Black Water Saddle Club

By Laws 2009

1.The governing body of the Blackwater Saddle Club shall be comprised of 5 board of directors, 5 officers, and the general membership.  The executive board will be the 5 board of directors and 5 officers.

A. The Board of Directors shall be selected by a majority vote of the general membership that is present at the election.  Board of directors shall serve a 2 year term of office.  There shall be no limit as to how many times a member can be elected to the board of directors.  Elections will be conducted during the December business meeting each year.

B. The officers, to be defined as, President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Public Relations, shall be selected by a majority vote of the general membership that is present at the election and will serve a 1 year term of office.  There shall be no limit as to how many times a member is elected as an officer.  Elections will be conducted during the December business meeting each year.

C. The general membership will be known as all members of the Blackwater Saddle Club, upon payment of their membership dues.  An individual membership, for one person only, will be $20 per year.  A family membership, for more than 1 person who lives in the same household, will be $30 per year.  The club year runs January through December.  Memberships obtained after January will be prorated.

D. The Executive board, known as the 5 elected board of directors and the 5 elected officers, shall handle any and all business matters.  This is to include any challenge of judgments, and for matters of By-Law discrepancies.  The Executive Board shall enforce and clarify the rules when a discrepancy arises.  The Executive board will keep the general membership aware of such clarifications.  All cases brought to the attention of the executive board will be held in a board meeting, not a regular monthly business meeting.   A quorum, the minimum number of members of a deliberative body necessary to conduct the business of that group, will be by 70% of the executive board.

2.As a member of Blackwater Saddle Club you are obligated to attend monthly business meetings and volunteer while at club functions.  An individual membership shall be obligated to volunteer at 2 club functions per year, and a family membership shall be obligated to volunteer at 3 club functions per year.  To be eligible for end of the year awards the membership obligations must be fulfilled, to include, attending monthly business meetings, at least 4 per year.  Members will receive a copy of all monthly business meetings minutes via email, or regular mail, dependent upon member’s preference.

3.There shall be no drugs nor alcohol permitted at any club function or activity sponsored by Blackwater Saddle Club.  There shall be no one attending a club function already intoxicated.  If you are found in possession of, or impaired by drugs or alcohol you will be requested to leave the function.  At that time, if you choose not to leave, a meeting of the Executive Board will be held to request immediate dismissal from the club.  Memberships which are terminated shall forfeit all rights to a refund of their dues.

4.There shall be no cursing or the use of inappropriate language permitted while in attendance at a Blackwater Saddle Club function or event.

5.Everyone participating in a Blackwater Saddle Club function or event shall have a valid release of liability on file with the club.  The liability waiver is located on the membership application.

6.All horses must have a current negative coggins certificate.  Coggins certificate must be presented at sign ups, or a copy can be given to the secretary to keep on file.

7.A board of director, or officer, may excuse any handler, rider, and or horse that is not in or under control deemed unsafe.

8.When an animal is unfit for riding, or needs to be replaced for the year, a signed, written vet note will be given to the secretary, or in his/her absence another officer, before the start of the first event at the show that the point horse is unable to be ridden at, or the replacement horse will not be accepted for point accumulation toward end of the year points.  At the time the vet note is given the rider needs to indicate the replacement horse that will be used until the point horse is able to compete again.  The vet note needs to indicate the time frame the horse will be out of competition status.  All vet notes will be accepted without question. 

9.No timing devices of any kind, such as stop watches, wrist watches, etc., other than the club timer, are to be used during any event, any division.

10.There shall be a designated spectator area, and all riders and handlers will keep their horses away from this area.  Anyone caught with a horse in this area will be asked to move the horse outside the spectator area.

11.Blackwater Saddle Club dress code shall be adhered to.  Girls and women shall not wear spaghetti strap shirts while in attendance at a Blackwater Saddle Club function or event.  Tank tops are acceptable as long as they have a 2 inch width of the sleeve, and they must cover the chest area.  Men will be required to wear shirts that cover as well.  No sleeveless shirts that show the entire side of their bodice, and all shirts that button or snap will be required to be closed or have another shirt on under them.  Proper footwear is also required.  Flip flops and open toed shoes will not be acceptable while competing.

12.The Executive Board has the authority to approve up to a $300 expenditure.  Expenditures in excess of this shall be brought before the general membership in attendance at the next regularly scheduled business meeting for approval by a majority vote of all present.

13.The Executive board has the authority to make decisions on club functions and business to expedite matters associated with club activities that do not coincide with regular scheduled business meetings.

14.The decision of the judges presiding over the club sponsored functions/events shall be final.  If you choose to question the judgment, it needs to be taken to the Vice President, and in his/her absence, the President.  Do not call the judgment to the announcer.  If it is not handled while the event is taking place, it will no longer be an issue.  If you still choose to challenge the decision, please put it in writing and address it to the Executive Board.  Mail request to Blackwater Saddle Club PO BOX 291 Milton, FL 32572.

15.Approval of new members shall be by majority vote of approval by the board of directors.

16.The Executive Board may terminate any membership for just cause.  Just cause is legal jargon for a legitimate business reason.  Just cause refers to a standard of reasonableness used to evaluate a person(s) actions in a given set of circumstances.  Whether just cause exists shall be determined by the Executive Board through an evaluation of the facts present.  Threatening the existence of Blackwater Saddle Club through legal means shall not be tolerated and membership shall be terminated.  Memberships that are terminated shall forfeit all rights to a refund of their membership dues.

17.All members shall receive a copy of the By-Laws and Event Rules, and will be held responsible for the knowledge of the content.

Revised By Laws 2009