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FULTON COUNTY CHAPTER
OHIO HORSEMAN’S COUNCIL, INC.
BYLAWS

ARTICLE I	NAME
	This organization shall be known as the FULTON COUNTY CHAPTER, OHIO HORSEMAN’S   
        COUNCIL, INC. (FCC-OHC).

ARTICLE II	PLACE OF BUSINESS
	The principal place of business shall be the State of Ohio, members may reside elsewhere.

ARTICLE III	MISSON
	The Chapter is organized under the provisions of the Ohio Non-Profit Corporation code for the 
        following purposes:  To preserve and promote horses in Ohio, regardless of breed affiliation, to 
        promote the development of facilities and activities for horses and equestrians throughout the state.

ARTICLE IV	MEMBERSHIP
	Membership is accomplished by making application, payment of dues to the Membership 
        Chairperson and acceptance, by the applicant, of the Bylaws and Standing Rules of Fulton County 
        OHC.  All members of Fulton County OHC are considered active members who have paid their 
        dues prior to October 1 of that calendar year.  A membership paid after October 1^st entitles the 
        member to the benefits of membership except for the right to vote in the current year. (Membership 
        year is a calendar year.)

	Section 1.		Individual Membership
		A.	Open to any person eighteen (18) years of age or older.
		B.	Active member shall be entitled to one (1) vote and to hold office if 				         eligible under Article V. (Individual membership status for an individual 			         is unrelated to marital status.)
 
	Section 2.		Family Membership
		A.	Open to any group of persons living together as a family, including all 				         legal dependents, with at least one eighteen (18) years of age or older.
		B.	Family members eighteen (18) years of age or older shall be entitled to 				         one (1) vote (with a maximum of two (2) votes per family) and to hold 				         office. 					

	Section 3.		Youth Membership
		A.	Open to any person under eighteen (18) years of age as of January 1^st.
		B.	Shall be sponsored by an adult member with written permission of.
		C.	Shall not be entitled to vote or hold office.

        Section 4.		Associate Membership
		A.	Open to any group or individual desiring to support the OHC.
		B.	Shall be entitled to one (1) vote at the sponsoring county level only.
		C.	Shall not be entitled to hold any office.

	Section 5.		Multiple Chapter Memberships/Secondary
Any member may join more than one county chapter.  A “primary” chapter must be clearly declared and all dues and assessments paid to the primary chapter.  Any member who joins one or more additional “secondary” chapters will only have to pay the individual county charges and assessments of those additional counties.  Members who join multiple chapters are registered only in their primary chapter at the state and for state voting purposes, but may vote in each county chapter of which they are an active member.

	Section 6.		Lifetime Membership
		A.	Any person over the age of eighteen (18) who has rendered important 				        service 	toward meeting the goals of OHC, has been a member in good 					standing for a minimum of five (5) years and has held the position of 					state officer, committee chairperson or committee member for at least 					two (2) years may be awarded a Lifetime Membership on the 						recommendation of the 	Merit Awards Committee, if approved by a 					majority of those members voting at a General Membership meeting.  					Lifetime members shall be entitled to one (1) vote and may hold office, 					if eligible under Article V.  (Note, a lifetime member is exempt from 					paying dues to the state of his or her home county chapter.)

ARTICLE V	OFFICERS OF THE FULTON COUNTY CHAPTER

	Section 1.		Officers
		A.	The elected officers shall be a President, a Vice President, a Recording 					Secretary, a Treasurer, and Sergeant of Arms.
		B.	These officers shall perform the duties prescribed in the Bylaws and 					Standing Rules by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Fulton 					County Chapter.  
		C.	Chapter officers shall be elected by the general membership at the 					October membership meeting.
		D. 	Shall be a Regular, Family, or Lifetime member in good standing. 
		E.	No member shall hold more than one (1) elected office concurrently.
		F.	Nominee for office shall be a member for one year and attended at least 					five (5) meetings prior to nomination.
		G.	The officers shall be elected to serve for one (1) year or until their 					successors are appointed or elected.  The term of office shall begin on 					January 1^st, with no limit to the number of terms.
		H.	In the event an officer cannot complete his or her term, an appointment 					shall be made by the Executive Council until a General Membership 					meeting and election can be held.

Section 2.		The Executive council
		A.	The Executive Council shall consist of all elected officers.

	Section 3.		Obligation
		A.	All Fulton County Chapter elected officers and county delegates are 					required to attend scheduled Chapter Executive Council and General 					Membership meetings.	
B.	The Chapter President is required to attend scheduled State Executive Council and General Membership Meetings.

ARTICLE VI	MEETINGS

	Section 1.		General Membership Meetings
A.	The General Membership shall meet the first Monday of each month. When that Monday is a holiday, the meeting will be held the following Monday. 
B.	County President may determine under Executive Council direction.

	Section 2.		Quorum
			General Membership:  Shall consist of those members present plus at 					least two (2) elected officers.

	Section 3.		Attendance
		A.	All meetings shall be open to members and guests, excluding closed 					door sessions.

ARTICLE VII	ELECTIONS

	Section 1.		Date of Elections
		A.	The election of all officers shall be held at the October Chapter 						Membership meeting.
		B.	Fulton County Chapter nominations will be taken at the August and 					September meetings.
	Section 2.		County Chapter Nominations
A.	The meeting time and place for Fulton County Chapter elections shall be published and provided to all Fulton County Chapter members at least twenty (20) days prior to the election meeting through customary means to include but not be limited to email, text, social media.
	Section 3.		Voting
		A.	Only active members prior to October 1 of the calendar year who are not 				under suspension or expulsion  may vote in the county election of 					officers.   Written role call will be taken prior to the voting.
		B.	If there is only (1) nominee to an office, than an election by voice vote 					shall be held.
		C.	Absentee ballots are invalid.
		D.	Per Robert’s Rule - President shall vote, but not break a tie.
		E.	Paper ballots are retained for a minimum of one year.

ARTICLE VII	FINANCES

	Section 1.		Administrative Funds
		A.	Shall be all revenue received from membership dues and special 						programs.
		B.	All Membership dues shall be determined as needed by the membership, 				upon recommendation by the Executive Council.
		C.	All membership dues shall be payable to the Fulton County Chapter of 					the OHC.
		D. 	Dues shall not be pro-rated for any portion of the year; however, dues 					received October 1 and thereafter shall entitle the member to full 					membership privileges commencing with January 1 of the following 					year.	
		E.	All County surcharges shall be listed on the membership forms as a 					separate charge from the State Membership dues.
		F.	Membership dues of the FCC-OHC Treasurer shall be paid by the FCC-					OHC.
	Section 2.		Depository of Funds
		A.	The Treasurer shall determine the official depository (ies).

ARTICLE IX	STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

A county chapter may form one or more committees to further the business of the chapter.  The county chapter president shall appoint all committee chairs and state the mission of each committee.

	Section 1.		Standing Committees
		A.	Standing Committees are those committees that are directly concerned 					with the management and/or operations of the Fulton County Chapter:
			Bylaws Committee			Public Relations Committee
			Special Events Committee		Trail Mileage Committee
			Trail Committee			Sunshine Committee
		B.	Chairmen of the Standing Committees as listed shall be appointed by the 				President.

	Section 2.		Grievances
		A.	All disputes arising among active members must be submitted in writing 					to the Executive Council (Article V, Section 2).  Oral disputes will not 					be considered. 
		B.	Prior to initiating a grievance, the aggrieved party should request that 					his or her county chapter president or other chapter officer contact the 					Regional Representative. An attempt should be made to resolve the 					problem in this initial contact.  If unsuccessful, the Regional 						Representative and the Grievance Committee Chair, Bylaws 						Committee Chair or a Director, as selected by the state OHC President, 					should meet with the parties, separately if necessary, to seek a resolution 				acceptable to all parties.  The Regional Representative and the selected 					state representative should make recommendation and assist in 						establishing an action plan for resolution.  If this process is not 						successful, the grievance may proceed.  The Grievance Committee may 					also attempt to mediate the grievance.  Voluntary participation by all 				interested parties is encouraged. The person bringing the dispute must 					be willing to attend, in person.  Non-attendance will cause the dispute to 				be moot.  No further action will occur.

	Section 3.		Special Committees
		A.	Special committees may be appointed by the President.

ARTICLE X	ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

	Section 1.	
		A.	The Chapter shall keep minutes of all chapter general, committee and 					executive meetings.  Said minutes shall be Chapter property but, when 					necessary, subject to review by the OHC State Officers.
		B.	Meeting times and locations shall be published on the Chapter website, 					facebook, as well as the yearly club calendar.
		C.	Acceptance of a member to the Fulton County Chapter shall be realized 					by his or her acceptance of the Bylaws and Standing Rules of OHC and 				t	he FCC-OHC. 
		D.	Monies earned by the Fulton County Chapter activities shall be the sole 					property of the Fulton County Chapter earning such monies.  Upon 					dissolution of the Fulton County Chapter, such funds shall become the 					property of the OHC. 
		E. 	All members shall conduct themselves in such a manner as to best 					represent the goals of the OHC.  Membership may be terminated at the 					State or Chapter level where Officers and Members determine a member 				has caused, acted, or performed in an act unbecoming or in contradiction 				to the purpose or goals of the OHC.

ARTICLE XI	DISCIPLINARY ACTION

	Section 1.		State and County Meetings
The County Chapter has the right to control the membership while meetings are in progress.
		A.	It is the duty of the Presiding Officer to compel the assembly to observe 					order.	
		B.	When members are disorderly, noisy, attack another member’s motives, 					speak to another member directly instead of through the Presiding 					Officer, or are otherwise disruptive to the assembly, the Presiding 					Officer or any member, by addressing the Presiding Officer, may 					demand the member come to order.  If the member continues to be	
			disruptive, the Presiding Officer may ask the offending member to leave 					the meeting.
		C.	The offending member, or any member, may appeal the decision of the 					Presiding Officer.  The Presiding Officer will then take an immediate 					vote of the assembly. A majority vote rules.

	Section 2.		General Conduct

OHC shall maintain order during it’s’ meetings.  It is the duty of the presiding officer to compel the assembly to observe order.  Disciplinary actions that the OHC can impose on members are reprimands (written or oral as incident commands), suspensions or expulsions.  In the case of expulsion, the person may not attend any county or state meetings or functions.  Disciplinary action that the State OHC can impose on a County Chapter is either suspension or expulsion.  No County Chapter on suspension shall have Executive Council voting privileges.

	Section 3.		Individual Reprimands, Suspensions, or Expulsions
		A.	These grievances shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Council.
		B.	Reprimands and Suspensions require a majority vote of the membership 					in attendance and voting.
		C.	Expulsion requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership in 						attendance by written vote.

	Section 4.		County Chapter Suspensions or Expulsions
		A.	These grievances shall be submitted in writing to the Grievance 						Committee of the State OHC following the procedures as outlined in 					Article X, Section 2 of the OHC Bylaws.
		B.	County Chapter suspension shall be decided by a majority vote of the 					State Officers.
		C.	Within one (1) year, recommendations for permanent action will be 					presented to the membership at a State General Membership meeting.  					Any appeals must be made in writing to the State President thirty (30) 					days prior to this meeting  A member representing the County must also 				be present during this meeting.
		D.	Expulsion of any County Chapter requires a two-thirds (2/3) written vote 				of the membership in attendance and voting.

ARTICLE XII	AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

	Section 1.		Proposed Amendments
		A.	Shall be referred to the Bylaws Committee, in writing, for review and 					recommendation.
	Section 2.		Role of the Executive Council
		A.	Shall have referred to it, by the Bylaws Committee, all proposed 						amendments to the Fulton County Chapter OHC Bylaws and shall 					submit its recommendations, based upon those of the Bylaws 						Committee, to the General Membership.
	
	Section 3.		Distribution
		A.	Notice of the proposed changes shall be made to all Fulton County 					Chapter publications at least one (1) month preceding a Membership 					meeting for which time has been scheduled for the purpose of voting on 					the proposed amendments.
	Section 4.		Approval for Adoption
		A.	Amendments shall require two-thirds (2/3) vote of the general 						membership voting at the General Membership meeting.

ARTICLE XIII	PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern all assemblies of OHC to the extent not inconsistent with the Charter, the Bylaws, the Standing Rules and any special rule of order which the OHC may adopt.

	FULTON COUNTY OHIO HORSEMAN’S COUNCIL CHAPTER, INC.
	STANDING RULES

GENERAL:
1.	All Fulton County Chapter members shall conduct themselves in a manner to best represent the goals of the Ohio Horseman’s Council, Inc.

MEMBERSHIP DUES:     (Bylaws: Article VIII, Section B)
1.	Annual dues are:	
Individual:		$25.00
						Family:		$35.00
						Youth:			$10.00
						Associate:		$40.00
						Secondary:		$ $3.00/5.00

NOTE:  Fulton County Chapter adds a $5.00 surcharge to the State OHC dues for Chapter operation.

DUTIES OF OFFICERS (Bylaws, Article V)

Each officer shall be an active member of the county chapter in which he or she holds office, preferably for two (2) or more years as of the commencement of the term of office. Officers shall be elected to serve for a term of one (1) year or until their successor is duly elected or appointed.  The term of office shall begin January 1^st.  Officers shall conduct themselves professionally at all meetings and while in the performance of their duties.

President
	1.	Shall preside over all meetings of the General Membership and Executive 				Council and be responsible for maintaining order.  Shall be an ex-officio 				member of all standing and special committees and is a delegate to the 				State Executive Council and General Membership meetings.
	2.	Shall perform all other duties as usually pertain to the office or may be 				assigned by the Executive Council.

Vice President
	1.	Shall, in the absence of the President, preside at all meetings.  Shall 				perform other duties that usually pertain to the office or as may be 					assigned by the President or Executive Council.
	2.	Shall conduct the general correspondence of Fulton County Chapter OHC 				as directed by the President or the Executive Council.
3.	Shall be responsible for formatting, on a monthly basis, any report, Fulton	County Chapter OHC news or articles for publication. This responsibility may be delegated.

Treasurer
	1.	Shall disburse normal funds on the order of the Executive Council.  Shall 			pay annual special bills upon receipt.
	2.	Shall sign all checks, maintain proper books and accounts which shall be 				open to inspection by the President, Executive Council and any auditors as 			authorized by the President or Executive Council.
	3.	Shall present a written Treasurer’s report at each meeting listing all assets 				and expenditures, not less than quarterly or at such times the President or 				Executive Council shall require.

Secretary
	1.	Shall record the minutes of all General membership, Executive Council 				and special meetings.
	2.	Shall notify officers, committee chairmen, lifetime, and associate groups 				of their election or appointment and furnish committees with whatever 				documents are required for the performance of their duties.
	3.	Shall maintain record books in which the Bylaws, Standing Rules, Special				Rules, minutes, and committee reports are entered, with any documents 				properly recorded.  Current record books must be available upon request.

Sergeant of Arm
	1.	Assist in maintaining order of members at membership meetings and 			

Executive Council
	1.	Shall audit the Treasurer’s books and perform any special audits that the 				Executive Council might direct.
	2.	Shall perform such other duties as might be assigned by the President or 				Executive Council.
	3.	Shall determine the date, time, and location of the General Membership 				meetings.

STANDING COMMITTEES (Bylaw: Article IX, Section 1)

Bylaws:
	1.	Shall consist of a Chairman and at least two (2) other members.
	2.	Shall have referred to all proposed amendments of the Fulton County 				Chapter Bylaws.
	3.	Shall also assist in interpreting the spirit of the Bylaws and in securing the 			proper observance of all obligations, standards, and practices arising 				thereunder.

Public Relations
	1.	Shall consist of a Chairman and at least two (2) other members.
	2.	Shall promote Fulton County Chapter OHC at functions and within the	 			public news media.

Special Events
	1.	Shall consist of a Chairman and at least two (2) other members.
	2.	Shall organize and promote OTP and other events the club shall elect to 				have.
	3.	Shall promote the Fulton County Chapter OHC at functions within the 				public news media.

Trail
	1.	Shall consist of a Chairman and at least two (2) other members.
2.	Shall be responsible for the promotion and development of trails for horses in all designated parks and shall be responsible for working with the necessary agents to this effect.
	
	3.	Shall organize and schedule work parties in conjunction with park 					officials.

Trail Mileage
	1.	Shall collect all trail mileage data and pass this information onto the 				appropriate person in the state committee.
	2.	Shall determine what state mileage patches will be needed.

Sunshine
	1.	Shall consist of one member in good standing.
	2.	Flowers - $50.00 budget for members and immediate family.  Situations 				include death, illness, and hospitalization.
		Cards shall be sent to all members and non-members associated with FCC-			OHC.
	3.	Cards can be sent for other occasions including but not limited to new 				births, etc.

Meetings
1.	Meeting locations shall be published on the Fulton County Chapter OHC email, website, and/or facebook.

Established April 4, 2005
Revised: August 7, 2016
Updated February 2020