Wisconsin Pony of the Americas Club
Brief History of the Club
In April of 1960, Shirley Rice of Oconomowoc, WI sent letters 26 to prospective members of the National Pony of the Americas Club, asking who would like to have a state club. This first meeting of WPOAC was held at the Plymouth, WI fairgrounds along with a pony auction also being held there.
Mr. Harold Robinson of Watertown brought his beautiful POA stud "GR's Lucky T-293" to the meeting and showed him to the crowd in the sale ring while the auctioneer gave all the information on the POA's including color, size and National office address. The 13 original members included: Mr. Harold J. Robinson, Pres.; Mr. Art Schonfeldt, Vice Pres.; and Mrs. Shirley Rice, Sec./Treas.
The fist three years of existence for WPOAC were full of challenge, hope, and dreams and at the end of that time they had put on POA and open shows, a futurity, contacted 4-H clubs, advertised the POA everyway possible and set up a News Bulletin (first elected editor was Mrs. Donald Beeck).
The WPOAC has grown to over 100 members and now hosts 5-6 two day shows each year. Our members are active in state and national leadership positions and are highly ranked in the national standings.
About the Breed
In 1954, Les Boomhower was a Shetland pony breeder and a lawyer with his own practice in Mason City, Iowa. A neighbor offered Les an Arab/Appaloosa mare who had been bred to a Shetland stallion. She was due to foal that spring. Les waited until the foal was born before he bought the mare. The little colt born of this union was white with what looked like black paint smears all over his body.
What intrigued Les the most were the spots on the colt's flank that formed a definite black hand. Another idea was forming in Les' mind as he watched the colt he named Black Hand. He called his Shetland breeder friends to his Memory Lane Ranch to discuss his idea, and the Pony Of the Americas Club was born. Les' expertise in the law set up a solid foundation for this new breed registry.
The standards Les and his friends set up were a real challenge to any breeder. To be registered as a POA, strict guidelines were followed. The pony had to be between the height limits of 44 inches to 52 inches. The head was to be small and dished as the Arab; the body was to be muscled as the Quarter Horse; and the coloring had to be Appaloosa, visible at 40 feet. This was to be a breed for children to ride and show. Adults could only show the animals at halter or with a cart. So these equines must also be gentle and easy to train.
From the original national POA Club came state clubs, state shows, regional shows and sales, a world class international show and sale and a world championship show. The registry went from Black Hand POA #1 in 1954 to 1996's registry of over 40,000. The height limit of the breed increased to 46 inches and 54 inches in 1963. It was about this time the Shetland began to disappear from the POA breeding program. Larger ponies like the Welsh and small horses like the wild mustang and the Arab were combined with Indian ponies, Quarter Horses and Appaloosas by the breeders to achieve that "little horse" look. The membership voted in 1985 to again raise the upper height limit to 56 inches beginning in 1986. The age limit of a child showing went from age 16 in 1954 to 18 in 1973. In 1987, 19 and over riding classes were added with a limitation for the POAs under saddle to be only 2, 3, and 4 year olds in training. In 1988, the first national POA Convention was held. In 1990, a Hall of Fame for POAs and POA members was begun.
Besides the usual high point standings, the breed added Register of Merit Awards for halter, performance and gaming. A POA earning all three receives the highest of all awards, Supreme Champion. The first Supreme Champion mare was GR's Siri Raindrop. The first Supreme Champion stallion was Chief Little Britches and the first Supreme Champion gelding was Cindy's Fury. Breeders whose POAs receive a number of these outstanding awards can earn Bronze, Silver, Golden, and Diamond Premier Breeder Awards. A mare and stallion can earn Premier and Golden Premier status when a number of their offspring have achieved Supreme Champion. Futurities also offer monetary and prestige rewards for the breeders.
These gentle child-size equines can give a boy or girl confidence and responsibility which will serve in later life. The POA motto is "Try hard, win humbly, lose gracefully and, if you must ... protest with dignity." This perhaps more than anything else, sets POA exhibitors apart from others in the world of horse show competition. Boys and girls cheer for each other even though they are competing against each other. Deep friendships are made that last entire lifetimes for both parents and children from coast to coast. POAs are perfect for trail and endurance riding, ranch work and hunting. The gentle disposition, durability and intelligence of the breed serves it well.
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 callb. Proof of due noticec. Reading, correcting and approving the minutes of previous meeting, and the previous meeting of the Board of Directors, if anyd. Treasurer’s report
e. Reports of the Officers, Directors and Committeesf. Unfinished businessg. New businessh. Election of officers at the annual meetingi. AdjournmentB. 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 approvalC. 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 locationsD. 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 membersThe 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,
