With less than one month until the Annual Fall Membership Meeting of the NRHA, the Board of Directors wishes to inform all NRHA members of its stance on proposed amendments to the NRHA By-Laws and how those changes could directly affect every NRHA member.
The NRHA Board of Directors encourages all members to cast their vote for Vice President and the three elected Board member positions. The Board also supports Article X. Annual Statements. This By-Law concerns the selection of the certified public accountant that will perform the annual audit.
However, The Board does not support the proposed revisions to Article II. Officers, Article III. Election of officers, and directors, and Article IV. Duties of officers, and Article V. Directors. In general, the NRHA Board of Directors does not support these changes because the Board has appointed a Strategic Planning Committee that will have a proposal ready to submit to the membership for their feedback at the 2007 NRHA Convention in February. In addition, each country with a National Association Affiliate will be allowed input on the plan. The Strategic Planning Committee will submit any necessary By-Law changes to a vote of the general membership. Therefore, the Board does not feel it is in the best interest of the NRHA to make massive changes to the By-Laws knowing that the Strategic Planning Committee will be addressing many of the same issues outlined in the current proposal.
Specific Reasons for Not Supporting Changes to Article II. Officers, Section 1
According to page 15 of the 2006
Handbook, under the current NRHA By-Laws, each National Association Affiliate (NAA) is entitled to at least one seat on the NRHA Board of Directors. The proposed By-Law change would eliminate that National Association Affiliate’s ability to determine their representation on the Board of Directors. The proposed By-Law change would eliminate that National Association Affiliate’s ability to determine their representation on the Board of Directors. In addition, the proposed change calls for at least one director from each region to be elected to the Board of Directors. Under the proposed change, the regions would be defined as the United States, Eastern Canada, Western Canada, Europe, Mexico, Oceana and International. The NRHA created the National Association Affiliates to give more authority to the affiliates in each country to govern the sport of Reining within that country. This By-Law change would diminish the authority of the National Affiliate Associations. The NRHA does not feel that the proposed By-Law change would promote the development of stronger National Association Affiliates and the International Affiliate Program.
The proposed change also does not allow for regional representation out of the United States, which has been a critical part of the current process and proposed future board election and nomination structure. In addition, the proposed changes to Article II. do not define the nomination process for these regionally elected board members. Without it being specifically defined, the Board of Directors is concerned about how the nomination and election process would be implemented around the world. If the proposed changes to Article II pass, it would also create a direct conflict with current rules and policies for the International Affiliate Program. The NRHA Board of Directors feels to re-write the By-Laws to change the international structure would require significant input from members around the world and advice from certified legal counsel. The Strategic Planning Committee will be addressing those issues and the members will have an opportunity to vote on any proposed changes next year.
Specific Reasons for Not Supporting Changes to Article V. Directors, Section 9
The NRHA Board of Directors is also concerned about Article V., Directors. The proposed By-Law change calls for NRHA Board members to be reimbursed for reasonable travel and living expenses while attending board meetings. That proposed change would mean the NRHA would assume an estimated $250,000 a year in expenses. The NRHA does not have a surplus in the budget and if that By-Law change is forced on the NRHA, the Board of Directors feels it would be forced to cut programs, increase dues and service fees for all NRHA members and possibly even reduce prize money at the NRHA Derby, Futurity and Regional Affiliate Finals.
While the NRHA Board of Directors does not disagree with all of the proposed changes to the By-Laws, it feels those recommendations would need advice from certified legal counsel and a sounding board to discuss the ramifications to the organization as a whole before the changes are submitted.
The Strategic Planning Committee will be discussing changes and alternate ways to hold future board meetings, but the Board feels such drastic changes should require more planning, input from National Affiliate Associations and advice from legal counsel.
If NRHA members have any comments or concerns they’d like the Strategic Planning Committee to address, please send them to Dan Wall, NRHA, Executive Director at
dwall@nrha.com.
The NRHA is encouraging all members to vote in the officer elections and to support the Board of Directors in its position on these By-Law changes.
Voting Deadline
Be sure to cast your vote at the annual NRHA Fall Membership Meeting at the All American Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, Ohio. The Membership Meeting will take place October 5, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. EST in the Transportation Building (a.k.a. Corral.) Attending members will be able to vote on the proposed amendments to the NRHA By-Laws and candidates for NRHA Vice President and three Elected Directors.
If you can not attend, please send in your absentee ballot. They must be
RECEIVED in the NRHA Office by September 20, 2006. You can fax them to: (405) 946-8399,
(405) 946-8610 or (405) 946-8425 attention John Foy.
