Student OrgsGustavus Equestrian Team

ARTICLE I: NAME 

The name of this organization shall be The Gustavus Adolphus College Equestrian Team. 

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE 

The purpose of the Gustavus Adolphus College Equestrian Team shall be to actively compete through the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association, Inc. (IHSA) in both Hunt Seat and Western competitions as well as spreading knowledge of equestrian sports and supporting Gustavus equestrians. 

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP 

Section 1: Membership in this organization is open to all students who enjoy spending time with horses and who wish to expand their horsemanship knowledge and/or riding ability.

Section 2: The following categories of membership exist in the Gustavus Adolphus College Equestrian Team: 
Competing members- those who are participating in and traveling to IHSA competitions with the team. 
Non-Competing members- those who wish to spend time with horses and expand their knowledge but who do not have an interest in competing.
All categories of membership receive equal treatment. 

Section 3: Members are accepted continually throughout the year. 

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS 

Section 1: The following officer positions shall exist in the Gustavus Adolphus College Equestrian Team: 2 co-captains (president and vice president), secretary, risk manager, social media manager, IHSA coordinators (one western and one hunt seat), and treasurer. All officers must be full-time students in good standing enrolled at Gustavus Adolphus College. In the event that two co-captains cannot exist, one captain can hold the seat. 

Section 2: Co-captains maintain the responsibility of choosing team members to compete in the event that there are strict ride limits and not all team members can show. The team members chosen will be chosen neutrally (i.e. pulling names from a hat). In the event that a team member demonstrates unsportsmanlike conduct or dangerous riding habits, the co-captains reserve the right to suspend said member from shows until the issue can be resolved. 

Section 3: The duties of each office are described as follows: 

Co-Captains: To organize and preside over meetings To function as a spokesperson for the fan club. To facilitate communication between executive board members. To work with the advisor and other executive board members to create yearly goals for the organization. To ensure that the team stays registered and in good standing with the IHSA. To be responsible for the recruitment of new members every year including a table at the various Gustavus student involvement fairs. 
Treasurer: To maintain the finances of the Gus Fan Club and keep accurate records of all financial matters. To coordinate fundraising efforts. To assist in the development of yearly organizational goals. To create a yearly budget to present to the Student Senate. To ensure that the team’s 9-line funds are allocated and used properly to request funds from the Gustavus finance office promptly for team events and shows. 
IHSA Coordinators: To be in contact with the regional president regarding team shows. To send in all team entries into show secretaries before deadlines. To fill out and submit to the team advisor all travel forms. To request RFPs from the finance office in concordance with the treasurer.
Secretary: To record meeting minutes for team meetings, maintain records of attendance, coordinate team scheduling (lessons, involvement fair shifts, tabling, etc.) as needed with the vice president. To be in charge of team communications including emails, updates, and other relevant information.
Risk Manager: To maintain team liability & waiver forms and submit relevant team safety plans to GAC. 
Social Media Manager: To take pictures at meetings, events, lessons, etc. as needed. To manage Instagram, Facebook, Website for: weekly or biweekly updates, team member of the month, Birthday shoutouts, and story/social media takeovers. 

Section 4: Candidates for co-captains will be selected by the sitting co-captains and have approval from the team coach. If a simple majority of the team feels that the chosen, or sitting, co-captains are not fulfilling their duties, elections will be held. Officer positions will be chosen by the sitting co-captains, who reserve the right to terminate the position if duties are not being fulfilled. 

Section 5: The term of office begins at the beginning of June, with May serving as a transition month between old and new officers. The term of office shall last for one calendar year. Any vacancies during the year shall be announced to the membership at the meeting following the vacancy. 

Section 6: The Gustavus Adolphus Equestrian Team, by a simple majority (50% plus 1) vote of all members present, may remove, on good cause, an executive board member from office. A request for removal from office will be brought to the co-captains who will then bring the request before the membership at the next scheduled meeting. 

ARTICLE V: MEETINGS 

Section 1: Meetings will be held on an ad hoc basis with at least one meeting in September for team organization and registration. The Executive Board will work together to decide when a team meeting is necessary. The co-captains are responsible for informing members of meetings. The co-captains will set the agenda for the meetings with input from all members and Executive Board members. 

Section 2: The President or Advisor can call special meetings for any matters they feel cannot wait until the next regularly scheduled meeting. Members must be given at least 3 days’ notice of any special meetings. 

ARTICLE VI: EXECUTIVE BOARD 

Section 1: The Executive Board shall be comprised of the Co-Captains (President and Vice President), Treasurer, IHSA coordinators, Secretary, Risk Manager, Social Media Manager. 

Section 2: The executive board shall meet once a month to discuss the planning of club events. At the board’s first meeting of each semester, they shall develop organizational goals. 

ARTICLE VIII: FINANCES 

Section 1: Funds of the organization shall be raised primarily through fundraising. 

Section 2: Upon dissolution of the Equestrian team, any financial assets will be credited to the Gustavus Student Senate. 

ARTICLE IX: BY-LAWS 

Section 1: By-laws may be established by club members and reviewed each September. Any member in good standing can propose the by-laws. They will be prepared for voting by the Executive Board members and submitted to members in writing before the meeting where voting is to take place. 

Section 2: All members in good standing are eligible to vote, but must be present at the meeting to do so. A majority vote is needed to allow the by-law to pass. 

ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS 

Section 1: All members of the Equestrian Team that are in good standing may propose Amendments. The proposed amendments will be reviewed by the Executive Board members and submitted to members in writing at least 2 weeks before voting is to take place. 

Section 2: All members in good standing are eligible to vote, but must be present at the meeting to do so. A two-thirds (2/3) majority is needed to allow the amendment to pass. 

Section 3: If amendments are passed they take effect at the end of the meeting during which they are passed. 

Date of Ratification: 09/06/2012 by Sara Fogelberg and Paige Yahnke