Members – Any individual who is interested in draft horses and draft mules may become an active member of this organization upon endorsement of its Constitution and By-Laws and payment of membership dues.

The membership term shall be for the fiscal year, November 1 to October 31.

Should it occur at any time that any member of the Association shall be charged with willful misrepresentation in regard to any animal, or with any other account derogatory to the standing of the Association, or with failure to comply with the rules and regulations of the Association, the Board of Directors shall examine into the matter, and if it shall find that such charge is fully sustained, it shall thereupon suspend such offender and lay the facts in its possession before the Association at its first Annual Meeting thereafter. If, in the opinion of two-thirds of the members present, the fact shall warrant, the name of the offending member shall be stricken from the rolls of the Association, and all is rights as a member thereupon cease.

Section II

The annual dues for each active member shall be determined by the Board of Directors, and shall entitle the member to vote in all Association Matters presented to the membership.

The annual dues for each associate member shall be determined by the Board of Directors, and shall entitle such associate member to all rights of the Association except that of voting and holding office.

The annual dues for each junior member (18 and under) shall be determined by the Board of Directors, and shall entitle each junior member to all rights of the Association except that of voting and holding office.

Any member delinquent in payment of dues shall lose all rights until payment has been made.

The Board of Directors shall consist of nine active members and one alternate, all residents of Washington, to be elected by position, the majority of which shall be draft horse and draft mule owners.

Any person running for the Board of Directors must be a member of the Association and in good standing for a period of two years prior to the election.

Upon adoption of this amended Constitution and By-Laws: the present directors having a full year remaining in their term shall remain as directors of the new board with one year remaining in their term, the present officers shall remain as directors of the new board with two years remaining in their term, and four directors shall be elected to serve: three for three year terms and one for a one year term. Thereafter, three directors shall e elected for three year terms at each Annual Meeting, in addition to elections to fill the unexpired terms of any directorships.

If an Officer or Board of Directors member has three unexcused absences from meetings properly called, his position will be declared vacated and the alternate would be appointed to fill the vacancy.

The Annual Meeting of the Association shall be called by the President each year, at which time the year’s business shall be discussed, Directors elected, and plans made for the coming year. The Annual Meeting will be held in the month of November.

Other meetings may be called throughout the year by the President, acting alone, or by a majority of the Board of Directors, at such time and place as may be designated in the call.

Prior to the Annual Meeting, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee to prepare a ballot of candidates to be presented at the Annual Meeting each year for elections of Directors. An effort shall be made to nominate Directors by position so as to reflect the various interest and areas of the state. This shall in no way invalidate nominations from the floor at such Annual Meetings. All nominees shall be presented to the membership before nominations shall be called from the floor. Voting shall be by secret ballot.

The Board shall meet at the call of the President at such time, date, and place as he/she shall see fit to designate to transact the business of the Association according to the general direction of the Association.

The President shall perform all the customary duties attributed to the office. He/she has the right to vote at all Board meetings.

The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of the latter.

The Secretary-Treasurer shall have custody of all funds of the Association, and shall make payments on approval of the Board of Directors. A report of all receipts and disbursements shoeing financial condition of the Association shall be kept at all times and an audit report shall be presented at the annual meeting. All checks issued in payment of Association expenses shall be signed by the Secretary-Treasurer and President. The Secretary-Treasurer shall also keep the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors and Association. The Secretary-Treasurer shall receive all dues and issue all membership cards to the members. He/she shall send out to the membership written notices showing the time, place, and reason of all meetings called by the President. All meeting notices pertaining to elections, Constitution or By-Law amendments, or membership suspension shall be transmitted a minimum of two weeks prior to the date set for said meeting.

The Board may hire and fire such personnel as it deems necessary to conduct the business of the Board and/or Association. If any such employee shall handle monies, the Board shall establish separate accounts for the purpose as necessary, subject to all expenditures being made by check to be countersigned by the President and with detailed reports required at the request of the President or a majority of the Board.

The Constitution and By-Laws of the Association may be amended or altered or added to by a sixty percent majority of the active voting membership present at a duly called meeting, providing a minimum of twenty-five percent of the active members are present.

Meetings of the Association shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order as to all matters not specifically governed by the provisions of its Constitution and By-Laws.

For meetings and elections, there shall be no voting by proxy.

The Washington Draft Horse and Mule Association hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless its Officers and Directors from any liability occurring or arising out of the performance of their duties for and on the behalf of the Washington Draft Horse and Mule Association.