September Rule Change Requests and Final Decisions:
RULE CHANGE REQUEST #1:
Rule Change Request submitted by: Michele Bourquin AHJA member #159 *Membership for 2024 is EXPIRED*
Argument: The rule book restricts shows from being approved if they conflict with the AHJA banquet, any AHJA sponsored clinic, the AHJA medal finals or the zone 8 finals. Asking that no out of state shows be approved if they are in conflict with rated AZ shows is in line with the existing rule designed to protect other AZ events. Just in California alone there are shows almost every week. We have only a limited number of shows in AZ that are struggling to survive. Changing the rule to protect AZ shows will be in line with AHJA's mandate to serve the Arizona hunter/jumper community as a whole.
AHJA BOARD DISCUSSION:
1. The Board discussed the rule change in tandem with the membership survey results.
DISCUSSION POINTS:
- The survey results demonstrated our member base, as well as the H/J community at large:
- A) Seeks acknowledgement wherever they show (62.79%).
- B) Do not select the shows they attend based on where they can earn AHJA year end points (78.29%).
- C) Believe that both shows should count or would still attend an out of state show instead of an in-state show even if they did not receive AHJA points (53.49%).
2. Current Memberships: 144 Regional members, 19 State members and 29 Local members. The majority of our membership base has elected to participate in the Regional membership category.
FINAL DECISION:
- With the survey results and current membership numbers in mind, the board voted unanimously against the rule change.
RULE CHANGE REQUEST #2
Rule Change Request submitted by: Michele Bourquin AHJA member #159 *Membership for 2024 is EXPIRED*
XI AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
- Current: 11.01. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted by majority of the Directors present at any special meeting, if at least two days' written notice is given of intention to alter, amend or repeal these Bylaws or to adopt new Bylaws at such meeting.
- Proposed: In 3.02 NUMBER, TENURE and QUALIFICATIONS, Only 'number of board of directors' is covered. Tenure and qualifications have been missed.
I am proposing the following changes to the Bylaws 3.02 NUMBER, TENURE and QUALIFICATIONS
- A. NUMBER. The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall consist of no less than one (1) director and no more than five (5) directors. The initial Board of Directors shall consist of four (4) directors. The number of directors may be increased or decreased by a majority vote of the full Board of Directors at any annual or special meeting called for that purpose.
- B. TENURE. Each Board of Directors will serve a tenure of one year. New Directors will be elected by majority vote by ballot of current association members in good standing. Directors may serve more than once but must be reelected to a new term each year. Election of the Board of Directors will take place in November. Newly elected Board member terms will start in December.
- C. QUALIFICATIONS. All Board of Director members shall be members of AHJA in good standing with ties in the Arizona hunter/jumper community.
I propose these changes go into effect during 2024
Argument: The membership of AHJA should have input and participation in the governing body of their association. A membership elected Board of Directors is a routine and successful way to ensure that an association membership has input into the governance of the club organization that is in place to serve them. Bylaws are 'living' documents and are designed to be changed and amended to fit the changing needs of the membership.
AHJA BOARD DISCUSSION:
The board discussed the following points regarding this proposal to amend the current bylaws:
1. The majority of the membership base and H/J community at large has not joined a committee/ volunteered their time in support of AHJA (80.62%).
2. The majority of the membership base and H/J community at large are not interested in joining a committee/volunteering their time in support of AHJA (56.59%).
3. AHJA is a volunteer run organization; there is simply not enough interest in joining the board/committees to justify the additional time and work it would take to run yearly elections for board members, train incoming members, etc.
4. The board discussed the question of if a one-year term limit was enough time to affect positive change in the organization. It was determined that a 1-year term is not enough time to affect positive change in the organization.
FINAL DECISION:
- With these points in mind, the board voted unanimously against this proposed amendment to the bylaws.
September 2024 Rule Change Decisions.pdf
