ARTICLE I Name and Organization

Section 1 This association shall be known as the CONNECTICUT RIVER ARABIAN ASSOCIATION (CRAA).

Section 2 The purpose of the CONNECTICUT RIVER ARABIAN ASSOCIATION is to encourage the development of and public interest in the promotion, exhibition and enjoyment of the Arabian Horse.

Section 3 The principal office or place of business shall be the home of the duly elected President of the Association, with a permanent, separate Post Office Box for Association correspondence.

Section 4 The fiscal year of the Association shall be the calendar year January 1st through December 31st of each year.

Section 5 There shall be no capital stock. All new members shall be given a copy of the By-laws.

Section 6 As an ARABIAN HORSE ASSOCIATION (AHA) chartered association, CRAA shall abide by the current rules of AHA.

ARTICLE II Officers and Duties

Section 1 The Officers of the Association shall be: President, Vice-President, Secretary And Treasurer. The President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be nominated and elected by the Board of Directors. These officers shall hold office for a period of one year.

Section 2 The President shall preside at all general and Board of Director meetings of the Association. The President shall appoint all special and standing committees, Chairpersons and serve as ex-officio member of all committees. The President shall conduct the business of the Association in accordance with the Association By-laws.

Section 3 The Vice-President shall preside at all general and Board of Director meetings in the absence of the President. The Vice-President shall act as chairperson of the Nominating Committee. In the event of vacancy in the office of President, the Vice-President shall succeed to that office for the unexpired term.

Section 4 The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings and safeguard the records of the Association and shall be ex-officio Secretary of all Board meetings. The Secretary shall conduct, supervise, count and record the balloting of all elections and perform such other duties as usually pertain to this office, including those specifically assigned by the President and/or the Board of Directors.

Section 5 The Treasurer shall keep and safeguard the funds of the Association and keep accurate records of same. The Treasurer shall be required to report monthly receipts and disbursement of all monies handled through this office. The Treasurer shall also act as Membership Chairperson unless one is appointed separately by the President.

Section 6 Chairpersons of all committees shall serve for a period not to exceed one year unless appointed for an additional term(s).

Section 7 As an AHA chartered association, all Officers must be an individual affiliate voting member of AHA through CRAA at the time of election and during their term of office.

ARTICLE III Directors and Duties

Section 1 The Board of Directors of the Association shall consist of five members: President, Vice-President, (most recent past President) and 3 elected from the general membership.

Section 2 The five Directors elected from the general membership shall hold office for a period of two years, three being elected each year.

Section 3 The Publicity Chairperson shall be an honorary, nonvoting member of the Board of Directors and shall be responsible for the publication of the Newsletter. If no separate Publicity Chairperson is appointed, the Secretary shall assume the responsibility for the Newsletter.

Section 4 As an AHA chartered association all Directors must be an individual affiliate voting member of AHA through CRAA at the time of election and during their term of office.

Section 5 The Board of Directors shall meet as necessary to conduct the business of the Association.

Section 6 Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the President or any three members of the Board or any four general members in good standing. Each Director shall receive written (includes via email) or telephone notice of the time and place of each meeting.

Section 7 A quorum at any meeting of the Board shall be three or more Directors. A majority of the quorum shall decide any question that may arise. No business shall be conducted until a quorum is present.

Section 8 The duties of the Directors shall be to advise the Association in promoting, encouraging and fostering interest in the Arabian Horse. The Directors shall review and act on potential member applications and functions in the capacity of an Ethics Review Committee.

Section 9 All vacancies in the offices of the Association, except that of President, shall be filled by appointment from the Board of Directors. Those so appointed shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. The office of President shall be filled by the Vice-President for the remainder of the unexpired term. A vacancy on the Board for any reason will be filled by appointment from the Board of Directors from the membership.

ARTICLE IV Meetings

Section 1 The time and place of the general membership meeting shall be designated by the Board of Directors. Each member shall receive notice of the meeting at least ten days in advance by written, email, web site or telephone notice.

Section 2 Special meetings of the general membership may be called by the President at any time and place by written, email, web site or telephone notice to all members at least ten days in advance.

Section 3 A quorum shall consist of ten voting members in good standing. A majority of the quorum shall decide any question that may arise. No business shall be conducted until a quorum is present.

Section 4 All meetings shall be conducted by the Roberts Rules of Order.

ARTICLE V Nominations and Elections

Section 1 The Nominating Committee shall consist of four members: the Vice-President, acting as chairperson; one Director appointed by the President, and two other members from the general membership excluding, if possible, officers and members of the Board.

Section 2 The Nominating Committee shall report at the October general meeting. Nominations from the floor shall be in order at this meeting. Elections shall be conducted at the November meeting.

Section 3 Absentee Ballots will be furnished with the November meeting notice.

Section 4 Voting shall be by secret ballot for Board of Director position for which there is more than one candidate. The candidates shall be elected by majority of the voting members.

Section 5 Installation of Officers and Directors shall be held at or before the January meeting. Term of office shall begin upon installation.

ARTICLE VI Memberships, Voting Rights and Dues

Section 1 Eligibility for active membership in good standing:

(a) Any individual of good character and reputation interested in Arabian Horses and promoting Good Horsemanship.

(b) Payment of annual dues for membership year which shall run from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31.

Section 2 Types of membership:

(a) Individual Affiliate Voting membership: a person who is a current AHA Member through CRAA may vote, hold office, and/or be a delegate through this Association. The member is also eligible to vote, hold office, be on a committee and/or be a delegate at the regional and national level of AHA.

(b) Individual Associate Non-Voting membership: a person who is not a current affiliate AHA member through this Association. Has no voting rights in this Association and is not eligible to hold office or be a delegate.

(c) Youth Non-Voting membership: open to any individual under the age of 18 as of December 1st of the previous calendar year. Has no voting rights and is not eligible to hold office or be a delegate.

(d) AHA Life (voting) membership: a life member of AHA who has listed this Association as his/her “designated” Association, may vote, hold office and/or be a delegate in this Association.

Section 3 Voting rights are granted only to individual affiliate voting members paying AHA affiliate dues through CRAA. Voting by proxy shall not be allowed.

Section 4 Dues: (a) Dues for succeeding calendar year shall be proposed by the Board of Directors and set by vote of the general membership at the October meeting.

(b) The AHA and CRAA membership year shall for all membership categories commence upon the postmarked/electronic transaction date (anniversary date) of payment to either AHA or CRAA (dependent upon new or renewing membership sent to AHA or CRAA) Office and expire on the last day of that month, twelve months later.

(c) New members may join AHA and CRAA at any time but dues shall not be prorated.

(d) CRAA shall transmit to AHA the sum assessed by AHA and collected by CRAA per AHA individual affiliate voting member for dues. These dues shall be transmitted to AHA according to AHA specifications and within 30 days of receipt by the Association.

ARTICLE VII Financial

Section 1 This Association is a non-profit organization. All funds shall be used in accordance with our stated purpose and to provide for the continued functioning of the Association.

Section 2 To access Association funds shall require two of three authorized member signatures approved by the Board of Directors.

Section 3 At the close of the fiscal year the books shall be reviewed by the Board of Directors.

Section 4 Should the Association be dissolved, any remaining assets shall be donated for equine research, youth promotion or other selected benevolent use.

ARTICLE VIII Delegates

Section 1 Delegates and Alternates shall be appointed by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors after July 1st and prior to the fall Region 16 meeting or no less than 60 days before the Annual AHA Convention. The term of office shall be two years. In the event of a permanent or temporary vacancy in the position of delegate/ alternate, the President shall appoint, with the approval of the Board, a new delegate/ alternate whose term shall be limited to completion of the vacancy being filled.

Voting delegates and/or alternates shall represent CRAA at the Annual AHA Convention and at all Regional conventions and meetings.

Section 2 The CRAA shall have the right to vote for the election of the Region 16 Director in the manner described in the AHA By-laws and shall have the right to vote on all matters decided at the Annual AHA Convention, as described in the AHA By-laws. All voting rights of the Member Organizations shall be exclusively vested in, and exercised by, Voting Delegates, in the manner set forth in the AHA By-laws.

Section 3 Expenses incurred when attending Regional and AHA Conventions may be provided to voting delegates by CRAA with consideration given to the financial limitations of the treasury and approval of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IX Amendments

Section 1 These By-laws may be altered and amended at any meeting of the Association providing a quorum is present, and by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the regular members present at such meeting and provided that the proposed amendment or alteration was presented in writing to all members in good standing at least ten days prior to the meeting.

Section 2 All amendments passed shall be dated, signed and sent to AHA along with a cover Letter signed by both the Association President and Secretary.

Debra L. Thomas, President's Name, Dec. 8, 2006

Laurie Tomlinson, Secretary's Name, Dec. 8, 2006

Amended June 29, 2008: Article 3, Sections 1,2,7