Rockbridge Hunt By-Laws (Amended 1994)
Article I
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Name, Object and Seal
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Section 1. Name
The corporate name of the Hunt is "Rockbridge Hunt".
Section 2. Object
The Hunt is incorporated for the purpose of encouraging athletic exercises,
encouraging the raising and breeding of horses and hounds, and the establishment
of places for social meetings.
Section 3. Seal
The corporate seal shall be a circular flat-faced die; with the words "Rockbridge
Hunt, Incorporated, 1947, Corporate Seal" cut or engraved thereon.
Section 1.
The officers of the Hunt shall consist of a President, four stewards, the
Master(s) of the Hounds, a Treasurer, and a Secretary, who shall constitute
the Executive Committee.
Section 2.
The President, Master(s) of Hounds, Treasurer and Secretary shall be elected
at the annual meeting and shall hold their respective office for a period
of one year or until their successors have been chosen. Stewards shall
be elected at the time of the annual meeting, two Stewards being elected
bi-annually, and each shall hold office for four years or until successors
have been chosen. If the office of President or Master(s) of the Hounds
becomes vacant during a term, a new President or Master(s) can be elected
only at a meeting of the membership. If a vacancy in the offices of Treasurer,
Secretary, or Stewards occur during a term, the vacancy may be filled by
appointment by the executive committee by majority vote.
Section 3.
The President shall be chairman of the Executive Committee, and shall preside
at all meetings of the Club and Committee, and shall decide all questions
arising under the By-Laws, subject to an appeal to the meeting at which
the question arises. The president shall act as the executive officer of
the Club in all matters except those specifically outlined herein as duties
of the Master of the Hounds. In the absence of the President at any meeting
of the Club or Executive Committee, the chairman shall be chosen by a vote
of those present.
Section 4.
The Master(s) shall have charge of the hounds, hunt horses, servants, and
shall manage the hunting generally, to the satisfaction of the Executive
Committee. The Master(s) shall arrange the places and dates for the meets,
and shall give his personal attention and oversight to all matters incident
thereto. The Master(s) shall appoint the Hunt Staff. The Master(s) shall
hunt the hounds or may appoint a huntsman. Should a huntsman be appointed,
he shall be acceptable to the Executive Committee and may be either honorary
or professional. In event the huntsman is professional, all remuneration
will be subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. The Master(s)
shall direct the huntsman in all matters pertaining to the hounds, kennels,
and general matters of hunting to the satisfaction of the Executive Committee.
Section 5.
It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep accurate minutes of the proceedings
of the Club at all meetings, to keep on file all of the books, papers,
and correspondence of the Club not belonging especially to the Treasurer
or Executive Committee, to notify the members of the regular and special
meetings, and generally to perform such duties as usually appertain to
that office.
Section 6.
The Treasurer shall collect and care for the funds of the Club, keep regular
accounts thereof and submit a report of the financial condition of the
Club and matters pertaining thereto at the annual meeting and whenever
called upon by the Executive Committee. He shall pay out money in his hands
to cover all budgeted items. Items not covered by the budget shall be paid
upon approval of the majority of the Executive Committee. He shall have
the custody of the Seal. The Treasurer should observe a fiscal year of
June first to May thirty-first.
Section 7.
There shall be four Stewards. Their duty shall be to serve as members of
the Executive Committee and to perform such duties as might be required
by the President.
Section 8.
The Executive Committee shall have general management of the affairs of
the Hunt, and of its property, subject only to the control of the Hunt.
They alone shall have the power to authorize the contracting of debts and
obligations in the Hunt's name. They may appoint such sub-committees as
may be necessary.
Section 9.
The Executive Committee shall enforce the preservation of order and obedience
to the By-Laws, and make such regulations for the economy and success of
the Hunt as they shall think proper; shall cause the accounts of the Treasurer
to be audited at least once a year, and constitute a committee on election
of members; they may institute horse shows, hunter trials and other activities
as they think best for the interest of the Hunt, and have entire charge
or management of the same, and they may admit such persons to participate
in such meetings, who may not be members of the Hunt, as they deem proper.
Section 10.
In case of infraction of the By-Laws or any rule of the Hunt by any member
or associate, which, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, may tend
to endanger the good order, welfare or character of the Hunt, the Executive
Committee shall have power, by at least five affirmative votes, to suspend
or expel the member or associate thus offending, notifying him in writing
to that effect and specifying the reasons therefor.
Any member or associate thus notified shall have the right of appealing
to the Hunt, for revision of the action of the Committee and reinstatement
as a member or associate, but shall not enjoy the privileges of the Hunt
until the decision of the Committee shall have been overruled or revised
by the majority of the votes at a special meeting as herein after provided
and then only as specified by the terms of such revision.
In order to prosecute such appeal, the appellant shall give written
notice of his wish so to do by serving the same on the Secretary not less
than ten nor more than fifteen days next after the receipt of the prescribed
notice from the Committee.
It shall be the duty of the secretary to call a special meeting of the
Hunt for the purpose of taking action upon such appeal, said meeting to
be held not less than ten nor more than thirty days after the Secretary
shall have received notice from the appellant of his wish to appeal.
The appellant shall have the right to be present and to be heard at
said special meeting of the Hunt.
Article III
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Meeting of Members
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Section 1. Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the Hunt shall be held on the second Wednesday in
May. At the annual meeting, any business not inconsistent with the By-Laws
may be transacted. The Secretary shall mail a written notice of such meeting
to each member at least two weeks before the date of such meeting.
Section 2. Special Meetings
The Secretary shall call a special meeting of the Hunt whenever requested
so to do by not less than three members of the Executive Committee, or
by not less than seven members of the Hunt. Every such request shall state
the object for which the meeting is desired, and no subject not so stated
shall be considered. At least five days written notice of the special meeting
shall be sent by the Secretary, by mail, to every member and shall also
set forth the object for which said meeting is called.
Section 3. Quorum
Twenty members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 4. Voting
All members who have voting privileges may vote at all meetings of members
either in person or by proxy. Holders of proxies shall file the same with
the Secretary of the meeting before they vote.
Section 1. Election
Members shall be elected by the Executive Committee, and two adverse votes
shall be sufficient to reject. A candidate for admission must be proposed
by two members in writing addressed to the Secretary. Those desiring hunting
memberships must hunt twice prior to being proposed for membership.
Section 2. Rights
Each hunting member may extend the privilege of the Hunt, except the right
to vote, to all members of his/her immediate family. A capping fee shall
be paid by an immediate family member hunting as a guest of a single hunting
member.
Section 3. Resignation
Any member may withdraw from the Hunt after payment of all dues, by giving
written notice of his resignation to the Secretary. Should a resignation
not be submitted prior to September first, the members shall be liable
for dues of the ensuing year.
Any member in good standing who resigns from the Hunt can maintain an
inactive status by a fee determined by the Executive Committee and can
rejoin the Hunt during a period of five years by simply paying his annual
dues.
Section 4. Honorary Members
Honorary members may be elected for a term of one year or for life by unanimous
vote at an annual meeting and shall be exempt from fees and assessments.
They shall have no interest in the Hunt's property, but may have the right
to vote.
Section 5. Hunting Members
There shall be two categories of adult hunting memberships:
| a: |
Single Hunting Memberships that shall have all the privileges
of the Hunt and shall have the right to vote in matters brought before
the membership. |
| b: |
Family Hunting Memberships that shall have all privileges
of the Hunt and shall have one vote per family membership in matters brought
before the membership. |
Section 6. Student Membership
Any full-time college student may join the Hunt as a Riding member. However,
they shall have no vote in the proceedings of the Club nor any interest
in its property.
Section 7. School Memberships
Any college with a recognized riding program may have a School Membership,
at the discretion of the Executive Committee. This membership will be limited
to one supervisor and a maximum of eight students on any designated hunt.
They shall have no vote in the proceedings of the Club nor any interest
in its property.
Section 8. Landowner Memberships
All landowners not included in the 709 acres of Hunt Incorporated, who
grant the Hunt's request for permission to conduct organized activities
on their land, shall be awarded full hunting memberships in Rockbridge Hunt,
Incorporated. These memberships are subject to annual review by the Executive
Committee. Each landowner may designate a member of their immediate family
to exercise their voting privileges.
Those persons currently owning land in Hunt, Inc. and those who purchase
land in Hunt, Inc. in the future shall be offered a social membership,
owing no dues. There shall be only one membership per parcel of land. Should
a Hunt, Inc. landowner wish to become a Hunting Member, the procedure specified
by Section 1 of this Article will be followed.
Section 9. Social Members
Social members shall be invited to all non hunting functions of the Hunt
and shall have all the social privileges that the hunting members have.
Their membership shall not include riding privileges or voting privileges.
The number of social members shall not exceed twenty percent of the number
of the hunting memberships.
Section 1.
The dues and initiation fee for Hunting Members shall be set by the Executive
Committee annually and approved by the membership annually. Social members
shall pay one-half of a Single Hunting Membership, student members shall
pay one-half of a Single Hunting Membership and School Memberships shall
pay one and one-half of a Single Membership in annual dues. If a Hunt,
Inc. landowner is a hunting member, that person's annual dues shall be
one-half of either a Single or Family Hunting Membership as elected by
the Hunt, Inc. landowner.
Section 2.
Non-members may hunt only by invitation of a member, and such member shall
pay a capping fee, as determined by the Executive Committee, for each visitor
introduced, and no visitor shall be introduced more than three times during
the season, except by special permission of the Master(s) of the Hounds.
A capping fee shall be paid by an immediate family member hunting as a
guest of a Single Hunting Member. The total annual dues and fees, excluding
any special assessments, paid under this provision shall not exceed the
annual dues of a Family Hunting Membership. The limit of three hunts per
season per guest does not apply to immediate family members of a Single
Hunting Member.
Section 3. Failure to Pay Dues
The Executive Committee may, in its discretion, suspend members for failure
to pay dues within one month of the date they fall due and may expel any
member if such dues are not paid within two months of the date they fall
due, and may re-instate members so suspended or expelled.
Article VI
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Interpretation
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The Executive Committee shall have full power and authority to interpret
these By-Laws and each of the Amendments, and its decision on all questions
shall be final, binding and conclusive.
These By-Laws may be amended by two-thirds vote of all members present
and voting at any annual meeting or at any special meeting called for the
purpose. Before any proposed amendment to these By-Laws is submitted to
the members, it shall be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.
Section 1. Resolution
In order to voluntarily dissolve the Hunt, the Executive Committee shall
adopt by majority vote a resolution recommending that the Hunt be dissolved,
including in the resolution the name of the trustee in dissolution. Such
resolution shall be submitted to a vote at a meeting of members having
voting rights, which may either be a special meeting or an annual meeting.
A resolution to dissolve the Hunt shall be adopted upon receiving more
than two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by members present or
represented by proxy.
Section 2. Debts
All obligations and liabilities of the Hunt shall be paid, satisfied, and
discharged, or adequate provision shall be made therefore.
Section 3. Assets Held on Condition
Assets held by the Hunt on condition that they be returned, transferred,
or conveyed, upon dissolution of the Hunt, shall be returned, transferred,
or conveyed in accordance with such requirements.
Section 4. Distribution of Assets
Upon passage of a voluntary resolution of dissolution all assets of the
Hunt shall be placed in escrow, to be under the exclusive control of the
trustees dissolution named in the resolution. The assets shall be given
without compensation to the first non-profit non-stock corporation formed
in Rockbridge County within ten years following the dissolution of the
Hunt whose sole purpose is the encouragement of athletic exercises, the
encouragement of the raising and breeding of horses and hounds, and the
establishment of places for hunts and social meetings. In order to be eligible
to receive these assets, said corporation shall have in its articles of
incorporation a provision for distribution of assets upon dissolution that
is identical in effect as this Section 4 of Article VIII. Additionally,
in conveying any land to said corporation, the trustee shall include in
the deed or deeds a covenant restricting forever the use of the land or
lands to purposes consistent with those of the Hunt. If no such corporation
is formed within ten years of the dissolution of the Hunt, the assets held
in escrow shall be given without compensation to the County of Rockbridge,
to be used for recreational purposes ONLY. In the event that a right of
first refusal is successfully asserted in regards to any of these proposed
gifts, the assets held in escrow shall be liquidated in a reasonable manner
and the proceeds distributed in the manner described herein.
Section 5. Automatic or Involuntary Dissolution
In the event that the Hunt is automatically or involuntarily dissolved,
a trustee in dissolution shall be appointed by a majority vote of the Executive
Committee, the assets of the Hunt shall be placed in escrow under his exclusive
control and distributed in the manner described in Article VIII, Section 4.