2013 Rule Book

Article II – Purpose

The object and purposes for which the Corporation is formed are any and all lawful purposes under the Illinois Not-For-Profit Corporation Act, as amended, including but not limited to the following: to improve and promote the breeding of Shetland Ponies, Miniature Horses and other equines; to fix a standard type for such animals; to better the condition of those engaged in the breeding of such animals and to assist in improving and marketing their stock; to promote classes and fix rules for the exhibition of such animals in agricultural fairs and horse shows; to furnish scientific and instructive information to all persons, and particularly to schools and school children on the origin, types, standards, breeding and raising of such animals (not including the operation of a post-secondary educational institution or vocational school) for the prevention of cruelty to the animals; to further the scientific aspects relative to the animals; to make rules for the registration and maintain trustworthy stud books for the registration of Shetland Ponies, Miniature Horses and other equines that will be accepted in America as a dependable and final authority on all questions of pedigrees and transfers of ownership with respect to the animals therein registered; to hold breed promotion sales; and to do all things incidental or necessary to accomplish the foregoing.

Article III  –  Powers

The Corporation shall have all the powers granted to non-profit corporations by the law, as found in Chapter 32 of the 1969 revised statutes of the State of Illinois, and such further powers as may be hereafter granted to such corporations by any amendments to such statutes, and particularly the power to buy, sell, own, mortgage and convey such personal and real property as may from time to time be necessary or advantageous to carry out the purposes set forth in Article II hereof.

Article IV  –  Life of Corporation

The life of this Corporation shall be perpetual unless it is sooner dissolved and its charter surrendered as a result of a three-fourths vote of the members voting at any annual meeting. In the event of dissolution, any assets belonging then to the Corporation shall be given to charitable organizations recognized as such by the state in which incorporated and recognized by the Federal Government, provided the statutes permit such distribution, or shall be distributed in such other manner as prescribed by the Statutes of the State of Illinois for the disposition of any assets of a corporation not for profit.

In the event the property is to be distributed to charitable organizations, the organizations shall be determined by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

Article V  –  Membership

The members of the corporation shall consist of all its present members.

Any Additional members or changes in membership shall be prescribed by the Bylaws, with the exception that in the event of an intended expulsion by the Board of Directors of any member as prescribed in the Bylaws, the member may, by a written request mailed to the Secretary of the Corporation by registered mail, return receipt requested, within a period of Sixty (60) days from the date of such notice of intended expulsion, require the Board to bring the matter before the next annual meeting of the Club membership, at which time it will require a vote of three-fourths of the qualified members present and voting to effectuate an expulsion.

The vote on any expulsion shall be taken by secret ballot and shall be conclusive and all members shall be bound by this provision as a condition of being or becoming a member of the Club.

Article VI  –  Officers

The Officers of the Club shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary who shall be elected by a majority vote of the Board of Directors at the first directors’ meeting succeeding the annual meeting of the membership. The President and Vice-President must be members of the Board of Directors. The Treasurer and Secretary shall not be named from the Board of Directors, and may, or may not be the same person. Such officers shall have the usual duties pertaining to such offices; provided, however, that they shall in all instances be subject to the direction of the Board of Directors acting as a whole at a duly convened meeting.

Article VII  –  Board of Directors

A Board of Directors shall have the direction and management of the affairs, funds, property, and business of the Corporation between annual meetings. The Directors shall manage the affairs between annual meetings or until their successors are appointed, whichever first occurs.

Such Board shall consist of not less than Nine (9) nor more than Seventeen (17) members as shall be determined from time to time and specified in the Bylaws.

The Board of Directors shall be elected in the manner and from the regional Areas as provided in the Bylaws now in effect or as hereinafter adopted.

Article VIII  –  Meetings

The annual and special meetings of the Club shall be held at such time and with such notice as is prescribed in the Bylaws.

Article IX  –  Bylaws

For the purpose of regulating and transacting the business of this Club, Bylaws shall be adopted by the Board of Directors, as the same may be necessary and advisable from time to time, as provided by these Articles and the law of the State of Illinois. Any such By-law may be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors, or a majority vote of those present and voting at any annual meeting. All Bylaws existing at the time of the adoption of these Articles shall remain in full force and effect until the same shall have been changed or amended by action of the Board of Directors or the membership.

Article X  –  Amendments

These Articles may be amended by the Association at an annual meeting of the members and a two-thirds (2/3) vote of same. Written notice must be given not later than thirty (30) days prior to the meeting when said changes are contemplated and said contemplated changes must be sent to the members with the said notice.

An appropriate form of ballot shall accompany the notice of the meeting, and the copy of the proposed amendment, if they are mailed, and shall be printed in conjunction with said notice and copy of amendment if printed in the magazine. Any member may vote by marking the same ”yes” or ”no”, signing his name, and mailing the same to the Secretary. Such votes by mail shall be referred to a committee of three at the meeting, which shall make its report and cast the votes accordingly.