Proposed Change:  53-01-09

NATIONAL REINING HORSE YOUTH ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I. NRHyA YOUTH MISSION STATEMENT

  To provide a character and leadership building program that will enable youth to become better citizens and the future leaders of the Reining horse industry.

ARTICLE II. TITLE, OBJECTIVES, LOCATION

Section 1.  Title.  This organization shall be called the National Reining Horse Youth Association (NRHyA) and will serve as a division of the National Reining Horse Association, and shall operate within NRHA Handbook by-laws, rules and regulations. 

Section 2.  Objectives. The objectives and purposes of the National Reining Horse Youth Association NRHyA shall be as follows:

1. To improve and promote the sport of Reining.

2. To improve and develop the capabilities of youth members, both individually, and through group participation. , and in the competition of Reining horses.

3. To develop and improve leadership skills, scholarship opportunities, and participation in the sport of Reining.

4. To establish a means whereby youth members may work in conjunction with the NRHyA Advisory Board and the NRHA Board of Directors.

5. To assist NRHA Affiliate associations comprised of members of the NRHA and NRHyA.

6. 5. To acquaint youth members and affiliates with the structures and functions of the parent organization, NRHA NRHyA.

Section 3.  Place of Business.  The place of business of the association shall be the NRHA headquarters in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma.  The correspondence regarding NRHyA Executive Committee shall be directed by the NRHA Youth Department of the NRHA office in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 

ARTICLE III.  NRHyA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1.  The officers of the organization shall be the President, Corresponding Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sentinel Historian, who shall be elected at the annual meeting from those selected as Regional Delegates or existing Officers.  Such Officers shall hold office for a period of one year and/or until their successors are elected or qualified. Officers and Delegates must be 18 years of age or younger as of January 1 of the year they are elected to serve. 

ARTICLE IV.  ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1.  Regional Elections: Four (4) Regional Delegates – two (2) 13 & Under and two (2)  14-18 - will be voted in from each Region based on a majority vote.  Candidates must have achieved the Silver Level of the Varsity or Junior Varsity Reining Club. Existing NRHyA Officers will not be considered Regional Delegates.  An adult leader will also be chosen as a liaison to the NRHyA Advisory Board from each region.  

Section 2. National Officer Elections:  All Regional Delegates NRHyA Executive Committee members will be eligible for National Office must have served as a Regional Delegate or Officer the previous year. All candidates must have achieved the Platinum Level in the Varsity or Junior Varsity Reining Club. Additionally, all candidates must be a minimum of 14 years of age and no older than 18 years of age on January 1 of the year they are elected to serve. Youth members will vote for National Officers through the ballot process.  The election of officers shall be held at a general membership meeting of the Association at the time and place designated by the NRHA Executive Board of Directors.  Any youth wishing to serve as President or Vice President must have served a minimum of one year on the NRHyA Officer Team Executive Committee prior to being elected for President or Vice President.

Section 3. The remaining Regional Delegates will serve on in an advisory capacity to the NRHyA Executive Committee. in non-voting, advisory capacity. 

ARTICLE V.  DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1.  President: The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the association and shall have general supervision of the affairs of the association, subject to the direction of the NRHyA Youth Executive Committee, and shall preside at all meetings of the Members and of the NRHyA Executive Committee. The President shall appoint all committees of the association subject to the approval of the Youth Executive Committee.  The President shall submit to the members of the meeting a report of the status of the association and its activities during the preceding year.  No President may serve two terms unless there is not an eligible candidate.  The President shall have other duties and authority as may be prescribed elsewhere in the By-Laws constitution or by the NRHA Youth Advisory Committee.

Section 2.  Corresponding Vice President: The Corresponding Vice President shall have the responsibility of reporting on the activities of the NRHyA Youth Executive Committee to the NRHA Reiner magazine.  The Vice President shall have the responsibility of maintaining order at all meetings of the NRHyA Executive Committee and the membership meetings in accordance with parliamentary procedure, in addition to preparing meeting rooms and facilities for the meeting of the NRHyA Executive Committee. In addition the Corresponding Vice President shall, in the absence, disability or inability to act of the President, perform the duties and activities of the President or the NRHyA Executive Committee.

Section 3.  Secretary: The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the NRHyA Executive Committee and shall record all votes taken and the minutes of all proceedings in a secretary's notebook.  He or she shall perform like duties for all the committees when requested to do so.  The Secretary shall have the principal responsibility to give notice of all meetings of the NRHyA Youth Executive Committee and the members, but this shall not lessen the authority of others to give such notice as provided by the constitution By-Laws.  The Secretary shall maintain communication between the NRHyA Executive Committee and the NRHyA NRHA Youth Coordinator Program Supervisor, and in the event the Corresponding Vice President is unable to fulfill his or her duties, in relation to monthly reports to the NRHA Reiner, the Secretary will assume those duties.

Section 4.  Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be responsible for examining the financial need of projects and the financial needs of the NRHyA and reporting these costs to the NRHyA Youth Executive Committee.

Section 5.  Sentinel Historian: The Sentinel Historian shall have the responsibility of developing and maintaining order at all meetings a historical record of the NRHyA. Executive Committee and the members in accordance with the parliamentary procedure, in addition to preparing meeting rooms and facilities for the meetings of the NRHyA Executive Committee.  The Sentinel Historian may also be required to fill those duties that may from time to time be assigned by the President.

Section 6.  Powers of the NRHYA Executive Committee: The NRHyA Executive Committee shall have the power and authority to direct the affairs of the organization, including, but not limited to, the right to make, amend and repeal the constitution of the organization, as they may deem expedient concerning the conduct, management, and activities.  Suspension and expulsion of members, removal of officers, expenditure of money and other details relating to the general purposes of the organization, are subject to the approval of the NRHA Executive Board.

Section 7. Quorum: The quorum of the NRHyA Executive Committee shall be four members.   

 Section 8 6. Vacancy: In the case of a vacancy in the NRHyA Executive Committee, the President shall appoint a successor to fill the unexpired term of the open position All vacant Offices of the organization shall be filled by the NRHyA Executive Committee from the Regional Delegates for the unexpired term, and those so appointed shall serve until the election and acceptance of their duly qualified successors.