Florida Forever Back Country Horseman

Bylaws

Constitution and By-Laws of the

FLORIDA FOREVER BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN

1.Purpose

The purpose of the FLORIDA FOREVER BACK COUNTRY HORSEMEN shall be:

1. To assist the various government and private agencies in the establishment, maintenance
and management of trails and other back country resources.

2. To work to insure that public lands remain open to recreational equestrian use.

3. To educate and encourage the wise use of the back country resource by horsemen and the
general public.

4. To perpetuate the common sense use and enjoyment of equines in America’s, forest and
wilderness.

5. To actively involve the community in activities related to
Florida Forever Back Country Horsemen's purpose.

6. To maintain a family oriented organization.

2. Membership

2.1 Eligibility
Membership is open to any individual interested in the promoting the purpose of the
organization.

2.2. Membership Types
Individual, Family (consisting of up to two adults and any number of children under the age
of 18, all living at the same address), Supporter, and Sponsor. The Supporter category is
for those members who belong to BCH America chapter. Sponsor membership category is for
those who want to make a more significant contribution to the organization. The board may
elect to grant additional benefits (for example, advertising).

2.3. Organizational Membership
Any outside organization may join as an Organizational Member to support the mission of the
FLORIDA FOREVER BACKCOUNTRY HORSEMEN. The President of said organization or someone
designated by the President of said organization will be a full member in good standing
of the FLORIDA FOREVER BACKCOUNTRY HORSEMEN.

2.4. Dues
The dues amount for the various membership types shall be set by the board of directors.
The membership year corresponds to the calendar year (January to December). Any new
member joining in the 4th quarter shall have their membership valid through the end of
the following year.

3. Voting

3.1 Voting Eligibility
All members in good standing are entitled to vote on all matters voted upon during membership
meetings. Individual, supporter and sponsor members have one vote, while family and family
sponsor members have two votes (one per adult ). Organizational members shall have one vote,
to be delivered by any designated representative.

3.2 Quorum
For a vote on any matter to be accepted, a quorum must be present at the meeting. At regular
meetings, 10% of the voting membership present will constitute a quorum. At a board meeting,
a simple majority (6) shall constitute a quorum. Exception is noted in sections 8.1 and 8.3
below.

3.3 Proxy
If a member wishes to vote on a matter, but cannot attend the meeting, the member may still
vote by providing a written notice. The notice should contain the member’s name, member’s
signature, the subject of the vote and the member’s decision. The written notice may be
delivered by any means to the Board of Directors, before or during the voting process. The
Board of Directors shall file the Proxy vote according to the member's stated will. A Proxy
vote shall count toward the Quorum.

4. Meetings

4.1 Membership meetings
Regular membership meetings shall be held with a frequency and at a time and place decided
upon by the board members. Notice of the regular meetings shall be announced to the members
via the newsletter. Special meetings may be called by the board. An annual membership
meeting shall be held once a year in the first quarter of the year for the purpose of
election of officers and board members.

4.2 Board Meetings
Board meetings shall be held on a regular basis at a time and place decided upon by the board
members. Regular members shall be welcome to attend board meetings but they shall have no
vote. Anyone who wants to attend a board meeting should contact a board member for the time
and place and indicate if they have a matter they wish to present to the board.

5. Officers and Directors

5.1 Offices
The offices of this organization are president, vice president, secretary and treasurer.

5.2 Directors
In addition to the officers, the board shall be comprised of the out going president and 3
additional members.

5.3 Vacancies
Any vacancy for any officer or director for the balance of such term shall be filled by
appointment of the board, excepting the presidency, which will automatically be filled by the
vice president.

6. Duties of Officers and Directors

6.1 Board of Directors (Officers and Board Members)
The supreme power and authority of this organization shall be lodged in its assembled
meetings and the officers and directors shall conform to the wishes and instructions of the
organization, but subject to such control and direction by the organization, the board of
directors shall manage and execute the affairs of the organization. When the organization is
not in session, the board of directors shall have all needful authority to execute the
purposes of the organization.

6.2 President
It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the organization and of
the board, and to exercise general executive control over the affairs of the organization,
and to call special meetings of the members and/or the board, and to perform all other duties
pertaining to such office. He shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.

6.3 Vice President
The Vice President shall assist the President when called upon to do so, and in his absence,
shall be vested with all the powers and duties of the president.

6.4 Secretary
The Secretary shall record and keep the minutes of all regular, special and board meetings;
shall register the names of the members; issue notices and perform such other duties as
pertains to such office. The secretary shall be responsible for maintaining custody of the
records and papers of the organization (such as charter, by-laws, etc.). Communication with
the members through a regular newsletter shall be the responsibility of the secretary
although the board may appoint another member to assist with this.

6.5 Treasurer
The Treasurer shall collect dues, keep and disburse all the funds of the organization and
shall keep a written account of same which shall be open for inspection by any member in good
standing, and shall furnish a written report of the state of the finances monthly, and shall
be one of the three check signers of record, any two of which may validate a check. All
funds shall be kept in a bank account. The treasurer shall be responsible for the submission
of any records and tax returns required by law and shall prepare an annual statement.

6.6 Director
The directors shall formulate policies, approve procedures and programs, establish dues,
attend meetings, and generally assist and support the functions and programs of the
organization.

7. Elections

7.1 Election of Officers and Directors
All officers and directors shall be elected by a majority vote at the regularly scheduled
annual meeting to be held in the first quarter of the year.

7.2 Terms
Officers shall serve two year terms with the President and Secretary elected in odd numbered
years and the Vice President and Treasurer elected in even years. Directors shall serve two
year terms with three vacancies occurring in odd numbered years and four in even years. The
out going president is automatically a director. The election at the end of the first year of
the organization’s existence shall be skipped.

7.3 Term Limits
No officer shall hold the same office for more than three (3) consecutive terms. There shall
be no limit for service by Directors.

7.4 Nominating Committee
A nominating committee of three members shall be appointed by the board two months prior to
the regular election of officers and directors. The purpose of the nomination committee
shall be to provide a list of suitable candidates for officers and directors to the
membership. The list shall be made available to the members one month prior to the election.
Any member shall be allowed to submit a nomination to be the committee. Any member shall be
allowed to make a floor nomination for during the election process.

8. Removal of Officers / Directors

8.1 Removal Proposal
Any officer or director may be relieved of his duties by an action instituted by (1) a
two-thirds vote of the board of directors or (2) a majority vote of voting members at a
regular meeting.

8.2 Notification
Notification of action to remove an officer or director must be made at the regular meeting
preceding the meeting that the action is to take place.

8.3 Removal Action
Action to remove an officer or director requires a two-thirds majority vote of voting members
at the regular meeting.

8.4 Absenteeism
If any board member misses over three consecutive board meetings without a just reason
accepted by the board, the position may be declared vacant and will be replaced by
appointment of the board.

9. Committees

9.1 Creation
Committees to aid the function of this organization shall be designated by the President
with the approval of the board.

9.2 Composition
The committee chairmen shall be appointed by the President and will in turn appoint their
committees members as necessary to accomplish their committees functions. Committees must
be comprised of members in good standing.

10. Amendments
These by-laws may be amended at any regular meeting or special meeting of the organization by
two thirds vote of the membership, provided that notice of such proposed amendment shall be
given to the organization at a regular meeting preceding the submission of such proposed
amendments.