Coordinator at years end and assist with the Wenas Valley Chapter yearend awards for the Volunteer Hours program. The Volunteer Coordinator is appointed by the Board and to be appointed each year by the Board.
Section 13 The Forest Service Liaison shall coordinate activities and information between government agencies and the Wenas Valley Chapter. The Forest Service Liaison is appointed by the Board and to be appointed each year by the Board.
Section 14 The Web Master shall be responsible for updating the web page on a monthly basis, and coordinate with the publicity chair on articles and items to include. The Web Master is appointed by the Board and to be appointed each year by the Board.
Section 15 The Board shall consist of all elected and appointed positions. The immediate Past President shall also serve on the Board for a period of one year.
Section 16 Vacancies of elected offices shall be filled by election at a regularly scheduled Business meeting.
Section 17 Elected officers may be removed by a (2/3) two-thirds majority vote of members at a General Membership Meeting. Notification of action to remove an officer must be made at the General Membership Meeting preceding the meeting that the action is to take place.
Section 18 Appointed officers may be removed by a majority vote of the Board.
ARTICLE VI - HOUSEKEEPING
Section 1 Fiscal year shall be from 1 January through 31 December.
Section 2 Wenas Valley Chapter Bylaws and then Roberts Rules of Order are adopted as a guideline for conduct of all meetings. The President may serve as Parliamentarian or may at his discretion appoint a Parliamentarian. The decision of the Parliamentarian shall be final in all questions of procedure.
Section 3 Wherever the masculine gender is used herein, the feminine shall be deemed included. Wherever the singular form is used herein, the plural shall be deemed included to aid in the interpretation to the sense intended.
Section 4 When the President is absent at a Business Meeting, the next highest officer in attendance as listed in ARTICLE V, Section 1 will preside. In the absence of any other officer necessary to conduct the business of the meeting, the officer presiding may appoint a member at large to fill the absence.
Section 5 Grievances by members of good standing may be brought before the Board at the Board Meeting whose decision to act or dismiss will be final.
Section 6 Should the Wenas Valley Chapter disband, the remaining Treasury shall be disbursed to the BCHW legal fund.ARTICLE VII - BYLAWS AMENDMENTS
Section 1 These Bylaws may be amended, repealed, or added to by motion of the membership at any Business meeting, provided that all proposed changes will be made available in written form to all members at the meeting preceding the meeting during which the Amendments are to be voted upon and that an affirmative vote of two-thirds of all members present is achieved.