2025 MFTHBA Rulebook

37 300 - Rules for Membership Membership in the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Association is a privilege, not a right; and as such, MFTHBA members are to be governed and act in accordance with the Bylaws, Rules, Standards and Policies of the MFTHBA. Section 1. Membership Categories and Eligibility A. Memberships shall be of five categories: Lifetime, Individual, Junior, Youth and Corporate. Application for membership shall be made under procedures prescribed by the MFTHBA Board of Directors, and all applicants for membership shall file written application in such form as the Board of Directors shall determine. Ownership of a horse is not a requirement for membership. Lifetime, Individual, Junior and Youth Memberships are issued on an individual basis and are not transferable. 1. Lifetime Membership is for persons 18 years of age or older as of January 1 of the current year and will include all privileges and rights of membership including but not limited to voting, holding office, serving on committees, and participating in MFTHBA sponsored or sanctioned events. Lifetime Membership is available for a one-time fee as specified in the Fee Schedule. Note: A group of Lifetime Members not meeting the age requirement was grandfathered by vote of the Board of Directors in 2008 to retain voting rights in general or special elections. No other variances are to be authorized. 2. Individual Membership is for persons 18 years of age or older as of January 1 of the current year and will include all privileges and rights of membership including but not limited to voting, holding office, serving on committees, and participating in MFTHBA sponsored or sanctioned events. Individual membership is available for an annual fee as specified in the Fee Schedule. 3. Junior Membership is for persons 18 to 20 years of age as of January 1 of the current year and will include all privileges and rights of membership including but not limited to voting, holding office, serving on committees, and participating in MFTHBA sponsored or sanctioned events. Individual membership is available for an annual fee as specified in the Fee Schedule. 4. Youth Membership is for young persons 17 years of age and under as of January 1 of the current year and is limited in its privileges. Membership in the MFTHBA entitles youth members the privileges of Individual membership with the exception of voting in general or special elections, holding MFTHBA offices or committee assignments. Youth, by joining the MFTHBA, are additionally granted full membership in the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse Breed Youth Association (MFTHBYA), which entitles those members the privileges of participating in youth activities. Youth Membership is available for an annual fee as specified in the Fee Schedule. See Section 4 of this rule for further description of this program. 5. Corporate Membership is available for an annual fee as specified in the Fee Schedule. Corporate Membership will include all privileges and rights of membership including but not limited to voting, holding office, serving on committees, and participating in MFTHBA sponsored or sanctioned events with the following stipulations: a) corporate membership shall be entitled to one vote; b) Corporation’s official name, officers, and parties authorized to sign documents or conduct business for the corporation must be on file in the MFTHBA office by January 1 of each year; c) It is the corporation’s responsibility to keep MFTHBA informed of authorized parties conducting business for the corporation. B. Members shall maintain their membership in good standing in order to avail themselves of the privileges and rights of membership. They shall not be deemed members in good standing when their membership has been suspended or membership termination has been imposed by the Board of Directors. Members in good standing are required to maintain and keep current their financial obligations to MFTHBA, including payment for any purchases, services or assessments, surcharges, or for fines or penalties levied against a member. C. Membership may be terminated or application for membership may be rejected by the Board of Directors for cause determined detrimental to the interests of MFTHBA, its programs, policies, objectives and harmonious relationship of its members, as a result of a Board vote of two-thirds or more