DISTANCE RIDING ASSOCIATION OF WISCONSIN BYLAWS
Revised December 2001
ARTICLE I
The name of this organization shall be: Distance Riding Association of Wisconsin (DRAW)
ARTICLE II
D.R.A.W. shall be a non-profit organization. No part of any profits or remainder of residue from dues or donations to the association shall be to the benefit of any member or individual. The purpose of D.R.A.W. shall be to promote and encourage distance riding in the state of Wisconsin. Year-end awards shall be provided to riders meeting the qualifications stated in these by-laws.
ARTICLE III
Membership
Section 1: D.R.A.W. membership is open to any individual interested in distance riding. Membership shall consist of (1) individual membership or (2) family membership. A family membership shall consist of members of the immediate family living at the same mailing address. Memberships will be current for a one-year duration.
Section 2: Dues are for the period of January 1 to December 31 of the calendar year and are based on the type of membership.
Section 3: A rider must be a current member of D.R.A.W. to be eligible for year-end awards. Points will accrue only after the date of membership.
Section 4: New members may join D.R.A.W. at any time throughout the year. If they wish to join at a ride for which they will receive points and mileage, the membership form must be dated and signed by a dues-paying member of D.R.A.W. The Treasurer must then receive the form with the proper fees no later than one week after the ride for which they wish to attain credit.
Section 5: You must be a member in good standing to hold an office, be nominated for office, or vote at a D.R.A.W. meeting.
Section 6: For membership purposes only, JUNIORS are those persons under 18 years of age at the start of the ride season.
Section 7: Termination of membership: any individual or family who deliberately misrepresents distance riding or the D.R.A.W. organization by knowingly providing misinformation on sign-up forms, registration forms, or when registering for awards, shall be denied membership or current membership shall be canceled by a two-thirds majority vote of those assembled at any regular meeting.
Section 8: Any member writing a non-sufficient funds check to D.R.A.W. shall have all membership rights and benefits revoked. Membership rights shall be reinstated when all bank charges and the amount of the N.S.F. check are paid in full.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 1: The officers of D.R.A.W. shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary/ Treasurer, and Points Keeper.
Section 2: Elections shall be held at the annual meeting each year. Nominations shall be open to the floor and candidates shall be elected by secret written ballot. Nominations can be sent to the secretary before the meeting.
Section 3: The officers shall take office immediately upon the conclusion of the election of their office. Each retiring officer shall turn over to his/her successor in office, all properties and records relating to that office within thirty (30) days after the election.
Section 4: Rights and duties of the officers:
President: The President shall preside at all meetings, see that the by-laws of the organization are upheld and enforced, and shall perform such other duties as customarily pertains to the office of President.
Vice-President: The Vice-President shall, in the absence or disability of the President, or in the event of a vacancy in the office of the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President; and oversee and audit the records of the appointed secretary/treasurer.
Secretary/Treasurer: The Secretary/Treasurer shall record the minutes of all the meetings, or appoint someone in his/her absence. Handle all correspondence regarding potential D.R.A.W. memberships, and keep a current membership list. Keep current the D.R.A.W. Constitution and by-laws, print yearly in the newsletter, and mail a copy to new members that join after the Constitution is printed in the newsletter. Handle all advertisement for D.R.A.W. Write and distribute the newsletter as needed throughout the year. Handle D.R.A.W. checking account; pay all bills submitted on the behalf of D.R.A.W.; accept donations, and keep an accurate record of credits/debits of the D.R.A.W. finances. A year-end annual report shall be submitted at the annual meeting in fall.
Points Keeper: Maintain points and mileage for current D.R.A.W. members for year-end awards. Forward the point standings throughout the ride season to the secretary/treasure to be published in the newsletter.
Section 5: The officers shall handle any problems that occur between meetings, including emergency business.
Section 6: The officers do not have the authority to change the D.R.A.W. constitution and bylaws.
ARTICLE V
Annual Meeting
Section 1: The annual meeting shall be conducted in the last three months of the calendar year and presided over by the D.R.A.W. President, or in the absence or disability of, another DRAW officer in descending order, (i.e. VP, Secretary, point keeper). The date and place will be established each year.
Section 2: Agenda items will be presented to the membership at the annual meeting. After all agenda items have been considered, the person presiding shall allow other items to be brought to the attention of the membership.
Section 3: The person presiding may appoint subcommittees to study problems of concern to the membership. These subcommittees must then meet and report to the membership at the time specified by the presiding person.
Section 4: At any meeting of the membership, twenty (20) members or one-third (1/3) of the organization membership, whichever is less, shall constitute a quorum.
Section 5: The general membership shall be notified of the annual meeting date and time at least forty-five (45) days prior to the meeting date.
ARTICLE VI
Year End Awards and Points
Section 1: Points: 1st place- 11 points; 2nd place- 10 points; 3rd place- 9 points; 4th place- 8 points; 5th place-7 points; 6th place- 6 points; completion- 5 points. These points are based on a twenty-five (25) mile ride. For a fifty (50) mile ride, double the points.
Section 2: Odd mile ride points: points are calculated by dividing the miles into the amount of points then multiplying the number of miles.
Example: 22 points for 50 miles = 22/50 = .44 points/mile. .44 x 60 mile ride = 26.4 points for 1st place.
Section 3: Ties: Add the points for both places and divide by two. Example: 2 riders tie for 1st on a LD 25 mile ride. Add 11 + 10 points (1st + 2nd place) =21/2= 10.5 points/rider. The next place on the ride would be 3rd place.
Section 4: D.R.A.W. riders only compete against D.R.A.W. members for points. There are no weight divisions in D.R.A.W.
Section 5: Awards:
- Competitive; First thru eighth
- Endurance; First thru eighth
- Limited Distance; First thru eighth
- Versatility; First place
- Junior Divisions; First thru third
Section 6: To be eligible for year-end awards, a three (3) ride minimum is
required.
Section 7: Awards are given to a horse and rider combination. D.R.A.W.
members are eligible to win several awards in different categories, or with
different horses.
Section 8: Versatility Award consists of the same horse and rider combination competing in Endurance and Competitive competitions and gaining the most points. Three rides of each category must be ridden to qualify. In the event of a tie, the horse and rider combination with the most miles will win the award.
Section 9: First place in Competitive and Endurance shall also receive the traveling trophy for one year. The plague will have the rider’s name engraved upon it.
ARTICLE VII
Veterinary Control
Section 1: All the rides promoted and encouraged by D.R.A.W. shall have a licensed veterinarian as head of the judging team and adhere to judging standards established by the Upper Midwest Competitive and Endurance Ride Association (UMECRA). Rides, for the purpose of this Article, are defined as competitive, endurance, and limited distance events.
ARTICLE VIII
Amendments to the By-Laws
Section 1: These By-Laws may be amended at the annual meeting by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the general membership present.
Section 2: Proposed By-Law changes must be presented in writing to members at least forty-five (45) days prior to the annual meeting.
ARTICLE IX
Dissolution of D.R.A.W.
Section 1: In the event of the dissolution of this organization, all assets shall be donated to a qualified tax- exempt, not-profit equine-oriented organization to be determined by the D.R.A.W. officers at the time.