MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATIONS MEMBERSHIP

MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATIONS

MEMBERSHIP

1. There are 20 Charter Members. The original Charter members

were organized and incorporated in 1961. The Charter members are

Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana,

Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico,

North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin

and Wyoming.

2. State/Provincial High School Rodeo Member Associations that

hereafter may be organized may be recognized as member associations

upon approval of a majority of the National Board of Directors

pursuant to the Constitution and Bylaws of Articles of Incorporation.

3. There may not be more than one member high school association

and one member Wrangler Division association from any one

State/Province. All member associations must be statewide. All

Member Associations will be governed by the Constitution and

Bylaws of the State/Provincial, or District, or Regional parts thereof.

The National Secretary shall issue a “Certificate of Membership” to

the member associations after final approval by the Board of

National Directors

a. States/Provinces requesting membership must:

(1) Submit a written request for membership.

(2) Submit to the National Secretary a copy of the Articles of

Incorporation, Constitution and Bylaws consistent with the

National’s Constitution and Bylaws.

(3) Send a duly elected representative who must attend at least

one National meeting.

(4) Membership will be established on a probationary basis. The

State/Province must complete two years probationary period;

which shall include two State/Provincial High School Rodeos

and two inspections by the National Association representatives.

(5) Before permanent membership is granted the State/Province

will be required to pay current dues during probationary period.

(6) State/Provinces under probationary status may send contest

ants to National High School Finals Rodeo if State/Province

rodeo passes inspection. Dates for State/Province rodeo and

inspection will be mutually agreed upon by both National

Association inspectors and State/Province Association. During

the two- year probationary period where inspections of the finals

rodeo are required, all events for that state/province will be held

during the state/province finals rodeo so they may be witnessed

by the national inspection team. The cutting and portions of the

queen contest cannot be held earlier than the finals rodeo to

facilitate the inspection process.

(7) A State/Province will be allowed to vote after permanent

membership has been granted.

4. A State/Province Member Association, which fails to comply with

these bylaws or for cause deemed sufficient may be disqualified as a

member association by the majority vote of the Board of National

Directors or by Executive Board.

a. A State/Province Member Association may be placed on probation

or dropped from membership in the National Association by the

Executive Board on sufficient evidence that this member association

is marring the good name of High School Rodeo by dishonesty or

other such similar and equally undesirable acts, or upon the recommendation

of the Inspection Team. A majority vote of the Executive

Board of Directors is required to drop a Member Association.

b. The state/province at the outset of probation shall be informed

in writing of the reasons for its being placed on probation and what

must change before being taken off probation.

c. A state/province placed on probation shall require at least one

(1) inspection by a designee(s) of the President prior to being taken off

probation.

d. States/Provinces under probationary status may send contestants

to National High School Finals Rodeo if State/Province rodeo

passes inspection.

e. Dates for State/Province Rodeo and inspection will be mutually

agreed upon by both National Association inspectors and

State/Province Association.

5. A State/Province Member Association, which has been disqualified,

may be reinstated by a majority vote of the Board of National

Directors or by Executive Board.

6. Dues:

a. The annual dues from the member State/Province Associations

shall be set by the Board of National Directors payable in advance on

or before September 1 of each year.

b. All State/Province Associations shall submit their dues, a list of

all adult directors, and officers of the State/Province Association, and

the name of their queen chairman, to the National Office by

September 1.

7. Failure to pay dues and registration:

If the State/Province Association dues are not paid by September 1, of

each year, no contestant from said State/Province shall be qualified to

participate in the National High School Finals Rodeo for said year. A

$50 per day late fee will be charged to the State/Province Association

for each day the State/Province dues are late.

8. Each State/Province Member Association in good Standing shall

be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the Board

of National Directors.

9. Membership:

a. Any member of a State/Province Association in good standing

shall be a member of the National High School Rodeo Association and

shall be entitled to the benefits of that association. Membership in a

State/Province Association shall be a requirement for membership in

the National High School Rodeo Association.

b. Any and all membership rosters which may include, but are not

limited to, names, social security numbers, addresses, phone numbers,

e-mail addresses and/or schools are to be kept confidential and

may not be shared except as part of a contractual agreement with a

pre- identified and specific purpose for use.

c. The State/Province Association shall have the right and responsibility

to enforce the rules of the National High School Rodeo

Association and its own rules, except during a member’s participation

in the National High School Rodeo Association Finals, board

meetings or any other NHSRA- sponsored event, function or meeting

(“NHSRA Events”), in which case the Executive Committee of the

NHSRA shall have discipline and enforcement responsibilities. These

rules regarding membership shall be in addition to the rules regarding

contestant disqualification.

d. No state or province association will institute a ground rule

that directly conflicts with the National Rule Book unless the ground

rule is implemented to allow the state or province to comply with any

local, state or provincial ordinances, statutes, regulations or laws. All

state/province association ground rules will be submitted to the

National Rules Committee Chairman and will be subject to the rules

committee approval.

10. Disciplinary Action: Any member of a State/Province Association,

student or adult who: a) fails to comply with the requirements and

standards for Members contained in the Rules, Bylaws and

Constitution or Policy Statements of the Association as adopted by the

Board of Directors or National Executive Committee; b) engages in

acts of insubordination, serious misconduct association with alcohol,

narcotic or other non-medicinal drugs or acts which are detrimental

to the reputation, principles and interests of the Association; c)

engages in conduct constituting grounds for disqualification from

any event or function as provided in the NHSRA Rules; or, d) any

other acts specified hereafter, shall be subject to the Disciplinary

Action as provided below. Violation of any of the provisions of the

Rules, By-Laws and Constitution of the NHSRA by the parents or

guardians of a student member of the NHSRA will subject the student

member to all levels of Disciplinary Action provided herein.

11. Levels of Disciplinary Action: The State/Province Associations, or

if the acts occur during an NHSRA Event, the National Executive

Committee, may by two- thirds (2/3) majority vote of the

State/Province Association or the Executive Committee, take such

Disciplinary Action as they deem appropriate. Disciplinary Action

shall be initiated by Complaint as described below. Penalties may be

imposed for the grounds provided in Paragraph 10 above and may

include but are not limited to:

a. Censure: Censure may occur, without formal hearing, by written

reprimand to the member from the State/Province Association or

National Executive Committee. Censure shall not involve a loss of

membership benefits but the Censure shall be made a part of the

member’s Membership file and may be considered in the event of subsequent

Disciplinary Action.

b. Probation: Probation may be imposed, without formal hearing

for up to one (1) year with no loss of benefits of the Association.

Conditions may be imposed as a part of the Probationary Action. The

Probationary Action shall be made a part of the member’s

Membership file may be considered in the event of subsequent

Disciplinary Action.

c. Removal: Removal from elected office or relinquishment of any

title, position or crown may be imposed, after formal hearing.

d. Suspension: Suspension of all membership rights may be

imposed, after formal hearing, for a period of one (1) year.

e. Expulsion: Permanent Expulsion may be imposed, after formal

hearing. A member shall be permanently expelled in the event that

hearing it is determined that the member has i) been convicted of a

felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, or, ii) engaged in

acts of fraud, dishonesty, collusion, concealment or misrepresentation

of facts involving judges or events.

12. Procedures for Disciplinary Action: The following procedures shall

be followed by the State/Province Association or National Executive

Committee, as the case may be, for all Disciplinary Actions:

a. Initiation: Complaints shall be in writing and may be initiated by

State/Province Association Board Members, National Directors,

Chaperones of Events, Judges or the National Executive Director. The

Complaint shall set forth the date, time and description of the conduct

which gives rise to the Disciplinary Action. The Complaint shall

be filed with the State/Province Association Secretary or, the Executive

Director of the NHSRA, if the acts complained of occurred during an

NHSRA Event.

b. Service and Response: The Complaint shall be sent by regular mail

to the member at the address shown in the membership records. The

member shall have seven (7) days from the date of the mailing of the

Complaint to file a response in writing with the State/Province

Association Secretary, or, the Executive Director of the NHSRA, if the

acts complained of occurred during an NHSRA Event.

c. Association Action: Upon receipt of the member’s response, the

State/Province Association or the National Executive Committee may:

i) without hearing take no action, issue a letter of censure or impose

Probation as set forth above, or ii) set the matter for hearing.

d. Hearing: In the event the matter is set for hearing, the hearing

date shall be scheduled at the earliest possible time to determine the

truth or falsity of the allegations set forth in the Complaint. The member

shall be given notice of the hearing by regular mail dated at least

seven (7) days prior to the hearing date. The member shall have the

opportunity to appear at the hearing and present a defense to the

allegations contained in the Complaint. In the event the member does

not appear, the State/Province Association or National Executive

Committee may proceed to a determination in the member’s absence.

If travel to the place of the hearing will cause undue burden to the

member, the member may request a hearing by telephone, which

may, in the reasonable discretion of the State/Province Association or

National Executive Committee (where applicable), be granted or

denied.

e. Representation at Hearing: The member may request that his or

her District/Region Director or State/Province National Director

appear with him or her at the hearing. If the request is made, the

hearing shall be held at a time when the Director can be present in

person or by telephone. No parents, guardians, attorneys or other representatives

can appear at the hearing with the member.

13. Appeal Procedure:

a. Any member may appeal from decision of the State/Province

Association, which involves Removal, Suspension or Expulsion, by filing

a written request for review of the State/Province Association

action, describing the decision being appealed and the factual basis

for review, with the National Executive Director, with- in ten (10) days

after being notified of the decision being appealed. The member must

also submit, with the appeal request, a non- refundable appeal fee of

$500 (US Funds) made payable to the NHSRA, Inc., by certified check

or money order. The National Executive Committee shall conduct a

review of the State/Province Association decision based upon a summary

of the hearing provided by the State/Province Association and

any additional information, which may be provided by the member,

National Director or State/Province Association. The National

Executive Committee shall only review issues involving interpretation

or application of the Rules, By-Laws and Constitution of the

Association. The National Executive Committee upon review of the

decision of the State/Province Association may affirm, modify or

reverse the decision, and the member shall be notified of the ruling in

writing.

b. This appeal procedure shall not apply to or supersede the procedure

for contestant disqualifications as defined in the NHSRA

Rulebook, nor to the decisions of judges, flagmen, or timers in contest

events.

c. Any action or decision of the National Executive Committee,

whether by way of Disciplinary Action arising from acts occurring at

NHSRA Events or appeal from a State/Province Association decision,

shall be binding upon the member and shall not be subject to appeal

to any higher board, tribunal or court of law.

14. Any member who initiates litigation against the National High

School Rodeo Association and does not prevail in the litigation by

recovery of all relief requested, shall be liable to the Association for all

its attorney’s fees, court costs, expert witness fees, and other expenses

incurred by the Association arising from or in connection with such

litigation.