Bylaws

Revised and approved Nov 2005

BY-LAWS of the

WISCONSIN PONY OF THE AMERICAS CLUB, INC.

(Also known as WPOAC)

ARTICLE I

TITLE, LOCATION, AFFILIATION AND PURPOSE

A.  The name of the corporation shall be the WISCONSIN PONY OF THE AMERICAS

     CLUB, INC. (herein after, the a “CLUB”).

     

      1.  The Resident Agent of the Club shall be

      2.  The permanent address of the Club shall be:

Wisconsin Pony of the Americas Club, Inc.

c/o  Judy Katzenberger

                  5893 Highway 186

                   Vesper, WI    54489

B.  The period of existence shall be perpetual.

C.  The Club is affiliated with the Pony of the Americas Club, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

     (herein after, the “POAC, Inc.”)

D.  The purpose of the Club shall be:

     1.  To cooperate and aid the programs and functions of the Pony of the Americas              

           Club, Inc.

      2.  To promote and stimulate interest in the POA breed in the state of Wisconsin.

      3.  To promote proper and humane treatment for horses and ponies in the state of

    Wisconsin.

      4.  To gain breed and performance classes for POA’s in the state of Wisconsin.

      5.  To promote and participate in any proper and legal activity which may insure

    the success of the Club and its programs.

      6.  To govern all futurities in Wisconsin.

ARTICLE II

MEMBERSHIP

A.  Any person with a Wisconsin membership who is willing to abide by the Constitution

     and By-laws of the Wisconsin Pony of the Americas Club, Inc. is eligible for one of

     the following memberships:

      1. Family membership is immediate family members including spouse and any minor

          children, 18 years of age and under as of Janury 1 of that year, living in the household

          of he member. Each adult in a family has one (1) vote, but minor children do not.

      2. Individual membership shall include single adults and those who are 18 years of

          age and over.  Individual memberships have voting rights.

      3. Junior membership is available only to minor (18 years and younger).  A junior

   member has no voting rights, but is eligible for year-end awards.

C.  Club dues shall be established by the membership at the annual meeting for the

     ensuing year.  

     1.  The membership dues shall be paid on application for membership.

     2.  Annual dues shall be due on January 1.  If said dues are not received after ninety

          (90) days, membership shall be forfeited.   Dues paid by new members after

  October 1 shall be credited for the ensuing year.

     3.  The Corporation shall not provide pecuniary gain, incidentally or otherwise, to its

  members.

D.  All money received from membership fees and annual dues will be used for breed

     advertisements, expenses of state shows and sales, breed promotion work, and

     other work in connection with the purposes of this Club.

E.  Memberships are non-transferable.

F.  There shall be no proxy voting at any general membership meeting.

G.  Any member must be a paid member for six (6) months before being eligible to hold

     office in this Corporation.  Only voting members may hold office.

H.  Family, junior and single memberships qualify for state points after payment of

     membership.

I.  Those members abusing or misusing their privileges of membership may have their

    membership revoked by the Board of Directors for just cause.

  

J.   Membership will include membership in the local chapter.  Chapter defined by county

     in which member lives in.  See Article VI Chapters for further details.

ARTICLE III

MEETINGS OF MEMBERS

A.  The annual meeting of the members of this Corporation shall be held at a time and a

     place designated by the Board of Directors during the month of November each year,

     at which time there shall be an election of officers and directors.  The members shall

     also transact such business as may come before them

     1.  Notice of the annual meeting and regular meetings shall be published in the

WPOAC Newsletter stating the time, place and purpose of said meetings.

     2. The order of business for meetings shall be:

a.  Roll call

b.  Proof of due notice

c.  Reading, correcting and approving the minutes of previous meeting, and the

    previous meeting of the Board of Directors, if any

d.  Treasurer’s report

e.  Reports of the Officers, Directors and Committees

f.  Unfinished business

g.  New business

h.  Election of officers at the annual meeting

i.   Adjournment

B.  A quorum shall consist of a majority of members present.

C.  Special Meetings:

    1.  Special meetings of the Corporation may be called by the President upon written

         notice of the membership mailed at least ten (10) days prior to such special

  meetings, stating the purpose and items to be considered.  No items may be

  considered that are not included in the call of the meeting.

    2.  Special meetings may also be called by the President upon written demand of at

  least ten (10) active members and with twenty-one (21) days of receipt of such

  request and after due notice as in paragraph one above.

ARTICLE IV

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A.  The Board of Directors shall consist of the state president, vice-president, immed-

     iate past president, the chapter presidents, and two elected directors.

B.  Responsibilities of the Board Directors:

     1.  Appoint replacement officers to fill vacancies

     2.  Revoke memberships as they deem necessary

     3.  Audit records of the Treasurer annually

     4.  Manage the affairs of the Club and carry out its purposes

C.  The term of office of the Directors shall be for one year; and in the event of vacancy,

     said vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by a majority vote of the Board of Directors

     at a special meeting called for this purpose.

D.  No director shall receive any remuneration for services as a director.  Directors may

     be reimbursed for expenses authorized by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V

THE OFFICERS

A.  The officers of the Corporation shall be a president, vice-president, secretary and

     treasurer.  These officers are to be elected by members of the Corporation at an annual

     meeting by secret ballot for a term of one year, unless the rules of the meeting

     are suspended.  No officer may serve more than two (2) consecutive elective terms.

B.  The President shall:

- preside at all meetings of the Corporation and at meetings of the Board of

              Directors

- shall appoint all special and standing committees

- shall conduct the business of the Corporation

- shall be an ex-officio member of all committees

- shall appoint committees subject to Board approval

C.  The Vice President shall:

- shall perform duties assigned by the President

- shall act in the place of the President in the event of the President’s absence or

  inability to act

- shall be in charge of inventory list of items owned by Corporation

- shall be in charge of Club advertising

- shall set up the February and November meeting locations

D.  The Secretary shall:

- keep the minutes of all meetings

- keep and safeguard the records of the corporation

- issue notice of calls to the directors and members

The Treasurer shall:

- shall take charge of all the cash and assets of this Corporation and shall promptly deposit the

  same in a bank account authorized by the Board

- keep an accurate record of all the receipts and disbursements of this Corporation and give a report

  thereof when called upon to do so by the President or Board of Directors, showing the financial standing of the Corporation

- give a report of the Corporation’s assets and financial standing at the annual meeting

- present the annual financial report to the Board of Directors thirty (30) days    prior to the annual meeting for an audit

- oversees the Membership/Certificate Committee; keeps membership rolls and issues membership cards

- sends Midwest Regional membership fee to Midwest Club treasurer

- maintains certificate inventory, issues certificates to show committees, receives and redeems certificates

- sends membership and certificate monies and records to Treasurer before annual meeting

E.  In the event of vacancy of the office of President by reason of death, resignation, or

    any other cause, the Vice-President shall fill this vacancy pursuant to Paragraph C

    of Article V.  In the event of the vacancy of the offices of Vice-President, Secretary or

    Treasurer, said vacancy shall be filled by a majority vote of the Board of Directors at a

    special meeting called for said purposes.

ARTICLE VI

CHAPTERS

A.  State chapters shall be wholly owned subsidiaries of the State Club.

     1.  Only Wisconsin State POAC, Inc. can charter a state chapter in Wisconsin

     2.  Each chapter shall use the same By-Laws as the State Club

Chapters are responsible for their own debts.

4.  In the event of bankruptcy or failure of operation of a chapter, the assets of the chapter must revert to the State Club.

     5.Chapters are defined as follows –

Northern – Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Iron, Vilas, Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Price, Sawyer, Rusk, Chippewa, Eau Claire, Buffalo, Trempealeau, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, St Croix, Polk, Barron, Washburn, Burnett, Dunn, Clark, Taylor, LaCrosse, Monroe, Adams, Juneau, Marquette, Green Lake, Vernon.

Southern Columbia, Richland, Sauk, Grant, Crawford, Iowa, Lafayette,  Green, Dane, Jefferson,Washington, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Racine, Kenosha, Walworth, Rock.

North Central – Marathon, Wood, Portage, Waushara, Waupaca, Winnebago, Cutagamie, Shawano, Menominee, Oconto, Marinette, Door, Kewaunee, Brown, Manitowoc, Calumet, Sheboygan, Fond Du Lac, Dodge, Ozaukee.

ARTICLE VII

MEMBERS LIABILITY

The private property of the members of this Corporation shall not be liable for its

Corporate debts or obligations.

ARTICLE VIII

NEWSLETTER

The Wisconsin Pony of the Americas Club, Inc. shall publish a newsletter.   The purpose of the newsletter is to give information about Club activities and meeting notices.

ARTICLE IX

BY-LAWS AND RULES

A.  Any of the foregoing By-Laws may be amended or additional By-Laws adopted by a

     two-thirds vote of the members present at any annual meeting or at any special

     meeting called for that purpose, only in the event, however, that they do not conflict

     with the Articles of Incorporation of this Club.

B.  At least a thirty (30) day notice of such proposed change must be given in writing to

     all members.

C.  Proposed changes in the By-Laws or rules shall be made in writing to the Secretary,

     so that official notice may be made to the membership.