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ALABAMA AMATEUR QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION, BY-LAWS, AND RULES
(Revised January 16, 2010)

ARTICLE I

SECTION 1: TITLE

The name of the organization shall be the Alabama Amateur Quarter Horse Association. It shall be operated as a nonprofit organization in accordance with the laws of the State of Alabama.

SECTION 2: OBJECTIVES

This association shall have as its objectives the promotion of the American Quarter Hose with the State of Alabama, the development and promotion of the Amateur Division of the Alabama Quarter Association and to encourage social, recreational and competitive participation with American Quarter Horses.

SECTION 3

This Association shall be under the direction of the Alabama Quarter Horse Association.

ARTICLE II

SECTION 1: MEMBERSHIP

Membership eligibility shall consist of any person qualifying as an amateur under AQHA rules and is a member in good standing with both the ALQHA and the Alabama Amateur Quarter Horse Association.

SECTION 2: DUES

Annual dues shall be due January 1 of each year. Dues shall be $10.00 per person. Dues shall be paid to the Secretary of the Alabama Amateur Quarter Horse Association or to a show secretary. Persons shall not be considered members until such time as dues are in the possession of the Amateur secretary, each person shall be notified by the Amateur secretary of receipt of same.

SECTION 3: MEETINGS

The regular annual meeting of the members shall take place at a time and location set by the Board of Directors and shall be for the purpose of electing officers and directors as well as the transaction of other business. Notice of the annual meeting shall be presented to each member by mail at least 30 days prior to said meeting.

SECTION 4: SPECIAL MEETINGS

Special meetings of the members may be held at such time and place as designated by the President or a majority of the Board of Directors or by notice signed by not less than 20% of the members in good standing.

SECTION 5: VOTING

Payment of membership dues shall constitute voting rights. Each member shall have one vote. A majority vote of members present is necessary to pass resolutions at regular or special meetings. Members elected to serve on the Board of Directors must pay membership dues within 45 days of election to assure appropriate conduct of business and voting procedures.

SECTION 6: BY-LAWS

Consideration of changes in the Alabama Amateur Quarter Horse Association By-Laws shall require notification of the general membership. The membership shall be notified of the meeting where the proposed changes are to be considered at least 30 days prior to said meeting. Any changes require a majority vote of those members attending the meeting.

ARTICLE III

SECTION 1: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The business of the Association shall be managed by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall consist of five members elected each year, the three officers and the immediate past president. The board will meet quarterly with at least 7 days notice to be given before the meeting. However, such notice may be waived by any director. Five (5) directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the board; but, if at any meeting of the board there may be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting until a quorum shall be present. The Board of Directors may be polled on issues via the telephone and/or by electronic means (e-mail) and submit their vote in that manner. All Directors must be polled in order for a measure to pass when relying on a telephone or e-mail poll. A copy of the meeting minutes shall be sent to each officer and director of the Alabama Amateur Quarter Horse Association.

SECTION 2: OFFICERS

Officers and duties shall be as follows:

President: To preside over all meetings of the association and to appoint any committees deemed necessary for efficient operation. To be eligible for election to serve as president of the association, one must also be an elected director of the association. The President will determine the time and location of Board of Directors’ meetings.

Vice President: To assist the president and act for the president when the president is absent.

Secretary-Treasurer: To keep the minutes of the meetings, keep members informed of association activities, keep the roster of memberships, keep financial records, and pay bills as directed by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 3: ELECTIONS

A nominating committee shall be appointed by the President and will consist of at least three board members who are not officers. It will be the responsibility of the nominating committee to bring the nominations to the annual meeting. Other nominations may also be made from the floor. Ballots containing the committee recommendations, along with blanks for floor nominated candidates will be passed out for marking. After marking and members signatures are on the ballot, the nominating committee will tally the votes. The results of the vote count will be announced immediately and the new officers and directors will take office at that time.

ARTICLE IV

SECTION 1: AWARDS

The Alabama Amateur Quarter Horse Association shall provide year-end awards in the amateur division. An exhibitor must have earned at least 10 state points in a given event to qualify for the year-end award for that event.

SECTION 2: POINTS

State points will be calculated in the same manner as that of the American Quarter Horse Association all-around points, and shall begin accumulating upon receipt of membership dues by the secretary of the Alabama Amateur Quarter Horse Association or show secretary.

SECTION 3:

State points will only count for shows held on Saturday and Sunday, unless said show date coincides with an approved national holiday. Approved holidays: January 1, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day (but not the day after), and December 25.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

1. An All-Around Amateur and Reserve All-Around Amateur award will be presented to the overall high- point amateur and reserve amateur. To qualify for the All-Around and Reserve All-Around awards, the following must be met: (A) The exhibitor’s horse must have earned at least five state amateur halter points. (B) The exhibitor’s horse must have earned at least ten state points in at least two amateur performance categories. (C) All Amateur points earned per class are counted toward the all-around and reserve all-around award provided (A) and (B) are met.

2. An All-Around Select Amateur and Reserve Select Amateur award will be presented to the overall high-point select amateur and reserve select amateur. To qualify for the All-Around and Reserve All-Around awards, the following must be met: (A) The exhibitor’s horse must have earned at least five state amateur halter points. (B) The exhibitor’s horse must have earned at least ten state points in at least two select amateur performance events. (C) All Amateur Select points earned per class are counted toward the all-around and reserve all-around award provided (A) and (B) are met.

3. An All-Around Novice Amateur and Reserve All-Around Novice Amateur award will be presented to the overall high-point novice amateur and reserve novice amateur. To qualify for the All-Around and Reserve All-Around, the following must be met: (A) The exhibitor’s horse must have earned at least five state novice amateur halter points. (B) The exhibitor’s horse must have earned at least ten state points in at least three novice amateur performance events. (B) All Amateur Novice points earned per class are counted toward the all-around and reserve all-around award.

5. In classes deemed showmanship, horsemanship, or equitation, state points shall be accumulated on any number of horses. Persons riding more than one horse would add all points on all horses together to arrive at the year-end winner of this class. This class championship will not go toward all-around tabulation except on a one-horse, one-rider basis.

6. In the case of a tie for the championship year-end award, the honor of co-champion will be awarded only to the highest two-point earners in that event, and there will be no reserve champion award for that class. In the event of a tie for reserve championship for a year-end award, the honor of co-reserve championship will be awarded to the two highest point earners in that event.

7. A special Amateur of the Year award will be presented. The qualifications of the Amateur of the Year are as follows: (1) Sportsmanship; (2) Leadership; (3) Participation in ALAQHA activities; (4) Friendship; and (5) Current member of ALAQHA in good standing. Selection of the Amateur of the Year will be determined as follows: A ballot listing current ALAQHA members and containing voting instructions and qualifications shall be mailed by the ALAQHA secretary to the ALAQHA membership no later than December 10 of the current year and marked ballot to be returned to the same no later than December 31 of the current year. The nominee receiving the largest number of votes will be announced at the annual membership meeting. In the event of a tie, a flip of a coin will decide the winner of the award. The coin toss, if necessary, will be conducted by the two highest ranking officers of ALAQHA and/or board director who are not included in the tie. Prior to the coin toss, “heads” will be assigned to the lowest alphabetic letter of the last name of nominee. “Tails” will be assigned to the highest alphabetic letter of the last name of the other nominee. The coin toss shall be conducted prior to the annual meeting. The current Amateur of the Year will be ineligible for consideration two consecutive years.